Bastions for force protection and military applications

Abstract

A bastion including one or more free-standing structures for use in, for example, military applications and for force protection. The free-standing structures are made up of a plurality of pivotally interconnected fire resistant mesh covered wire panels and are filled with, for example, sand, crushed rock or granular materials.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a bastion. More particularly, the invention relates to a foldable multi-cell welded wire structures lined with an expanded or knitted wire mesh, which can be used, for example, for military applications and force protection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of bastions has been traditional ever since Roman times. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries it took the form of wicker baskets filled with earth or stones. In the early twentieth century, sand bags were used. In the later twentieth century bastions took the form of foldable gabion structures lined with geo-textiles.

This latter application, was basically the use of elements originally devised for civil works applied to the military use. This structure was rapidly deployable but its main failing was its lack of fire resistance. At best, a fire retardant composite was used in some situations to delay ignition. Use of flame throwers, incendiary bombs, Molotov cocktails and even tracer bullets of machine guns (one every seven in a belt loader) in combat situations destroys the protection afforded by this conventional bastion by igniting its lining or sand bags defenses.

Prior art protection barriers suffer from a number of additional drawbacks. Visual impact of prior art protection barriers is unsuitable for deployment within cities and the systems do not provide any concealment option. Deployment for long periods of time is also problematic given that barriers are exposed to environmental agents such as fungus, and UV attacks, that rapidly deteriorate them. Further, prior art protection barriers require intensive maintenance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to produce a protection barrier or bastion which overcomes the above described prior art drawbacks.

A protection barrier or bastion according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a foldable multi-cell structure, for example, for military and anti-terrorist use, consisting of structures conformed by hinged welded wire panels lined with knitted wire or expanded metal mesh, linked together to constitute a fire resistant cell structure. This structure is filled with sand, crushed rock or granular materials and may be camouflaged. Further, the multi-cell structure is deployable in flat or slopped terrain.

The expanded metal mesh or knitted wire mesh lining may withstand a flame thrower attack successfully, without losing particulate filling material through the openings. At the same time the expanded metal mesh or knitted wire mesh lining admits rooting of plants, which helps mitigate the visual impact of the bastions in the cities. Given the nature of the mesh, the plants will grow over the bastions, changing the hard appearance to look as natural fences melting them with the landscape.

The expanded metal mesh or knitted wire mesh lining materials are more suited to resist environmental attacks and are less maintenance demanding than prior art bastions.

The wall has a continuous volume, and therefore, behaves like a monolithic rather than an adobe like structure.

The infill continuity results in cavities or caverns created by impact of projectiles being filled by material coming from both damaged and adjacent cells, thus, improving the protection offered by the bastion.

The bastion may further include a hinged system that allows continuity of cells at different heights, and thus, for the possibility of deployment in slopped terrain.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like reference numerals. The drawings are briefly described as follows.

FIG. 1 is a perspective of an exemplary embodiment of the bastion of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the leftmost and middle cells in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the leftmost and center cells in FIG. 1 with an exterior panel in the middle cell disconnected.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the hinge connecting exterior panels of the leftmost and middle cells.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 4-4 in FIG. 13.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a single bastion cell having a pivotally connected top.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the leftmost cell of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a collapsible bastion.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the rightmost cell with an additional panel connected to reinforce a damaged panel.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a filled bastion wall of the present invention including a hexagonal corner unit.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the insert of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 shows the partially filled bastion of FIG. 1 from a different perspective and without an insert.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the rightmost cell of FIG. 1 with two pins staked to the ground.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a bastion including four rows of piled cells.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a bastion construction including rows separated by structural beams.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a camouflaged bastion on a sloped terrain.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The basic components of an exemplary embodiment of a bastion of the present invention, generally designated 10, are panels 12a-12j. The panels 12a-12j may be made, for example, from a welded wire frame including wires 14 having, for example, diameters between 3 mm and 8 mm. The wires 14 may, for example, have a rectangular pattern with center to center distance depending on load, for example, 5 cm to 20 cm. The wires 14 may be lined with a metal screen mesh 16 of expanded metal or wire knitted mesh, stitched to the wire frame or connected using staples 18. Alternatively, the panels 12a-12j may be configured without a mesh. However, in this case the wires 14 are spaced close together so as to prevent a filler, used to fill the bastion 10, such as sand crushed rocks, granulars, etc., from spilling out.

In the example embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1, exterior panels 12a-12h and interior panels 12i and 12j form a foldable three-cell structure of reticular pattern. Bastion 10 may be used, for example, as a force protection system for military applications. The length of the bastion 10 may be as long as desired with a minimum of one cell and may extend up to, for example, hundreds of cells.

