GB2274238A

GB2274238A - Head conditioning cowl for aircrew

Info

Publication number: GB2274238A
Application number: GB9300823A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Henry Nealey
Original assignee: BTR PLC
Current assignee: BTR PLC
Priority date: 1993-01-16
Filing date: 1993-01-16
Publication date: 1994-07-20
Anticipated expiration: 2013-01-16
Also published as: GB9300823D0; GB2274238B

Abstract

A head cowl as worn by aircrew in combat aircraft has an array of pipes 21, 22, 23 through which heat may be circulated. <IMAGE>

Description

HEAD GARMENT This invention relates to a head garment and particularly to a head conditioning cowl as worn by aircrew in combat aircraft.

When flying at high altitudes and/or high speeds, aircrew must be comfortable and in particular they must feel neither too hot nor too cold, otherwise their flying performance may deteriorate with dangerous consequences.

The invention specifically relates to a head conditioning cowl intended to provide thermal comfort to the head of aircrew when supplied with a "conditioned" heat exchanging fluid e.g. a mixture of glycol and water, at the required temperature.

The supply may be connected in series or in parallel to the supply df a Liquid Conditioning Vest (LCV) worn inside an Immersion Protection Garment (IPG) which in turn is connected to the Liquid Conditioning Supply System (LCSS) installed within the aircraft.

In accordance with the invention, a head garment comprises a head.pOrtiOn for covering the top, sides and back of the wearer-'s head, leaving the face clear and a lower portion extending from the part of the head portion which covers the back of the head partly down to the wearer's neck and back, the head portion and lower portion each comprising two layers of fabric, an inner layer positioned close to the wearer's skin when the garment is being worn and an outer layer being positioned on the side of the inner layer further from the wearer's skin when worn, and at least one flexible pipe located between the two layers through which heat exchange fluid may flow to exchange heat with the wearer's head.

The pipe may pass out from the head garment through the inner layer of fabric in the lower portion of the garment and is connectable to a source of heat exchange fluid.

Preferably the layers of fabric are waterproof and of breathable material i.e. air may pass through the fabric but water is prevented from so doing.

Preferably also the layers of fabric are joined by means of adhesive and/or stitching and the joins may be reinforced with tape.

The pipe having passed out of the garment may be provided with a suitable connector, thus enabling the pipe to be connected to said source, for example to a manifold in another garment e.g. a Liquid Conditioning Vest (LCV) or an Immersion Protection Garment (IPG) also supplied with heat exchange fluid.

One embodiment of the invention, a Head Conditioning Cowl (HCC) for aircrew will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a front view of the Head Conditioning Cowl; Figure 2 is a side view of the Head Cowl shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a rear view of the Head Cowl shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic cross-section on line 4-4 of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the array of pipes in the Head Cowl of Figure 1.

As shown in the drawings, espetcially in Figures 1 to 5, the Head Conditioning Cowl 1 comprises an outer top panel 2, which when the cowl is worn extends from the wearers forehead, over the crown of the wearer's head and extends down the back of the wearer's head, the back of the wearer's neck to the upper back region, two outer side panels 3, 4, an inner top panel 5 which when the cowl is worn extends fromsthe wearer's forehead over the crown of the wearer's head to the back of the wearer's head, an inner upper back panel 6 which extends from the back of the wearer's head to the wearer's neck, an inner lower back panel 7 which extends from the wearer's neck partly down the wearer's back and two inner side panels 8, 9. The panels are all made from a breathable waterproof fabric capable of withstanding 900 mm head of water pressure.The cowl is provided between the inner and outer layers with an array 20 of pipes through which heat conditioning liquid may flow.

As can be seen particularly in Figures 1 to 4, the outer top panel 2, the two outer side panels 3, 4, the inner top panel 5, the inner-upper back panel 6, the inner lower back panel 7 and the inner side panels 8, 9 are all joined together. Most joints are made using adhesive 10 sandwiched between an inner tape 11 and an outer tape 12, the outer tape being wider than the inner tape. However the join 13 between the lower edge of the inner head panel 5 and the upper edge of the inner upper back panel 6 is made with two rows 14, 15 of stitching and a gap 16 is left between the lower edge of the inner upper back panel and the upper edge of the inner lower back panel, through which the pipe array 20 passes.

