Abstract:
A vessel-based armor system is disclosed that comprises an outer vessel element and a ballistic protection element enclosed within. The vessel itself does not provide protection from ballistic threats; rather, the protective element within the vessel mitigates the ballistic threat. The vessel provides housing for the internal protective element. The design of the vessel permits the insertion and removal of the protective element and the replacement with a different protective element. In the primary embodiment, the protective element is an armored insert comprising at least one ballistic resistant plate (or panel). A preferred embodiment of the armored insert comprises a series of offset panels or plates thereby forming a spaced armor arrangement within the vessel. The same vessel is capable of accepting fill material, strata of fill material and armor interstitial plates, or a liquid, thereby increasing the flexibility of use, range of cost, weight, and setup time in the deployment of the armor system.

Description:
RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application is related to U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/016,694, for A VESSEL AND INSERT ARMOR SYSTEM, filed Jun. 25, 2014 and hereby incorporates the teachings thereof in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention is directed at a vessel-based armor system that provides protection through interchangeable inserts and/or through on-site fill methods. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In combat and related scenarios, there is a basic demand for armor systems capable of mitigating ballistic threats. Conventional hard skin armor and protective envelope systems are expensive to produce, heavy to transport, non-variable in protection level once issued, and/or are difficult to upgrade as new materials and technologies are introduced. Fill based armor and protective barrier systems are labor intensive to establish, are static, and/or are restricted to use in areas with suitable fill material. An armor system that facilitates the rapid alteration of its protective element to meet the constraints of mission type and earth-fill availability, may be easily upgraded, and provides variable and customizable protection from one use to the next would be well suited for a variety of roles in combat and related scenarios. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0004]    The vessel-based armor system comprises two elements: a vessel element and an internal ballistic protection element. The vessel element functions as a container for the internal ballistic protection element. The internal ballistic protection element&#39;s primary role is to mitigate ballistic threats. The vessel element unifies the internal armor element(s) into a contained unit with functional dimensions and stiffness for use in a variety of applications. The internal ballistic protection element may be removed and switched out for another of its kind. The primary aim of the design&#39;s combination of a vessel element and an internal armor element is to allow for the swapping, upgrading, and or customization of protection, and to do so without permanent modification and without time-intensive procedures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent detailed description, in which: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of the vessel element and an internal ballistic protective element; an enclosure surface is not shown in this illustration. The illustration demonstrates a three sidewall embodiment of the vessel element. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a section view of a vessel element, enclosure surface, and an internal ballistic protective element; the internal ballistic protective element is shown within the compartment formed by the vessel&#39;s sidewalls; the enclosure surfaces are shown aligned but in an exploded arrangement. The illustration demonstrates a three sidewall embodiment of the vessel element. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a section view of a vessel element and an internal ballistic protective element, wherein fill material serves as the ballistic protective element; the enclosure surface is shown secured to encompass and seal the internal protective element within a compartment formed by the sidewalls of the vessel. Gaskets run along the interior perimeter of the top sheet of the enclosure surface in order to provide a seal for the compartment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an exploded axonometric illustration showing an internal ballistic protective element and a vessel element without enclosure surfaces; the internal ballistic protective element is shown removed from the compartment formed by the vessel&#39;s sidewalls. The illustration demonstrates a four sidewall embodiment of the vessel element and a spaced armor embodiment of the internal ballistic protective element. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is an exploded axonometric illustration showing an internal ballistic protective element and a vessel element with two enclosure surfaces; the internal ballistic protective element is shown within the compartment formed by the vessel&#39;s sidewalls. The illustration demonstrates a four sidewall embodiment of the vessel element and a spaced armor embodiment of the internal ballistic protective element positioned within the compartment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a section view of a vessel element, enclosure surface, and an internal ballistic protective element; the components are shown aligned but in an exploded arrangement. