Aluminium slats for armoured frames

Abstract: Each slat (1) comprises one or more identical armour housings (2) constituted by two chambers, one larger chamber (3) and one smaller chamber (4), both of substantially rectangular section, arranged parallel according to their respective longer sides (31, 41), in communication by means of a jut couple (5, 6) which jut couple (6, 7) are opposite to each other and interplaced between the said longer sides (31, 41) and equidistant from an axis (7) passing centrally said armour housing (2) perpendicular to the respective said longer sides (31, 41); said slats (1) comprising one or two armour elements (8, 9) housed internally to the said housings (2) in at least one of the said chambers (3, 4).

Description: The invention relates to aluminium slats for armoured frames, in particular suitable for insertion in aluminium structures equipped with anti-projectile armour for the protection and security of various environments, such as banks or jewellers' stores, museums etc. There are already on the market series of slats made in such a way as to contain a double-layer of steel armour-plating over all the external surfaces, more particularly over the exterior-facing surface of the environment to be protected. Internally to the tubular slats, then, armour elements can be inserted, commonly known as plates and made of special alloys, for example aluminium, or steel, particularly suitable for offering strong resistance to the most powerful of firearms. The continual research for products and technologies aimed at protecting people and their possessions adequately and securely has brought about solutions using armoured slats which are technically perfect and impenetrable. Each prior art system is made up of a series of slats which are reciprocally couplable and can contain single or double armour elements, normally in steel, over all of the external surface. Each slat has housings of different dimensions, according to the sizes of the slats, for the insertion of steel or special alloy plates, and further to these housings there is in at least one of the coupled slats below and adjacent to to the junctions of the said housings, or in the coupling zones of the said housings, at least one other housing of smaller dimensions with respect to the others, into which another special alloy plate is inserted with the aim of guaranteeing the surface continuity of the armouring. The prior art comprises DE-A-3506130 and EP-A-325900. As concerns patent DE-A-3506130 it claims two different slats with the housings both comprising two different chambers; they are different one from each other. As concerns patent EP-A-325900 it claims different slats with one or more different housings realizing rispective different chambers. A drawback of the prior art slats is their considerable structural complexity deriving from the need to have housings of different dimensions in different but couplable slats, guaranteeing a total armour covering on the external part of the shutter, also in the junction zones and the doorjamb zones. This consequently creates the problem of using a multiplicity of plates or armour elements of different dimensions according to the arrangement, the slat which must house the said elements, and the dimensions of the respective housings. Aim of the present invention is thus that of eliminating the above-described drawbacks by realising aluminium slats for armoured frames comprising at least two identical housings for the insertion of an armour element, differently arranged and combined housings to guarantee the necessary continuity, each said housing containing an identical plate or armour element of prefixed form and dimensions. Another aim of the present invention is that of realising slats with at least two identical housings for the armour elements, thus enabling the structure to resist the penetration of projectiles independently of the structure and conformation of the body or shape of the slats, which can be of any shape or dimensions as according to the usual necessities governing such a choice. Another aim of the invention is to realise armour elements of one size if made in aluminium alloy, or in two sizes, to be used separately and singly or coupled in relation to the degree of armouring required, if of a flat type, and such that they can be applied in either of the said housings in the said slats. The invention, as chatacterized in the accompanying claims, solves the problem of providing an aluminium slat for the realisation of armoured frames comprising two or more armoured elements made of steel or aluminium alloy and two or more housings for the housing of said armour elements, each said housing being constituted by two chambers, one larger chamber and one smaller chamber, both said chambers being of substantially rectangular section, arranged parallel to each other with their respective longer sides adjacent, said chambers being in communication with each other at their adjacent longer sides and being separated by means of a couple of juts opposite to each other and interplaced between the said longer sides and equidistant from an axis passing centrally to the said armour housing and perpendicular to the respective longer sides, said armour elements being housed internally in said and housed in at least one of the two said chambers which, from a general point of view, is characterised by the fact that the longer sides of said larger chamber and said smaller chamber are of different lengths and that each slat comprises two or more housings whose said larger and smaller chambers respectively have the same length and the same width. One of the advantages obtained with the present invention consists essentially in the fact that it reduces both the number of different slats and the types and dimensions of the armour housings. Further characteristics and advantages will better emerge from the detailed description which follows , of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a slat for armoured frames, according to the present invention. The following description will be made hereafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided in the form of a non-limiting example, in which; Figure 1 shows, in transversal section, a first embodiment of the slat, with one particular in evidence; Figure 2 shows, in transversal section, a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 shows, in transversal section, a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 shows, in transversal section, an application of the slats, coupled in a frame junction. With reference to the drawings, figure 1 shows an aluminium slat 1 for the realisation of armoured door frames. Said slats 1, as is shown in figure 4, comprise two or more armour housings 2 which housings 2 can house steel or aluminium alloy armour elements, and which housings 2 are conformed in such a way as to realise a complex of complementary slats : couplable one to the other for the realisation of armoured door frames. As evidenced in particular in figure 1, each said housing 2 is constituted by two chambers, one larger chamber 3 and one smaller chamber 4, both respective longer sides 31 and 41. Said respective longer sides 31 and 41 are of different length and are separated by means of a couple of juts 5 and 6 which juts 5 and 6 are opposite to and interplaced between the said longer sides 31 and 41. The said juts 5 and 6 are equidistant from an axis 7 passing centrally through said armour housing 2 and said juts 5 and 6 are also perpendicular to the respective said longer sides 31 and 41. One application of the said armour housings 2 is shown in figure 2. The slat 1 comprises on the same level and in consecutive succession two said identical armour housings 2, centrally connected by a interplaced web section 10. Advantageously, a third armour housing 2 will be provided below and central to the said flat section 10, identical to the other housings 2 and arranged so as to be at least partially horizontal in section in such a way as to overlap at both of its ends with respect to the opposite ends of the said two housings 2. In particular, the said third armour housing 2 is open on one side 12, opposite to the said flat section 10 and in communication with the interior of the body 11 of the said slat 1. In figure 3 a further embodiment of the said slat 1 is shown, in which the slat 1 comprises on the same plane and in consecutive succession two identical horizontal housings 2 , arranged in inverted positions in such a way that the larger chamber 3 of the said armour housing 2 is adjacent and complanar to the smaller chamber 4 of the successive armour housing 2 and viceversa, so as to cover the interspace between the said two housings 2 and obtain a continuity of armouring. In figure 1, the slat 1 comprises two said armour housings 2, which are arranged parallel on different planes, each overlapping the other and having their respective larger chambers 3 partially adjacent. As has already been indicated, the said armour elements can be either in steel or in aluminium alloy. In particular, as shown in figure 3, the armour element is constituted by one single shaped element 9 in aluminium alloy and is conformed in such a way as to be housed in the said armour housings 2 and in both chambers 3 and 4. In figure 1, however, 8 denotes another armour element of longitudinal form, made of steel and of dimensions which correspond to the internal dimensions of at least the said larger chamber 3.

