| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090007765 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR LAUNCHING A VEHICLE - An apparatus for launching a vehicle includes a bag and an inflator in fluid communication with the bag, the inflator configured to generate a gas to inflate the bag. The apparatus is operable to launch the vehicle. A method for launching a vehicle includes the step of providing an apparatus for launching the vehicle, the apparatus comprising a bag and an inflator in fluid communication with the bag. The method further includes the step of activating the inflator, such that a gas flows from the inflator, and the step of inflating the bag with the gas to launch the vehicle. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090087135 | Impact-Sensing Thermal Insulation System and Missile Incorporating Same - An impact-sensing, thermal insulation system includes a light source; an optical detector; and an optically-transmissive insulation optically coupled with the light source and the optical detector, the optically-transmissive insulation being operably associated with an outer surface of a pressure vessel. A missile includes a body; a propulsion system including a pressure vessel having an outer surface; and an impact-sensing, thermal insulation system operably associated with the outer surface of the pressure vessel. The impact-sensing, thermal insulation system includes a light source; an optical detector; and an optically-transmissive insulation optically coupled with the light source and the optical detector, the optically-transmissive insulation being operably associated with the outer surface of the pressure vessel. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090114082 | ANTIBALLISTIC ARMOR - An antiballistic armor includes a core having a first surface, a second surface, and pockets extending into the core. The antiballistic armor further includes projectile impeding elements, wherein one of the projectile impeding elements is disposed within each of the pockets of the core. Further, the antiballistic armor includes a first face sheet joined to the first surface of the core and a second face sheet joined to the second surface of the core. A method includes producing pockets in a core that extend into the core, attaching projectile impeding elements within the pockets in the core, joining a first face sheet onto the first surface of the core, and joining a second face sheet onto a second surface of the core. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090126557 | ARMOR AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME - An armor includes a face sheet, a spall liner, and a core disposed between the face sheet and the spall liner. The core includes a polymeric matrix and a plurality of ceramic rods disposed in the polymeric matrix. The armor further includes a first shock dissipation layer disposed between the face sheet and the core. The armor optionally includes a second shock dissipation layer disposed between the spall liner and the core. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090272254 | APPARATUS FOR INHIBITING EFFECTS OF AN EXPLOSIVE BLAST - An apparatus for inhibiting effects of an explosive blast includes a central portion including a stiffening element and defining a radiused exterior surface and a plurality of sides extending from the central portion for attachment to a structure. The central portion and the plurality of sides are configured to redirect at least a portion of a blast wave resulting from an explosive blast. A vehicle hull includes a personnel compartment and an apparatus for inhibiting effects of an explosive blast operably associated with the personnel compartment. The apparatus includes a central portion including a stiffening element and defining a radiused exterior surface and a plurality of sides extending between the central portion and the personnel compartment. The central portion and the plurality of sides are configured to redirect at least a portion of a blast wave resulting from an explosive blast. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20110113950 | Composite material having a layer including entrained particles and method of making same - A composite material suitable for use as an armor includes a first layer of a metallic material and a second layer, metallurgically bonded with the first layer. The second layer includes a matrix of the material of the first layer and a plurality of brittle particles dispersed in the matrix. A method for making a composite structure suitable for use as an armor from a workpiece of a metallic material includes the steps of plasticizing a fractional thickness of the workpiece using a friction stir process, introducing a plurality of brittle particles into the plasticized, fractional thickness of the workpiece, and dispersing the plurality of brittle particles into the plasticized, fractional thickness of the workpiece using the friction stir process. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20120125187 | Armor Having Prismatic, Tesselated Core - An armor includes a core that, in turn, includes a first layer of prismatic elements arranged in a tessellated fashion and a second layer of prismatic elements arranged in a tessellated fashion. The armor further includes a smart component operably associated with a component of the armor. The first layer of prismatic elements is nested into the second layer of prismatic elements. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120132064 | Armor Having Prismatic, Tesselated Core - An armor includes a core that, in turn, includes a first layer of prismatic elements arranged in a tessellated fashion and a second layer of prismatic elements arranged in a tessellated fashion. The first layer of prismatic elements is nested into the second layer of prismatic elements. An armor includes a strike face sheet, a rear face sheet, and a core disposed between the strike face sheet and the rear face sheet. The core includes a first layer of prismatic elements arranged in a tessellated fashion, a second layer of prismatic elements arranged in a tessellated fashion, and a strain isolation layer. The first layer of prismatic elements is nested into the second layer of prismatic elements with the strain isolation layer disposed between the first layer of prismatic elements and the second layer of prismatic elements. The armor is at least one of curved in at least one direction, configured to include a corner, and configured to include a prismatic element of the first layer of prismatic elements or the second layer of prismatic element having a metallic layer disposed thereon. | 05-31-2012 |
| 20120180627 | BLAST ATTENUATOR AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME - A blast attenuator includes an enclosure defining a cavity; a core defining a plurality of interconnected pores, the core disposed in the cavity; and a shear thickening fluid disposed in the cavity, such that the shear thickening fills a portion of a pore volume of the core. A blast attenuation assembly includes a blast attenuator including a shear thickening fluid and a crushable element that omits a shear thickening fluid operably associated with the blast attenuator. A method includes the steps of providing a rigid core defining a plurality of interconnected pores and placing an enclosure about the core, the enclosure defining a filling port. The method further includes the steps of filling at least a portion of a pore volume of the core with a shear thickening fluid and closing the filling port to seal the enclosure and form a first blast attenuator. | 07-19-2012 |
| 20120180632 | Vehicle Hull Including Apparatus for Inhibiting Effects of an Explosive Blast - A vehicle hull includes a personnel compartment and an apparatus for inhibiting effects of an explosive blast operably associated with the personnel compartment. The apparatus is configured to redirect at least a portion of a blast wave resulting from an explosive blast. The apparatus defines a cavity in which a blast attenuator is disposed. The blast attenuator comprises a core defining a plurality of interconnecting pores defining a pore volume of the core, a shear thickening fluid disposed in the pore volume of the core, and an enclosure in which the core and the shear thickening fluid are disposed. | 07-19-2012 |
