DE202024103134U1 - Device for reducing thermal stress and regulating the microclimate in a protective helmet and protective helmet equipped with the device - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for reducing thermal stress and for regulating the microclimate in a protective helmet (H), characterized in that at least one capsule arrangement (3, 4) with phase change material (PCM) is integrated into a helmet shell (1) of the protective helmet (H) and/or that a compressed gas line (5) leads to the helmet shell (1), with which expansion cooling can be realized by means of a cooling gas in the interior of the protective helmet (H).

Description

The invention relates to a device for reducing thermal stress and for regulating the microclimate in a protective helmet and to a protective helmet equipped with the device, according to the preamble of the first and eleventh claims.

It is well known that when the ambient temperature and/or humidity are high and the air is humid, people's sense of comfort and their performance are quickly reduced. In such situations, the production and evaporation of sweat are supposed to lead to the body's natural thermoregulation, which keeps the core body temperature at around 37 °C. If the body is unable to thermoregulate at the required intensity, fatigue quickly sets in, leading to life-threatening vital parameters.

Various options are already known from the state of the art to counteract thermal loads on the body and ensure more comfortable temperatures. These solutions are aimed at both protective helmets and outerwear, as described in the publication EP 1 653 818 A4 described, as well as according to EN 10 2010 020 262 B4 on medical applications. Encapsulated phase change materials (PCM) are predominantly used as a solution. The heat generated causes the PCM to melt at a nearly constant temperature, instead of increasing the ambient temperature close to the body.

The publication further EN 10 2016 201 912 B4 It is proposed that the PCM in a helmet be equipped with a heat pipe that actively transfers the body heat absorbed by the PCM to the outer side of the helmet, which in the described application emits heat. The active heat dissipation is expected to result in a prolonged cooling effect of the PCM.

In the case of a printed publication WO2016/135529 A1 In the protective helmet with temperature regulation device presented, the PCM is used as a heat-absorbing cushion in conjunction with forced ventilation of the helmet. The aim is to extract heat from the warm ambient air that is sucked in by the PCM and thus generate a cooling circulation around the head.

Instead of PCM, the publication uses DE 197 56 470 A1 The use of Peltier elements for cooling bicycle helmets, whereby the power supply is to be ensured via batteries or solar cells.

However, the known solutions in the state of the art have disadvantages. For example, the use of PCM is only possible to a limited extent due to the additional weight that has to be applied, particularly in the area of head protection, since even a few hundred grams of additional weight in protective helmets or similar can lead to significant impairments in wearing comfort and the person's performance. Furthermore, the cooling of warm ambient air by PCM is not sufficient for cooling circulation as described in the publication EP3 261 473 A4 only possible for moderate ambient temperatures of < 50 °C, since only a limited amount of heat can be extracted from the air during the flow due to the laws of heat transfer (heat transfer coefficient, driving temperature difference, heat transfer surface). In addition, it must be ensured that the ambient air flowing into the helmet is free of pollutants, which cannot generally be assumed.
Such solutions are therefore particularly unsuitable for protective helmets for rescue workers due to the hot and toxic gases that arise during firefighting. The proposed technologies of the heat pipe and the Peltier element including power supply are also considered unsuitable due to the additional weight.

The publication EP 2 249 672 B1 describes a brain cooling device that uses an endothermic reaction for cooling. The device is used in particular as a motorcycle helmet. The device has an inner and outer layer arranged inside the helmet, which are separated from each other by a membrane, whereby an impact or impending impact breaks through the separation and triggers the reaction. For example, water can be arranged in the outer layer, which flows into the inner layer as a result of the impact and triggers a reaction.

The state-of-the-art solutions are also purely measures to reduce the temperature close to the body by latently storing or dissipating the heat that is generated. However, to ensure a high level of comfort and to maintain the body's natural thermoregulation, the microclimate close to the body must be as dry as possible. The fact that air can absorb less moisture as temperatures drop is particularly problematic in this context. As a result, the humid microclimate is more likely to develop, which inhibits natural thermoregulation and reduces comfort.

From the publication WO 2011/098761 A1 Expansion cooling in a protective helmet, in particular a motorcycle helmet, is known, whereby the helmet has a gas cartridge and porous channels or a porous membrane running through the helmet. The gas is released by means of a switch or thermostatically.

