U.S. patent application number 12/624782 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-03 for helmet comprising a movable visor with a vertical axis of rotation.
This patent application is currently assigned to Thales. Invention is credited to Julien Beaudet.
Application Number | 20100132085 12/624782 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40902174 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100132085 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Beaudet; Julien |
June 3, 2010 |
Helmet comprising a movable visor with a vertical axis of
rotation
Abstract
The invention relates to a helmet comprising at least one
movable visor and a shell to protect the head of the wearer,
characterized in that the visor is attached to a support connected
to the outer surface of the shell by a rotary mechanism making it
possible to move the visor around the shell, the rotary mechanism
consisting of a single mechanical connection positioned
substantially at the top of the shell. The invention is designed
particularly for the military aviation field and also applies to
helmets comprising several visors.
Inventors: |
Beaudet; Julien; (Bruges,
FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LARIVIERE, GRUBMAN & PAYNE, LLP
19 UPPER RAGSDALE DRIVE, SUITE 200
MONTEREY
CA
93940
US
|
Assignee: |
Thales
Neuilly Sur Seine
FR
|
Family ID: |
40902174 |
Appl. No.: |
12/624782 |
Filed: |
November 24, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/6.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 3/228 20130101;
A42B 3/221 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/6.5 |
International
Class: |
A42B 3/22 20060101
A42B003/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 25, 2008 |
FR |
08 06619 |
Claims
1. Helmet comprising at least one movable visor and a shell to
protect the head of the wearer, wherein the visor is attached to a
support connected to the outer surface of the shell by a rotary
mechanism making it possible to move the visor around the shell,
the rotary mechanism consisting of a single mechanical connection
positioned substantially at the top of the shell.
2. Helmet according to claim 1, wherein the rotary mechanism is
designed so that its axis of rotation passes through a point
substantially positioned in the centre of the shell and the said
axis is also offset at an angle relative to the vertical axis
passing through the same point.
3. Helmet according to claim 2, wherein the rotary mechanism makes
it possible to move the support of the visor between two positions,
a first position of use of the visor for which the visor is
positioned at the front face of the helmet and a second position
for stowing the visor for which the visor is positioned at the rear
of the helmet
4. Helmet according to claim 3, wherein in order to move the visor
between the position of use and the position of stowage, the visor
moves along the lateral portions of the helmet.
5. Helmet according to claim 4, wherein the visor is moved in a
rotary movement through approximately 180.degree..
6. Helmet according to claim 5, comprising a mechanical means for
protecting the visor when the said visor is in the stowage
position.
7. Helmet according to claim 2, wherein the said angle of offset is
approximately 30.degree..
8. Helmet according to claim 1, the support of the visor is also a
means for gripping the visor and for moving the said visor.
9. Helmet according to claim 8, comprising at least one mechanical
branch connecting the visor to the rotary mechanism.
10. Helmet according to claim 9, wherein the support of the visor
consists of a central mechanical branch connected to the centre of
the top longitudinal portion of the visor and of two lateral
mechanical branches connected to the lateral portions of the top
longitudinal portion of the visor.
11. Helmet according to claim 5 comprising a mean for holding the
support of the visor in the first and in the second position.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application claims priority to French Patent
Application Number 08 06619, entitled Casque Comportant Une Visiere
Mobile Avec Un Axe De Rotation Vertical, filed on Nov. 25,
2008.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The field of the invention relates to helmets comprising a
supporting shell and at least one protective visor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A helmet for a pilot of an aircraft, particularly a war
plane, is usually a multifunctional helmet and is fitted with
visors. Such a helmet comprises a rigid supporting shell that
surrounds the top cover, the rear and the lateral portions of the
head of the wearer. The helmet comprises visors through which the
wearer of the helmet can see his environment; these visors are most
often able to be retracted to the top of the head and provide
protection for the face against various assaults (wind, dust, light
or violent lighting, etc.). For night flights, a night vision
system may be interposed in front of the eyes of the wearer. A
helmet may also comprise a ballistic visor close to the eyes of the
pilot and a visor having an overprint of the normal view of the
information originating from a sight.
[0004] FIG. 1 represents two existing helmet solutions for a pilot
of a war plane. The top figure represents a helmet the visor 2 of
which is attached by two rotary mechanisms 1 on the lateral
portions of the helmet. A system 3 for holding and guiding the
visor is shown on the top portion of the helmet. The bottom figure
illustrates a helmet comprising an electronic system 4 on the
lateral face of the helmet. In another variant of a helmet
comprising a mechanical system for accommodating night-vision
glasses on the centre of the front portion of the helmet, the
mechanism for holding and guiding the visor is positioned on a
lateral face of the helmet close to an electronic system.
