Electrician's head protection equipment and methods for its operation

Abstract

The invention relates to electrician's head protection equipment for protection against arc faults when working on or near electrical systems and equipment. This equipment is usually worn in front of the face in combination with headgear, and a method for its operation. It consists of a transparent protective screen (visor) connected to a fixed frame part as a supporting body. The object of the invention is to provide electrician's head protection equipment and a method for its operation, in which the protective function of a foldable visor is ensured under all conditions, especially during a power failure. The invention must ensure that the comfort function is only available to the user when the monitoring function is functioning. According to the invention, the movable visor (8) can be locked against the fixed head protection part (9) by an electrically controllable locking mechanism (3) in at least one position, wherein an automatic control of the locking mechanism (3) takes place with the aid of a sensor and electronics module (1), the energy supply (4) of which takes place via an energy store or an energy generator.

Description

The invention relates to electrician head protection equipment for protecting against arcing for working at or near electric installations and operating means, and to a method for operating the same. The electrician head protection equipment is a personal protection equipment worn in front of the face, mostly in combination with a head covering. It consists of a transparent protective screen (visor) which is connected to a fixed frame part as a supporting body.The electrician head protection equipment serves to protect against injuries to the face and neck portion of the wearer in the event of an arcing fault which can be triggered, for example, by damage to the installation or by misactions in electric installations. It is intended to protect against glowing metal sprays, the hot plasma cloud and the radiant heat.Head protection hoods for protecting against arcing faults have the property of covering and protecting the entire head all around. This leads to the air exchange and communication with colleagues on site being made more difficult. For this reason, head protection hoods are offered which offer a comfort function for the wearer by opening the sight plate without putting down the complete hood. This allows fresh air to be supplied and communication is simpler. At the same time, however, there is then the risk that the sight plate, which takes over the face protection in the head protection product, is no longer folded down and cannot protect it in dangerous working situations.On head protection equipment, for example head protection hoods in which integrated sight panes take over face protection (protection function), the sight can be opened during wear, for example for ergonomic reasons (comfort function). Opening of the visor is only allowed when the wearer is not in a hazardous situation. For this reason, there are several solutions in which the user is alerted that the protection function is to be activated.U.S. Pat. No. 829,384 S discloses a face guard in which the visor pane can obviously be opened as a comfort function. This face guard is usually integrated into a head guard hood which provides 360 degree protection and closes off the head region all around. In order to avoid alternating breathing and to simplify the supply of fresh air, the visor can be opened. The face protection disclosed here has the comfort function (visor can be opened). However, it does not have any monitoring of the sighting position and cannot thereby indicate to the wearer that sight is to be closed in order to restore the protective function.US 2019 / 0 150 546 A1 describes a retrofittable sensor module for use with a head guard with helmet and visor. The sensor module includes a sensor housing and a mounting mechanism. The sensor housing encloses a head presence sensor which detects when the head guard is worn. The sensor housing also includes a position sensor that detects the position of the visor relative to the helmet. The retrofittable sensor module also includes a mounting mechanism attached to the housing. The attachment mechanism mates with a first hinge component of a hinge assembly in the head guard to removably install the sensor module in the head guard, the hinge assembly allowing movement of the visor relative to the helmet.U.S. Pat. No. 11 039 652 B2 describes a sensor module for head protection. This sensor module is used on a head protection product, the shield plate of which can also be opened as a comfort function. The sensor module monitors the position of sight and also whether the head protection product is being worn. All information is electronically acquired, processed further externally and can result in a signal output for the carrier. If the power supply of the sensor module is not sufficient, the carrier is still able to open the visor.The sensor module for head protection published in U.S. Pat. No. 11 039 652 B2 offers the possibility of monitoring the position of the sight and of alerting the user to close it (monitoring function). However, should the battery supply of the sensor module fail or the battery have an excessively low state of charge, the monitoring function is no longer provided. In this case, it is also possible for the user to open the visor and then, under certain circumstances, to continue working with an unprotected face in the event of a risk.Similar solutions are described in the documents U.S. Pat. No. 9,848,666 B1, U.S. Pat. No. 2017) / 0 367 426 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 2019) / 0 318 606 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 2020 / 0 118 413 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 2020 / 0 334 970 A1.In particular in the case of products which have already implemented a monitoring function, there is the risk that the users will rely on this function. The absence of the monitoring function due to a failed sensor module due to low battery charge then does not necessarily lead to a change in the behavior of the user.The head protecting hoods hitherto available, which are equipped with