초록 ▼

A blast-resistant armored land vehicle that may include a monocoque body comprised of sheet material with the bottom portion of the vehicle being substantially V-shaped. The apex of the V is substantially parallel with the centerline of the vehicle with the tip of the V having a radius of approximat

A blast-resistant armored land vehicle that may include a monocoque body comprised of sheet material with the bottom portion of the vehicle being substantially V-shaped. The apex of the V is substantially parallel with the centerline of the vehicle with the tip of the V having a radius of approximately 1-4 inches. The angle of the V may be approximately 115��-130��. The vehicle has a ground clearance of greater than 30 inches. The vehicle further includes an engine detachably affixed within the body, a transmission connected to the engine, a transfer case connected to the transmission having a front output shaft and a rear output shaft. The transfer case may be located at the approximate the fore and aft center of the vehicle and may be enclosed within a blast resistant that includes sheet material above the transfer case. The drive train may be connected to the engine and may be detachably affixed to the body.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A blast-resistant armored land vehicle comprising: a monocoque body comprised of sheet materials, the body having a centerline, a bottom portion, and an upper portion including opposite side portions, the bottom portion defining at least one V, with the apex of the V substant

What is claimed is: 1. A blast-resistant armored land vehicle comprising: a monocoque body comprised of sheet materials, the body having a centerline, a bottom portion, and an upper portion including opposite side portions, the bottom portion defining at least one V, with the apex of the V substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle, the distance between the surface on which the vehicle operates and the apex of the V being greater than about 30 inches; an engine detachably affixed within the body; a transmission connected to the engine; a transfer case connected to the transmission having a front output shaft and a rear output shaft, the transfer case being proximate the fore and aft center of the vehicle, a drive train assembly connected to the engine, the drive train assembly being detachably affixed to the body wherein the bottom portion further includes a metal energy-absorbing member extending longitudinally along, and affixed to, the interior of the apex of the V. 2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the sheet material of the upper body portion consists essentially of steel armor plate with high hardness. 3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the sheet material of the bottom body portion consists essentially of steel plate with high fracture toughness. 4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the sheet materials of the body consists essentially of sheet metals selected from the group consisting of steel, titanium alloys, and aluminum alloys. 5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the sheet materials of the body are comprised of materials selected from the group consisting of: fiber reinforced polymers and metal matrix composites. 6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the angle of the V is a compound angle, having more than a single angle, and wherein the angle of the V closest to the centerline of the vehicle is greater than the angle of the V adjacent the sides of the body. 7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the energy-absorbing member mounted within the V comprises a metal pipe affixed to the interior of the apex of the V. 8. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the side portions of the vehicle body have upper side portions with surfaces at a recumbent angle to vertical. 9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the body includes a layer of sheet armor adjacent interior surface of the body. 10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the sheet armor adjacent the interior surface of the body comprises a rigid polymer/fiber composite. 11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the sheet armor adjacent the interior surface of the body comprises a woven fabric comprised of fiber. 12. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the sheet armor adjacent the interior surface of the body comprises a woven fabric comprised of fiber and a plurality of ceramic plates. 13. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the sheet armor adjacent the interior surface of the body is spaced from the interior surface to form a gap. 14. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the side portions comprise hard armor sheet material and the bottom portions comprises tough armor sheet material; the hard armor sheet material of the side portions is joined to the tough armor sheet material of the bottom portion by lap joints; and wherein the bottom portion sheet material is positioned laterally outside of the side portions sheet material at the lap joints. 15. A four wheel drive blast-resistant armored land vehicle comprising: a monocoque body comprised of sheet material, the body having a centerline, a bottom portion, and a top portion including side portions, the bottom portion defining at least one V, with the apex of the V substantially parallel to the centerline of the vehicle body, the angle of the V being in the range of approximately 115�� to 130��, wherein the distance between the surface on which the vehicle operates and the tip of the V being greater than 30 inches; an engine detachably affixed within the body; an automatic transmission connected to the engine; a transfer case connected to the transmission having a front output shaft and a rear output shaft, the transfer case being proximate the fore and aft center of the vehicle, the transfer case being within an enclosure having blast resistant sheet material above the transfer case with an armor assembly surrounding at least a portion of the transfer case; wherein the vehicle further includes an energy absorbing member mounted within the V comprised of a metal pipe affixed to the interior of the apex of the V. 16. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein the transfer case is within an enclosure having a top side closed with a tough sheet material, the enclosure being open on the bottom. 17. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the vehicle further includes an assembly surrounding at least a portion of the transfer case, the assembly being disposed to prevent significant blast energy or blast propelled material from entering the transfer case enclosure from the open bottom. 18. A four wheel drive blast-resistant armored land vehicle for operation on a surface, the vehicle comprising: a monocoque body comprised of sheet materials, the body having a centerline, a bottom portion, and an upper portion including side portions, the bottom portion defining at least one V, with the apex of the V substantially parallel to the centerline of the vehicle body, the angle of the V being in the range of approximately 115�� to 130��, wherein the distance between the surface on which the vehicle operates and the apex of the V being greater than about 30 inches, wherein the vehicle further includes an energy-absorbing member mounted within the V comprised of a metal pipe affixed to the interior of the apex of the V. 19. The vehicle of claim 18 wherein the vehicle includes a fuel tank within the body, and wherein the vehicle includes sheet armor between the fuel tank and the metal pipe. 20. The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the vehicle includes additional sheet armor between the fuel tank and the interior of the body, and wherein the additional sheet armor between the fuel tank and the interior of the body consists essentially of an aluminum alloy. 21. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the sheet material of the upper body portion consists essentially of hardened steel armor plate, and wherein the sheet material of the bottom body portion consists essentially of steel plate with high fracture toughness. 22. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the tip of the V has a radius in the range of approximately 1 to 4 inches. 23. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the V is a compound angle, and wherein the angle of the V closest to the centerline of the vehicle is greater than the angle of the V adjacent the side portions. 24. A four wheel drive blast-resistant armored land vehicle comprising: a monocoque body comprised of sheet materials, the body having a centerline, a bottom portion, and an upper portion, the bottom portion defining at least one V, with the apex of the V substantially parallel to the centerline of the vehicle body, an engine detachably affixed within the body; a drive train connected to the engine, the drive train being detachably affixed to the body, wherein the drive train includes a front wheel assembly provided at a first location, and a rear wheel assembly provided at a rear location, the first location and the second location being spaced as far apart on the body as is practical, the drive train including a front wheel drive shaft and a rear wheel drive shaft with each of the drive shafts at an angle in the range of from 2 to 7 degrees to the front output shaft and the rear output shaft respectively, wherein the drive train comprises greater than 30% of the gross weight of the vehicle, and wherein the vehicle has a static lateral roll stability on a sloped surface of at least 45��. 25. The vehicle of claim 24, wherein the body includes an interior floor, and wherein a center of gravity of the vehicle is approximately at the height of the floor.