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a section view of a vessel element and an internal ballistic protective element; the enclosure surface is shown secured to encompass and seal the internal protective element within a compartment formed by the sidewalls of the vessel. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is an exploded axonometric illustration of an embodiment of the internal ballistic protective element, wherein the spacing component between two plates incorporates a truss. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is an exploded axonometric illustration of an embodiment of the internal ballistic protective element, wherein the spacing component between two plates incorporates spacing rods that run orthogonally off of the face of the plates and lateral framing rod members link the spacing rods to form a frame spacing component. 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is two stage plan illustration demonstrating the before-and-after states of a collapsible embodiment of the frame spacing component. In the illustrated embodiment, the frame spacing component has four spacing rods that serve as pivot points and are linked by lateral framing rod members to form a closed rectangular shape. The top plan illustration shows the frame spacing element extended in a voluminous state wherein it would occupy a compartment within a vessel. The lower plan illustration shows the frame spacing element collapsed in a flattened state for storage or transport. 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is two stage plan illustration demonstrating the before-and-after states of a collapsible embodiment of the frame spacing component. In the illustrated embodiment, the frame spacing component has five spacing rods; the central spacing rod serves as a pivot point and is linked by lateral framing rod members to each of the other spacing rods. The top plan illustration shows the frame spacing element extended in a voluminous state wherein it would occupy a compartment within a vessel. The lower plan illustration shows the frame spacing element collapsed in a flattened state for storage or transport. 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  is a section illustration showing a spaced armor embodiment of the internal ballistic protection element wherein the spacers are collapsible, thereby reducing storage volume. The internal ballistic protection element is shown in three instances: fully spaced, partially collapsed, and fully collapsed. 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  is a plan view of a linear arrangement of compartments formed by parallel sets of vessel sidewalls. 
           [0019]      FIG. 14  is a plan view of a planar arrangement of compartments formed by parallel sets of vessel sidewalls. 
           [0020]      FIG. 15  is an axonometric view of four linear arranged vessels, aligned to form a planar barrier; the view shows ten compartments occupied with internal ballistic elements and six compartments that are empty. 
           [0021]      FIG. 16  is an axonometric view of four linear arranged vessels, aligned to form a planar barrier; the view shows the four vessels with the enclosure surface obscuring the compartments within the vessels. Clasping hardware, cable, and strap based fastening system options for the enclosure surface are illustrated. 
           [0022]      FIG. 17  is a section illustration showing a spaced armor embodiment of the internal ballistic protection element wherein orthogonally aligned rods are used as spacers. 
           [0023]      FIG. 18  is a section illustration showing a spaced armor embodiment of the internal ballistic protection element wherein interstitial blocking is used as spacers. 
           [0024]      FIG. 19  is a section illustration showing a spaced armor embodiment of the internal ballistic protection element wherein interstitial members/framing are used as spacers. 
           [0025]      FIG. 20  is a section illustration showing a spaced armor embodiment of the internal ballistic protection element wherein interstitial volumetric elements are used as spacers. 
           [0026]      FIG. 21  is a section illustration showing a spaced armor embodiment of the internal ballistic protection element wherein interstitial framing comprising frame spacing components are used as spacers. 
           [0027]      FIG. 22  is an exploded axonometric illustration showing one option for securing the enclosure surface to the vessel element; a flange attaches to the top sheet via a hinge element. 
           [0028]      FIG. 23  is an exploded axonometric illustration showing one option for securing the enclosure surface to the vessel element; a clasp piece attaches the flanges to the exterior sidewalls of the vessel element. 
           [0029]      FIG. 24  is a section view of a vessel element and an internal ballistic protective element; the enclosure surface is shown secured to encompass and seal the internal protective element within a compartment formed by the sidewalls of the vessel. The internal ballistic protective element is in the form of a plate or panel. 
           [0030]      FIG. 25  is a section view of a vessel element and an internal ballistic protective element; the enclosure surface is shown secured to encompass and seal the internal protective element within a compartment formed by the sidewalls of the vessel. The internal ballistic protective element is in the form of a blocking element. 
           [0031]      FIG. 26  is a section view of a vessel element and an internal ballistic protective element; the enclosure surface is shown secured to encompass and seal the internal protective element within a compartment formed by the sidewalls of the vessel. The internal ballistic protective element is in the form of a plate or panel that is augmented with a single contiguous spacing system element. 
