ARMOUR

Abstract

Modular armour is provided. The armour comprises a series of regularly-shaped armour elements and corresponding anchor elements releasably to anchor the armour elements to a platform. Each anchor element comprises an armour engaging section extending between first and second ends thereof, the first end being engageable with an armour mount on the platform and the second end including means releasably to secure the armour element, while engaged with the anchor element, to the platform. The platform may be fixed or mobile and includes land, water-born and air vehicles.

Claims

1. Armour comprising a series of armour elements and corresponding anchor elements releasably to anchor the armour elements to a platform, each anchor element comprising an armour engaging section extending between first and second ends thereof, the first end being engageable with an armour mount on the platform and the second end engageable to releasably secure an armour element engaged with the anchor element to the platform.

2. Armour according to claim 1, further comprising a cap releasably attachable to the second end of the anchor element, to releasably secure the armour element engaged with the anchor element to the platform.

3. Armour according to claim 2, in which the cap includes a twist lock fitting for attaching the cap to the second end of the anchor element.

4. Armour according to claim 3, in which the twist lock fitting comprises a bayonet fitting.

5. Armour according to claim 4, in which the bayonet fitting includes a camming arrangement to bias the bayonet fitting toward full engagement of the cap and anchor element together.

6. Armour according to claim 2, in which the cap includes a push lock fitting for attaching the cap to the second end of the anchor element.

7. Armour according to claim 6, in which the push lock fitting comprises a series of notches disposed longitudinally of the anchor element on one of the anchor element and cap, said notches being interengageable with at least one cooperating notch located on the other of the anchor element and cap.

8. Armour according to claim 7, in which the series of notches and/or the at least one cooperating notch comprises resilient material whereby to allow the said push fit.

9. Armour according to claim 7, in which at least one notch is resiliently mounted, whereby to allow the said push fit.

10. Armour according to claim 7, in which the anchor element and cap are rotatable with respect to one another whereby to disengage the series of notches from the at least one cooperating notch and allow detachment of the cap from the anchor element.

11. Armour according to claim 1, in which the anchor elements are at least partially tubular, and further comprising a cap, with the cap being attachable thereto internally of the tube.

12. Armour according to claim 1, in which the anchor elements are engageable with each armour element around a periphery of the armour element.

13. Armour according to claim 1, in which the armour elements are shaped to overlap an adjacent armour element when fitted to the platform.

14. (canceled)

15. Armour according to claim 13, in which the said shape of the armour elements comprises a lipped edge.

16. Armour according to claim 1, in which the armour elements comprise anchor-engaging portions spaced at regular intervals therearound and in which the armour elements are sized in multiples of a basic shape.

17. Armour according to claim 16, in which the basic shape is square.

18. Armour according to claim 1, in which anchor-engaging portions of the armour elements are located in the region of vertices of the periphery of each armour element.

19. Armour according to claim 18, in which the anchor-engaging portions of the armour element are shaped to be a snug fit against each anchor element when the armour element is attached to the platform.

20. Armour according to claim 1, in which the first end of each anchor element is attachable to a second end of another anchor element whereby to allow the anchor elements to be connected end to end to attach more than one layer of armour elements to the platform.

21. An armoured platform comprising a platform defining a series of armour mounts spaced thereacross and armour according to claim 1 attached to the platform by the mounts.

Description

[0042] The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:—

[0043] FIG. 1 shows, schematically, a perspective view of a platform with two armour elements being fitted, according to the invention;

[0044] FIG. 2 shows the platform of FIG. 1 with an armour element partially secured in position;

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a twist-lock cap, according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0046] FIG. 4 shows an alternative twist-lock cap, according to the invention, with a retaining portion missing;

[0047] FIG. 5 shows an upper portion of an anchor element, according to the invention, for engagement with the twist-lock cap of FIG. 3, and

[0048] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an anchor element and cap, according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a platform 1 or alternatively a frame 5 which is attachable to a separate platform. The platform 1 or frame 5 is shown having a series of armour mounts in the form of apertures 2 set into the platform 1 or frame 5, in a grid formation 3. Into apertures 2, as required, may be fixed anchor elements 4. Shown in a position above the platform 1 are two armour elements 10. Also shown, above each anchor element 4, are anchor element-engaging portions 11 of four caps 9. A suitable fixing arrangement, such as a screw thread or some kind of push-fit or twist-lock arrangement, may be used. Alternatively, the anchor elements may be fixed permanently in position, if they do not cause any inconvenience or if they are attached to the frame 5 which may itself be detachable from the platform.

[0050] Each anchor element 4 is tubular in shape and defines a female twist-lock arrangement 6 in a second end 7 thereof, as shown more clearly in FIG. 5. The female twist-lock arrangement 6 works in conjunction with a male twist-lock arrangement 8 of a cap 9 (as shown in FIG. 3) to secure the cap in position in the anchor element 4.

[0051] As will be observed, from the alternative male twist lock designs of caps 9 and 11, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the number of projections 12, 13 may be selected according to design requirements.

[0052] Referring to FIG. 5, a camming arrangement in the form of projection-engaging surfaces 14, 15 is shown. The surfaces 14, 15 are arranged to extend in a helical formation axially toward the second end 7 of the anchor element 4, in a clockwise direction from slots 16, 17, to bias the bayonet fitting toward full engagement of the cap and anchor element together. To provide the biasing force against the cap 9, a spring (not shown) in either the cap 9 or the anchor element 4 is compressed in order to engage the projections 12 behind the camming surfaces 14, 15. Re-extension of this spring thus causes the projections to move around the camming surfaces 14, 15 into a position of full engagement of the cap 9 with the anchor element 4.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 6, a push fit arrangement is shown, for connecting the anchor element 4 to the cap 9. On the second end 7 of the anchor element are formed 2 sets of notches or teeth 18, 19. Each set of teeth 18, 19 is arranged to engage with a co-operating set of teeth 20, 21 on the cap 9. Here, all four sets of teeth 18, 19, 20, 21 are made of resilient material, to enable the push fit of the cap 9 inside the anchor element 4 to take place. To disengage the cap 9 from the anchor element 4, the cap is turned, relative to the anchor element to disengage the teeth and allow the cap to be pulled out. To prevent unintended rotation of the cap, one or more detents 22, 23, which may be sprung, may be provided.