Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ARMOUR FOR HIGH ENERGY BULLETS AND PROJECTILES
FIELD
[0001] The invention described herein relates to barriers or armour used to
protect
living beings, vehicles or equipment, from injury or damage caused by the
impact of
bullets or other high-speed projectiles. More particularly, the invention
relates to a barrier
or armour that reduces the speed and energy of the shock wave that results
from
projectile impact by absorbing the kinetic energy received from the
projectile, and/or
spreading the kinetic energy received from the projectile to a much larger
area.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Many different types of soft armour have been used in the past, and
provide a
lightweight and relatively effective capability to stop ballistic projectiles
such as bullets.
These armours are capable of stopping passage of bullets of varying sizes and
speeds.
However, while capable of stopping a ballistic projectile, soft body armours
suffer from
the problem that they do little or nothing to stop, reduce and/or mitigate the
transfer of
kinetic energy from the ballistic projectile to the tissue which it is
intended to protect. In
other words, even when a soft armour is able to stop a bullet, the bullet can
cause blunt
trauma to underlying tissues, which can cause injury or death. This is
particularly true
when the bullet is a high energy bullet
[0003] Modern body armour uses KEVLARO and other advanced fiber materials of
high tensile strength to provide lightweight yet effective protection. It is
also known to
use hard glass spheres as an armour component (e.g., US Patent No. 5,110,661)
and to
use frangible materials, or pneumatic barriers, as armour components (e.g., US
Patent No.
4,090,005; 5,059,467). It is known to use ballistic gels to reduce blunt
trauma injury;
however these are comparatively heavy in a body armour. Blast ceramic has also
been
used; however it is comparatively a hard material.
[0004] What is needed is an improved lightweight body armour that can not only
stop a
high energy projectile, but that can avoid or reduce blunt trauma injury to
underlying
tissues in the wearer of the armour.
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[0005] What is also needed is an improved armour that can be used as a barrier
to
protect vehicles, equipment or buildings, from injury or damage caused by the
impact of
bullets or other high-speed projectiles.
SUMMARY
[0006] Described herein is a flexible, lightweight armour that can be used as
a body
armour or as a barrier to protect vehicles or equipment. When used as a body
armour, the
armour will avoid or reduce blunt trauma injury to underlying tissues in the
wearer.
When used as a barrier on vehicles, equipment or buildings, it will avoid or
reduce
damage to these structures.
[0007] The armour is made of an outer component that comprises layers of hard,
solid
beads and an inner component that is a pneumatic layer. The outer component is
positioned in front of the inner component to receive the first impact of a
bullet or other
projectile. The outer component traps and destroys the structural integrity of
the bullet or
projectile. The inner component spreads the impact energy from the bullet or
projectile
thereby minimizing or avoiding damage to structures or persons being protected
by the
armour.
In one aspect the invention is a flexible armour comprising an inner and an
outer
component:
the outer component comprising at least two layers of hard solid beads
confined
between at least two layers of flexible high impact cloth, and
the inner component comprising a compartment that is an airtight compartment
and/or that is an inflatable compartment.
The airtight compartment may be confined between at least two layers of
flexible high
impact cloth. One or more layers of flexible high-impact cloth may be disposed
between
the outer component and the inner component, and/or on the outer surface of
the outer
component, and/or on the inner surface of the inner component. Preferred
flexible high-
impact cloths are KEVLAR and/or SPECTRA.
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In some embodiments the compartment of the inner component may airtight and
may be
filled with air or gas. Alternatively, in some embodiments the compartment of
the inner
component may be inflatable, and the armour may be equipped with a sensor that
detects
a bullet or other projectile before it contacts the armour, and that triggers
inflation of the
compartment with air or gas before the bullet or other projectile contacts the
armour.
In some embodiments the beads used in the outer component are made of SPECTRA,
ALON, aluminum, polycarbon, carbon fibre or ceramic beads. The beads can be
coated
with carbon nanotubes. Further, in some embodiments the at least two layers of
beads in
the outer component can be separated from each other by at least one
separating layer
comprised of a flexible high impact cloth such as KEVLAR and/or SPECTRA.
