The present invention relates to passthroughs (feedthroughs) and more particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, to assemblies allowing wire, cable, or other structures to enter or exit vehicles in manners mitigating vulnerability of the vehicles to ballistics or other projectiles while being environmentally sealed.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,434,638 to Bryers illustrates a feedthrough for an antenna. To utilize the feedthrough, “an opening is cut through the skin of [an airplane] of the same size as the greater interior diameter of [a] cone.” See Bryers, col. 3, 11. 8-10. A threaded rod extends centrally through the opening perpendicular to the plane thereof. Nuts and washers may be placed about the rod, with an antenna tightened between them so as to connect the antenna and the rod electrically. See id., 11. 15-37; FIGS. 1-3.
By contrast, U.S. Pat. No. 4,184,160 to Affronti discloses a surface mounting assembly intended to position an antenna on a roof of a vehicle without creating a hole in the roof. The assembly clamps to edges of the roof. Bolted to the assembly is a housing having an opening through which an antenna extends upwardly, again perpendicular to the plane of the opening. The housing also contains another feedthrough permitting a cable associated with the antenna to pass. After exiting the housing, the cable is hooked to the assembly and continues into the vehicle in an unspecified manner. See Affronti, col. 2, 11. 27-31; col. 3, 1. 33 to col. 4,1. 16.
Neither the feedthrough of the Bryers patent nor the assembly of the Affronti patent appears intended for use in hostile environments. Consequently, neither structure is concerned with mitigating vulnerability of the associated vehicle to projectiles striking in the area of either the opening in the aircraft skin, as in the Bryers patent, or whatever (unspecified) opening allows the cable to enter the vehicle of the Affronti patent. Moreover, neither patent discusses possible adverse effects of turning a cable through a ninety-degree angle: Indeed,
The present invention provides innovative feedthroughs. The feedthroughs are especially (although not exclusively) beneficial for passing antenna (or other) cables through hulls of vehicles configured for use in hostile environments. At least some versions of the feedthroughs may be employed as part of passive armor systems for lightweight vehicles used by, for example, special operations forces of the United States military.
In particular, the inventive feedthroughs provide non-linear cable paths in areas near openings of vehicle hulls. Rather than causing a cable or rod to exit an opening perpendicular to the plane thereof, the present feedthroughs cause cables to exit generally parallel to these planes—i.e. generally along exterior hull surfaces. No direct pathway thus exists for a bullet to enter an opening of the vehicle hull, reducing ballistic vulnerability of the vehicle caused by the existence of the feedthrough. Moreover, the curved path followed by the cable through the inventive feedthrough prevents the cable from making any sharp ninety-degree turn, avoiding adverse conductivity or other consequences sometimes associated with such sharp turns.
Cover plate 4 may be attached atop anti-ballistic guide 3. Cover plate 4 also may be anti-ballistic, preferably is generally planar and solid, and may be positioned generally parallel to plate 1. However, because guide 3 is not of circular cross-section, space 30 exists covered by plate 4. Cable passing into space 30 thus may be guided by guide 3 in a somewhat-circular path and thence pass through opening 18 into the vehicle. This passage occurs without the cable making any sharp, ninety-degree turn.
By contrast, a bullet or other projectile cannot directly enter opening 18 because of the presence of cover plate 4. Furthermore, any bullet or projectile entering space 30, because of its linear velocity, is unlikely to be able to turn so as to pass through opening 18. Consequently, feedthrough 10 has anti-ballistic effect, reducing the likelihood of a bullet entering a vehicle through an opening intended for passage of an antenna or other cable.
Also shown in
The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of the present invention. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. The contents of the Bryers and Affronti patents are incorporated herein in their entireties by this reference.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/263,859, filed Dec. 7, 2015, and having the same title as appears above, the entire contents of which application are hereby incorporated herein by this reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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2434638 | Bryers | Jan 1948 | A |
3809798 | Simon | May 1974 | A |
4115779 | Dantzler | Sep 1978 | A |
4184160 | Affronti | Jan 1980 | A |
4790774 | White | Dec 1988 | A |
5252985 | Christinsin | Oct 1993 | A |
5563378 | Uchida | Oct 1996 | A |
7626118 | Capozzi | Dec 2009 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
7732584 | May 1978 | DE |
10247261 | Apr 2004 | DE |
2988923 | Oct 2013 | FR |
Entry |
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International Patent Application No. PCT/US2016/065130, Search Report and Written Opinion dated Aug. 23, 2017. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20170163019 A1 | Jun 2017 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62263859 | Dec 2015 | US |