           [0032]      FIG. 27  is a section view of a vessel element and an internal ballistic protective element; the enclosure surface is shown secured to encompass and seal the internal protective element within a compartment formed by the sidewalls of the vessel. The internal ballistic protective element is in the form of a plate or panel that is augmented with a spacing system element comprising particle fill. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0033]    Although the following detailed description contains specific details for the purposes of illustration, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention described below are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention. 
         [0034]    This protection system comprises a vessel element  100  and an internal ballistic protection element  102 . 
         [0035]    The Vessel Element: 
         [0036]    The vessel element  100  comprises at least three sidewalls  104   a ,  104   b ,  104   c . The length and thickness of each sidewall  104   a ,  104   b ,  104   c  may be different or similar to each of the other sidewalls  104   a ,  104   b ,  104   c ; the depth of each sidewall  104   a ,  104   b ,  104   c  should be approximately equal to each of the other sidewalls  104   a ,  104   b ,  104   c . Each sidewall  104   a ,  104   b ,  104   c  attaches to at least two other sidewalls  104   a ,  104   b ,  104   c ; the outer perimeter of the attached sidewalls  104   a ,  104   b ,  104   c  forms at least one closed shape. 
         [0037]    The vessel element  100  is complemented by a containment system comprising at least one enclosure surface  106   a . In a preferred embodiment, the vessel element  100  further comprises two enclosure surfaces  106   a ,  106   b ; one to seal the top opening  108  and one to seal the bottom opening  110  created by the combined sidewalls  104   a ,  104   b ,  104   c . At least one enclosure surface  106   a ,  106   b  may be temporarily removed or opened to allow access to the interior volume  112  created by the sidewalls  104   a ,  104   b ,  104   c . This internal volume  112  may be referred to as a compartment. 
         [0038]    In one embodiment, the sidewall arrangement of the vessel element  100  comprises at least two sets of parallel side walls  114   a ,  114   b ,  116   a ,  116   b ,  104   a ,  104   b ,  104   c ,  104   d . In a preferred embodiment, one set of parallel sidewalls  114   a ,  114   b  runs perpendicular and intersects with one other set of parallel sidewalls  116   a ,  116   b  to form a grid pattern when viewed in plan as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . The number of parallel sidewalls within each set  114   a ,  114   b ,  114   c ,  114   d ,  114   e ,  116   a ,  116   b ,  116   c ,  116   d ,  116   e  determines the number and arrangement of compartments  112  within one contiguous vessel element  100 . A set of parallel sidewalls comprising two sidewalls  116   a ,  116   b  in addition to a set of parallel sidewalls comprising more than two sidewalls  114   a ,  114   b ,  114   c ,  114   d ,  114   e  will result in a linear arrangement of compartments as shown in  FIG. 13 . If each parallel set of sidewalls  114   a ,  114   b ,  114   c ,  114   d ,  114   e ,  116   a ,  116   b ,  116   c ,  116   d ,  116   e  comprises more than two sidewalls, the arrangement of compartments will be in a planar grid pattern as shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         [0039]    Each enclosure surface  106   a ,  106   b  is of an appropriate dimensional area to fully seal at least one of either the top  108  or bottom  110  openings of the compartments  112  created by the arrangement of the sidewalls  114   a ,  114   b ,  114   c ,  114   d ,  114   e ,  116   a ,  116   b ,  116   c ,  116   d ,  116   e ,  104   a ,  104   b ,  104   c ,  104   d . In a preferred embodiment, each enclosure surface  106   a ,  106   b  comprises a top sheet  118  oriented on a plane orthogonal to that of the sidewalls  114   a ,  114   b ,  114   c ,  114   d ,  114   e ,  116   a ,  116   b ,  116   c ,  116   d ,  116   e ,  104   a ,  104   b ,  104   c ,  104   d . In one embodiment, this