In some embodiments the compartment of the inner component may further be
divided
into two or more subcompartments. These subcompartments may be formed, in some
embodiments, by hollow spheres disposed within the compartment or by a layer
of high-
impact cloth disposed within the compartment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIGURE us a cross section through an embodiment of an armour having an
outer component comprising two layers of beads, a pneumatic layer inner
component.
Several layers of high-impact cloth, such as KEVLAR , are disposed between the
outer
and inner components.
[0009] FIGURE 2 is a cross section through an embodiment of an armour having
an
outer component comprising three layers of beads and a pneumatic layer inner
component.
[0010] FIGURE 3 is a cross section through an embodiment of an armour having
an
outer component comprising three layers of beads and a pneumatic layer inner
component, wherein the pneumatic layer component is inflatable.
[0011] FIGURE 4 is a cross section through an embodiment of an armour disposed
on
the surface of an armoured vehicle, the armour having two outer components
comprising
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layers of beads and two pneumatic layer inner components. FIGURE 4A shows the
pneumatic layers before inflation, and FIGURE 4B shows them after inflation.
[0012] FIGURE 5A is a top plan view of an embodiment of an outer component
comprising two layers of beads. FIGURE 5B is a cross section through these
layers
showing the arrangement of the beads and the layers of SPECTRA around the
beads
layers.
[0013] FIGURE 6A is a cross section of an embodiment of a pneumatic layer
component having one compartment formed of two layers of SPECTRA . FIGURE 6B
is a cross section of a pneumatic layer component having two subcompartments
formed
by three layers of SPECTRA . FIGURES 6C and 6D are cross sections an
embodiments
of a pneumatic layer component that comprise a plurality of subcompartments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Described herein is an armour 10 that includes layers of hard, solid
beads as an
outer component 20, and a pneumatic layer as an inner component 30. The outer
component 20 is positioned in front of the inner component 30, "in front"
meaning that
the outer component is the first component to receive the impact of a bullet
or other
projectile. The armour 10 may be a component of a body armour or barrier, used
in
conjunction with other components.
[0015] The armour may be configured as a soft body armour, more specifically a
lightweight and flexible ballistic panel, which can stop a projectile and
which can avoid
or reduce blunt trauma injury to underlying tissues.
[0016] The armour may be configured as a barrier, to protect vehicles such as
light
armoured vehicles and personnel carriers, or equipment, from injury or damage
caused by
the impact of bullets or other high-speed projectiles.
[0017] The layers of beads are the outer component of the armour, and are
designed to
trap the bullet or projectile. As a bullet or other projectile passes through
the layers of
beads, the bullet is destroyed ¨ flattened, shredded or mulched ¨ and trapped
in the layers
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of beads. The pneumatic layer is the inner component of the armour and it is
designed to
spread the impact energy from the bullet or projectile that hits the outer
component. The
outer component and inner component may be designed on any scale of size for
use in
protecting various things, such as persons, motor vehicles, ships, aircraft,
buildings, etc.
The armour may be any shape, including square, rectangular, circular, oval and
triangular.
[0018] FIGURE 1 is a cross section through an embodiment of the armour 10
which
embodiment has an outer component 20 comprising two layers of beads 22 and a
pneumatic layer inner component 30. In this embodiment several layers 40 of
KEVLAR or other high impact cloth are disposed between the outer and inner
components of the armour 10.
[0019] In the FIGURES, spaces 42 are shown between the layers 20, 30 and 40
for
illustrative purposes, however in actual assembly these layers will be in
close contact
with one another. As is apparent, additional layers of protective material may
be inserted
between or on either side of these layers, provided that in accordance with
the invention
described herein, the outer component of beads is positioned in front of the
inner
pneumatic layer component.
[0020] FIGURE 2 is a cross section through an embodiment of the armour 10,
which
embodiment has an outer component 20 comprising three layers of beads 22 and a
pneumatic layer 30 as an inner component. This armour differs from that of
FIGURE 1 in
that layers of flexible high-impact cloth are not disposed between the outer
and inner
components of the armour, which are in close contact with one another.
Additional layers
of protective material such as several layers 40 of KEVLAR , may be inserted
on either
side of the armour 10, or between the two components of the armour 10 (as
shown in
FIGURE 1), provided that in accordance with the invention described herein,
the outer
component of beads is positioned in front of the inner pneumatic layer
component.
