ARRANGEMENT FOR THE PROTECTION OF AN OBJECT, ESPECIALLY OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, AGAINST APPROACHING PROJECTILES

Abstract

An arrangement for protecting an object, especially a motor vehicle, against approaching projectiles, contains a plurality of profile rods of prism-shaped cross-section. The profile rods are disposed in at least two rows lying one behind the other and at a distance from each other. In the rows, the respective mutually parallel profile rods are disposed at a distance apart, wherein the profile rods of the front row cover the gaps between the profile rods of the rear row.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119, of German application DE 10 2013 008 941.7, filed May 25, 2013; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an arrangement for the protection of an object, especially of a motor vehicle such as an armoured wheeled or tracked vehicle, against approaching projectiles.

Especially military vehicles e.g. battle tanks; armoured infantry fighting vehicles and armoured personnel carriers, nowadays require highly multipurpose and flexible protection against approaching projectiles. It is the aim, with the use of a suitable additive arrangement, to protect the motor vehicle against different threat scenarios. On the one hand the threat is possible from all sides in asymmetric warfare, thus very good all-round protection is necessary, and on the other hand the vehicles should also be protected very well in classic threat scenarios, wherein the battle capability and hence strong protection in the region of the front of the motor vehicle is important. A protection arrangement is advantageous that achieves both if possible.

Another problem is that the approaching projectiles can be significantly different. Thus hollow charges form a thin, very rapid projectile, whereas IED-EFPs (=improvised explosive device (IED), explosively formed projectile (EFP)), form large, heavy projectiles; whereas KE munitions (kinetic energy (KE)) represent very thin, long and hard projectiles.

Special emphasis is placed on the lateral protection of the motor vehicle, because here large surfaces must be protected, especially since in the case of asymmetric warfare there are many different threats from the lateral direction.

Within the scope of the different projectiles, especially the IED-EFPs are particularly problematic; they impose the greatest demands on the armouring of such motor vehicles. These are explosive charges, which use the detonation energy of explosives in order to deform one or more projectiles of a ductile material, which are accelerated in a controlled manner to speeds of 1,500 to 3,000 m/s. Here the penetration capabilities of more than 100 mm into armour steel are quite common. Fragmentation charges and even focused fragmentation charges are likewise widespread threats today, but do not achieve the penetration power of the EFPs described. If as a result effective protection against the IED-EFPs is achieved, then consequently very effective protection is given against other threats at the same time.

An arrangement of the type described above is known from German patent DE 198 25 260 B4 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,605), in which disruptive bodies of a surface or up armouring of the object to be protected are previously provided. The disruptive bodies are swing-mounted, spring-mounted or flexibly mounted. They are either fixedly connected to the up armouring or the surface of the object to be protected, but can also be screwed on or otherwise fixed there. The geometry of the disruptive bodies can thereby be diverse; they can be cylindrical, pin-shaped, spherical, conical and similar. They are preferably hollow bodies, which may be able to be filled with a filling medium. A plurality of such disruptive bodies is disposed in a distributed manner over the surface to be protected. The specific choice of the geometry of the disruptive body or rather its specific design ultimately takes place depending on the threat to be protected against. Also here the disruptive bodies are to be made of suitable materials, which make them heavy on the one hand and expensive on the other hand, in order to achieve the necessary mass efficiency factor in the weight ratio to a homogenous armour steel plate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to specify a protection arrangement that can be adapted to a motor vehicle that is of simple construction, but at the same time provides suitable surface protection.

To achieve the objective, according to the invention an arrangement for the protection of an object, especially a motor vehicle, against approaching projectiles is provided, formed of a plurality of profile rods of prism-shaped cross-section, which are disposed in at least two rows that are one behind the other and at a distance apart. In which rows the respective parallel profile rods are at a distance apart, wherein the profile rods of the front row cover the gaps between the profile rods of the rear row.

