Techniques involving a modular vehicle belly armor kit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11801904-B2
Application number	US-202117527405-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2021
Priority date	Nov 16, 2021
Publication date	Oct 31, 2023
Grant date	Oct 31, 2023

Abstract

Techniques are directed to a modular vehicle belly armor kit, as well as systems and methods which utilize such a kit. The kit includes a bottom plate, a top plate, and a plurality of wall sections connecting with the bottom plate and the top plate to form an armor structure that protects a belly portion of the vehicle. After the modular vehicle belly armor kit is positioned underneath a vehicle, the bottom plate may be placed in contact with the vehicle. After the bottom plate is placed in contact with the vehicle, the bottom plate may be fastened to vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular vehicle belly armor kit, comprising:
a bottom plate;
a top plate; and
a plurality of wall sections connecting with the bottom plate and the top plate to form an armor structure that protects a vehicle belly of a vehicle;
wherein the bottom plate defines a set of access openings; and
wherein the modular vehicle belly armor kit further comprises:
a set of cover plates that covers the set of accessing openings defined by the bottom plate.

2. A modular vehicle belly armor kit as in claim 1
wherein the bottom plate further defines a set of bends that
provides the armor structure with a convex shape;
wherein the top plate defines a plane, a left edge, and a right edge; and
wherein the left edge and right edge defined by the top plate connect with the bottom plate.

3. A modular vehicle belly armor kit as in claim 2 wherein the set of bends defined by the bottom plate includes a centerline bend that provides the bottom plate with a V-shaped cross-section.

4. A modular vehicle belly armor kit as in claim 3 wherein the set of bends defined by the bottom plate further includes outer bends that separate the bottom plate into a central section and outermost sections.

5. A modular vehicle belly armor kit as in claim 4 wherein the centerline bend and the outer bends are parallel to each other.

6. A modular vehicle belly armor kit as in claim 4 wherein the outer bends include a left outer bend and a right outer bend;
wherein the left edge defined by the top plate attaches to the bottom plate adjacent the left outer bend; and
wherein the right edge defined by the top plate attaches to the bottom plate adjacent the right outer bend.

7. A modular vehicle belly armor kit as in claim 4 wherein the outermost sections include:
a left outer segment constructed and arranged to mount to a left side of the vehicle; and
a right outer segment constructed and arranged to mount to a right side of the vehicle.

8. A modular vehicle belly armor kit as in claim 7 wherein the left outer segment and the right outer segment extend upwardly relative to the plane defined by the top plate to position the plane defined by the top plate horizontally when the left outer segment is mounted to the left side of the vehicle and the right outer segment is mounted to the right side of the vehicle.

9. A modular vehicle belly armor kit as in claim 7 wherein the left outer segment defines a left row of elongated apertures and the right outer segment defines a right row of elongated apertures to enable movement between the vehicle and the modular vehicle belly armor kit.

10. A modular vehicle belly armor kit as in claim 2 wherein the top plate further defines a front edge and a back edge; and
wherein the plurality of wall sections includes:
a front wall section that connects with the bottom plate and the front edge defined by the top plate, and
a back wall section that connects with the bottom plate and the back edge defined by the top plate.

11. A modular vehicle belly armor kit as in claim 10 wherein the plurality of wall sections further includes:
a set of interior wall sections that connects with the bottom plate and the top plate, the set of interior wall sections being disposed between the front wall section and the back wall section.

12. A modular vehicle belly armor kit as in claim 11 wherein the top plate further defines a plurality of notches; and
wherein each wall section of the plurality of wall sections defines a respective set of tabs that interlocks with a respective set of notches of the plurality of notches defined by the top plate.

13. A modular vehicle belly armor kit as in claim 11 wherein the front wall section, the back wall section, and the set of interior wall sections form a set of internal cavities to provide buoyancy to the vehicle.

14. A modular vehicle belly armor kit as in claim 13 , further comprising:
foam material disposed within at least some of the set of internal cavities.

15. A modular vehicle belly armor kit as in claim 1
wherein the bottom plate further defines a set of coamings
surrounding the set of access openings; and
wherein the set of cover plates is constructed and arranged to attach within the set of coamings defined by the bottom plate.

16. A vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle body;
a propulsion system coupled with the vehicle body, the propulsion system being constructed and arranged to move the vehicle body within an environment; and
a modular vehicle belly armor kit constructed and arranged to fasten to the vehicle body, the modular vehicle belly armor kit including:
a bottom plate,
a top plate, and
a plurality of wall sections connecting with the bottom plate and the top plate to form an armor structure that protects a belly portion of the vehicle;

wherein the bottom plate of the modular vehicle belly armor kit defines a set of access openings; and
wherein the modular vehicle belly armor kit further includes:
a set of cover plates that covers the set of accessing openings defined by the bottom plate.

17. A vehicle as in claim 16 wherein the vehicle body is constructed and arranged to travel amphibiously on water and land; and
wherein the armor structure is constructed and arranged to provide buoyancy to the vehicle body.

18. A method of protecting a vehicle, the method comprising:
positioning a modular vehicle belly armor kit underneath a vehicle, the modular vehicle belly armor kit including:
a bottom plate,
a top plate, and
a plurality of wall sections connecting with the bottom plate and the top plate to form an armor structure that protects a belly portion of the vehicle;

after the modular vehicle belly armor kit is positioned underneath the vehicle, placing the bottom plate in contact with the vehicle; and
after the bottom plate is placed in contact with the vehicle, fastening the bottom plate to the vehicle;
wherein the bottom plate of the modular vehicle belly armor kit defines a set of access openings; and
wherein the modular vehicle belly armor kit further includes:
a set of cover plates that covers the set of accessing openings defined by the bottom plate.

19. A modular vehicle belly armor kit, comprising:
a bottom plate;
a top plate; and
a plurality of wall sections connecting with the bottom plate and the top plate to form an armor structure that protects a vehicle belly of a vehicle;
wherein the plurality of wall sections includes a front wall section, a back wall section, and a set of interior wall sections; and
wherein the front wall section, the back wall section, and the set of interior wall sections form a set of internal cavities to provide buoyancy to the vehicle.

20. A modular vehicle belly armor kit as in claim 19 wherein the bottom plate defines a set of bends that provides the armor structure with a convex shape;
wherein the top plate defines a plane, a left edge, and a right edge; and
wherein the left edge and right edge defined by the top plate connect with the bottom plate;
wherein the top plate further defines a front edge and a back edge;
wherein the front wall section connects with the bottom plate and the front edge defined by the top plate, and the back wall section connects with the bottom plate and the back edge defined by the top plate; and
wherein the set of interior wall sections connects with the bottom plate and the top plate, the set of interior wall sections being disposed between the front wall section and the back wall section.

Assignees

• Textron Systems Corp

Inventors

• Huling Wyatt Coleman
• Sequeira Giovanni Eduardo
• Broom Edward Lawrence

Classifications

• B62D25/2072 Primary

  Floor protection, e.g. from corrosion or scratching (floor mats B60N3/04, armour F41H7/042, insulation B60R13/08, streamlining B62D35/02) · CPC title

• B60F3/0038

  Flotation, updrift or stability devices · CPC title

• B62D65/16

  the sub-units or components being exterior fittings, e.g. bumpers, lights, wipers {, exhausts} · CPC title

• F41H7/042 Primary

  Floors or base plates for increased land mine protection · CPC title