[0021] FIGURE 3 is a cross section through an embodiment of the armour 10,
which
embodiment has an outer component 20 comprising three layers of beads 22and a
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pneumatic layer as an inner component 30, wherein the pneumatic layer is
inflatable.
This vest has the advantage that it is thinner than the embodiment shown in
FIGURE 2.
[0022] The inflatable pneumatic layer 30 in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 3
is
equipped with a sensor 50, which can detect an incoming bullet and, in
response, trigger a
charge 52, to deploy air or a gas such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide or other
suitable gas
that will inflate and pressurize the compartment in the pneumatic layer. The
air or gas
may be contained within a pressurized container connected via a fluid
passageway to the
compartment. Sensor 50 can be a diaphragm sensor (pressure, shock wave), optic
(light,
flash, movement, heat, shock wave), radar cell phone frequency (disruption of
microwave) or other type of sensor that is capable of detecting an incoming
bullet, and
causing the charge to inflate and pressurize the pneumatic layer in time to
capture the
energy transferred from the outer layer of beads. Sensor 50 can be powered by
a battery
or other power source. Charge 52 can be a cordite or smokeless charge or other
type of
charge.
[0023] At least two layers of beads 22 are used to form the outer component.
Optionally, three to six layers of beads are used. These at least two layers
of beads are
confined between a least two layers of flexible high impact cloth. FIGURE 5A
shows a
top view of an outer component 20 comprising two layers of beads 22, where the
beads
are arranged in layers, between sheets of flexible high impact cloth, such as
SPECTRA .
The top layer of SPECTRA is removed in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 5A, to
show the underlying two layers of beads. More layers of beads may be used. The
upper
layer of beads 22A is shown above the lower layer of beads 22B.
[0024] The beads are preferably of uniform diameter, and are arranged in a non-
random
closely-packed lattice pattern in which each bead is in immediate contact with
all of its
neighbouring beads, thereby minimizing the size of inter-bead spaces in a
layer and
between layers. As shown herein, the layers of beads in the outer component
may directly
contact one another, or they may be separated by one or more layers of a
flexible high-
impact cloth. While the layers of beads used in an outer component are
preferably of
uniform diameter it is contemplated that the layers may comprise beads of
different
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diameters. For example, smaller beads may be used to fill inter-bead spaces
formed
between layers of larger beads in an outer component.
[0025] Interspersed between the layers of beads may be a flexible high-impact
cloth
such as SPECTRA , carbon fiber, KEVLAR , spider fiber, GOLDSHIELD , GOLD
FLEX , TWARON and DYNEEMA . The flexible high-impact cloth may be in
between each layer of beads, or between every second or third layer of beads.
In
alternative embodiments the layers of beads are not separated by one or more
layers of
flexible high impact cloth.
[0026] In a particularly preferred embodiment, one layer of beads is
manufactured by
bonding a layer of beads between two layers of SPECTRA . This may be
accomplished,
for example by laying a first sheet of SPECTRA onto a mold designed to hold
the
beads and arrange them in a regular pattern. The beads are positioned in the
mold, and a
second layer of SPECTRA is laid on top of the arranged beads. Heat may then
be
applied to these layers of SPECTRA to cause them to melt or soften, and bond
to the
beads. In this preferred embodiment, one layer of beads thus prepared is then
laid on top
of one or more other layers of beads, to form the outer component of an
armour. These
may be secured together for example by using additional layers of SPECTRA and
bonding these to the other layers of SPECTRA , using heat. In some
embodiments, and
depending on the materials used, radio frequency waves may be used to bond the
beads to
the high-impact cloth that may be interspersed between and over the layers of
beads. The
layers of beads may also be prepared by lamination, for example with a nano-
carbon film.
[0027] FIGURE 5B shows a cross section between the two layers of beads taken
at line
X-X in FIGURE 5A and manufactured according to the process described above.
The
upper layer of SPECTRA 24, which had been removed from FIGURE 5A is shown as
well. In this embodiment, the beads are separated by one layer 26 of SPECTRA
and
covered on either side by one layer of SPECTRA 24.