[0005] The helmet visors are subject to several problems: [0006] A
first problem is that these visors must be able to be stowed easily
and quickly. Specifically, during a flight operation, the stowage
handling must be carried out involving a minimum of inconvenience
for the pilot. The presence of many electronic systems becomes
inconvenient for handling the visor whether it be for raising it or
removing it from the helmet. The right figure of FIG. 1 describes a
mechanism 1 for attaching the visor 2 at the electronic system. The
presence of the onboard electronic systems in the same location as
the kinematics mechanisms of the visor impose additional
constraints on the design of the electronic systems. This involves
a miniaturization of the electronic systems and consequently an
increase in their cost and also a reduction in their performance.
[0007] A second problem originates from the weight of the visor,
from the associated mechanisms and from the integrated electronic
systems. These systems apply their weight to portions that are
off-centre relative to the centre of gravity of the head of the
wearer. In the position of use, a visor comprises a centre of
gravity at the front of the helmet and, in the stowage position, a
visor is in a position raised to the top of the helmet.
Consequently, the centre of gravity of the helmet is positioned at
the front and towards the top of the head of the wearer thus
increasing the risk of trauma due to muscular fatigue of the pilot.
[0008] A third problem comes from the fact that the visor is raised
to the top of the helmet in the stowage position. In flight, the
risk of impact for a pilot most frequently originates from the top
of his head in the event of sudden loss of altitude or turbulence.
The top of the helmet is therefore the most risky zone for the
visor. This zone has a risk of impact with the front panels of the
cockpit. And without considering impacts, this zone is usually
small.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The object of the invention is to propose a helmet making it
possible to alleviate the aforementioned problems. More precisely,
the invention is a helmet comprising at least one movable visor and
a shell to protect the head of the wearer, characterized in that
the visor is attached to a support connected to the outer surface
of the shell by a rotary mechanism making it possible to move the
visor around the shell, the rotary mechanism consisting of a single
mechanical connection positioned substantially at the top of the
shell.
[0010] The rotary mechanism comprising a single mechanical
connection at the top of the helmet makes it possible to free up
usable space on the lateral faces of the helmet. The mechanism for
rotating and holding the visor is simplified and positioned in a
space that was previously not used. Consequently, the rotary and
holding mechanism does not encumber the space around the electronic
systems. The constraints of design of the electronic systems are
reduced and make it possible to reduce the cost of the
electronics.
[0011] An additional feature of the helmet is that the rotary
mechanism makes it possible to move the support of the visor
between two positions, a first position of use of the visor for
which the visor is positioned at the front face of the helmet and a
second position for stowing the visor for which the visor is
positioned at the rear of the helmet. In order to move the visor
between the position of use and the position of stowage, the visor
moves along the lateral portions of the helmet.
[0012] In the stowage position, the centre of gravity balancing the
helmet is situated at the rear of the head of the wearer.
Consequently, it balances the centre of gravity of the assembly
consisting of the helmet and the electronic systems positioned at
the front of the head. The centre of gravity of the helmet assembly
thus becomes situated at the centre of gravity of the head of the
pilot and reduces the risk of trauma for the pilot. This also
provides comfort of use.
[0013] In the stowage position, since the visor is not on the top
of the helmet, the invention allows minimal encumbrance of this
zone.
[0014] The visor also does not risk a vertical impact with the
front panels of the cockpit.
[0015] Another cause of damage to the visor is the impact with the
system for receiving night-vision glasses. Since the visor is moved
to the lateral faces of the helmet, the invention solves this
problem.
[0016] Advantageously, the rotary mechanism is designed so that its
axis of rotation passes through a point substantially positioned in
the centre of the helmet and the said axis if also offset at an
angle relative to the vertical axis passing through the same point.
Preferably, the said angle of offset is approximately 30.degree..
The offset of the axis of rotation from the vertical axis makes it
possible to raise the position of the visor when the latter is
stowed. The visor is then at a distance from the surrounding
elements with which it could come into collision, particularly the
top portion of the back of the pilot seat.
