Helmet with cooling device

Abstract

To provide a helmet with a safe cooling device that has a large heat sink to dissipate heat from a heating surface of a Peltier element and that does not fall off the helmet and cause damage to a head in an unlikely event of an accident.SOLUTION: An opening is formed in a shell of a helmet, which is composed of a shell 5 and an inner liner 6, and a heat absorbing surface side of a Peltier element having a heat sink 12 provided on a heat generating surface is inserted into the shell through the opening and fixed to the shell, and an aluminum foil or a thin aluminum plate 13 having a surface area larger than that of the heat absorbing surface of the Peltier element is bonded to the heat absorbing surface of the Peltier element to form a cooling surface. Thereby, a cooling effect inside the helmet is increased and safety is ensured. Further, the Peltier element and the heat sink break away from the shell when the helmet is impacted, further preventing injury damage in an event of an accident.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a helmet used for protecting the head, and more particularly to a helmet with a cooling device that can cool the head for heat stroke prevention and the like.

Background Art

[0002] A motorcycle helmet is composed of a shell (made of FRP) and an inner (also called a liner: made of expanded polystyrene) to protect the head when an accident occurs, covering and protecting the entire head, so heat tends to accumulate. Although some recent helmets consider breathability, on extremely hot days in recent years, the outside air temperature itself is high, and even with hot air passing through, it cannot prevent heat stroke.

[0003] The idea of cooling a helmet has existed for a long time. As described as an example in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, a technology for cooling the inside of a helmet using a Peltier element has been developed.

[0004] A Peltier element is a semiconductor element that can freely perform cooling, heating, and temperature control with a direct current. One side generates heat and heat absorption occurs on the opposite side. As a result, the heat absorption surface is cooled and has the function of a cooling machine.

[0005] A heat sink is provided in contact with the heat generating surface of the Peltier element to discharge heat. However, if the heat sink does not discharge heat, its temperature will rise above 60 degrees. If the heat is not removed, the heat will move to the cooling surface side and the cooling effect will decrease. Therefore, heat must be continuously discharged. For this purpose, it is necessary to use a heat sink with a large area of aluminum fins having high thermal conductivity and high cooling effect to release heat, and also to provide an aluminum plate with high thermal conductivity on the cooling side to cool the head immediately over a wide area. Aluminum is lightweight and can form members at a relatively low cost, so it has high utility value.

[0006] In Patent Document 1, a slit is provided at the position of the front head of the helmet, and a cooling unit (Peltier element) is installed. Cold air is sent into the helmet by a fan through the slit. However, considering safety during an accident, the cooling unit is provided outside the helmet. Therefore, a small fan cannot introduce enough cold air into the helmet, and there is a problem that hot outside air is also partially introduced simultaneously in summer and the like.

[0007] In Patent Document 2, since the Peltier element is fixed to the liner part inside the helmet, the cooling part is close to the head, and a certain degree of cooling effect can be expected. However, a heat sink is not installed on the heat generating part, and only the heat generating surface faces the air duct. Therefore, when the motorcycle stops or in summer, heat cannot be dissipated sufficiently and the cooling capacity drops. Also, when an accident occurs, metal parts such as the Peltier element are inside the helmet, and there is a risk of damaging the head.

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0008]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] The present invention provides a helmet with a safety cooling device that has a large-area heat sink for discharging heat from the heat generating surface of the Peltier element and that ensures that the cooling device does not fall off the helmet and damage the head even if an accident occurs.

[0010] To achieve the above object, the helmet with a cooling device according to claim 1 is a helmet composed of a shell and an inner liner. An opening is formed in the shell, and the heat absorption surface side of a Peltier element provided with a heat sink on the heat generating surface is inserted into the shell from the opening and fixed to the shell. An aluminum foil or an aluminum thin plate having a surface area wider than the heat absorption surface is adhered to the heat absorption surface of the Peltier element to form a cooling surface.

[0011] The helmet with a cooling device according to claim 2 is characterized in that the Peltier element and the heat sink according to claim 1 fall off from the shell when an impact is applied to the helmet.

[0012] The helmet with a cooling device according to claim 3 is characterized in that a fan for cooling the heat generating surfaces of the heat sink and the Peltier element according to claim 1 or 2 is provided.