[0028] Beads 22 are solid, hard objects with a spherical shape, such as round
or oval.
They can be made of steel, aluminum, aluminum oxide and other metals or
combinations
of metals (i.e., aluminum bead coated with aluminum oxide; nickel or copper
plated steel
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beads), plastic, glass, ceramic. Specific examples of preferred materials for
making beads
are ALON (Surmet Corporation) a ceramic that is based on a composition of
aluminum
oxy nitride with a cubic spinel crystal structure and SPECTRA , a thin,
flexible ballistic
composite made from layers of unidirectional fibers held in place by flexible
resins
(Honeywell International Inc.). Other embodiments of beads comprise a carbon
fiber
centre with a polycarbon outer layer. Yet other embodiments comprise a
polycarbon,
carbon fibre or ceramic bead. Any of the beads may be coated with carbon
nanotubes.
[0029] In some embodiments the layers of beads in the outer component may be
separated by layers of flexible material. However, in all embodiments the
beads of the
outer component are able to move and impact each other (sometimes via
intervening
layers of flexible high-impact cloth) when a bullet or projectile impacts the
outer
component. This movement of the beads relative to one another results in
multiple
impacts of the bullet with the beads, and of the beads with each other, thus
resulting in
dissipation of the energy from the bullet and distortion of the bullet as it
becomes
distorted and trapped by the outer component. As noted above, the beads are
packed in a
non-random closely-packed lattice pattern, and they are confined between at
least two
layers of flexible high impact cloth. Applicant has found that an outer
component
comprised of beads having a random packing pattern or in which the beads are
not
closely-packed or in which the beads are not confined, is not as strong as one
in which
the beads are tightly packed in a non-random closely-packed lattice pattern
and which
constrains or confines the ultimate movement of the beads.
[0030] The outer component may be permanently attached to the front of the
inner
component, or optional intervening layers (e.g., layers of high-impact cloth)
for example
by stitching. Alternatively, it may be reversibly attached to the inner
component or
optional intervening layers by VELCRO , or by slipping the outer component
into a
suitably sized sleeve that is positioned in front of the inner component and
intervening
layers if incorporated.
[0031] In one embodiment, a ballistic gel may be used between the beads. In
another
embodiment, aluminum mesh may be used between the layers of beads.
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[0032] The pneumatic layer component 30 comprises trapped air, nitrogen gas,
carbon
dioxide or other suitable gas disposed inside a compartment that is airtight
or in the case
of pneumatic components that are inflatable that can be inflated with air,
nitrogen gas,
carbon dioxide or other suitable gas. The compartment may be disposed between
two
layers of flexible high-impact cloth or another flexible material (e.g.,
nylon, plastic).
High-impact cloth materials useable in making the pneumatic layer include
SPECTRA ,
KEVLAR , spider fiber, GOLD SHIELD , GOLD FLEX , TWARON ,
DYNEEMA , carbon nanotubes, carbon nanoballs, buckminsterfullerene
(Buckyballs).
Sheets of these materials may be laminated with a material to make them
airtight, for
example a plastic, for example polyethylene, nylon, polycarbonate or
polyurethane.
FIGURE 6A (inset) shows an airtight laminate layer 31 disposed on the inside
surface of
the layer of the high-impact cloth 32. Alternatively airtight tightly woven
cloths, such as
nylon or Dacron, may be used in place of plastic, disposed either inside or
outside of the
high-impact cloth material.
[0033] After making the high-impact cloth materials airtight, one sheet, or
two or more
sheets may be sealed together around the edges using a bonding agent, such as
a flexible
thermoplastic material, such as polyurethane, polyester or polyethylene, to
make an
airtight hermetically sealed compartment. Air or gas may then be injected into
this
compartment, to form the pneumatic layer component 30 in the case where this
component is not inflatable. Alternatively, the high-impact cloth materials
may be sealed
together around the edges using a bonding agent, and then treated for example
with a
plastic material, to make the airtight hermetically sealed compartment. The
air or gas in
the compartment may or may not be pressurized.
