Blast deflector

Abstract

A blast energy deflector to reduce load and energy transmitted to a vehicle from buried mines or improvised explosive device (IED) threats. The deflector may add stiffness to the hull thereby protecting or delaying deformation or damage to the vehicle underside. The deflector may be hollow, filled with plastic or other composites to dissipate blast energy, or solid, and may be detachably affixed to the vehicle underside.

1 . A blast energy deflector, comprising:
 a generally triangular body having a base affixed to an existing vehicle structure; the deflector having two sides that intersect at an apex; the deflector being formed with the base and the two sides as a closed form and being hollow along a length of the vehicle structure;   each the side extending beyond the base to form legs; the blast deflector configured to be detachably secured to the vehicle structure;   the legs oriented at an angle to accommodate the vehicle structure so that the deflector may accommodate the vehicle structure shape and, when affixed thereto, impart blast deflection along the length of the vehicle structure; and   wherein the legs each have a plurality of apertures, wherein each aperture has a counter sink.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The blast energy deflector of  claim 1 , wherein the triangular body is filled with plastic, glass, composites, metals or other blast deflecting material. 
     
     
         4 . The blast energy deflector of  claim 1 , wherein the triangular body is configured to have internal divisions to create individual spaces to dissipate the blast. 
     
     
         5 . The blast energy deflector of  claim 3 , wherein the deflector is formed as a solid due to the filled-up material. 
     
     
         6 . The blast energy deflector of  claim 1 , wherein the apex is rounded. 
     
     
         7 . The blast energy deflector of  claim 1 , wherein the sides are straight. 
     
     
         8 . The blast energy deflector of  claim 1 , wherein the sides are arcuate. 
     
     
         9 . The blast energy deflector of  claim 1 , wherein the blast deflector is configured to be detachably affixed to the vehicle structure. 
     
     
         10 . The blast energy deflector of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the deflector has a triangular form. 
     
     
         11 . A vehicle with a blast energy deflector system for a vehicle structure, comprising:
 at least one blast deflector having a generally triangular body with a base affixed to the existing vehicle structure;   the deflector having two sides that intersect at an apex; each the side extending beyond the base to form legs;   the legs oriented at an angle to accommodate the vehicle structure so that the deflector may accommodate the vehicle structure shape and, when affixed thereto, impart blast deflection along a length of the vehicle; and   wherein the legs each have a plurality of apertures, wherein each aperture has a counter sink,   wherein the deflector is formed with the base and the two sides as a closed form and is hollow along the length of the vehicle.   
     
     
         12 . The vehicle with a blast energy deflector system of  claim 11 , wherein the blast deflector is detachably affixed to the vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle with a blast energy deflector system of  claim 11 , wherein the triangular body is filled with plastic, glass, composites, metals or other blast deflecting material. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle with a blast energy deflector system of  claim 11 , wherein the triangular body is configured to have internal divisions to create individual spaces to dissipate the blast energy. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle with a blast energy deflector system of  claim 14 , wherein the blast deflector is formed as solid due to the filled-up material. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle with a blast energy deflector system of  claim 11 , wherein the blast deflector apex is rounded. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle with a blast energy deflector system of  claim 11 , wherein the blast deflector sides are straight. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle with a blast energy deflector system of  claim 11 , wherein the blast deflector sides are arcuate. 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle with a blast energy deflector system of  claim 11 , wherein a plurality of blast deflectors are affixed to the vehicle structure. 
     
     
         21 . The blast energy deflector of  claim 1 , further comprising;
 a lower aperture formed at vertex having a counterbore; and   a sensor accommodated within the counterbore of the lower aperture, the sensor configured to transmit data regarding at least one of blast force, blast acceleration, and blast velocity.   
     
     
         22 . The vehicle with a blast energy deflector system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a lower aperture formed at vertex having a counterbore; and   a sensor accommodated within the counterbore of the lower aperture, the sensor configured to transmit data regarding at least one of blast force, blast acceleration, and blast velocity.