sighting disks which can be opened, have no function which monitors this state and closes the sight when the power supply is not used and is weakened.The object of the invention is to provide an electrician head protection equipment and a method for its operation, in which the protection function for a foldable sight is ensured under all conditions, in particular also in the event of a power failure. The invention must ensure that the comfort function is available to the user only in the case of a functioning monitoring function. According to the invention, the object is achieved by the features of claims 1 and 8. Features of this type are described in dependent claims 2 to 7 and 9 to 10.Work protection and work ergonomic behave diametrically with respect to one another, so that an improvement in work ergonomic (comfort function) must be monitored (monitoring function). Failure of the monitoring function must result in suspension of the comfort function according to this specification because the protection function has priority in work protection equipment.The electrician head protection equipment consists of a fixed head protection part and a movable visor fixed therein. A monitoring module with a position sensor monitors the position of the sight and a monitoring module with a sensor system and a display (head presence sensor) serves to monitor whether the head protection equipment is being worn. According to the invention, the movable visor can be locked in at least one position with respect to the fixed head protection part by an electrically actuatable locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism is automatically actuated with the aid of a sensor and electronic module, the energy supply of which takes place via an energy store or an energy generator.The sensor and electronics module may be formed as two separate modules integrated into the electrician head protection equipment.The sensor and electronics module may be integrated into the electrician head protection equipment in a common housing.In a particular embodiment, the electronics module can be integrated into other parts of the protection equipment outside the electrician head protection equipment.The automatic locking and unlocking by the electrically actuatable locking mechanism can be effected with an electric motor, a linear motor, a magnetic switch / lifting magnet, a pneumatic system or a hydraulic system.The head presence sensor for determining whether the electrician head protection equipment is worn may be a temperature sensor, a radar sensor, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a presence sensor, a gas detection sensor, a distance measurement sensor, a proximity sensor, a motion sensor, an image recognition camera system, or a combination of two or more of these sensors.The energy supply of the sensor and electronic module can be removable batteries, rechargeable batteries, capacitors, solar cells or other electrical or mechanical energy stores and energy generators.The method according to the invention for operating an electrician head protection equipment is characterized in that the locking of the movable visor against the fixed head protection part by means of the locking mechanism in the event of a signal display by the head presence sensor, in that the electrician head protection equipment is not worn and / or before a low or critical state of charge of the energy supply is reached takes place automatically with the aid of the sensor and electronic module. After activation / switching on of the sensor and electronic module by a user, the visor can be unlocked or it is automatically unlocked. The user is informed by the electronics module via controllable signal outputs that the visor is open.The state of charge of the energy supply can be determined and evaluated via characteristic variables of the energy store or the energy generation, such as the battery voltage, the internal resistance, the discharge current or by means of pressure sensors, for example in the case of mechanical energy stores.The notification to the user that the visor is open can be made by an optical, an acoustic or a vibrotactile signal.To protect the user from unpredictable hazards, the electrician head protection equipment autonomously monitors the position of the sight and signals the wearer to close the sight (monitoring function). Before the switched-off state and when the electrician head protection equipment is no longer worn, and in the case of a low state of charge of the power supply of the monitoring electronics, the sight plate is automatically closed. As soon as the monitoring function can no longer be ensured, the comfort function can no longer be used. The protective function of the lens is always present, however, under all circumstances.The electrician head protection equipment includes an electrically actuatable locking mechanism that is integrated into the head protection equipment. The locking system includes locking the shield plate of a head guard in an outer frame. The locking mechanism is automatically connected to a sensor and electronic module. The sensor and electronics module includes a head presence sensor to detect whether the head guard is worn. The sensor and electronics module also includes a position sensor that detects the position of the visor relative to the outer frame. Furthermore, the sensor and electronic module comprises a monitoring of the state of the energy source.The method for achieving the object is implemented by processing the signals of the position sensor, the head presence sensor and the energy source in an electronics module with the subsequent output of signals to the user and to the actuator of the visor locking mechanism.The visor locking mechanism is characterized in that the movable visor can be locked against the outer fixed part of the head guard in the closed position. The automatic locking and unlocking takes place automatically with the aid of an electronics module which, including the energy supply and sensors, is integrated into the head protector.The method for implementing the task is defined in such a way that the lock of the sight is automatically effected when not in use before switching off and / or before a low or critical state of charge of the