[0034] In the case where the pneumatic layer component 30 is inflatable, it
need not be
airtight and can be made by sealing one sheet, or two or more sheets of
material (e.g.,
nylon) together around the edges using a bonding agent, such as a flexible
thermoplastic
material, or by stitching. Air or gas may then be injected into this
compartment when
charge 52 is triggered by the sensor 50, as is well-known by persons of skill
in the art.
After deployment the pneumatic layer component may deflate.
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[0035] In a preferred embodiment the pneumatic layer is made using SPECTRA as
a
supporting material. In this embodiment, SPECTRA is laminated with a plastic
material
to make it airtight. Two or more layers of SPECTRA are brought together, the
edges
are hermetically sealed and air or gas is injected between the layers of
SPECTRA to
form the pneumatic layer component 30.
[0036] The pneumatic layer component 30 is formed of one compartment 34, as
shown
in FIGURE 6A, which shows a cross section of the component comprising two
layers of
laminated SPECTRA 32 (or other high-impact cloth) around on internal
compartment 34
containing air or nitrogen gas, with sealed edges 36. This one compartment of
the
pneumatic layer component may be further compartmentalized into
subcompartments.
Compartmentalization may be achieved for example as shown in FIGURE 6B, by
using
for example three sheets of laminated SPECTRA 32, and injecting gas or air
between
the three sheets to form two subcompartments 34a and b, inside the main
compartment 34.
[0037] The embodiment of the pneumatic layer component that is shown in FIGURE
6C comprises a series of circular subcompartments 35 inside a series of
triangular
subcompartments 37 disposed in the main compartment 34 of the pneumatic layer
comprised of two layers of high-impact cloth that are sealed to form an
airtight
compartment. Circular subcompartments 35 may be formed as tubes, formed by
circularizing a sheet of material and triangular subcompartments 37 may be
formed by
pleating a sheet of material. The spaces in the subcompartments of FIGURE 6C
are filled
with air or gas.
[0038] The pneumatic layer component may also include subcompartments that are
formed from hollow soft- or hard-sided spheres 35 that are made of a material
such as
carbon fiber or SPECTRA , and filled with air or gas such as nitrogen. These
spheres are
disposed in the main compartment 34 of the pneumatic layer comprised of two
layers of
high-impact cloth that are sealed to form an airtight compartment. The hollow
spheres
may be arranged in a layer or layers in the pneumatic layer as shown in FIGURE
6D.
[0039] A particularly preferred embodiment of the armour 10, for use in a soft
body
armour comprises several layers of ALON beads bonded to SPECTRA , as the outer
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component. This is placed is in front of a pneumatic layer inner component,
that is made
from laminated SPECTRA , as described above. In between these two layers may
be
disposed several layers of KEVLARO. A vest thus constructed avoids or reduces
blunt
trauma injury to underlying tissues in an individual who is shot with a high
powered rifle
round, such as a 50, 223, 308 or 338 caliber bullet. Other particularly
preferred
embodiments use SPECTRA , carbon or aluminum beads in the outer component.
[0040] The armour 10 may also be used to protect a vehicle or structure from
damage
due to impact of projectiles or bullets. It is contemplated that one, or more
than one, layer
of armour 10 may be used on a vehicle. FIGURE 4 shows a cross section of an
embodiment of the armour applied to an armoured vehicle 48. In this
embodiment, two
layers of armour 10 are used, each comprising an outer component of layered
beads 20
and an inner pneumatic layer 30. The outer components are fastened to the
vehicle or to
the other outer component, for example by using bolts 54 or VELCRO. In this
embodiment the compartments 34 of the inner pneumatic layers inflate when
triggered by
a sensor that detects an incoming bullet or projectile. In a preferred
embodiment, the
beads of the outer layer are comprised of ALON that are bonded to SPECTRA ,
carbon
filter or KEVLARO.
[0041] The pneumatic layers 30 in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4 are
equipped
with one or more sensors 50, which can detect an incoming bullet or projectile
and, in
response, trigger charges 52 to deploy air or a gas such as nitrogen, carbon
dioxide or
helium, which will inflate the pneumatic layers. The sensor(s) 50 can be
diaphragm
sensors (pressure, shock wave), optic sensors (light, flash, movement, heat,
shock wave),
a radar cell phone frequency sensor (disruption of microwave) or any other
type of sensor
that is capable of detecting an incoming bullet or projectile and causing the
charges to
inflate the pneumatic layers in time to capture the energy transferred from
the outer layer
of beads. Sensors 50 can be powered by a battery that is the vehicle battery
or an
independent battery or other power source. Charges 52 can be a cordite or
smokeless
charge or other type of charge.