Another known cooling device is a gas expansion, whereby the gas is released from a pressure vessel. With the disclosed device, cooling is only possible in the event of a fall and not during an activity to regulate the microclimate. The device is used to cool an injury caused by an impact and to reduce swelling in the head area.

The object of the invention is to provide a device for reducing thermal loads and for regulating the microclimate in a protective helmet for rescue workers and a protective helmet equipped therewith, which has a simple structural design and prevents or reduces increased temperatures and humidities inside the protective equipment as a result of the thermal loads that occur and thus ensures a more pleasant microclimate with the aim of ensuring a pleasant microclimate inside the protective helmet for at least an extended period of time, which increases wearing comfort and enables natural thermoregulation, whereby the deterioration of the conductivity can be delayed, the core body temperature can be maintained, the deployment time can be extended and the regeneration times, especially of rescue workers, can be reduced.
In this context, the task is to reduce the external heat input into the interior of the protective equipment in the event of heat exposure (e.g. in the event of a fire). In addition, the body's own waste heat and the moisture generated by the wearer's sweating must be removed from the interior of the protective equipment in order to maintain natural thermoregulation and thus extend the wearer's performance and deployment time, especially that of rescue workers.

This problem is solved with the features of the first and eleventh claims.

Advantageous embodiments emerge from the subclaims.

According to the invention, the device for reducing thermal stress and for regulating the microclimate in a protective helmet has at least one capsule arrangement with phase change material (PCM) and/or at least one compressed gas line leading to or into the helmet shell in a helmet shell of the protective helmet, with which expansion cooling can be realized by means of a cooling gas in the interior of the protective helmet (H).

This makes it possible, particularly at high temperatures such as in the event of a fire, to reduce the temperature in the protective helmet and to create a microclimate within the protective helmet, which allows a longer wearing time and thus deployment time even at high temperatures and better protects the emergency services and/or reduces the thermal load while maintaining the same deployment time in order to enable a shortened regeneration time after deployment.

Known protective helmets have a so-called helmet insert and a helmet spider, through which the wearer is protected against external mechanical stress.

According to the invention, at least a first capsule arrangement with PCM material is arranged in the helmet insert of the protective helmet.
This first capsule arrangement can be made up of one or more parts and already causes a reduction in temperature inside the protective helmet, for example in the event of a fire.

Alternatively or additionally, at least one second capsule arrangement can be arranged or attached to the headpiece of the protective helmet. The second capsule arrangement can also be made up of one or more parts.
The first capsule arrangement, which is preferably integrated into the helmet insert in the upper area of the protective helmet, particularly reduces the external heat input into the helmet interior.

The second capsule arrangement arranged on the interior in the form of the head spider, which is located directly in the area or peripheral area of the head, advantageously absorbs the body heat emitted via the head.

• - wenigstens eine perforierte Druckgasleitung

und/oder

• - wenigstens ein Düsenkopf

und/oder

• - wenigstens eine Luftdüse

anschließen, über welche das über die Druckgasleitung zugeführte Kühlgas in den Helm strömt und in dem Helm verteilt wird.Furthermore, it is possible that the compressed gas line, which leads to or into the helmet shell of the protective helmet,

• - at least one perforated pressure gas line

and or

• - at least one nozzle head

and or

• - at least one air nozzle

through which the cooling gas supplied via the compressed gas line flows into the helmet and is distributed in the helmet.

It is possible, for example, to arrange the perforated pressure gas line and/or the nozzle head and/or the air nozzle on the head spider or to combine them with the first or second capsule arrangement.

The nozzle head is preferably attached to the inside of the helmet shell or to the head spider.

Advantageously, the first and/or second capsule arrangement serve as heat storage.

The first capsule arrangement and/or the second capsule arrangement may consist of individual parts.

The first and/or second capsule arrangement or their individual parts each have a filling opening for the phase change material (PCM) and a vent opening. The phase change material is filled into the hollow capsule arrangements or individual parts through the filling opening, whereby the air can escape via the vent opening.

After the capsule assemblies are filled with PCM material, the filling opening and the vent opening are tightly closed.