energy store or of the energy supply is reached.The visor is unlocked and the comfort function is made possible if the sensor and electronic module is activated by the user when the monitoring function is switched on. As long as the monitoring function is active, the user is informed by signals that the visor is open and has to be closed.The advantages of the invention consist in monitoring the comfort function. The comfort function is deactivated if no monitoring function is possible. This results in increased protection by reducing misoperations, for example when working with open visors. The protection function is also maintained in the absence of a power supply. The protection function is independent of the energy supply. A technical solution is provided which guarantees the priority of the protection function to the comfort function. This means that a monitoring function monitors the comfort function and the user is alerted that the visor must be closed. Should the monitoring function no longer be present on account of, for example, a low battery charge, the visor must be locked, so that it can no longer be opened. This means that the protection function is always provided even in the absence of monitoring.In addition to protecting against arcing, the invention can also be used in other personal protective equipment in which only one closed sight glass ensures complete protection against hazards. This means that the invention is applicable to all head protection equipment in which a sight glass is an integral part of a protection function and this sight glass can be opened. These can be, for example, respirator hoods which can only provide protection of the person against hazardous gases in the closed state. Even in the case of welding helmets, the protection of the eyes against the high light intensity of the welding arc is ensured only when the visor is folded down.The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment. The following are shown: FIG. 1 shows electrician head protection equipment with a closed sight FIG. 2 shows open sight electric head protection equipment FIG. 3 is a detailed view with a closed locking mechanism for the visor FIG. 4 shows a detailed view with sensor and electronic module and opened locking mechanism for the visorA first embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. Figure 1 shows an electrician head protection equipment with a closed visor 8 integrated in a fixed head protection part 9. Usually, the two parts are attached to a head-protecting helmet 10.The visor 8 can be opened, as shown in FIG. 2, without the hood having to be removed. The sensor and electronic module 1 is located in the lower, front chin region of the electrician head protection equipment. FIGS. 3 and 4 show a detailed view with a sensor and electronic module 1 and an open or a closed locking mechanism 3 for the visor 8.The operation is as follows:After the sensor and electronic module 1 has been switched on / activated by the user, the visor 8 is unlocked and the monitoring function is activated. As soon as the visor 8 is opened, a detection is carried out by the position sensor 2, and an acoustic signal is sounded, which prompts the user to close the visor 8. The signal may be different depending on whether the head presence sensor detects whether or not the electrician head protection equipment is worn. The signal is attenuated by a detection by the position sensor 2 as soon as the visor 8 is closed. If it is determined by the electronics that the energy supply 4 designed as a battery has a low charge state and the visor 8 is open, a further signal is emitted, which prompts the user to close the visor 8. The visor 8 is automatically locked by the locking mechanism 3 of the visor 8 when the visor 8 is closed and it is not carried for a certain period of time or a low state of charge of the energy source is detected. This is effected by closing the locking plunger 11 located on the drive motor 13 into the corresponding locking tab 12.Further optional possibilities for realizing the invention consist in the following possibilities:The position sensor 2 can be implemented by various components, for example by a light barrier, a microswitch, a proximity sensor, a radar sensor, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor or similar sensors, which can determine the relative position of the sight plate with respect to the head protection equipment.The head presence sensor 6 can likewise be realized by various components, for example a temperature sensor, a radar sensor, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a presence sensor, a gas detection sensor, a distance measurement sensor, a proximity sensor, a motion sensor, a camera system with image recognition or a combination of two or more of these sensors.The sight locking mechanism 3 can be an electric motor, a linear motor or a magnetic switch or a lifting magnet. It can be designed both pneumatically and hydraulically.The energy supply 4 can be realized by replaceable batteries, rechargeable batteries, capacitors, solar cells or other electrical or mechanical energy stores and energy generators.The signal output 7 to the user can be optical, acoustic or vibrotactile via structure-borne noise. The state of charge of the energy supply 4 can be evaluated via various characteristic variables of the energy store or the energy generation, for example via the battery voltage, an evaluation of the internal resistance, the discharge current or by means of pressure sensors.The electronics realized by the signal processing 5 and the signal output 7, the battery supply 4, the locking mechanism 3 and the sensors 2, 6 can be placed independently of each other at different positions of the head protection equipment or even on other components outside the head protection equipment. However, they can also be concentrated in one module. The communication between the electronic components can be effected by wire or by wireless communication.Reference Number Listing1 Sensor and electronics module 2 Position sensor 3 Locking mechanism 4 Energy supply 5 Signal processing 6 Head presence sensor 7 Signal output 8 Visor 9 Fixed head protection part 10 Head protection helmet 11 Locking plunger 12 Locking tab 13 Drive motor

