CAGE FOR THE BALLISTIC PROTECTION OF PERSONS OR OBJECTS

CAGE DE PROTECTION BALLISTIQUE DE PERSONNES OU D'OBJETS

English Abstract

Enclosure for Ballistic Protection of Persons
and/or Objects
<IMG>
Summary:
Enclosure for ballistic protection of persons and/or ob-
jects with panels as enclosure walls interconnected via
profile strips, characterized in that the panels are com-
pressible at least in the area secured in the profile
strips and that the profile strips each have at least one
channel, each accommodating one panel edge inserted into
the channel under compression of the edge area. In particu-
lar, the panel edge is compressed via wedges inserted be-
tween the channel wall of the profile strips and the panel
surface in the edge area. The panels are preferably lami-
nated panels, in particular those made from fiber composite
material.

Claims

Enclosure for Ballistic Protection of Persons
and/or Objects
<IMG>
Patent Claims:
1. Enclosure with panels (1) serving as enclosure walls
and with profile strips (2), said profile strips (2)
having at least one channel (5), each accommodating
one panel edge, characterized in that, for ballistic
protection of persons and/or objects, the panels are
laminated panels and are compressible at least in the
areas accommodated in the profile strips (2); that the
channel(s) (5) has (have) a flat wall (5b) toward the
exterior of the enclosure and a wall (5a) with either
corrugated or sawtooth profile toward the interior of
the enclosure; and that the panels are inserted into
the channel(s) (5) of the profile panels (2) using
wedges (3, 4, 6, 7) under compression of the edge
area, the wedges (3, 4, 6, 7) having at least on the
surface contacting the channel wall a profile corre-
sponding to that of the channel wall.
2. Enclosure in accordance with Claim 1, characterized in
that the panels are made of fiber composite material.

3. Enclosure in accordance with Claim 1 or 2, character-
ized in that the wedges have either corrugated or saw-
tooth profiles on both sides.
4. Enclosure in accordance with one or more of Claims 1
to 3, characterized in that the wedges have an angle
between 5° and 15°.
5. Enclosure in accordance with one or more of Claims 1
to 4, characterized in that the profile strip (2) has
at least one U-shaped channel.
6. Enclosure in accordance with one or more of Claims 1
to 4, characterized in that the profile strip (2) has
at least one V-shaped channel.
7. Enclosure in accordance with one or more of Claims 1
to 4, characterized in that the profile strip (2) has
at least one L-shaped groove, the short flank of which
is connected to a covering (8), whereby the covering
and L-shaped groove together form the channel accommo-
dating the compressible portion of the panel.
8. Enclosure in accordance with one or more of Claims 1
to 7, characterized in that the profile strips (2)
and/or wedges (3, 4, 6, 7) and/or covering (8) are
made of a hard, pressure- and creep-resistant mate-
rial.
9. Enclosure in accordance with one or more of Claims 1
to 8, characterized in that the profile strips (2)

and/or wedges (3, 4, 6, 7) and/or covering (8) are
made at least substantially of steel.
10. Enclosure in accordance with one or more of Claims 1
to 8, characterized in that the profile strips (2)
and/or wedges (3, 4, 6, 7) and/or covering (8) are
made at least substantially of metal-coated ceramic
material.
11. Enclosure in accordance with one or more of Claims 1
to 8, characterized in that the wedges (3, 4, 6, 7)
are made at least substantially of ceramic material.
12. Enclosure in accordance with one or more of Claims 1
to 11, characterized in that the compressibility of
the panels (1) is between 0.5 and 5%, at least in the
area of the panel edge.