Advantages of the Invention

[0013] As described above, in the invention according to claim 1, an opening is formed in the shell of a commercially available helmet composed of a shell and an inner liner, and a heat sink is provided on the heat generating surface of the Peltier element to dissipate heat to the outside air. Thus, it is exposed outside the shell, and by inserting the heat absorption surface side into the shell from the opening and fixing it to the shell, the head can be cooled. Further, on the heat absorption surface of the Peltier element, an aluminum foil or an aluminum thin plate having a surface area wider than the heat absorption surface, a low density, thinness, and high heat conductivity is adhered to form a cooling surface. As a result, it can be closer to the head and enhance the cooling effect over a wide range, which is particularly helpful in preventing heat stroke in summer, which has been increasing in recent years. Furthermore, since it is located between the shell and the inner liner and the part close to the head is made of an aluminum foil or an aluminum thin plate with low strength, even if an accident occurs, the aluminum foil or the aluminum thin plate will not break through the inner liner and come into contact with the head, thus preventing damage from injuries.

[0014] In the invention according to claim 2, the Peltier element and the heat sink of the helmet with a cooling device according to claim 1 fall off from the shell when an impact is applied to the helmet. Therefore, in order to protect the head, which would be fatal in the event of a fall or accident, the Peltier element and the heat sink (metal member) installed in the helmet worn can remove the cause of hurting the head instead.

[0015] In the invention according to claim 3, since the heat generating surface of the heat sink and the Peltier element of the helmet with a cooling device according to claim 1 or 2 can be directly cooled by a fan, it is possible to prevent a decrease in heat dissipation of the heat generating surface especially when not running, and always enhance the cooling effect inside the helmet.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The following description of the embodiments is merely illustrative in nature and is not intended to limit the present invention, its applications, or its uses in any way.

[0018] Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a helmet with a cooling device, Fig. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the helmet cut at the center of the side and viewed from the front, and Fig. 3 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the helmet cut at the center from the front to the back and viewed from the side. The helmet mainly consists of a shell 5 and an inner (buffer material) 6. The shell 5 disperses and absorbs the impact caused by a fall or the like, and serves to prevent the helmet from being damaged and directly hitting the head. It is formed of a strong resin such as FRP, ABS, or polycarbonate.

[0019] The inner layer (buffer material) 6 is attached to the inside of the shell 5, and mainly made of expanded polystyrene or the like with excellent impact absorption ability. When receiving a strong impact, the expanded polystyrene is partially crushed to absorb the impact and protect the head, which is no different from a commercially available helmet in this regard.

[0020] In the present invention, an opening 51 is provided at the top of the shell 5 with a size large enough to accommodate the Peltier element 11, and the Peltier element 11 having a cooling function is fixed to the shell 5 by a method as described below so that the cold air of the Peltier element 11 is supplied into the helmet.

[0021] On the upper surface that contacts the heat dissipation part of the Peltier element, the heat sink 12 is adhesively integrated with an adhesive 14 (thermally conductive adhesive transfer tape or heat dissipation silicone adhesive) to dissipate the heat generated by the Peltier element. The material of the heat sink is lightweight aluminum with excellent heat conduction, and a large number of thin plate-like protrusions (fins) are provided on the upper part to cool through the outside air between the fins, so that the heat transmitted from the heat dissipation part of the Peltier element can be dissipated. In addition, if the fins are anodized, they will be more resistant to rust and scratches and enhance the radiation effect.

[0022] On the lower surface side, which is the cooling surface of the Peltier element 11, a plurality of aluminum thin plates or aluminum foils 13 with a thickness of 1 mm or less (a commercially available aluminum foil is about 0.01 mm and can be folded multiple times to a thickness of about 0.5 mm) are laminated and adhered. The adhesive 14 can be the same as that used when adhering the heat sink 12, and an adhesive force that can be detached by impact is sufficient. The aluminum foil and the aluminum thin plate have good thermal conductivity, are very thin and have a large surface area, so they are easy to transmit cold air, are located between the shell and the inner layer, are close to the head, and can effectively cool. Furthermore, the most important point is that, different from the case of using a practical-strength aluminum plate with a general thickness (at least 2 mm or more), it is safe because it will not break through the inner layer and damage the head even in case of an accident.

