Cadillac Gage Company

Ex-cell-o Gmbh

James M Bemiss

Armored vehicle

An armored underbody for a road vehicle is disclosed as including fabricated armor plate to protect both the vehicle underbody components and the vehicle occupant compartment from projectiles such as deflected bullets or shrapnel. A plurality of armor protection plates (16, 18, 20 and 21) of the underbody provide radiator, engine, transmission, and transfer case protection from upwardly directed projectiles. The vehicle occupant compartment floor (22) includes front and rear floor sections (24, 26) of armor plate preferably connected by a laterally extending floor support member (60). A fuel tank (28) of the underbody has a fabricated armor plate construction that prevents puncturing thereof by projectiles. In its preferred construction, the underbody includes a pair of longitudinal frame members (30) spaced laterally from each other and connected by cross frame members (32, 34, 36, 38) that are used to mount the armor protection plates. Floor support member (60) extends laterally between the longitudinal frame members (30) and is supported thereby in order to mount both the front and the rear floor sections (24, 26).

Armored underbody for road vehicle

A vehicle body armored grille (20) disclosed has particular utility with a front engine compartment opening (24) and includes vertically spaced louvers (26) of an improved armor plate construction for stopping projectiles from passing through the grille. Each louver (26) has an elongated shape extending horizontally across the opening and includes an outer armor plate (30) that is inclined downwardly in an outward direction and an inner armor plate (32) secured to and extending downwardly from the upper and inward extremity of the outer armor plate. An upper extremity (34) of each inner armor plate (32) projects above the associated outer armor plate (30) to deflect a projectile impacted therewith upwardly toward the next higher louver. Orienting the outer armor plate at an inclination of 45.degree. with respect to the horizontal and the inner armor plate at a greater angle, i.e. 55.degree., defines an acute junction therebetween at which the plates are welded to each other and at which a projectile deflected upwardly from the next lower louver is trapped. Opposite ends of each louver (26) are welded to side plates (36) on a peripheral plate-like support (28) that mounts the grille on the associated vehicle body.

Armored grille

An air intake vent (20) for the cowl opening (24) of an armored vehicle includes a front armor plate (26) extending upwardly from the cowl (22) forward of the opening and a holder (30) for mounting an air filter (32) over the cowl opening, and the vent also includes a flanged cover (34) that prevents projectiles from passing through the cowl opening while still permitting air to enter the vehicle. A front flange (36) of the cover extends downwardly in front of the front armor plate preferably with an inclined orientation so as to provide good deflection of projectiles away from the cowl opening. A pair of side armor plates (38) extend upwardly from the cowl on opposite lateral sides of the opening thereof and side flanges (44) on the cover extend downwardly outboard therefrom in a spaced relationship. The holder for the air filter includes an L-shaped rear mount (30) that positions the rear extremity (45) of a mounted filter such that the front and side extremities (46, 47) thereof are respectively positioned by the front and side armor plates on the cowl. Supports (48, 52) for the cover are mounted on the front and side armor plates and have a construction that permits removal and mounting of an air filter for servicing or replacement.

Growing community of inventors

St. Clair Shores, MI, United States of America

James M Bemiss