Description

- ~I~ OF~ EII'JED ~ IlA#C~l~ 2 i!!` 1994
2132200
Attachment to Submission of March 22, 1994
International Number: PCT/EP 93/00560
1 AGW2322
Enclosure for Ballistic Protection of Persons
and/or Obiects
~ ~ .
Akzo Faser AG Fried. KruDD AG
Hoesch - Krupp
Wuppertal Dortmund
* * *
Descriptio~
The present invention relates to an enclosure for ballistic
protection of persons and/or objects.
Such an enclosure for vehicles, for example tanks, is de-
scribed in DE-OS 19 01 502. The enclosure described con-
sists of panels and profile strips, whereby the profile
strips have step-shaped shoulders for accommodating the
panels. Joining of the panels to the profile strips is per-
formed by welding or by separable elements that are not de-
scribed in.detail. Such enclosures serve to protect against
projectiles under direct bombardment or against splinters
and shock waves in the case of explosions, such as of
bombs. They are suited for use in tanks, money transporta-
tion vehicles, ships, and containers. The known enclosures
have the disadvantage that under the prescribed stress con-
ditions the panels are torn out of their anchoring such
that they, as well as the profile strips, are destroyed in
the vicinity of the impact of objects, splinters, or shock
:::
:-, ,.; , .~ ,. ,; '
-:: .~
.: . ~- .. ~ '

:
2132200
2 AGW2322
waves. After such severe incidents, large sections, and
often the entire enclosure, must be rebuilt. -~
-: .
US-A-4,351,558 describes an enclosure for trucks in which
panels are inserted into channels of profiles. The panels
are then riveted to the profiles. When such a construction
is used for ballistic protection, it is noted that follow- -`
ing impact of a projectile, not only the panels but also
the profiles are deformed, so that - as previously men~
tioned - large sections, often the entire enclosure, must
be renewed. These truck enclosures too are unsuitable for
economical application as enclosures for ballistic protec-
tion.
The object of the present invention is to provide an enclo-
sure with panels serving as enclosure walls and with pro-
file strips, the profile strips having at least one chan-
nel, each accommodating one panel edge, said enclosure be-
ing reparable with relatively little outlay even after the
impact of projectiles, splinters, or shock waves, prefer-
ably by simple replacement of the panels.
This object is satisfied by the invention in that, for bal-
listic protection of persons and/or objects, the panels are --
laminated panels and, at least in the areas for accommoda-
tion in the profile strips, are compressible; that the
channel(s) have a flat wall toward the exterior of the en-
closure and a wall with either corrugated or sawtooth pro-
file toward the interior of the enclosure; and that the
panels are inserted into the channel(s) of the profile
strips using wedges under compression of the edge area, the
wedges having, at least on the surface contacting the chan-
.; :

`-: 2132200
3 AGW2322
nel wall, a profile corresponding to that of the channel
wall.
Although the use of wedges as joining elements in panels
inserted into profile channels is known from US-A-
3 190 408, this patent provides a simple construction ap-
propriate for the applications (trucks, boats, or marine
containers). This construction is unsuitable for ballistic
protection, since the materials employed indicate that
large sections, including the profiles, must be replaced
after ballistic impact.
On impact of projectiles, splinters, or shock waves against
an enclosure, at least one panel is normally stressed to
the point that it is deformed. When using the enclosure of
the invention, the panel undergoing such impact is clasped
securely by the profile strips. Only under extreme stress-
is the panel partially torn out of the securing profile
strips, in which case, as a result of the previous compres-
sion of the edge area, the panel has sufficient resistance
to prevent complete separation from the profile strips. Ef-
fective protection for the persons and/or objects within
the enclosure is thus ensured. After the impact of pro-
files, splinters, or shock waves, the deformed panels can
be removed by destruction ~normally they are no longer us-
able after such impact), but the profile strips are intact.
New panels can be inserted into the intact profile strips
without much outlay.
In order to mechanically secure the panel edge areas, the
wedges are profiled, whereby the profile of the wedges cor- ;`~
responds to that of the channel wall toward the enclosure
interior. Particularly good results are attained with
i~'`. '~" ".' .'
' :; '. " -. ,. "~''` ;,
.,.,.,. - '.. ..