As best seen in FIGS. 2A and 2B, which illustrate close-ups of a connecting region between two cells 21 and 23, exterior panels 12f and 12g are pivotally connected at their sides 4 via hinge 30, which allows for panel articulation in order to form a reticulate pattern structure that can be folded. FIG. 2B is the same view as provided in FIG. 2A except a bit closer up and with panel 12g shown disconnected for clarity. Depending on the height of the bastion 10, a hinge may require, for example, a set of 4 up to 24 tube segments.

Exterior panels 12f and 12g each include a set of hinge tube segments 20 and 22 respectively. Tube segments 20 and 22 may be welded to their respective panels and are matched and aligned with correspondent tube segments 24 and 26 (FIG. 3) connected to interior panel 12i by a centering pin 28a, which passes through the tube segments 20 and 24, and by a centering pin 28b, which passes through tube segments 22 and 26.

Centering pins 28a and 28b also function also as an anchoring element of the system when staked to the ground. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the rightmost cell of FIG. 1 with pins 28e and 28g staked to the ground.

As can be seen in FIG. 2A, tube segments 20 and 22 project at an angle towards the inside of bastion 10. Tubes 20 and 24 are shown using ghost lines because the connection between tubes 20 and 24 via pin 28a is at least partially hidden behind panel 12f. Panels 12f, 12g and 12i are shown connected in the top view of FIG. 3. The remaining panels 12a-12e are interconnected in an identical manner using pins 28a-28m or, alternatively, using straps 32 (FIG. 4).

As illustrated in the top view of FIG. 3, the lining or mesh 16 of the exterior panels 12f and 12g at hinge 30 is bent as flaps 34 and is used to avoid infill spills through the space 36 between the pivotably connected exterior panels 12f and 12g. Flaps 34 may be used to prevent spillage between the connection of the other panels as well.

For observation posts and fire back positions, an insert, such as a duct 38, may be provided on both interior and exterior panels into which face inserts 40 may be installed. Duct 38 may have an X or Y shape (from a top view) in accordance with the tactical tooth-saw fire pattern. Duct 38 is a rectangular box with a reduced section in a middle section 42 and full sections 44 at the faces of the panels. On the outer face of the bastion 10 these face inserts 40 may be covered with a metal mesh lining (not shown), which both masks the duct 38 and provides protection against objects thrown from outside. At the inner side, a flap gate 46 can be provided, for temperature control. FIG. 11 shows the bastion of FIG. 1 from a different perspective and without the duct 38.

Interior panels 12i and 12j do not have full mesh lining allowing the continuity of the infill material configuring a monolithic structure. Further, as can be seen in FIG. 6, interior panel 12i may have hinge tubes 34 at a point between its sides, e.g., in the middle, for connection via pin 28n to hinge tubes 35 welded to another interior panel 12k, also without mesh lining. Although not shown, interior panel 12k may be similarly pivotally connected to exterior panel 12e. Alternatively, interior panel 12k may be free floating, connected to exterior panel 12e and interior panel 12i by straps, or supported on either side by material used to fill the bastion 10.

Once the structure has been anchored, for example, by anchoring pins 28a-n used in the hinges 30, an infill of filling material, for example, sand, crushed rock, or granulars is laid in compacted layers conforming a monolithic structure to complete the defense system. The bastion 10 of FIGS. 1 and 11 are shown in a partially filled state so as to expose the interior panels 12i and 12j.

The hinged system of the present invention allows for deployment in slopped terrain, as illustrated in FIG. 16, by stepping panels 12 in the vertical direction, i.e., hinging the panels at different heights.

FIG. 9 illustrates a multi-cell structure filled with sand including two walls 48, 50 connected by a hexagonal corner unit 52. Wall 48 includes cells 48a-48c and wall 50 includes cells 50a-50c. As indicated above, the filling of a single cell with two different granulates may be accomplished, for example, by means of interior panel 12k (FIG. 6).

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the bastion 10 may be foldable. FIG. 7 illustrates three cells 68, 70 and 72 pivotally pivotably connected at their corners. The cells are shown in a partially collapsed state.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a top mesh-lined cover panel 54, as illustrated in FIG. 5, may be pivotally or otherwise connected to a top of any given bastion cell. The panel 54 mitigates the action of whirlwinds and drafts caused by nature or machinery.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the bastion 10 is a multiple height or piled bastion including a base having four columns 56a-56d of multi-cell structures, a second row having three columns 58a-58c, a third row having two columns 60a and 60b and a top row having a single column 62. The panels in each row may be connected to adjacent rows using metallic or plastic straps 32 that align and fasten the layers, as detailed in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a cross section taken along lines 4-4 in FIG. 13. The multi-cell structures may be piled directly on top of each other or may be separated by a structural element 64, such as a structural beam, flat board, steel deck or plate, as illustrated in FIG. 14.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the above mentioned materials constituent of the system, are resistant to fire attacks and tropical conditions, thus allowing for a longer life expectancy, and reutilization of the elements.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the screen or mesh 16 lining allows rooting of vegetation, thus providing camouflage to the system. FIG. 15 illustrates a bastion system of the present invention camouflaged by natural elements, such as vegetation.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the panel's wire mesh, hinges and expanded metal mesh are environmentally resistant to damage like rust, UV, fungus attack, etc., by means of galvanic protection, or polymeric coating.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the structure may be used as basic constituent for constructions and fortifications, supporting a roof structure.