[0017] Advantageously, the helmet comprises a mechanical means for
protecting the visor when the said visor is in the stowage
position. This mechanical element, comprising an upwardly folded
portion, protects the visor.
[0018] Advantageously, the support of the visor is also a means for
gripping the visor and for moving the said visor. In one basic
embodiment, the support of the visor comprises at least one
mechanical branch connecting the visor to the rotary mechanism. In
another embodiment, the visor consists of a central mechanical
branch connected to the centre of the top longitudinal portion of
the visor and of two lateral mechanical branches connected to the
lateral portions of the top longitudinal portion of the visor.
[0019] The rotary mechanism also comprises a means for holding the
support of the visor in the first and in the second position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The invention will be better understood and other advantages
will appear on reading the following description given as a
non-limiting example and by virtue of the appended figures amongst
which:
[0021] FIG. 1 represents two existing solutions of an aircraft
pilot helmet.
[0022] FIG. 2 represents a simplified diagram of the helmet
according to the invention.
[0023] The diagram represents the head of an individual wearing the
helmet, the visor system of the helmet and the integrated
electronic systems. The helmet is in the position of use with the
visor at the front face of the helmet.
[0024] FIG. 3 represents a simplified diagram of a top view in
perspective of the helmet. An arrow represents the trajectory
followed by the visor in order to be moved from the position of use
to the stowage position or vice versa.
[0025] FIG. 4 represents the helmet with the visor in the stowage
position at the rear of the helmet. The centres of gravity and the
forces of weight of the head of the wearer and of the elements
incorporated into the helmet are represented by arrows.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, the current solutions for a helmet
visor, in the military aviation field and also any other field,
comprise two rotary connections at the lateral faces of the helmet,
and more precisely close to the ears of the wearer. To be in a
stowage position, the visor is also raised to the top of the
helmet. These solutions comprise several problems mentioned above.
To respond to these problems, the invention proposes a mechanical
support 13 carrying the visor 11 which is attached to the shell 12
of the helmet 10 by means of a single rotary connection 131. The
visor is also moved around the helmet via the lateral faces. For
the rest of the description, the front face is defined as being the
side of the helmet having the face of the wearer and the rear face
as that which is in contact with the back of the head of the
wearer. The visor according to the invention is particularly
designed to protect from external light and consequently is usually
tinted. But the invention is not limited to this type of visor.
[0027] FIG. 2 represents the helmet 10 in the position of use. The
helmet comprises a shell 12 to protect the head of the wearer. The
visor 11 is attached to the mechanical support 13, preferably by
means of rivets, but may also be attached by bonding or any other
attachment means making it possible to withstand the aviation
stresses. An advantage of an attachment by rivets is the option of
easily changing the visor in the event of damage.
[0028] The support 13 of the visor 11 is a rigid mechanical
structure comprising at least one mechanical branch to carry the
visor. In a preferred embodiment, the support comprises a base
directly linked to the mechanical rotary connection 131, attached
to the protective shell, which is divided into three mechanical
branches 132, 133, 134 as shown in the view in perspective of FIG.
3. These three mechanical branches 132 to 134 are connected to a
longitudinal mechanical portion 135 on the top edge of the visor.
The top edge of the visor is attached to the longitudinal
mechanical portion 135 by rivets. The mechanical structure of the
support is sufficiently rigid to withstand the vibrations and
movement of the helmet without exhibiting shaking. One advantage of
the shape of the support 13 is that the mechanical structure is
perfectly adapted so that the support of the visor also serves as a
handle for moving the visor from the position of use to the stowage
position or vice versa. The empty spaces between the mechanical
branches allow the user to grip the support with the whole hand and
to carry out the appropriate movement rapidly without having to
grip the visor. With the current solutions, a pilot has to grip the
visor itself and raise it. He has to grip it by the sides at the
locations where the electronics are usually located. The visors are
retractable and the attachment mechanism is also situated on the
lateral faces of the helmet. In the implementation of this
manoeuvre, the invention has the advantage that the visor and its
support are separated by a manipulation at the connecting mechanism
131. This zone of the helmet is completely separated and therefore
of easy access for the pilot.