-`- 2132200
4 AGW2322
wedges with two-sided corrugated or sawtooth profiles. A
corrugated profile has proven highly satisfactory for the
profile of the wedge surface. In extreme situations, saw~
tooth-type profiles can also be employed. The extent of the
compression, and thus the strength of the joint of the
panel and the profile strips, can be controlled via the
channel depth, the wedge length, and the wedge angle. In
making the wedge connection, a wedge angle between 5 and
15 has proven highly satisfactory.
The profile strip channels advantageously have a V-shaped, ;~
preferably a U-shaped profile. This channel profile can be
achieved with the invention by providing the profile strip
itself with an L-shaped groove, the short flank of which is
connected to a covering. Profile strips and/or wedges are
advantageously made of a hard, pressure- and creep-
resistant material. Steel or-ceramic or metal-coated
ceramic materials have proven highly satisfactory for the
profile strips, wedges, and coverings. ~ ~
: :.
As a result of the joining technique in accordance with the
invention, it is readily possible to use laminated panels. ;
It is well known that laminated panels comprise several
layers, with well-known resistance to impact from bombard-
ment of projectiles, splinters, or shock waves. In particu- -
lar, fiber composite panels have proven satisfactory. Fiber
composite panels can be made from fibers of aramide, car-
bon, glass, and/or polyethylene, embedded in a compressible
matrix. Suitable matrices are, for example, thermoplastics,
whereby polycarbonate is particularly advantageous, or du-
romers, of which phenolic resin, particularly in a mixture
with 5-60% polyvinyl butyral, also yields good results.
Certain elaetomers, euoh ae epeclal rubbers, can aleo be

~` 2132200
AGW2322
used as a matrix for the panels of the enclosure of the in-
vention.
The compressibility of the panels, at least in the edge
area, is preferably between 0.5 and 5%. -
When using a covering, usually made of steel or a ceramic
or metal-coated ceramic material, and composite panels, the
well-known good ballistic properties of the composite pan-
els are favorably influenced by the coverings, which also
contribute to the-composite structure.
The invention is described in greater detail with reference
to the following figures.
In Figures 1 to 6, various joining techniques for con-
structing the enclosure of the invention are depicted sche-
matically in cross-section. Of course, the enclosure of the
invention normally employs only one of these techniques.
The figures show different techniques merely to provide
clarity. Figures 1, 3, and 5 show these techniques prior to
joining, while Figures 2, 4, and 6 show the completed joint
of panel and profile strip.
In Figures 1 and 2, the panels are designated by 1 and the ~ ~ ;
profile strips by 2. Profile strips 2a and 2b each have a
channel 5, in which the interior channel wall has a corru- ;;
gated profile 5a and the exterior inner wall 5b is flat.
Profile strip 2b has in addition a channel whose inner wall
has a sawtooth profile in the direction of arrow C. Wedges
with correspondingly profiled surfaces - wedge 3 with a
corrugated profile on one side and wedge 4 with a sawtooth ~;
profile on one side - are depicted in Figure 1 in the sepa- ~ ~
.. .., ,., .. ~
, :.,..., ~ .;., .
-:",.' :,' ''
: ::: :.: :.;:.::

2132200
6 AGW2322
rated state and are driven in the direction of arrows A, B,
and C into the space between the channel wall and panel
edge area to create the joint of Figure 2. In doing so, the
panel edge area is compressed.
In cases where the joining technique shown in Figures 1 and
2 results in insufficient joint strength, a wedge with dou~
ble-sided profile - as shown in Figures 3 and 4 - can be
used. Wedge 6, driven in the direction of arrow D, has a
two-sided corrugated profile, while wedge 7, driven in the
direction of arrow E, has a two-sided sawtooth profile.
In accordance with Figures 5 and 6, the channel of profile
strip 2 is formed by a groove, the shorter flank of which
is connected to covering 8 via weld 9. As in the previous
figures, the panel edge areas are compressed using wedges,
and their description for Figures 5 and 6 is therefore not
necessary. -
,
In order to improve the separability of the wedges from the
joint, the channel-forming flanks of profile strips 2 can
have notches at intervals, permitting the wedges to be re-
moved at a notch when driven forward to the notch in the
longitudinal direction of the panels. This allows the joint ;~ -
between the panel and profile strip to be separated in a
simple manner. When using fiber composite panels, however,
it is normally sufficient for the panels being replaced to ~ ,
be mechanically destroyed and the remaining panel edge ar-
eas driven out of the enclosing area piece by piece; the
wedges can then be removed.
:: ' ,
, ~ ,
- ; ~ :

Representative Drawing