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[0042] The sensors 50 can be designed to trigger the charges 52 in unison or
sequentially, when they detect an incoming bullet or projectile.
[0043] In one embodiment of the armour 10 used for protecting vehicles or
other
structures, the outer beaded layer(s) are provided with an electric current
that generates
an electromagnetic field, for example by running copper wire through the
layers of beads.
The electromagnetic current will detonate the piezoelectric fuse on an
incoming rocket-
propelled grenade (RPG) before it contacts the outer beaded layer of the
armour. The
power source for the electromagnetic field can be the battery from the vehicle
or an
independent battery or other power source. In this embodiment, the energy in
the RPG is
substantially weakened before it first contacts the outer layer.
[0044] The armour 10 may additionally be designed to be a "reactive" armour,
which is
an armour that reacts in some way to the impact of a weapon to reduce the
damage done
to the vehicle being protected, such as an explosive reactive armour (ERA),
self-limiting
explosive reactive armour (SLERA), non-energetic reactive armour (NERA), non-
explosive reactive armour (NxRA), and electric reactive armour.
[0045] A particularly preferred embodiment, for use on a light armoured
vehicle,
comprises two layers of armour 10, each layer comprising an outer component
comprised
of layers of ALON beads, each positioned in front of a pneumatic layer inner
component,
which is inflatable. The armour 10 includes one or more sensors that sense the
incoming
projectile and cause the charges to inflate the pneumatic layer components
before the
projectile contacts the outer component of beads. If the armour additionally
comprises an
electromagnetic field, in the case of an incoming RPG, the field will detonate
the
piezoelectric fuse on the incoming RPG before it contacts the first outer
beaded layer of
the armour. In this embodiment, while it is conceivable that the projectile
may penetrate
the first outer component and pneumatic layer, it is anticipated that it will
have lost
sufficient energy in doing so, and will be sufficiently deformed by the beads,
that it will
be trapped by the second outer component.
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[0046] The armour 10 therefore, disposed on a light armoured vehicle or
armoured
personnel carrier, will defeat or at least significantly reduce the impact of
incoming
RPGs, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and 50 caliber bullets.
EXAMPLES
Following are representative examples of the invention.
No Pneumatic Layer
[0047] Example 1: Plastic AIRSOFT pellets, which are spherical projectiles
used in
AIRSOFT gun models, were put into a ZIPLOC bag, to a thickness of about 1.5",
and
this bag was taped to the front of an RCMP KEVLAR vest comprising 22 layers
of
KEVLAR , which was secured to the front of a 10 L plastic water jug that was
filled
with water, with the pellets on the outside. A 223 caliber bullet was fired at
this assembly
from a distance of 25 meters, and the 223 caliber bullets were stopped and
trapped in the
pellets. Without the pellets in front, the bullets would have penetrated
through the vest.
However, the bullet would have caused severe, if not fatal, blunt trauma
injury.
[0048] Example 2: Glass beads (marbles) were put into a ZIPLOC bag, to a
thickness of about 2.5" to 4", and this bag was taped to the front of an RCMP
KEVLAR vest comprising 22 layers of KEVLAR , which was secured to the front
of a
10 L plastic water jug that was filled with water, with the beads on the
outside. 223, 308
and 338 Lapua Magnum bullets were fired at this assembly from a distance of 25
meters.
Without the beads, the bullets would have penetrated through the vest. The
bullets were
stopped and trapped in the marbles, however the bullets would have caused
severe, if not
fatal, blunt trauma injury.
[0049] Example 3: 4.5 mm round steel beads were arranged in three layers. In
between
each layer was duct tape to hold the beads, and an aluminum mesh. The layers
of beads
were placed over an RCMP KEVLAR vest comprising 22 layers of KEVLAR . A 10
L plastic water jug was filled with water and a dye, and the combination of
bead layers
and vest was attached to the front of the water jug with the layers of beads
on the outside.