Repairs can be made to the bastion by replacing a damaged panel 12 or by strapping an overlapping new panel 66 over an existing damaged panel 12, as illustrated in FIG. 8.

As illustrated in the figures, the panels form box shaped structures. However, three or more panels may be joined in the manner taught above to form other shaped free-standing structures having, for example, triangular or hexagonal cross sections when viewed from above. These free-standing structures may then be interconnected, for example using hinges or straps, to form bastions of varying shapes and sizes.

As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A bastion comprising:

at least three exterior wire panels interconnected so as to form a free-standing structure, each panel pivotally interconnected along each of two sides to an adjacent panel by a hinge connection, said wire panels being covered by one of a metal screen mesh of expanded metal or wire knitted mesh at least one of stitched to the wire frame and connected using staples, said wire panels and mesh being fire resistant.

2. The bastion of claim 1, wherein adjacent side panels are connected in the hinge connection by a pin which passes through a first set of hinge tubes connected to one exterior panel being connected and a second set of hinge tubes connected to another exterior panel being connected.

3. The bastion of claim 1, wherein at least two of the exterior panels are pivotally connected by a strap.

4. The bastion of claim 1, where the free-standing structure is filled with at least one of sand, crushed rock and granular materials.

5. The bastion of claim 1, further comprising a duct having a slot which passes through the free-standing structure.

6. The bastion of claim 5, wherein the duct has two opposite faces each of which connect to a different side panel.

7. The bastion of claim 5, wherein the duct has a flap gate.

8. The bastion of claim 5, wherein the duct has a reduced central cross section.

9. The bastion of claim 1, wherein the bastion comprises at least two free-standing structures each of which comprise hinges, at least one hinge of each free-standing structure pivotally connected to one hinge of another free-standing structure.

10. The bastion of claim 1, wherein the bastion is configured to be collapsible.

11. The bastion of claim 1, wherein the panels share a common height and the pin is longer than the common height.

12. The bastion of claim 11, wherein the pin is staked to the ground.

13. The bastion of claim 1, wherein the bastion comprises at least two vertically stacked free-standing structures.

14. The bastion of claim 13, further comprising a structural beam between each stacked free-standing structure.

15. The bastion of claim 1, further comprising a top panel one of hinged and strapped to a top of the free-standing structure.

16. The bastion of claim 1, wherein each panel includes at least one mesh flap configured to cover an opening in an adjacent hinge.

17. The bastion of claim 9, wherein at least one of the free-standing structures is hexagonal.

18. The bastion of claim 1, wherein the mesh covered wire panels and the pins are at least one of provided with a polymeric coating and galvanic protection.

19. The bastion of claim 1, wherein the free-standing structure includes an interior panel at least one of supported by a filler material used to fill the free-standing structure and connected to at least one exterior panel via one of a hinge connection and a strap.

20. The bastion of claim 1, wherein the free-standing structure includes at least 6 exterior panels and at least one interior panel pivotally connected on one side in a hinge-like manner with two adjacent exterior panels and pivotally connected with two other adjacent exterior panels on an opposite side in a hinge-like manner.

21. The bastion of claim 20, wherein the at least one interior panel includes first and second hinge tubes connected on each side, the first hinge tubes hinged with a first exterior panel via a first pin which passes through the first hinge tubes and hinge tubes connected to the first exterior panel, the second hinge tubes hinged with a second exterior panel via second pin which passes through the second hinge tubes and hinge tubes connected to the second exterior panel, the first and second exterior panels being pivotally interconnected adjacent panels.

22. The bastion of claim 19, wherein different filler materials are used on opposite sides of the interior panel.

23. The bastion of claim 19, wherein at least one of the first pin and the second pin is longer than a height of the panels.

24. A method for repairing a bastion, said bastion comprising at least three wire exterior panels interconnected so as to form a free-standing structure, each panel pivotally interconnected along each of two sides to an adjacent panel by a hinge connection, said wire panels being covered by one of a metal screen mesh of expanded metal or wire knitted mesh at least one of stitched to the wire frame and connected using staples, said wire panels and mesh being fire resistant, comprising strapping a new panel over a damaged panel.