The arrangement according to the invention, which can be adaptively disposed on a motor vehicle such as a tank or similar, contains two rows disposed in a staggered manner one behind the other, each formed of a plurality of mutually parallel profile rods, which are also at a distance from each other. The two rows are disposed such that they are offset, which means that the profile rods of the front first row cover the gaps between the profile rods of the rear second row. This therefore produces a closed surface when viewed from the side, which is however geometrically divided or rather structured. The profile rods themselves contain a prism-shaped cross-section. They are preferably quadrilateral, e.g. rhomboidal or square, but wherein pentagonal or hexagonal cross-sectional shapes are also conceivable.

The arrangement according to the invention enables targeted damage or rather destruction of the approaching projectiles, especially the EFPs. By means of the offset arrangement of the rows of profile rods, defined open spaces occur in which the fragmenting projectile materials can move by interacting impulse forces that are acting from different directions. The operation here is consequently not based on the strength of the material, but on inertia and the laws of momentum in the interaction of the projectile and the profile rod. This is because the projectiles fragment on impact or by impulse action as a result of the described positioning of the rows or rather of the profile rods and the creation of the defined open spaces. The faster and hence more dangerous the projectiles are, the better is the destructive effect. Besides protection against EFPs, protection against fragmentation charges is also provided, because fragmentation charges have significantly less penetration power than EFPs, and protection against flechettes is also provided. These are fractured by asymmetrical cross-sectional loads and separate into individual fragments, which in turn can move in the open spaces. As described, the profile rods are preferably quadrilateral in cross-section; they can have a square or rhomboidal shape. The edges can be angular or slightly rounded.

The arrangement is such that preferably at least the profile rods of the first row facing away from the vehicle are disposed such that the edges project laterally. In addition, the profile rods of the second row can be disposed such that one edge projects laterally, which means that the orientation of the profile rods of both rows is the same. The profile rod surfaces are consequently inclined, so that an incident projectile is ultimately deflected to the side and enters a defined open space.

The profile rods of the first and second rows can preferably have a cross-section of 2 to 200 cm². The profile rods of the two rows can thereby have the same cross-sectional area, but advantageously the profile rods of the first row preferably have a smaller cross-sectional area A₁ than that (A₂) of the second row. It is, however, also possible that the profile rods of the second row have a smaller cross-sectional area than those of the first row. To generalize, it can be said that the size of the cross-sectional areas in the two rows can deviate from each other, e.g. by approximately 10%. The cross-sectional area can be smaller by a factor>0.5 and <1.0, especially between 0.7 and 0.9, that is e.g. A₁=0.9 A₂.

The distance of a profile rod of the first row from an adjacent profile rod of the second row should be between 3 and 100 mm. The specific distance to be selected depends of course on the respective cross-sectional areas of the profile rods of the individual rows, and also on their separation within the individual rows. The separation should be such that there are sufficient large open spaces into which the deflected, fragmenting projectile parts can penetrate following the first impact on the arrangement according to the invention, during which they were dispersed by fragmentation of the approaching projectile, which is connected to the corresponding energy reduction.

The profile rods are advantageously made of a metallic material. Because the manner of operation according to the invention is not based on the strength of the material, but on inertia and the laws of momentum during the interaction of the projectile and the profile rods, with the arrangement according to the invention an inexpensive material such as e.g. structural steel can be used instead of armour steel.

The profile rods themselves can be implemented as a solid profile or as a hollow profile, wherein basically there is the option of filling an approximately hollow profile with an additional material if this is advantageous for reasons of energy dissipation.

An advantageous development of the invention provides that inclined bulge plates are disposed between the profile rods of a row, preferably continuing between the profiles rods of the other row. The integrated bulge plates additionally act against hollow charge threats. Such hollow charges generate highly dynamic hollow charge spikes, which are severely damaged by the integrated bulge plates, which act as additional baffles and deflection surfaces, and thereby only have a very small residual penetration capability into the basic armour of the protected vehicle.

The bulge plates can be implemented as single-layer plates or as sandwich components, especially formed of a layer of rubber or plastic and at least one layer of metallic material. The sandwich structure and the deformability resulting there from are likewise advantageous in respect of diminishing kinetic energy.