The solution according to the invention thus consists for the first time of a device for flushing the interior of the helmet with an expanding gas (expansion cooling) and/or encapsulated phase change materials attached to the inner helmet shell, whereby both devices can be applied and used alone or in combination.
To flush the inside of the helmet, a compressed gas is released from a pressure vessel, fed into the inside of the helmet via a hose system and distributed in a targeted manner via perforated hoses. The inflowing gas displaces the warm and moist air from the inside of the helmet into the ambient atmosphere. Since gases are known to have a low humidity after expansion and are also supercooled, this ensures the desired microclimate inside the helmet. As a result, the evaporation of sweat required for natural thermoregulation can take place as the dry gas absorbs and transports the moisture away via diffusion and/or convection processes. For appropriate dosing of the gas flush, the expansion cooling can be controlled and regulated (manually or automatically) using throttle and shut-off valves.

In order to keep the external heat input and the internal heat load (body waste heat) low, especially in the case of extreme heat exposure of the environment, such as in the event of a fire, phase change material (PCM) is used on the inside of the helmet shell. The PCM is able to store heat at a nearly constant temperature during the phase change (here usually from solid to liquid phase). This means that the ambient temperature (here the inside of the helmet) of the PCM only increases after the entire PCM has melted. Depending on the application, melting temperatures between 35 and 65 °C are suitable for the use of protective helmets. To ensure that the PCM remains locally bound even in the liquid phase, the PCM must be encapsulated, which according to the invention can be carried out using 3D-printed plastic hollow bodies, deep-drawn and glued plastic plates, welded aluminum composite films or similar. In addition to heat storage, the poor thermal conductivity of paraffin-containing PCMs in particular leads to an attenuation of the heat introduced into the helmet interior from the outside and thus to a reduced external heat load.

Compared to the state of the art, the solution presented has the advantage of enabling natural thermoregulation and thus longer usage times and higher performance of the helmet wearer by creating and maintaining a cool, dry microclimate inside the helmet. According to the invention, not only the temperature but also the humidity inside the helmet can be regulated. This is possible in particular through a combination of expansion cooling and PCM, which results in the following advantages over the state of the art.

With expansion cooling, expanding gas, which is supercooled and very dry, is introduced into the helmet and displaces the warm and humid air inside the helmet. This also prevents potentially toxic, warm and humid ambient air from entering the helmet by actively introducing the expanded gas. The expansion gas can be regulated as needed by appropriately dosing it using throttle and shut-off valves.
The PCM capsule(s) arranged in the protective helmet simultaneously provide expansion cooling and dampen the external heat loads (e.g. in fire operations) due to the poor thermal conductivity and heat storage (during phase changes) of the PCM capsule(s) preferably placed near the helmet shell.

The high heat storage capacity of the PCM capsule(s) placed directly on the helmet wearer’s head during the phase change means that the internal heat loads (body heat) are absorbed, so that almost constant temperatures inside the helmet can be ensured even at very high ambient temperatures.

In addition to breathing air, technical gases such as N ₂ , CO ₂ , He, Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe can be used to flush the helmet. In general, all non-toxic, non-flammable and inert gases can be used.

When flowing into the helmet, the expanding gas should have a temperature between 5-40 °C, especially between the head and the space of the protective helmet surrounding the head.

The relative humidity of the expanding gas as it flows into the helmet should preferably be between 5-25% relative humidity.

Preferably, the gas is supplied from a gas pressure container via a hose and released into the interior of the helmet via perforations in the hose. Alternatively, the gas can also be fed into the helmet via a flat nozzle with a large number of outlet openings, preferably into the upper area of the helmet.

Another variant is the arrangement of an essentially flat air distribution with several outlet openings in the upper area of the protective helmet, which is connected to the compressed gas container via a hose. Such an air distribution can also be integrated into a PCM capsule.

The PCM capsules are preferably made of plastic, for example TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), PC (polycarbonate), PA (polyamide), PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride).

In particular, all printable, formable, blow-moldable plastics can be used for PCM capsules, but also capsules made of aluminum composite foil.

The PCM capsules can, for example, be designed as a shell-shaped hollow body made of two deep-drawn polycarbonate shells that are connected to each other at the edges and into whose cavity the PCM material has been introduced.

Preferably, protective helmets with the device according to the invention are manufactured in series.

However, it is also possible to retrofit a commercially available protective helmet with the device according to the invention.