223 caliber bullets (lead core or soft steel core) were shot at this
arrangement from a
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distance of 25 meters, and failed to penetrate through the vest. Without the
beads, the
bullets would have penetrated the vest. However, the water jug was broken,
indicating
that the bullets would have caused severe, if not fatal, blunt trauma injury.
[0050] Example 4: 4.5 mm round steel copper-coated beads were arranged in
sixteen
layers by laminating the layers of beads together. These sixteen layers of
beads were placed
in front of a 10 L plastic water jug that was filled with water, with the
layers of beads on
the outside. A raw egg was positioned between the back of the water jug and a
solid barrier.
308 caliber bullets were shot at this arrangement from a distance of 1 meter,
and failed to
penetrate the layers of beads. However, the water jug and the egg were broken,
indicating
that the bullets would have caused severe, if not fatal, blunt trauma injury.
With a pneumatic layer
[0051] Example 1: 4.5 mm round steel beads were arranged in three layers. In
between
each layer was an aluminum mesh and duct tape to hold the beads. The layers of
beads
were placed over an RCMP KEVLAR vest comprising 22 layers of KEVLAR , which
was placed over three layers of conventional bubble wrap. A 10 L plastic water
jug was
filled with water and a dye, and the combination of the layered beads, vest
and bubble
wrap, was attached to the front of the water jug. 223 caliber bullets (lead
core or soft
steel core) were shot at this arrangement from a distance of 25 meters, and
failed to
penetrate through the vest. The water jug was not broken, indicating that the
bullets
would have caused minor, if any, blunt trauma injury.
[0052] Example 2: 4.5mm round steel beads were arranged in six layers using
duct
tape. These six layers of beads were placed over an RCMP KEVLAR vest
comprising 22
layers of KEVLAR , which was placed over three layers of conventional bubble
wrap. A
10L plastic water jug was filled with water and a dye, and this combination of
layered
beads, vest and bubble wrap was attached to the front of the water jug, with
the layers of
beads on the outside. 308 caliber bullets (lead core or soft steel core) were
shot at this
arrangement from a distance of 10 feet, and failed to penetrate through the
vest. The
water jug was not broken, indicating that the bullet would have caused minor,
if any,
blunt trauma injury.
14
CA 02853960 2014-06-10
[0053] Example 3a: 4.5 mm round steel copper-coated beads were arranged in 8
layers
by laminating the layers of beads together. A layer of ping pong balls
(diameter 40 mm)
was arranged between two layers of bubble wrap and placed within a sealed
ziploc bag.
The layers of beads were placed over an RCMP KEVLAR vest comprising 22 layers
of
KEVLAR and the ping pong balls were positioned behind it. This combination
was
placed in front of a 10 L plastic water jug that was filled with water, with
the layers of
beads on the outside. A raw egg was positioned between the back of the water
jug and a
solid barrier. 308 caliber bullets were shot at this arrangement from a
distance of 1 meter,
and failed to penetrate through the vest. The water jug and the egg were not
broken,
indicating that the bullets would have caused minor, if any, blunt trauma
injury. The ping
pong balls were not deformed at all.
[0054] Example 3b: 4.5 mm round steel copper coated beads were arranged in 8
layers
by laminating the layers of beads together. A layer of ping pong balls
(diameter 40 mm)
was arranged between two layers of duct tape. The layers of beads were placed
over an
RCMP KEVLAR vest comprising 22 layers of KEVLAR and the ping pong balls
behind it. This combination was placed in front of a 10 L plastic water jug
that was filled
with water with the layers of beads on the outside. A raw egg was positioned
between the
back of the water jug and a solid barrier. 308 caliber bullets were shot at
this arrangement
from a distance of 1 meter, and failed to penetrate through the vest. The
water jug and the
egg were not broken, indicating that the bullets would have caused minor, if
any, blunt
trauma injury. However, the ping pong balls were severely deformed as a result
of the
bullet impact, compared to the ping pong balls in Example 3a, indicating that
there would
be more energy transfer to the body using this arrangement as compared to the
arrangement of Example 3b. Further, the arrangement of Example 3a would be
capable of
sustaining more hits, than the arrangement of Example 3b.