According to the invention the metal profiles, and possibly also the bulge plates, are disposed on a plurality of common mountings, which they may pass through. The profile rods comprise a length of one or a plurality of meters, so that the entire gate-like arrangement extends over a corresponding vehicle length. The number of serially employed profile rods is selected depending on how high the region of the vehicle to be protected is. Suitable mountings are provided in order to fix the profile rods in their position relative to each other in a simple manner, e.g. suitable plates or similar supports, on which the profile rods of the individual rows are disposed. If e.g. mounting plates are used then they can be provided with suitable apertures corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the profile rods, through which the profile rods are passed.

Here the mountings can be provided on the vehicle ex-factory, which means that the arrangement is virtually constructed on the vehicle. However, it is also conceivable to implement the arrangement virtually as a prefabricated gate and to dispose the profile rods and possibly also the bulge plates on corresponding separate mountings, wherein the mountings can also be used simultaneously as attachment elements for attaching the entire arrangement to the motor vehicle to be protected. If an arrangement is not too long, it can definitely be lifted and moved by two men. This means that e.g. a side of a vehicle can be protected by juxtaposing three or four arrangements. If the front of the vehicle is to be protected, it is easily possible to position two arrangements on the front of the vehicle, wherein fixing is again possible there by use of the corresponding mountings.

If the profile rods are inserted in fixed mountings provided on the vehicle, then conversion is of course also possible very simply. However, this of course presupposes that for moving the arrangement from the side to the front of the vehicle suitable mountings are also provided at the front.

Besides the arrangement itself, the invention further relates to a motor vehicle, e.g. a tracked vehicle or a different armoured vehicle, containing one or more arrangements of the previously described type mounted on a side or the front or the rear. The corresponding mountings, which support the profile rods and possibly the bulge plates, can already be fixedly provided on the vehicle, so that for construction of the arrangement only the individual profile rods and possibly bulge plates are positioned. However, it is also conceivable to position prefabricated arrangements as complete protection elements on the vehicle, wherein each arrangement then contains suitable mountings, or rather attachment elements, in order to fix them on the vehicle.

Advantageously, the respective arrangement is disposed at a distance from armouring provided on the motor vehicle. A known open space that is required for effectiveness is achieved by the distance, which does cause an increase in the volume of protection relative to the structure of the vehicle to be protected. The open space does not, however, have to be dead space, but can for example be used as stowage space. The filling of the open space with stowed objects, which can act as further “absorption elements”, can certainly improve the degree of protection even more.

The distance of the second row of the arrangement from the motor vehicle or rather the basic armour of the vehicle should be between 20 and 2000 mm. This means that the arrangement can either be disposed very close to the basic armour of the motor vehicle or can also be disposed at a significant distance there from, for which purpose of course suitable distance pieces or similar are to be used as required. The distance should if possible be dimensioned such that it corresponds approximately to ten times the value of the smallest or most average cross-sectional area of the profile rods used. Thus, if profile rods of e.g. 25 cm² are used, then the distance of the arrangement from the basic armour should be 250 mm.

As already explained for the previously described arrangement, there is the option of implementing each arrangement virtually as a separate, prefabricated gate-like component. Suitable attachment elements are then provided on the arrangement or on each arrangement, by which the arrangement can be reversibly attached to the vehicle. If corresponding mountings are provided on the arrangement in the form of mounting plates or similar, on which the profile rods and possibly the bulge plates are disposed, then the mountings can simultaneously be implemented as corresponding attachment elements, e.g. by providing corresponding hooks with which the mountings and hence the arrangements can be suspended on suitable sections on the surface of the vehicle, or suitable apertures for a thread and similar are provided.

However, it is alternatively also conceivable to provide suitable mountings on the vehicle itself, in which the profile rods and possibly the bulge plates of the arrangement are reversibly fixed. This means that in the region of the surfaces in front of which the arrangement is to be positioned, corresponding mountings are provided, e.g. mountings in which the individual profile rods are inserted and fixed, or into which they are pushed from the side etc. The mountings must of course basically be configured such that when travelling the profile rods do not come loose by the themselves, but are securely fixed.