• 1 Prinzipskizze einer Ausstattung eines Schutzhelms z.B. für Feuerwehreinsatzkräfte,
• 2 Seitenansicht einer ersten PCM-Kapsel für einen Schutzhelm
• 3 Längsschnitt A-A gemäß 2,
• 4 Einzelheit B gemäß 3,
• 5 Darstellung einer von vier einzelnen ersten Kapseln 3.1, in zwei unterschiedlichen Ansichten,
• 6 Ansicht eines Helmeinlegers 2 aus Richtung seiner offenen Seite mit vier ersten Kapseln 3.1,
• 7 Schnitt C-C gemäß 6,
• 8 Darstellung einer Helmspinne 7 mit vier daran befestigten zweiten Kapseln 4.1,
• 9 Darstellung einer zweiten Kapsel 4.1 aus Richtung der Innenseite des Helms (Vorderansicht),
• 10 Vorderansicht einer zweiten Kapsel 4.1,
• 11 beispielhafte schematische Darstellung einer perforierten Druckgasleitung 4 für die Zuführung von Kühlgas,
• 12 dreidimensionale Darstellung einer ersten Ausführung eines Düsenkopfes für einen Schutzhelm,
• 13 Längsschnitt durch einen Düsenkopf 4.2 gem. 12,
• 14 Ausschnitt einer Kopfspinne 6 mit einem daran befestigten Düsenkopf 4.2 in einer weiteren Ausführung.

The invention is explained in more detail below using an embodiment and associated drawings. They show:

• 1 Schematic diagram of a protective helmet equipment, e.g. for firefighters,
• 2 Side view of a first PCM capsule for a protective helmet
• 3 Longitudinal section AA according to 2 ,
• 4 Detail B according to 3 ,
• 5 Representation of one of four individual first capsules 3.1, in two different views,
• 6 View of a helmet insert 2 from the direction of its open side with four first capsules 3.1,
• 7 Section CC according to 6 ,
• 8th Representation of a helmet spider 7 with four attached second capsules 4.1,
• 9 Representation of a second capsule 4.1 from the inside of the helmet (front view),
• 10 Front view of a second capsule 4.1,
• 11 exemplary schematic representation of a perforated pressure gas line 4 for the supply of cooling gas,
• 12 three-dimensional representation of a first embodiment of a nozzle head for a protective helmet,
• 13 Longitudinal section through a nozzle head 4.2 acc. 12 ,
• 14 Detail of a head spider 6 with a nozzle head 4.2 attached to it in another version.

1 shows the schematic diagram of protective equipment in a protective helmet H, which as is known has a helmet shell 1 with a helmet insert 2 (as a damper).
In the helmet insert 2, in the direction of the indicated head 8, there is a recess/depression 2.1 in which at least a first capsule arrangement 3 is located, which is filled with PCM material.
At least a second capsule arrangement 4 with PCM material is positioned (here spaced from the first capsule 3) in the direction of the head 8.

The second capsule arrangement 4 is surrounded by a perforated pressure gas line 5.1 as a cooling device for supplying cooling gas into the interior of the helmet H. A pressure gas line 5, indicated by dashed lines, leads from a pressure vessel (not shown) to the perforated pressure gas line 5.1.

The second capsule arrangement 4 and the perforated pressure gas line 5.1 are preferably arranged or accommodated on a so-called head spider 7 fastened to fastening points 6.

The head spider 7 is a common feature of a protective helmet H for special forces and sits on the head 8 when the protective helmet H is worn and envelops and protects it from the sides and above.

The supply of the cooling gas via line 5 and the perforated pressure gas line 5.1 ensures a cool, dry microclimate inside the helmet through expansion cooling, since the cooling gas displaces the warm and humid air present inside the helmet and thus “flushes it out”.

The first and second capsule arrangements 3, 4 serve as heat storage, wherein the capsule arrangements 3, 4 are filled with phase change material PCM and the outer layer of the capsule arrangements 3, 4 forms a diffusion-tight protective cover.

The first capsule arrangement 3 can be made up of one or more parts and the second capsule arrangement 4 can also consist of several parts.

