STRUCTURE FOR BALLISTIC PROTECTION OF VEHICLES IN GENERAL AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF

Abstract

Structure for the ballistic protection of vehicles in general, characterized in that it comprises at least a first textile element and at least an additional element formed of a thermoplastic or thermosetting matrix. The structure forms a ballistic system for light armor plating obtained from at least one textile element and one or more thermoplastic or thermosetting base elements. The first textile element includes textile fibers. The second element can include thermoplastic matrices, thermosetting matrices, matrices based on rubber, elastomeric polymers and thermoplastic films of various kinds, the purpose of which consists in providing mechanical properties such that the use of the element can be extended to the field of armor plating while maintaining a high degree of flexibility. The aforesaid elements together contribute to define an efficient ballistic solution while maintaining a relatively low areal density.

Claims

1-7. (canceled)

8. A structure for ballistic protection of vehicles in general comprising a first textile element (2), at least a second textile element (4) and at least an additional element (3) interposed between said first textile element and said second textile element, characterized in that said at least an additional element (3) is formed of layers (31,33,35) with layers of matrix (32,34) interposed, said additional element (3) being interposed between said textile elements, said layers (31,33,35) and said first textile element and said second textile element being textile panels made of woven ballistic layers reinforced with fibers mechanically entangled in the interstices of the woven layers to form a consolidated material.

9. A structure according to claim 8, characterized in that said first textile element further comprises one or more yarns among para-aramid matrix yarns.

10. A structure according to claim 8, characterized in that said additional element (3) comprises one or more matrices (32,34) among thermoplastic matrices, thermosetting matrices, matrices based on rubber or elastomeric polymers, or a combination thereof, or laminated with thermoplastic films of various kinds, such as PE, PU, PP, PA, EVA, or any thermoplastic material suitable to be extruded into film.

11. A structure according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a layer (31) or Corematrix FF9354, three layers (33) of Corematrix FF9354 laminated with two layers (32,34) of thermoplastic film; a layer (35) of Corematrix FF9354.

12. A structure according to claim 11, characterized in that said layers are held together by a perimeter seam.

13. A method for the production of a structure for ballistic protection of vehicles in general according to claim 8, characterized in that said method comprises a partial melting of a thermoplastic or thermosetting matrix on a textile element made of woven ballistic layers reinforced with fibers mechanically entangled in the interstices of the woven layers to form a consolidated material by means of calendering or hot lamination, or the use of IR lamps.

14. A method according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises a step of compacting one or more layers of said matrix and said textile element, by means of pressing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from an examination of the description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying perspective drawing sheet, wherein:

[0023] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the structure according to the present invention, illustrated with elements for fixing to a support consisting of the bodywork of a vehicle;

[0024] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating in detail the components of the additional element of the structure.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] With particular reference to the numerical symbols of the aforesaid figures, the structure for ballistic protection according to the invention, indicated as a whole with the reference numeral 1, comprises a first textile element 2 and an optional second textile element 4, and at least an additional element 3.

[0026] The textile elements 2 and 4 are advantageously formed of textile panels made of woven ballistic layers reinforced with fibers mechanically entangled in the interstices of the woven layers to form a consolidated material known with the trade name CoreMatrix (US 2017/0191803 A1), manufactured by the same Applicant.

[0027] The additional element 3 is formed of a series of layers, identified with the reference numerals 31, 33 and 35, formed by CoreMatrix textile elements, with layers of matrix 32 and 34 interposed.

[0028] The additional element 3 can include thermoplastic matrices, thermosetting matrices, matrices based on rubber, elastomeric polymers and thermoplastic films of various kinds, the purpose of which consists in providing mechanical properties such that the use of textile elements 2 and 4 can be expanded to the field of armor plating while maintaining a high degree of flexibility.

[0029] As illustrated schematically in FIG. 1, the structure 1 of the present invention can be applied to a support, consisting of the bodywork of a vehicle, indicated with the reference numeral 10, by means of riveting 11.

[0030] The elements described above together contribute to define an efficient ballistic solution while maintaining a relatively low areal density.

[0031] The structure is produced by means of a coating, lamination and/or pressing process of conventional fabrics and/or fabrics in the range known with the trade name “Corematrix”, of the type used for the production of bullet-proof vests, with a thermoplastic or thermosetting matrix.