In order to allow conversion of the form of the arrangement in the case in which the mountings are provided on the vehicle, e.g. such that the arrangement is transposed from the side of the vehicle to the front of the vehicle, suitable mountings are provided over the surface of the vehicle at different positions, so that it is easily possible to remove the profile rods and possibly the bulge plates from the mountings on the side of the vehicle and e.g. to insert them in mountings on the front. In the case of using prefabricated gate-like arrangements, the conversion is simply carried out by removing the corresponding arrangements completely from the vehicle and re-attaching them at another position on the vehicle.

Especially in the last mentioned case, it is advantageous to implement the arrangements in a suitable short form, e.g. with a length of 1, 1.5 or 2 m. In this case a plurality of such mountings is then juxtaposed to protect one side of a vehicle. If the vehicle is e.g. a tank with a length of 6 m, then e.g. four arrangements positioned adjacent to each other would be used for the protection of the side of the vehicle including the track mechanism. If a conversion is carried out and if the front of the tank is to be protected, then it is easily possible to remove two short arrangements from the side and to attach them to the front. The resulting overall length of the arrangement, according to the above example, of 2, 3 or 4 m, accordingly covers the front of the tank.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a arrangement for the protection of an object, especially of a motor vehicle, against approaching projectiles, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective frontal-side view of an arrangement according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a side view of the arrangement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of an arrangement of a second embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an illustration showing the principle of operation of the arrangement according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is an illustration showing an example of fitting the arrangement according to the invention to a tracked vehicle; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic, perspective view showing the principle of a motor vehicle according to the invention with the arrangement according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown an arrangement 1 according to the invention, which is used for the protection of an object such as a motor vehicle, especially an armoured tracked vehicle. The arrangement contains a plurality of profile rods of prism-shaped cross-section, which are disposed in two separate rows 2, 3 (see FIG. 2). The profile rods 4 of the first row 2 are disposed one above the other and parallel to each other, but separately from each other. In a corresponding manner, the profile rods 5 of the second row 3 are disposed one above the other and parallel to each other, but likewise separately from each other. It can be seen that the two rows 2, 3 are offset in position such that the profile rods 4, looking from a front 6 of the arrangement 1, cover the gaps between two underlying profile rods 5 of the second row 3. It thus provides a virtually closed front when viewed from the side.

The profile rods 4 are shown in cross-section as quadrilateral, square in the initial example shown. They can, however, also be rhomboidal, or have a cross-sectional shape with more edges. The cross-sectional areas of the profile rods 4 and 5 can be identical, but they can also be different, wherein preferably the cross-sectional areas of the profile rods 4 of the first row 2 are then smaller than the cross-sectional areas of the profile rods 5 of the second row 3.

The distances, looking vertically, between two profile rods 4, or rather two profile rods 5, can be between 3 and 100 mm, wherein ultimately the specific selected geometric arrangement depends on the cross-sectional shape and the cross-sectional area of the individual profile rods, since it must be ensured that the profile rods 4 cover the gaps between two profile rods 5.

The profile rods 4 and 5 are made of a metallic material; they can have a solid profile or a hollow profile, possibly filled (e.g. with sand or similar). They are preferably made of simple structural steel, i.e. not of expensive armour steel. This is because they have a high protective effect, which is not based on the outstanding strength properties of the material used, but on the targeted creation of contours that are used for the fragmentation of an incident projectile, which thus fragments into a number of individual sub projectiles, which move into defined created open spaces between the profile rods 4, 5 and are again incident there on defined surfaces, so that overall high grade fragmentation of the incident projectile occurs in combination with high impulse transfers onto the involved profile rods, kinetic energy of the sub projectiles being destroyed such that the sub projectiles, if any, only impact on the underlying armouring of the motor vehicle with low penetration power and cannot cause any damage there.