top sheet  118  is of a surface area approximately equal to at least one compartment  112 . In another embodiment, the surface area of the top sheet  118  is approximately equal to the surface area created by the outside edge of the outermost sidewalls  116   a ,  116   e ,  114   a ,  114   e ,  104   a ,  104   b ,  104   c ,  104   d  of at least one vessel element. In an alternate embodiment, the surface area of the top sheet  118  is approximately equal to the area created by the outside edge of the outermost sidewalls of multiple adjacent and aligned vessel elements  100  as shown in  FIG. 16 . In one embodiment, the top sheet of the enclosure surface is held in place by at least one flange  120  running orthogonally off of the top sheet  118 . Depending on the number and location of the flanges  122   a ,  122   b ,  122   c ,  122   d , the flange(s) may fasten to, be wedged, or fastened into the inside surface  121  of at least one sidewall as shown in  FIG. 22 , or the outside surface of at least one sidewall  116   a ,  116   e ,  114   a ,  114   e ,  104   a ,  104   b ,  104   c ,  104   d  of the vessel element  100  as shown in  FIGS. 02 ,  03 ,  05 ,  06 ,  07 ,  16 , and  23 . In a preferred embodiment, there are an equal number of flanges  122   a ,  122   b ,  122   c ,  122   d  attached to each enclosure surface  106   a ,  106   b  as there are outer sidewalls  104   a ,  104   b ,  104   c ,  104   d ; the flanges  122   a ,  122   b ,  122   c ,  122   d  being attached at the outer perimeter of the top sheet  118 , skirt the outside of the outer sidewalls  104   a ,  104   b ,  104   c ,  104   d ,  116   a ,  116   e ,  114   a ,  114   e . These flanges may be referred to as side-skirts or containment side-skirting. This allows two enclosure surfaces  106   a ,  106   b , one on the top opening  108  and one on the bottom opening  110 , to at least partially envelop the sidewalls of at least one vessel element as shown in  FIG. 16 . In a preferred embodiment, each enclosure surface  106   a ,  106   b  is fastened in place to seal the vessel element as shown in  FIGS. 05 ,  07 ,  16 ,  22 ,  23 . Methods for securing each enclosure surface  106   a ,  106   b  include but are not limited to cable  127 , strap  124 , hinge  125 , and/or clasping  129  hardware. In one embodiment at least one enclosure surface  106   a ,  106   b  is fastened to the vessel element  100  to at least partially seal the vessel element. In an alternate embodiment, at least one enclosure surface  106   a  is fastened to its mirrored enclosure surface  106   b  to seal the vessel element  100 . In one embodiment, at least one enclosure surface  106   a ,  106   b  is permanently fastened to, formed with, or molded to the vessel element  100  to form a homogenous element. 
         [0040]    Internal Ballistic Protection Element: 
         [0041]    The internal ballistic protective element  102  is at least one object, of any material, that partially or fully fills the compartment  112  of the vessel element  100 , and is capable of mitigating a relevant ballistic threat. The internal ballistic protective element  102  may comprise synthetic elements, such as plates  128 , blocking elements  132 , and/or absorptive material  132 ,  137   a ,  137   b  naturally occurring materials such organic and/or mineral elements  146 , or any combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the internal ballistic protective element is an armor insert  103 . The armor insert  103  comprises at least one plate or panel  128 , and/or blocking element  132 . The outer perimeter of the plate  128 , panel  128 , and/or blocking element  132  is roughly similar in shape and dimension to that of the interior perimeter of a compartment  112  formed by the sidewalls  104   a ,  104   b ,  104   c ,  104   d  of a vessel element  100 . At least one armor insert  103  is placed into a compartment  112  within a vessel element  100  and occupies at least a fraction of the internal volume thereof as shown in  FIGS. 02 ,  05 ,  07 ,  15 , and  23 . The plates  128 , panels  128 , and/or blocking elements  132  are primarily responsible for providing the ballistic mitigation performance of the armor insert  103 . 