The expansion cooling consists of a pressure accumulator (not shown here) with compressed gas, throttle/shut-off valves, a pressure gas line 5 into the helmet interior and the 1 shown perforated pressure gas line 5.1 with outlet openings 5.2 for distributing the expanding gas inside the helmet.
Alternatively, the cooling gas can also be fed into the protective helmet H via one or more nozzle heads 12 or one or more air nozzles 13 connected to the pressure gas line 5 (see also 12-14 ).

The first capsule arrangement 3, which is preferably integrated into the dampening helmet insert 2 in the upper area of the protective helmet H, serves in particular to reduce the external heat input into the helmet interior.

The second capsule arrangement 4 arranged on the interior (head spider 7) is located directly on the head 7 and serves primarily to absorb the body heat emitted via the head 7.

Preferably, both the first and second capsule arrangement 3, 4 and the expansion cooling (perforated pressure gas line 5.1 with outflow openings 5.2 or one or more nozzle heads 12 or one or more air nozzles 13) are integrated into a helmet H, since this achieves the best results.

However, it is also possible to arrange the aforementioned components individually or in any combination in the helmet H.

It is also possible to integrate the compressed air supply into one or both capsules or capsule arrangements.
In 2 the side view of an example of a first capsule arrangement 3 for a protective helmet H is shown.

This is designed like a shell and can be positioned in a corresponding recess/depression 2.1 of a helmet insert 2, as shown in 1 indicated.

The longitudinal section of the 2 is in 3 It can be seen that the first capsule arrangement 3 consists of two shells 3a and 3b, between which the phase change material PCM is located.

The shells 3a and 3b here, for example, consist of deep-drawn polycarbonate shells that are glued together on the circumference and in which the phase change material PCM is enclosed.

4 shows the edge detail B according to 3 from which it can be seen that the two shells 3a, 3b are connected to one another in the edge region 3R of the first capsule arrangement 3. The connection is designed in particular to be gas- and liquid-tight, so that no phase change material PCM can escape.

The first capsule arrangement 3 has at least one filling opening for filling the phase change material PCM and a vent opening (in the 2 to 4 not shown).

It is advantageous to form the capsule arrangements 3, 4 from several parts, for example from four individual parts 3.1 in the first capsule arrangement 3, as in the 5 to 7 is indicated.

5 shows the representation of a part 3.1 of four parts of a multi-part/four-part first capsule arrangement 3 in a front view (representation a) and in a longitudinal section (representation b).

It can be seen here that there is a filling opening 9 for the phase change material PCM and a vent opening 10. The part 3.1 of the first capsule arrangement 3 has an outer shell 3a and an inner shell 3b, which are connected to each other at the edges and between which There is space to accommodate the phase change material PCM (see figure b).

6 shows a view of the insert 2 of a protective helmet from the direction of its open side with a first capsule arrangement 3 consisting of four parts 3.1 and 7 the section AA according to 6 ,

The four parts 3.1 preferably adjoin one another and are accommodated in a recess 2.1 of the home insert 2.

From the 5 , illustration b and 7 It can be seen that the parts 3.1 of the first capsule arrangement 3 have an outer shell 3a and an inner shell 3b, which are connected to each other at the edges. The phase change material PCM is located between them.

The parts 3.1 of the capsule arrangement 3 can, for example, be made of plastic by 3D printing.

8th shows a second capsule arrangement 4 made up of four parts 4.1, each with a filling opening 9 and a vent opening 10 in each part 4.1, which lead to a cavity formed in the part 4.1 for the phase change material.

Four parts 4.1 are attached to a metal band 7.1 of a head spider 7.

The individual representation of part 4.1 is in 9 in the front view and in 10 shown in side view. The parts 4.1 have an unmarked curvature that is adapted to the shape of the head. 9 and 10 the filling opening 9 and the ventilation opening 10 are also visible. Furthermore, each part 4.1 has at least one clamping element 11 for preferably detachable fastening to the metal band 7.1 of the head spider 7 (see also 8th ).

The capsule arrangements 3, 4 or their parts 3.1, 4.1 can consist of two shell-shaped individual shells connected to each other at the edges or, for example, can be formed in one piece and manufactured by blow molding or 3D printing. It is important that they have a cavity for the phase change material PCM.

In particular, any printable, formable, blow-moldable plastics, preferably TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), PC (polycarbonate), PA (polyamide), PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride) are used as materials for the capsule assemblies 3, 4 or their parts 3.1, 4.1.