In the side view according to FIG. 2, a mounting 7 can be identified, wherein two such mountings 7 are provided in the exemplary embodiment shown, see FIG. 1. These comprise suitable apertures 8, 9, which essentially correspond to the geometry of the profile rods, so that these can be inserted through the aperture 8, 9. The inserted profile rods 4, 5 can then be welded to the mountings 7 in their end position, so that overall a prefabricated arrangement 1 results, which as such can be installed in a complete form. Such an arrangement 1 has e.g. a length of 1 to 1.5 m, so that they can still be carried. Such dimensions also enable a larger area, e.g. a complete lateral surface of a tank, to be covered by attaching a plurality of such arrangements adjacent to each other. If the front of the tank is to be protected, it is easily possible to attach e.g. only two such arrangements 1 to the front.

In order to enable simple attachment, in the example shown attachment elements 10, in this case hooks, are shown only in principle on the mountings 7, with which the arrangement 1 can be suspended in corresponding suspension sections that are provided on the motor vehicle, wherein of course additional means for secure attachment can still be used in order to prevent the loss of an arrangement when the vehicle is moving.

FIG. 3 shows the arrangement 1 according to the invention, which corresponds in its structure to that from FIGS. 1 and 2. Also two rows 2, 3 containing the profile rods 4, 5 are formed there, which in turn are received in at least two corresponding mountings 7. The row offset according to the invention is also achieved here.

Additional bulge plates 11 are shown here placed between the corresponding rows, which may be inserted or rather fixed in corresponding receiving slots on the two mountings 7. The bulge plates 11 can be simple metal plates, but conceivably are also sandwich structures consisting of a metal layer and an attached plastic or rubber layer or similar. The bulge plates 11 counteract additional hollow charge threats. Such hollow charges form very dynamic high charge spikes, which can be heavily damaged by the integrated bulge plates. Of course, the bulge plates also have an additional protection function against a bombardment with e.g. EFP projectiles, because they too necessarily act in an impulse-destructive or rather energy-destructive manner.

FIG. 4 shows, in the form of a representation of the principle, the operation of the arrangement 1 according to the invention, which is only illustrated here according to the principle. The arrangement 1 is shown, which is positioned in front of the basic armour 12 of a motor vehicle. A distance d between the rear plane of the arrangement 1 and basic armour 12 should be between 20 mm and 2,000 mm, wherein an advantageous distance can be determined such that it corresponds (in mm) at least to 10 times the numerical value of the minimum cross-sectional area of a profile rod, if all profile rods 4, 5 have the same cross-sectional area, or to the average value of the cross-sectional area. Thus if a profile rod e.g. has a cross-sectional area of 36 cm², then the distance d should be 360 mm.

As FIG. 4 shows, or rather also the previous figures show, the profile rods 4, 5 are disposed such that each edge 13, 14 is oriented towards the approaching threat, here represented by an approaching projectile 15. The quadrilateral profile rods 4, 5 are thus oriented such that the two diagonals run horizontally and vertically. This means that respective rod surfaces 16 or 17 run at an angle not equal to 90° to the horizontal; in the example shown they are at an angle of 45° to the horizontal (assuming vertical orientation of the arrangement 1).

It is assumed that the projectile 15, e.g. an EFP projectile, is incident upon the arrangement 1. It strikes a profile rod 4 of the first row 2 and impinges there on the projecting edge 13 in the example shown. The result of this is that a high grade fragmentation and formation of many individual sub projectiles 18 occur, which are deflected laterally up and down as a result of the angled surfaces 16. They move into the open spaces of defined form between the individual profile rods 4, 5 and impinge there either on the quasi inner surfaces 16 of the profile rods 4 of the first row 2 or on edges or surfaces 17 of the profile rods 5 of the second row 3. There are also inevitably collisions and consequently an impulse decrease or rather a destruction of energy, so that the sub projectiles 18 experience an extremely large reduction of their penetration power, on the one hand because of the fragmentation and on the other hand because of the deceleration and destruction of energy. The few sub projectiles 18 that penetrate as far as the basic armour 12 are decelerated such that they cause no damage there.