[0023] The method of fixing the Peltier element 11 to the helmet is to fit it into the opening 51 and fix it so that it is almost flush with the thickness of the shell 5. After fixing the heat sink 12 integrated with the Peltier element 11 to the shell 5 from the outside, an aluminum thin plate or aluminum foil 13 is adhered to the lower surface of the Peltier element 11 fitted into the opening 51 from the inside of the shell 5, and then the inner 6 is fixed in alignment with the inside of the shell. By providing holes and grooves in the inner 6, the cold air cools the inside of the helmet and the head through the aluminum thin plate or aluminum foil 13.

[0024] By energizing the Peltier element 11, heat is absorbed on the heat absorption surface side and the heat is radiated from the opposite surface, so that the heat absorption surface side functions as a cooler and the inside of the helmet is cooled. The aluminum thin plate or aluminum foil adhered to the Peltier element 11 can also be provided with grooves and holes in the inner 6 or the aluminum foil 13 can be extended to the vicinity of the head to enhance the cooling effect.

[0025] The heat sink 12 is fixed to the upper part of the shell 5 and cooled by the outside air and continuously radiates the absorbed heat, thereby enhancing the cooling effect of the Peltier element 11. When running on a motorcycle or the like, the heat sink is forcibly cooled by the running wind, but when stopped in summer or the like, it becomes a windless state and rises to 60 to 70 degrees Celsius in an instant by direct sunlight, resulting in a decrease in the cooling effect.

[0026] To prevent this, the cooling fan 2 is fixed to the upper surface of the heat sink 12 with screws or the like, and the integrated unit of the cooling fan, heat sink, and Peltier element (collectively an integrated object) is fitted into and fixed to the opening 51 of the helmet. As an example of the fixing method, the integrated object is pressed from above with the cover 3 as shown in the figure and fixed to the shell 5 of the helmet at two positions on the left and right sides by the fixing portions 31.

[0027] The fixing method generally uses double-sided tape, but as shown in Fig. 3, the mounting nut 4B can be adhered to the shell 5, and the cover can be fixed with the mounting screw 4A. A screw diameter of about 3 mm is sufficient, and in any case, it is not necessary to fix it strongly, and it is only necessary that it does not come off during normal use. By fixing it weakly, in the event of an accident, it can be quickly detached from the helmet, preventing the metal member from causing secondary injuries.

[0028] Since the front and rear directions of the cover 3 are open, as shown in Fig. 3, during running, wind enters from the air inlet, passes through between the fins of the heat sink from the air outlet, and the heated and cooled air is discharged, so that the Peltier element exhibits a cooling function. When stopped, such as waiting for a signal, running wind cannot be expected, but it is cooled by the wind from the cooling fan and discharged from the air outlet, so that the cooling capacity can be maintained at a minimum. Furthermore, the cover 3 is formed in a shape that induces ventilation, protects the heat sink from direct sunlight, and can prevent the temperature rise of aluminum with good thermal conductivity.

[0029] Since the Peltier element 11 and the cooling fan operate with direct current, they can be connected and used if there is a power source for a motorcycle or a commercially available high-capacity mobile battery.

Industrial Applicability

[0030] The present invention can cool the inside of a helmet that is prone to heat buildup by attaching a member (Peltier element) having a lightweight cooling function, and can avoid danger by the member falling off even in the event of an accident, so it is extremely useful and has high industrial applicability.

Explanation of Signs

[0031] 11 Peltier element 12 Heat sink 13 Aluminum foil (thin aluminum plate) 2 Cooling fan 3 Cover 5 Shell 51 Opening 6 Inner (buffer material)

Claims

1. A helmet consisting of a shell and an inner part, wherein an opening is formed in the shell, and the heat absorption surface side of a Peltier element provided with a heat sink on the heat generation surface is inserted into the shell from the opening and fixed to the shell, and an aluminum foil or an aluminum thin plate having a surface area wider than the heat absorption surface is adhered to the heat absorption surface of the Peltier element to form a cooling surface. A helmet with a cooling device, characterized in that.

2. The Peltier element and the heat sink are characterized in that they fall off from the shell when an impact is applied to the helmet. The helmet with a cooling device according to Claim 1.

3. The helmet with a cooling device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a fan for cooling the heat generation surfaces of the heat sink and the Peltier element is provided.

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