Very lightweight reactive applique armor

Abstract

A multi-layer lightweight protective armor system for application to an unarmored vehicle includes an energy absorbing layer adapted to be mounted adjacent an exterior vehicle surface, an explosive layer formed from an explosive material and disposed on the energy absorbing layer, and a trigger layer disposed on the explosive layer. The trigger layer is operable to initiate an explosion in the explosive layer when a projectile impacts the trigger layer and the energy absorbing layer is operable to contain the explosion and prevent the explosion from reaching the exterior vehicle surface.

1 . A multi-layer lightweight protective armor system for application to an unarmored vehicle, comprising: 
 an energy absorbing layer adapted to be mounted adjacent an exterior vehicle surface;    an explosive layer formed from an explosive material and disposed on said energy absorbing layer; and    a trigger layer disposed on said explosive second layer, said trigger layer operable to initiate an explosion in said explosive layer when a projectile impacts said trigger layer, said energy absorbing layer operable to contain the explosion and prevent the explosion from reaching the exterior vehicle surface.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said energy absorbing layer includes a plurality of sub-layers.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said energy absorbing sub-layers are formed from at least one material selected from the group consisting of RPF, metal, polymer, flexible polymer foam, and high strength polymer fabric material.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said layers of said system are formed in the shape of a tile and said system comprises a plurality of said tiles arranged in an array on the exterior vehicle surface.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  where each of said tiles has an aspect ratio of approximately 1.0.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said explosive layer is formed from an explosive material.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said explosive material comprises at least one material selected form the group consisting of PETN, C-2, C-3, and C-4.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said trigger layer includes a plurality of sub-layers.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said trigger sub-layers are formed from at least one of material selected from the group consisting of a metal and a polymer.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said trigger layer initiates an explosion utilizing a percussion plate.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said trigger layer initiates an explosion utilizing an electrical initiation system.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising a detonating device disposed in said explosive layer.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising a spacer layer disposed between said explosive layer and said trigger layer.  
   
   
       14 . A multi-layer lightweight protective armor system for application to an unarmored vehicle, comprising: 
 an energy absorbing layer adjacent an exterior vehicle surface;    an explosive layer disposed on said energy absorbing layer, said explosive layer including a detonator disposed therein;    a spacer layer disposed on said explosive layer;    a trigger layer disposed on said spacer layer; and    a firing set including a detonator disposed in said explosive layer, said trigger layer operable to send a signal to said firing set when a projectile impacts said trigger layer, said firing set operable to detonate said detonator to initiate an explosion in said explosive layer, and said energy absorbing layer operable to contain said explosion and prevent the explosion from reaching the exterior vehicle surface.    
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein said energy absorbing layer includes a plurality of sub-layers.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said energy absorbing sub-layers are formed from at least one material selected from the group consisting of RPF, metal, polymer, flexible polymer foam, and high strength polymer fabric material.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 14  wherein said trigger layer includes a plurality of sub-layers.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein said trigger sub-layers are formed from at least one material selected from the group consisting of a metal and a polymer.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein said trigger layer sends a signal to said firing set when the projectile completes an electrical circuit between two of said trigger sub-layers.  
   
   
       20 . A multi-layer lightweight protective armor system for application to an unarmored vehicle, comprising: 
 an energy absorbing layer adjacent an exterior vehicle surface;    an explosive layer disposed on said energy absorbing layer, said explosive layer including a detonator disposed therein; and    a trigger layer disposed on said second layer, said trigger layer including a percussion plate operable to initiate an explosion in said explosive layer when a projectile impacts said trigger layer, said energy absorbing layer operable to contain the explosion and prevent the explosion from reaching the exterior vehicle surface.    
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein said energy absorbing layer includes a plurality of sub-layers.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said energy absorbing sub-layers comprise at least one material selected from the group consisting of RPF, metal, polymer, flexible polymer foam, and high strength polymer fabric material.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 20  wherein said trigger layer includes a plurality of sub-layers.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 23  wherein said trigger sub-layers are formed from at least one material selected from the group consisting of a metal and a polymer.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 24  wherein at least one of said trigger sub-layers is a percussion plate, another of said trigger sub-layers is an anvil layer, and another of said trigger sub-layers is a hammer layer.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the surfaces of said anvil layer and said hammer layer in contact with said percussion plate include complementary contours shaped for efficient compression of said percussion plate.