Whereas no bulge plates 11 are shown in the upper part of FIG. 4, two bulge plates 11 are shown in the lower part of FIG. 4 by way of example. These act as further impact or deflection surfaces for the sub projectiles 18. This means that the sub projectiles 18 are also decelerated on the bulge plates 11, which are deformed by the impact of the sub projectiles 18, and energy is lost there.

Whereas FIG. 4 shows by way of example the impact of an EFD projectile, which is effectively destroyed and hence can be reduced in its penetration power, the arrangement according to the invention is also effective against hollow charges or against KE ammunition. The integration of the bulge plates is especially advantageous against hollow charges. In combination with the tilted profile rods 4, 5, it is also possible at the same time to destroy the leading spike of the hollow charge. The protection function is also similar in relation to KE ammunition; the effect against the thin, long projectiles is also based on an asymmetrical cross-sectional loading. This is because the approaching long projectile experiences high shear forces and flexing forces on impact, which break up the projectile so that here too fragmentation occurs.

FIG. 5 shows in a representation of principle an exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle 19 according to the invention, which is only represented in partial form here. A lateral basic armour 20 (corresponding to the basic armour 12 of FIG. 4) is shown with a track mechanism 21 disposed in front thereof. The illustrated arrangement 1 according to the invention is shown disposed in front of the basic armour and above the track mechanism 21. The arrangement 1 is implemented as illustrated in FIG. 3, i.e. formed of two rows 2, 3 of profile rods 4, 5, which are disposed in vertical rows running parallel one above the other at a distance apart in the respective rows 2, 3, wherein the rows 2, 3 are positioned so as to be offset. Likewise, the bulge plates 11 are provided here, being disposed between the profile rods 4 or 5 respectively and extending as far as the vicinity of the respective other row.

The arrangement 1 shown in FIG. 5 can be a prefabricated arrangement in the sense of FIGS. 1 to 3, with which the profile rods 4, 5 and possibly the bulge plates 11 are fixedly joined to the mountings 7, so that the entire arrangement 1 can be attached to the vehicle as a one-piece component. For the protection of a complete side of the vehicle, that is e.g. one side of the tank, e.g. three or four such arrangements 1 are to be positioned adjacent to each other. If the height of the vehicle changes, i.e. the height of the vehicle decreases towards the front, it is conceivable to form such a prefabricated arrangement according to the geometry.

It is also conceivable in principle, however, to virtually install the arrangement 1 initially on the motor vehicle itself, that is e.g. in the tank. Such an example is shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 shows a motor vehicle 19 according to the invention, with which an arrangement 1 according to the invention is already shown on one side of the vehicle, extending over a part of the side of the vehicle. In the forward lateral region no arrangement is shown, rather there are only several mountings 22 shown either reversibly mounted or fixedly disposed on the vehicle, whose function ultimately corresponds to that of the mountings 7, with the difference that the profile rods 4, 5 and possibly the bulge plates 11 are not fixedly and irreversibly mounted thereon.

The mountings 22 also comprise suitable apertures 23, 24, which are used to receive the profile rods 4, 5 and which of course are formed in a serial manner according to the geometric arrangement or rather orientation of the profile rods 4, 5 and with the row offset according to the invention. The profile rods 4, 5 are now inserted into the mountings as required and are fixed by suitable mounting devices (e.g. journals, locking pins, clamps etc.), as carried out with the already installed arrangement 1. If all profile rods 4, 5 and possibly the bulge plates 11 are in place, the arrangement 1 is installed and the side of the vehicle is protected.

Although suitable mountings 22 are only shown on the side of the vehicle 19 here, it is of course conceivable to provide corresponding mountings also in the frontal region of the vehicle and in the rear region of the vehicle, so that there is also the option of attaching corresponding profile rods 4, 5 there.