As shown particularly in Figure 5, the pipe array 20 comprises three flexible pipes 21, 22 and 23 arranged to lie generally parallel to one another.

Suitable connectors 24 are provided at both ends of each pipe to connect to a suitable manifold 25 located externally of the cowl and adjacent the wearer's back when worn. The three pipes pass through the gap 16 into the space between the inner and outer panels.

When the cowl is worn the pipes pass up the back of the wearer's neck along one side of the head to the closer side of the forehead, upwards and backwards to the crown of the head where they make a U turn, forward to the other side of the forehead, backwards to the other side of the head and then down the wearer's neck to pass out at the gap 16, parallel to the pipes entering the cowl 1. The pipes are maintained in the required position by stitching.

As can be seen particularly in Figure 4, the inner upper back panel 6 and the inner lower back panel 7 are connected in this exemplary enmbodiment to the outer layer 33 of fabric of an Immersion Protection Garment (IPG) by a layer of adhesive 27 and tapes 29, 30, the adhesive and tapes being so positioned as to surround the gap 16 in between the upper panel 6 and the lower panel 7, thus providing a water resistant connection between the HCC and IPG, the connection also being highly tear resistant. In this example the pipes 21, 22 and 23 pass through a gap 31 in the fabric of the Immersion Protection Garment (IPG) to the manifold which is positioned against the inside of the layer 33.

Heat transfer is accomplished by a "conditioned" liquid flow circulating through flexible pipes, thus maintaining a comfortable head temperature for the W wearer. The system can provide either hot or cold liquid flow, depending upon the climatic conditions prevailing.

('The design and construction of the garment will ensure that the aircrew has an acceptable level of comfort and mobility when wearing this garment under their Head Protection Unit (HPU) and will not interfere with or limit the wearer's field of vision. The construction and arrangement of the HCC will be such that it will not sustain damage during or due to high speed low level ejections from the aircraft and ensures and/or maintains a waterproof integrity with its attachment to the Immersion Protection Garment (IPG) should the wearer fall into water.

The construction of the attachment of the HCC to the 'LCV via the IPG ensures that there is no interference with a water resistant neck seal on the IPG, which would be impaired if the HCC was. directly linked to the LCV by connection pipes passing between the neck seal and the wearer's neck. The HCC can be supplied as an additional modification for fitting to an existing IPG and may act as an additional form of head insulation if required in a survival ditching situation. The construction and arrangement of the HCC is such that it may be easily replaced during in-service maintenance if required.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A head garment comprising a head portion for covering the top, sides and back of the wearer's head, leaving the face clear and a lower portion extending from the part of the head portion which covers the back of the head partly down to the wearer's neck and back, the head portion and lower portion each comprising two layers of fabric: an inner layer layer positioned close to the wearer's skin when the garment is being worn and an outer layer being positioned on the side of the inner layer further from the wearer's skin when worn, and at least one flexible pipe located betweeen the two layers through which heat exchange fluid may flow to exchange heat with the wearer's head.

2. A head garment according to Claim 1 wherein the pipe passes out from the head garment through the inner layer of fabric in the lower portion of the garment.

3. A head garment according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the pipe is connectable to a source of heat exchange fluid.

4. A head garment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the layers of fabric are waterproof.

5. A head garment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the layers are of breathable material i.e. air may pass through the fabric.

6. A head garment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the layers of fabric are joined by means of adhesive.

7. A head garment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the layers of fabric are joined by stitching.

8. A head garment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the joins between the layers of fabric are reinforced with tape.

9. A head garment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the pipe, having passed out of the garment, is provided with a connector enabling the pipe to be connected to a source of liquid.

10. A head garment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the connector comprises a manifold in another garment.

11. A head garment constructed and arranged substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.