[0029] The support 13 is connected to the shell of the helmet via
the simple rotary connection 131. This connection is situated in an
unencumbered zone of the helmet. This rotary connection allows the
pilot to move the visor 11 in a rotary movement 43 relative to a
substantially vertical axis 41 passing through the head of the
wearer from top to bottom. This axis 41 is offset from the vertical
axis 42 passing through the head from top to bottom through the
same point. The axis 41 is offset at an angle 40, preferably of
30.degree.. The rotary movement is carried out through 180.degree.
because of the presence of electronic systems on one of the two
lateral faces of the helmet. However, in another application, this
visor may be moved in a movement through 360.degree. about the axis
of rotation. The rotary connection 131 comprises a means for
holding the support 13 of the visor for the position of use shown
in FIG. 2 and for the stowage position shown in FIG. 4. This
holding system is of the spring type, but is not limited to this
type of system. Between these two positions, the holding system may
be designed so that the support of the visor encounters less
resistance on the trajectory of movement between the two positions.
The connection between the shell 12 and the support 13 of the visor
is designed so that few vibrations originating from the helmet or
from the wearer are transmitted to the support 13 and cause the
visor 11 to vibrate in front of the pilot.
[0030] The axis of rotation 41 of the rotary connection 131 is
substantially offset from the vertical axis 42. That is to say that
the rotary connection 131 is positioned on the portion of the shell
12 substantially in front of the top of the shell 12 positioned on
the vertical axis 42 and the rotary connection is positioned on the
axis of symmetry 44 of the helmet. The offset of the rotary
connection, preferably of approximately 30.degree., makes it
possible to raise the visor relative to the shell 12 when the
latter is in the stowage position. FIG. 4 illustrates the stowage
position of the visor 11 and describes the visor in a higher
position relative to a position in which the rotary connection
would be positioned at the vertical axis passing through the top of
the shell 12. Usually, in a cockpit, the seat of the pilot does not
comprise a portion for resting the head and the top of the back 32
of the seat is situated level with the nape of the pilot's neck.
Therefore by raising the position of the visor in the stowage
position, the risk of the visor impacting the seat is reduced and
does not inconvenience the movement of the head of the pilot when
the latter leans his head back.
[0031] To prevent damage to the visor by an impact from below, the
helmet comprises a mechanical means 14 attached to the rear of the
shell 12 making it possible to protect the visor when the said
visor is in the stowage position. According to the invention, this
mechanical means 14 is a rigid strip partly attached along the
shell 12 approximately in the width of the nape of the pilot's neck
and comprises a rigid wing that is folded and raised upwards. This
mechanical means is similar to a mechanical part in the shape of
half of a Y.
[0032] The support 13 and the visor 11, when in the stowage
position at the rear of the helmet 12 frees up the lateral spaces
of the helmet and the front space. As specified above, this effect
is advantageous for the design of the electronic systems 15 which
are then subjected to lesser constraints of space requirement, of
cooling and more generally lesser electronic constraints.
Consequently, the cost of development and manufacture of said
electronic systems is lower. The pilot helmets in the military
field also comprise night vision systems. The helmets therefore
have a reception support 17 for the said vision systems. Since the
front space of the helmet is less encumbered, these vision systems
are easier to manipulate for the pilot and also prevent damage to
the visor by impact of the vision system with the bottom edge of
the visor.
[0033] FIG. 4 represents the helmet and the centres of gravity of
the head of the wearer, of the integrated electronic elements 15
and 17, of the visor assembly 11 and of the support 13. The point
20 represents the centre of gravity of the head of the wearer, the
point 21 represents the centre of gravity of the electronic system
15, the arrow represents the weight, the point 22 represents the
centre of gravity of the support for receiving the night-vision
glasses, the arrow representing the weight and the point 23
represents the centre of gravity of the visor, the arrow
representing the weight. An advantage of the invention is that the
weight of the visor makes it possible to compensate for the weights
of the electronic systems and of the support which stand away at
the front of the helmet and the invention is of particular value
for compensating for the weight of the night-vision glasses. It
makes it possible to reduce the off-centre shift of the centre of
gravity of the helmet assembly relative to the centre of gravity of
the head of the wearer. It is possible to estimate at approximately
2 to 3 mm the reduction in the off-centre shift. This performance
provides an essential gain in the pilot's acceptance of this type
of helmet and consequently in the quality of the missions carried
out by the pilot.
[0034] Since the visor 11 is no longer folded back on the top of
the helmet 12, the space requirement in height above the pilot is
reduced. The space 31 shown in FIG. 3 represents the zones where
the front panels of the cockpit are situated.
[0035] The invention applies to helmets comprising a visor and to
any field of application, for example aviation, motor vehicles,
etc.
* * * * *