Claims

Electrician head protection equipment, comprising a fixed head protection part (9) and a movable visor (8) fastened therein, a monitoring module with a position sensor (2) for monitoring the position of the visor, and a monitoring module with a sensor system and a display for monitoring whether the head protection equipment is worn (head presence sensor (6)), characterized byan electrically controllable locking mechanism (3) by means of which the movable visor (8) can be locked against the fixed head protection part (9) in at least one position, wherein automatic control of the locking mechanism (3) takes place with the aid of a sensor and electronic module (1), the energy supply (4) of which takes place via an energy store or an energy generator.Electrician head protection equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor and electronic module (1) are two separate modules integrated in the electrician head protection equipment.Electrician head protection equipment according to claim 1, characterised in that the sensor and electronic module (1) is integrated in a common housing in the electrician head protection equipment.The electrician head protection equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that the electronic module is integrated outside the electrician head protection equipment in other parts of the protection equipment.Electrician head protection equipment according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the automatic locking and unlocking by the electrically actuatable locking mechanism (3) takes place with an electric motor, a linear motor, a magnetic switch / lifting magnet, a pneumatic system or a hydraulic system.The electrician head protection equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the head presence sensor (6) for detecting whether the electrician head protection equipment is worn is a temperature sensor, a radar sensor, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a presence sensor, a gas detection sensor, a distance measurement sensor, a proximity sensor, a motion sensor, a camera system with image recognition or a combination of two or more of these sensors.Electrician head protection equipment according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the energy supply (4) of the sensor and electronic module is replaceable batteries, rechargeable batteries, capacitors, solar cells or other electrical or mechanical energy stores and energy generators.Method for operating an electrician head protection equipment according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that - the locking of the movable visor (8) against the fixed head protection part (9) by means of the locking mechanism (3) in the event of a signal display by the head presence sensor (8), in that the electrician head protection equipment is not worn and / or takes place automatically with the aid of the sensor and electronic module (1) before a low or critical state of charge of the energy supply (4) is reached, - after activation / switching on of the sensor and electronic module (1) by a user, the visor (8) can be unlocked or is unlocked, - the user is informed by the electronic module via controllable signal outputs (5) that the visor (8) is open.Method according to Claim 8, characterized in that the state of charge of the energy supply (4) is determined and evaluated via characteristic variables of the energy store or of the energy generation, such as the battery voltage, the internal resistance, the discharge current or by means of pressure sensors.Method according to Claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the notification to the user that the visor (8) is open is effected by an optical, acoustic, vibrotactile signal or by means of structure-borne noise.

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