[0032] The use of a prevalent percentage of fabric with respect to the matrix makes it possible to formulate solutions that maintain the flexibility of the base fabric and therefore the specific flexibility that distinguishes the product from the range of common armor platings.

[0033] The base fabrics can be para-aramid matrix fabrics (Kevlar®, Twaron®, or similar fabrics available on the market), or polyethylene matrix fabrics such as UHMWPE (Spectra®, Dyneema®, Tensylon® or similar fabrics available on the market) or other fabrics formed of high tenacity fibers.

[0034] There are no limits to the areal densities of the fabrics that can be used.

[0035] Impregnation/lamination allows compacting of one or more layers of the structure formed of the first textile element and of the additional element by means of pressing.

[0036] However, ballistic data show that the flexibility of a structure obtained in this way is also useful for a more effective operation of the product.

[0037] The presence of a matrix in too high a percentage would stiffen the structure of the fabric to the extent that it would become fragile, thus reducing the capacity to absorb impact energy.

[0038] The production method of the structure according to the present invention provides for stabilization consisting of partial melting of the thermoplastic matrix by means of calendering or hot lamination, or the use of IR lamps, whose process parameters vary according to the thermoplastic material used.

[0039] The resulting structure can undergo compaction of one or more of its layers, by means of pressing.

[0040] The structure can be applied to the supporting part of the vehicle by means of riveting and/or gluing, allowing optimization of the final weight, installation times and methods.

[0041] The additional element can comprise thermoplastic matrices, thermosetting matrices, matrices based on rubber or elastomeric polymers, or combinations thereof, or laminated with thermoplastic films of various kinds, such as PE, PU, PP, PA, EVA, or in principle any thermoplastic material suitable for possible extrusion into film.

[0042] The structure of the present invention is efficient in stopping bullets and, due to its flexibility, it is capable of satisfying the standards of protection of vehicles.

[0043] The structure of the present invention can be combined in different ways with structures already existing on the market, thus imparting different energy absorption properties.

[0044] The following example represents experimental tests conducted by the Applicant and is provided purely for non-limiting illustrative purposes.

[0045] In the light of the methods with which the ballistic test is conducted, which do not provide for any standard fastening method with regard to the flexible materials, the ballistic part was integrated in a semi-definitive prototype.

[0046] Each test sample 50×50 cm in size was produced in the same way in which it would be applied to the vehicle.

[0047] The structure was glued and riveted to a 0.8 mm sheet of non-ballistic steel, so as to make it integral with a rigid support and to ensure adequate fixing to the target of the shooting system by means of clamps.

[0048] The structure presented here was also certified in accordance with the protection class FB4, standard EN 1523, at the Spanish laboratory AITEX with registered office in Alicante.

[0049] The following ballistic data refer to a solution with areal density of 6.3 kg/m.sup.2, formed of (in order):

[0050] a layer of Corematrix FF9354,

[0051] three layers of Corematrix FF9354 laminated with two layers of thermoplastic film,

[0052] a layer of Corematrix FF9354,

[0053] all held together by a perimeter seam at 3 cm from the outer edge.

TABLE-US-00001 Cal 357 mm Magnum FJ/-430 ± 10 m/s Panel Shot number Velocity (m/s) Result* 1 1 422.7 P 2 426.9 P 3 425.4 P 2 4 426.6 P 5 428.1 P 6 426.4 P 3 7 425.8 P 8 425.7 P 9 426.8 P Cal. 44 Mag JHC-440 ± 10 m/s Panel Shot number Velocity (m/s) Result* 1 1 432.8 P 2 437.0 P 3 434.6 P 2 4 438.3 P 5 433.9 P 6 432.8 P 3 7 435.8 P 8 435.5 P 9 436.8 P *P = partial penetration; C = complete penetration;

[0054] In practice, it has been found that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects.

[0055] In fact, a composite structure has been provided that forms a ballistic system for light armoring obtained from articles formed of a multi-layer structure composed of woven and nonwoven fabric, of the type already used for bullet-proof vests, so processed as to adapt this type of fabrics to the use in the field of armor plating, by using a method that does not alter the ballistic properties and a processing that preserves its flexibility.

[0056] The structure of the present invention is based on the idea of modulating the flexibility of a fabric such as CoreMatrix® in such a manner as to allow its use in the field of armor plating, without relinquishing either its flexibility or its effectiveness in addressing the specific threat.

[0057] Naturally, the materials used, and the dimensions, can be any according to requirements.