Applique Armor and Mounting System

Abstract

Applique armor has a mounting plate with a channel that receives flanged beam mounted on a structure to be protected. A box is attached to the mounting plate opposite the channel. The box contains an open cell layer. When applied to a structure, adjacent mounting plates interlock using mortise and tenon, and mounting plates arranged one behind another overlap with boxes on neighboring mounting plates to eliminate gaps in the armor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Applique armor, comprising:
 a mounting plate having first and second surfaces oppositely disposed;   a channel positioned in said mounting plate and extending along said first surface;   a box attached to said second surface of said mounting plate.   
     
     
         2 . The applique armor according to  claim 1 , further comprising an open cell layer positioned within said box. 
     
     
         3 . The applique armor according to  claim 1 , wherein said channel has a T shaped cross section. 
     
     
         4 . The applique armor according to  claim 1 , wherein said mounting plate further comprises:
 first and second edges oppositely disposed and extending substantially parallel to said channel;   a mortise positioned in said mounting plate and extending along said first edge;   a tenon extending along said second edge and projecting outwardly therefrom.   
     
     
         5 . The applique armor according to  claim 4 , wherein said mortise and said tenon have a T shaped cross section. 
     
     
         6 . The applique armor according to  claim 4 , wherein said mortise and said tenon have a bulbous head cross section. 
     
     
         7 . The applique armor according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said mounting plate has a first end and a second end oppositely disposed;   said box has a first end and a second end oppositely disposed, said first end of said box being offset from said first end of said mounting plate.   
     
     
         8 . The applique armor according to  claim 7 , wherein said second end of said box is offset from said second end of said mounting plate. 
     
     
         9 . The applique armor according to  claim 8 , wherein said first end of said box projects outwardly from said first end of said mounting plate, and said second end of said mounting plate projects outwardly from said second end of said box. 
     
     
         10 . The applique armor according to  claim 2 , wherein said mounting plate, said box and said open cell layer are made of titanium. 
     
     
         11 . The applique armor according to  claim 1 , wherein said box comprises:
 first and second end panels oppositely disposed;   first and second side panels oppositely disposed; wherein   said first and second end panels have a thickness less than a thickness of said first and second side panels.   
     
     
         12 . The applique armor according to  claim 11 , further comprising an open cell layer positioned within said box, wherein said open cell layer is oriented with open ends of cells facing said first and second end panels. 
     
     
         13 . The applique armor according to  claim 1 , wherein said box comprises a panel positioned in spaced relation to said second surface of said mounting plate, said panel forming a bottom of said box and having a plurality of vent holes therethrough. 
     
     
         14 . In combination, applique armor and a mounting system for mounting said applique armor to a structure, said combination comprising:
 at least one mounting plate having first and second surfaces oppositely disposed;   a channel positioned in said at least one mounting plate and extending along said first surface;   a box attached to said second surface of said at least one mounting plate;   a beam received within said channel, said beam being attachable to said structure.   
     
     
         15 . The combination according to  claim 14 , further comprising an open cell layer positioned within said box. 
     
     
         16 . The combination according to  claim 14 , wherein said channel has a T shaped cross section and said beam comprises a web and a flange attached to said web, said web and flange sized to be received within said channel. 
     
     
         17 . The combination according to  claim 14 , wherein said at least one mounting plate further comprises:
 first and second edges oppositely disposed and extending substantially parallel to said channel;   a mortise positioned in said mounting plate and extending along said first edge;   a tenon extending along said second edge and projecting outwardly therefrom.   
     
     
         18 . The combination according to  claim 17 , wherein said mortise and said tenon have a T shaped cross section. 
     
     
         19 . The applique armor according to  claim 17 , wherein said mortise and said tenon have a bulbous head cross section. 
     
     
         20 . The combination according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 said at least one mounting plate has a first end and a second end oppositely disposed;   said box has a first end and a second end oppositely disposed, said first end of said box being offset from said first end of said mounting plate.   
     
     
         21 . The combination according to  claim 20 , wherein said second end of said box is offset from said second end of said mounting plate. 
     
     
         22 . The combination according to  claim 21 , wherein said first end of said box projects outwardly from said first end of said mounting plate, and said second end of said mounting plate projects outwardly from said second end of said box. 
     
     
         23 . The combination according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a slot positioned proximate to one end of said beam;   a wedge removably positioned within said slot for retaining said at least one mounting plate on said beam.   
     
     
         24 . In combination, applique armor and a mounting system for mounting said applique armor to a structure, said combination comprising:
 a plurality of mounting plates, each said mounting plate comprising:   first and second surfaces oppositely disposed;   a channel extending along said first surface;   a box attached to said second surface of each said mounting plate, said combination further comprising:   a plurality of beams received within said channels, said beams being attachable to said structure, said mounting plates being arranged on said beams one behind another and one adjacent another.   
     
     
         25 . The combination according to  claim 24 , further comprising an open cell layer positioned within each said box. 
     
     
         26 . The combination according to  claim 24 , wherein each said channel has a T shaped cross section and each said beam comprises a web and a flange attached to said web, said webs and flanges sized to be received within said channels. 
     
     
         27 . The combination according to  claim 24 , wherein each said mounting plate further comprises:
 first and second edges oppositely disposed and extending substantially parallel to said channel;   a mortise positioned in said mounting plate and extending along said first edge;   a tenon extending along said second edge and projecting outwardly therefrom, wherein for said mounting plates positioned adjacent to one another, said tenon on one of said mounting plates engages a mortise on another of said mounting plates.   
     
     
         28 . The combination according to  claim 24 , wherein:
 each of said mounting plates has a first end and a second end oppositely disposed;   each of said boxes has a first end and a second end oppositely disposed; wherein   said first ends of each of said boxes project outwardly from said first ends of each of said mounting plates;   said second ends of each of said mounting plates project outwardly from each of said second ends of each of said boxes; and   for said mounting plates positioned one behind another, said second ends of said mounting plates overlap said first ends of said boxes.   
     
     
         29 . The combination according to  claim 24 , further comprising:
 first and second slots positioned proximate to opposite ends of each of said beams;   first and second wedges removably positioned within said slots for retaining said mounting plates on said beam.   
     
     
         30 . A method of mounting applique armor on a structure, said method comprising:
 mounting at least one beam on said structure;   engaging a channel in a first mounting plate with said at least one beam;   sliding said first mounting plate lengthwise along said beam to a first position.   
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 30 , further comprising:
 engaging a channel in a second mounting plate with said at least one beam;   sliding said second mounting plate along said at least one beam to a second position adjacent to said first mounting plate.   
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31 , further comprising overlapping a portion of said first mounting plate with a portion of said second mounting plate upon sliding said second mounting plate into said second position. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 30 , further comprising:
 mounting at least a second beam on said structure in spaced relation adjacent to said at least one beam;   engaging a channel in a second mounting plate said second beam;   sliding said second mounting plate along said second beam to a second position adjacent to said one mounting plate.   
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33 , further comprising engaging a mortise on said second mounting plate with a tenon on said first mounting plate upon sliding said second mounting plate into said second position. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 33 , further comprising engaging a tenon on said second mounting plate with a mortise on said first mounting plate upon sliding said second mounting plate into said second position.