The mountings 22 shown are only of an exemplary nature. Of course, the specific geometry or design of such a mounting can be different. It only has to be capable of securely holding the corresponding profile rods 4, 5 and possibly the bulge plates 11 in the spatial arrangement provided according to the invention, so that the corresponding rows of profile rods can be formed with the row offset according to the invention. Also in principle the attachment of an arrangement or rather the positioning of mountings on the vehicle is not limited to the two sides and the front and rear portions. Rather an arrangement on suitable top or roof surfaces is also conceivable, in order to provide effective protection against approaching projectiles from above.

Claims

1. A configuration for protection of an object against approaching projectiles, the configuration comprising:

a plurality of profile rods of prism-shaped cross-section, said profile rods disposed in at least two rows lying one behind the other and at a distance from each other, in said rows respective mutually parallel profile rods are at a given distance apart, said profile rods of a front row covering gaps between said profile rods of a rear row.

2. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein said prism-shaped cross-section has a shape selected from the group consisting of quadrilateral, rhomboidal and square.

3. The configuration according to claim 2, wherein said profile rods have edges that are rounded.

4. The configuration according to claim 2, wherein at least said profile rods of said first row facing away from the object, being a vehicle, are disposed such that an edge of said profile rods projects laterally.

5. The configuration according to claim 4, wherein said profile rods of said second row are also disposed such that said edge projects laterally.

6. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein said profile rods have a cross-section of 2 to 200 cm2.

7. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein said profile rods of said first row have a smaller cross-section than said profile rods of said second row.

8. The configuration according to claim 7, wherein said prism-shaped cross-section of said profile rods of said first row is smaller by a factor>0.5 and <1.0.

9. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein a distance of a profile rod of said first row from an adjacent profile rod of said second row is 3 to 100 mm.

10. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein said profile rods are made of a metallic material.

11. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein said profile rods are of a solid profile or a hollow profile.

12. The configuration according to claim 1, further comprising angled bulge plates disposed between said profile rods of a row.

13. The configuration according to claim 12, wherein said bulge plates are implemented as single-layer plates or as sandwich components.

14. The configuration according to claim 12, further comprising a plurality of common mountings, wherein at least one of said profile rods or said bulge plates, are disposed on said plurality of common mountings.

15. The configuration according to claim 14, wherein said common mountings are simultaneously used as attachment elements for attaching the configuration to a motor vehicle to be protected.

16. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein the object is a motor vehicle.

17. The configuration according to claim 8, wherein said cross-section of said profile rods of said first row is smaller by a factor between 0.7 and 0.9.

18. The configuration according to claim 12, wherein said angled bulge plates continue between said profile rods of the other row.

19. The configuration according to claim 13, wherein said sandwich components contain at least one rubber layer or plastic layer and at least one layer of a metallic material.

20. The configuration according to claim 14, wherein at least one of said profile rods or said bulge plates, are disposed on said plurality of common mountings and passing through said common mountings.

21. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a motor vehicle body; and

at least one configuration for protecting against approaching projectiles and disposed on said motor vehicle body, said configuration containing a plurality of profile rods of prism-shaped cross-section, said profile rods disposed in at least two rows lying one behind the other and at a distance from each other, in said rows respective mutually parallel profile rods are at a given distance apart, said profile rods of a front row covering gaps between said profile rods of a rear row.

22. The motor vehicle according to claim 21, wherein said configuration is disposed at a distance from said motor vehicle body, said motor vehicle body having armouring.

23. The motor vehicle according to claim 22, wherein said distance is 20 to 2,000 mm.

24. The motor vehicle according to claim 21, wherein said configuration has attachment elements, by means of which said configuration is reversibly attached to said motor vehicle body.

25. The motor vehicle according to claim 21,

wherein said configuration has bulge plates; and

further comprising mountings disposed on said motor vehicle body, on or in said mountings said profile rods and said bulge plates of said configuration are reversibly attached.

26. The motor vehicle according to claim 21, wherein said configuration is one of at least two configurations that connect to each other and are provided on one side of said motor vehicle body.

27. The motor vehicle according to claim 21, wherein the motor vehicle is a tracked vehicle.