Claims: An aluminium slat for armoured frames, comprising two or more armoured elements (8, 9) made of steel (8) or aluminium alloy (9) and two or more housings (2) for the housing of said armour elements (8, 9), each said housing (2) being constituted by two chambers, one large chamber (3) and one smaller chamber (4), both said chambers (3, 4) being of substantially rectangular section, arranged parallel to each other with their respective longer sides (31, 41) adjacent, said chambers (3, 4) being in communication with each other at their adjacent longer sides (31, 41) and being separated by means of a couple of juts (5, 6) opposite to each other and interplaced between the said longer sides (31, 41) and equidistant from an axis (7) passing centrally to the said armour housing (2) and perpendicular to the respective longer sides (31, 41); said armour elements (8, 9) being housed internally in said housing (2) and housed in at least one of the two said chambers (3, 4), characterized in that the longer sides (31, 41) of said larger chamber (3) and said smaller chamber (4) are of different lengths and in that each slat comprises two or more housings (2) whose said larger(3) and smaller (4) chambers respectively have the same length and the same width. A set of aluminium slats for armoured frames, as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the said slats (1) comprises on the same plane and in consecutive succession two said housing (2) arranged such that the respective longer sides (31, 41) of their chambers (3, 4) are coplanar and connected centrally by an interplaced web section (10) parallel to said longer sides, and wherein a third housing (2) is arranged centrally parallel to and offset from said web section (10), in such a way as to at least partially overlap at both of its ends with respect to the opposite ends of the said two housings (2). A set of aluminium slats for armoured frames, as in claim 2, wherein said third armour housing (2) is open one one side (12), that side (12) facing away from the said section (10) of the said slat (19). A set of aluminium slats for armoured frames, as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the said slats (1) comprises on the same plane and in consecutive succession two of said housings (2), arranged in such a way that the larger chamber (3) of the first housing (2) is adjacent and coplanar to the smaller chamber (4) of the successive housing (2) and viceversa, in such a way as to cover the interspace between the said two armour housings (2). A set of aluminium slats for armoured frames, as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the said slats (1) comprises two said armour housings (2) arranged parallel on different planes, one overlapping the other and having their respective larger chambers (3) partially adjacent. A set of aluminium slats for armoured housings, as in claim 1, wherein the said armour elements are constituted by one single shaped element (9) in aluminium alloy, conformed in such a way as to be housable in said armour housings (2) and housed in both said chambers (3, 4). A set of aluminium slats for armoured frames, as in claim 1, wherein said armour elements are constituted by longitudinal elements (8), substantially flat, of rectangular section, made in steel, of dimensions corresponding to the internal dimensions of at least the said larger chamber (3). A set of aluminium slats for armoured frames, according to the preceding claims, wherein the said slats (1) having the two armour housings (2) are conformed in such a way as to realise a complex of slats (1) complementary and couplable one to another for the realisation of armoured frames.

Inventors: COSTANTINI FRANCESCO C O O C M, COSTANTINI, FRANCESCO, C/O O.C.M.A. S.N.C.
Applicants: OCMA SNC, O.C.M.A. S.N.C.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: E06B5
IPC codes: E06B5