         [0042]    One embodiment further comprises a spacing system  137   a ,  137   b . In this embodiment, the spacing system  137   a ,  137   b  comprises at least one object that at least partially fills the volume of the compartment  112  of the vessel element  100 , and aides in the mitigation of a ballistic threat by at least partially absorbing the energy of the ballistic threat through the deformation of said spacing system. The makeup of the spacing system  137   a ,  137   b  may range in number and composition from at least one contiguous synthetic element  137   a  to naturally occurring and/or synthetic particle fill  137   b . A more developed iteration of the preferred embodiment of the armor insert comprises a series of plates  128 , panels  128 , and/or blocking elements  132  as shown in  FIGS. 04 ,  05 ,  06 ,  07 ,  08 ,  09 ,  12 ,  17 - 21 , and  23 . These plates  128 , panels  128 , and/or blocking elements  132  are offset in series in the manner of spaced armor. A ballistic threat will deform and lose its kinetic energy as it passes through said offset plates  128 , panels  128 , and/or blocking elements  132  in series. In this embodiment, at least one spacing component  134   a ,  134   b ,  134   c ,  134   d ,  134   e  is used to provide the offset gap  135  between each layer. The spacing component  134   a ,  134   b ,  134   c ,  134   d ,  134   e  may also be referred to as a spacer. The form of the spacing components within the preferred embodiment of the internal protective element may include but is not limited to orthogonally-aligned-rods  134   a , interstitial blocking  134   b , interstitial-framing  136   a ,  136   b ,  134   e  interstitial-members  134   c , and/or interstitial volumetric elements  134   d , of any form, shape and arrangement, that making contact with at least two plate  128 , panel  128 , and/or internal blocking element layers  132 , provides the offset between said plates, panels and/or blocking elements. In one embodiment, at least one spacer  134   a ,  134   b ,  134   c ,  134   d ,  134   e  is fastened to at least one plate  128 , panel  128 , and/or blocking element  132 . In an alternative embodiment, none of the spacers  134   a ,  134   b ,  134   c ,  134   d ,  134   e  are fastened to any plate  128 , panel  128 , and/or blocking element  132 . In the interstitial-framing embodiment, a frame spacing component  134   e ,  136   a ,  136   b  comprises a plurality of orthogonally aligned rods  136   a ,  136   c  that are linked by lateral framing rod members  136   b  as shown in  FIGS. 09 ,  10 ,  11 , and  21 . In a similar embodiment, at least one lateral framing rod member  136   b  is replaced by a truss member  136   d  or other simple structural member as shown in  FIG. 08 . 
         [0043]    In a preferred embodiment, the interstitial framing  136   a ,  136   b ,  136   b ,  145  is collapsible or compressible to allow for compact storage as shown in  FIGS. 10 ,  11 , and  12 . A preferred embodiment of the interstitial-framing has a frame spacing component comprising four orthogonally-aligned rods  136   a  that serve as pivot points and are linked by lateral framing rod members  136   b  to form a closed rectangular shape as shown in  FIG. 10 . In this embodiment, the orthogonally-aligned-rods  136   a  are able to pivot at their attachment points  136   e  with the lateral framing members  136   b . An alternate embodiment of a collapsible frame spacing component has five spacing rods  136   a ,  136   c ; the central spacing rod  136   c  serves as a pivot point and is linked by lateral framing rod members  136   b  to each of the other spacing rods. In all embodiments, the spacers and/or spacing system may serve secondary functions such as in providing insulation, fire (combustion) abatement, and/or other relevant roles. 
         [0044]    In a preferred embodiment of the design, at least one compartment of the vessel element is capable of receiving and containing fill  146 ,  137   b , be it solid fill, particle fill (including soft-armor technologies), liquid fill, and/or phase change material fill along with, or in place of, the armor insert  103  as shown in  FIGS. 03 and 27 . As such, the seal between sidewalls  104   a ,  104   b ,  104   c ,  104   d  and each enclosure surface  106   a ,  106   b  is of an appropriate tolerance to prevent the leaking of the respective fill. In one embodiment, this is accomplished through a non-porous seam at the contact points  148  between each sidewall  104   a ,  104   b ,  104   c ,  104   d , as well as through the provision of at least one gasket  150  between the top edges of the sidewalls  104   a ,  104   b ,  104   c ,  104   d  and the face of the enclosure surface  106   a ,  106   b ,  118  as shown in  FIGS. 03 and 23 . 
         [0045]    The vessel element and/or the internal armor inserts may be constructed of a wide range of materials, including those that are non-rigid, semi-rigid, rigid, or any combination thereof. 
         [0046]    Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.