However, plastic capsules manufactured in other ways or capsules made of welded aluminum composite foils can also be used.

The exemplary schematic representation of a perforated pressure gas line 5.1 for the supply of cooling gas is shown in 11 The outlet openings are not visible.

One line section leads around the head (not shown) and a second line section over the head. The line sections are branched via connectors 5.3. A compressed gas line 5 also leads from a compressed gas depot, e.g. from a compressed gas cylinder, to a connector 5.3.

The arrows indicate how the cooling gas exits from the perforated pressure gas line 5.1 in the direction of the head (not shown).

The perforated pressure gas line 5.1 is preferably attached to the helmet spider.

A further variant for the supply of the cooling gas consists in the formation of a nozzle head 12 (shaped approximately like a shower head) which has a connection 12.1 for a pressure gas line 5 indicated by dashed lines and air ducts 12.2. 12 shows a three-dimensional representation and 13 a longitudinal section of this nozzle head 12.
This is glued, for example, into the helmet shell 2 in an airtight manner and has a flattening 12.3. Between the flattening 12.3 and the inside of the helmet shell 2 (in 13 An air reservoir 12.5 is thereby formed (indicated by dashed lines). A channel 12.4 leads from the connection 12.1 to the air reservoir 12.5 above the area 12.3. The cooling gas flows from the connection 12.1 through the channel 12.4 to the air reservoir 12.5 and from there via air ducts 12.2 in the direction of the head.

Alternatively, this nozzle head 12 can also be attached to the helmet spider, in which case the channel 12.4 and the area above the flattened portion 12.3 are closed at the top. Of course, this expansion cooling option can also be combined with a first and/or second capsule arrangement with PCM material.

14 shows a section of a head spider 7 with an air nozzle 13 attached to it for supplying the cooling gas into the interior of the helmet. The air nozzle 13 is preferably attached in the neck area and has a connection 13.1 for a compressed gas line 5, which leads to a compressed gas bottle (not shown).

Any gas that does not have toxic properties for the human organism and does not accelerate fire can be used as a cooling gas, whereby the gases should be able to be stored in pressure vessels.

The pressure vessels used as gas supplies should be designed in such a way that they can be carried separately, e.g. on the back and/or on the helmet and/or in some other way. Alternatively, they can be supplied via a breathing apparatus.

The expansion cooling should be controlled and regulated as required based on the parameters measured in the helmet.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if sound dampening is used to reduce flow noise when the expanding gas enters the helmet interior (e.g. by means of silencers, outlet nozzles, suitable opening geometries on the compressed gas line inside the helmet).

Paraffins or salt hydrates are preferably used as phase change materials (PCM), which have melting temperatures between 25 and 80 °C, are harmless to health, and are non-flammable (up to at least 100 °C).

Furthermore, modified phase change material (PCM) can be used, for example, to improve thermal conductivity. For this purpose, additives with good thermal conductivity can be added to the phase change material.

An optimal mixture/composition can be determined, for example, through simulation calculations or through experiments.

PCM is liquid when poured in and then solidifies again at temperatures below the solidification temperature.

It is advantageous to provide a device for measuring and evaluating vital parameters and state variables inside the helmet. This also advantageously measures the loading level of the PCM material and thus determines how much heat can still be stored.

This measurement is preferably carried out using one or more temperature sensors in or on the first and/or second capsule arrangement with PCM material. Other measurement principles are also possible.

The vital parameters of the emergency personnel are recorded, for example, using pulse oximetry or infrared thermometry.

It is possible to send out visual and/or acoustic and/or haptic warning signals to warn the helmet wearer, accompanying persons and/or the operations manager. The signals can be displayed on/in the helmet or on clothing or equipment. However, the signals can also be transmitted wirelessly (e.g. via radio) to an operations center, which can then respond accordingly.

• - mit Phasenwechselmaterial eine ca. 15°C geringere Temperatur
• - mit Expansionskühlung mit Kühlgas (hier Luft - zugeführt mit ca. 20 °C) eine bis zu 24 °C geringere Temperatur und
• - mit Phasenwechselmaterial und Expansionskühlung in Kombination eine bis zu 27 °C geringere Temperatur erzielt werden.

