Ready armor protection for instant deployment and loading

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11280588-B1
Application number	US-202017037480-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Sep 29, 2020
Priority date	Sep 29, 2020
Publication date	Mar 22, 2022
Grant date	Mar 22, 2022

Abstract

Ready armor modular protective systems that can be rapidly deployed in an urban environment. Exemplary armor systems include a container, and a wall assembly that fits inside of the container when in a collapsed configuration. The wall assembly includes a first end section, a second end section, a constraint mechanism, and first and second locking mechanisms. The first end section has a first space frame unit, and the second end section has second and third space frame units. A locking mechanism prevent relative vertical displacement from occurring between adjacent second and third space frame units. The constraint mechanism keeps the first and third space frame units at a fixed distance from one another. The constraint mechanism, when coupled with the first and third space frame units, keeps the locking mechanism from being removed from the second end section.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A ready armor modular protective system for rapid deployment, the system comprising:
a container; and
a wall assembly having a first end section, a second end section, a hydraulic pump control mechanism, a constraint mechanism, a first locking mechanism, and a second locking mechanism, wherein the first end section includes a first space frame unit, and wherein the second end section includes a second space frame unit, a third space frame unit, and a fourth space frame unit;
wherein the first locking mechanism is configured to prevent relative vertical displacement from occurring between the third space frame unit and the fourth space frame unit, wherein the second locking mechanism is configured to prevent relative vertical displacement from occurring between the second space frame unit and the third space frame unit, and wherein the constraint mechanism is configured to prevent the first space frame unit and the fourth space frame unit from moving away from one another, and
wherein the hydraulic pump control mechanism is configured to raise and lower armor panels of the first space frame unit, the second space frame unit, the third space frame unit, and the fourth space frame unit relative to a surface upon which the wall assembly is positioned.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the constraint mechanism, when engaged with the first space frame unit and the fourth space frame unit, is configured to prevent the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism from being removed from the second end section.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first locking mechanism comprises a locking pin.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first locking mechanism comprises a first locking pin and a second locking pin.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the constraint mechanism comprises a first side tube and a second side tube.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the constraint mechanism comprises a strap.

7. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a ramp that is releasably attached with the first space frame unit.

8. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a winch that is attached with the container, and a winch connector that is coupleable between the winch and the fourth space frame unit.

9. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a fifth space frame unit positioned between the first space frame unit and the second space frame unit.

10. A method of deploying a ready armor modular protective system, the method comprising:
placing the ready armor modular protective system at a deployment location, the ready armor modular protective system comprising a container and a wall assembly in a collapsed configuration contained within the container, the wall assembly having a first end section, a second end section, a hydraulic pump control mechanism, a constraint mechanism, a first locking mechanism, and a second locking mechanism, wherein the first end section includes a first space frame unit, wherein the second end section includes a second space frame unit, a third space frame unit, and a fourth space frame unit, wherein the first locking mechanism is configured to prevent relative vertical displacement from occurring between the third space frame unit and the fourth space frame unit, wherein the second locking mechanism is configured to prevent relative vertical displacement from occurring between the second space frame unit and the third space frame unit, and wherein the constraint mechanism is configured to prevent the first space frame unit and the fourth space frame unit from moving away from one another;
removing the wall assembly from the container while the wall assembly is in the collapsed configuration;
removing the constraint mechanism from the first space frame unit and the fourth space frame unit;
removing the first locking mechanism from the second end section;
unfolding the fourth space frame unit;
removing the second locking mechanism from the second end section;
unfolding the third space frame unit;
unfolding the second space frame unit;
unfolding the first space frame unit; and
actuating the hydraulic pump control mechanism to lower armor panels of the first space frame unit, the second space frame unit, the third space frame unit, and the fourth space frame unit relative to a surface upon which the wall assembly is positioned.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the constraint mechanism, when engaged with the first space frame unit and the fourth space frame unit, is configured to prevent the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism from being removed from the second end section.

12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the first locking mechanism comprises a locking pin.

13. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the first locking mechanism comprises a first locking pin and a second locking pin.

14. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the constraint mechanism comprises a first side tube and a second side tube.

15. A ready armor modular protective system for rapid deployment, the system comprising:
a container;
a winch configured to couple with the container;
a winch connector; and
a wall assembly configured to fit inside the container when the wall assembly is in a collapsed configuration, the wall assembly having a first end section, a second end section, a hydraulic pump control mechanism, a constraint mechanism, a first locking mechanism, and a second locking mechanism, wherein the first end section includes a first space frame unit, and wherein the second end section includes a second space frame unit, a third space frame unit, and a fourth space frame unit;
wherein the first locking mechanism is configured to prevent relative vertical displacement from occurring between the third space frame unit and the fourth space frame unit, wherein the second locking mechanism is configured to prevent relative vertical displacement from occurring between the second space frame unit and the third space frame unit, and wherein the constraint mechanism is releasably coupled with the first space frame unit and the fourth space frame unit and is configured to maintain the first space frame unit and the fourth space frame unit at a fixed distance from one another,
wherein the hydraulic pump control mechanism is configured to raise and lower armor panels of the first space frame unit, the second space frame unit, the third space frame unit, and the fourth space frame unit relative to a surface upon which the wall assembly is positioned,
wherein the constraint mechanism, when coupled with the first space frame unit and the fourth space frame unit, is configured to prevent the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism from being removed from the second end section, and
wherein the winch connector is coupleable between the winch and the third space frame unit.

16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the first locking mechanism comprises a first locking pin and a second locking pin.

17. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the constraint mechanism comprises a first side tube and a second side tube.

18. The system according to claim 15 , further comprising a ramp that is releasably attached with the first space frame unit.

19. The system according to claim 15 , further comprising a fifth space frame unit positioned between the first space frame unit and the second space frame unit.

20. The system according to claim 19 , f

Assignees

• Us Army

Inventors

• Esquilin-Mangual Omar
• Stephens Catherine S
• Flores Omar G
• Edwards Andrew B
• Chappell Erik M

Classifications

• E04B1/3445

  foldable in a flat stack of parallel panels · CPC title

• F41H5/24

  for stationary use, e.g. fortifications {; Shelters; Guard Booths (air-raid shelters E04H9/04)} · CPC title

• F41H5/06

  Shields (in ships B63G9/00; in aircraft B64D7/00 {; blasting mats F42D5/05}) · CPC title

• F41H5/013 Primary

  Mounting or securing armour plates · CPC title