In laboratory tests, 85°C were measured in the space between the helmets without the equipment according to the invention and when using the solution according to the invention

• - with phase change material a temperature about 15°C lower
• - with expansion cooling with cooling gas (here air - supplied at approx. 20 °C) a temperature up to 24 °C lower and
• - using phase change material and expansion cooling in combination, a temperature of up to 27 °C lower can be achieved.

In practical tests in the fire container, temperatures of 80-95 °C at 40-50% relative humidity were measured using a firefighter's protective helmet without the equipment according to the invention.

With phase change material in a first and a second capsule arrangement 3, 4 and a perforated pressure gas line 5, 65 °C were measured at only 10-15 % relative humidity.

The test subjects who wore the protective helmets in the fire container commented positively on the lower temperature and the better climate in the helmet due to the lower humidity.

By flushing the protective helmet with the cooling gas cooled by expansion cooling, the high humidity that would otherwise be caused by sweating could be drastically reduced. The air flow of the cooling gas over the head therefore has a very positive effect. The arrangement of the first and second capsule arrangement further reduces the temperature in the helmet.

This can drastically reduce the health risks to special forces during fire operations.

List of reference symbols

1

Helmet shell

2

Helmet insert 2 (as a damper)

2.1

deepening

3

first capsule arrangement

3.1

Parts of the first capsule assembly

3a

outer shell

3b

inner shell

3R

Edge area

4

second capsule arrangement

4.1

Parts of the second capsule assembly

5

Compressed gas line

5.1

perforated pressure gas line

5.2

Outlet openings

5.3

Interconnects

5.4

Nozzle heads

5.5

Outlet nozzles

6

Attachment points

7

Head spider

8th

Head

9

Filling opening

10

Vent opening

11

Clamping element

12

Nozzle head

12.1

Connection

12.2

Air ducts

12.3

Area

12.4

channel

12.5

Air reservoir

13

Air nozzle

13.1

Connection

H

helmet

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP1653818A4 [0003]
• DE 102010020262 B4 [0003]
• DE 102016201912 B4 [0004]
• WO 2016135529 A1 [0005]
• DE 19756470 A1 [0006]
• EP3261473A4 [0007]
• EP 2249672 B1 [0008]
• WO 2011098761 A1 [0010]

Claims (11)

Device for reducing thermal stress and for regulating the microclimate in a protective helmet (H), characterized in that at least one capsule arrangement (3, 4) with phase change material (PCM) is integrated into a helmet shell (1) of the protective helmet (H) and/or that a compressed gas line (5) leads to the helmet shell (1), with which expansion cooling by means of a cooling gas can be realized in the interior of the protective helmet (H). Device according to Claim 1 , characterized in that at least a first capsule arrangement (3) is arranged in a helmet insert (2) of the protective helmet (H). Device according to Claim 1 , characterized in that at least a second capsule arrangement (4) is arranged on a head spider (7) of the protective helmet (H). Device according to Claim 1 until 3 , characterized in that - the first capsule arrangement (3) integrated in the upper region of the protective helmet (H), preferably in the helmet insert (2), reduces the external heat input into the interior of the helmet and/or - the second capsule arrangement (4) arranged on the interior fittings (head spider 7) is located directly in the region of the head (7) and absorbs the body heat emitted via the head (7). Device according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the compressed gas line (5) in the helmet shell (1) is connected to - at least one perforated compressed gas line (5) and/or - at least one nozzle head (12) and/or - at least one air nozzle (13), via which the cooling gas is distributed in the helmet (H). Device according to Claim 5 , characterized in that the perforated compressed gas line (5.1) and/or the nozzle head (12) and/or the air nozzle (13) are arranged on the head spider (7). Device according to Claim 6 , characterized in that the nozzle head is attached to the inside of the helmet shell (1) or to the head spider (7). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and/or second capsule arrangement (3, 4) serve as heat accumulators. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first capsule arrangement (3) and/or the second capsule arrangement (4) are designed in one or more parts. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first capsule arrangement (3) consists of individual parts (3.1) and/or the second capsule arrangement (4) consists of individual parts (4.1) and that the first and second capsule arrangement (3, 4) or their individual parts (3.1, 4.1) each have a filling opening (9) for the phase change material (PCM) and a vent opening (10). Protective helmet comprising a device according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 .

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