Protective Armor Stack Effect Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current protective equipment, particularly hard body armor and athletic protective gear, fails to provide adequate cooling and protection against impact-induced cardiac trauma, leading to heat-related discomfort, reduced mobility, and increased risk of injuries such as commotio cordis due to its thermal insulation properties and poor airflow design.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a system with vertical and angled spacing elements between the rigid protective plate and the wearer's torso, creating a 'stack effect' airflow that channels ambient air for enhanced cooling, while maintaining protection against ballistic and blunt impacts by using a combination of hard and soft armor layers with strategically placed spacers to optimize airflow and reduce contact with the wearer's skin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid protective plates are used for ballistic and impact protection, then protection effectiveness is improved, but thermal insulation increases causing heat-related discomfort and reduced cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The protective system is segmented into multiple functional layers: rigid protective plates for ballistic protection, soft armor layers for impact attenuation, and airflow channels for thermal management. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the others.
Solution Approach 2:
Airflow channels act as an intermediary medium between the rigid protective plates and the wearer's body. These channels facilitate heat dissipation and cooling while maintaining the protective function of the rigid plates, effectively mediating the thermal interaction between the protective equipment and the wearer.
2Reliability
If rigid protective plates are placed in direct contact with the wearer's body, then protection is maximized, but mobility and comfort are reduced due to heat retention and pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The design introduces a third dimension (airflow channels) between the rigid protective plates and the wearer's body. This dimensional change allows cooling air to circulate through the system, reducing heat retention and improving comfort while maintaining the protective function of the rigid plates.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the protective system have different properties: rigid plates provide ballistic protection in specific areas, soft armor layers provide impact attenuation in contact areas, and airflow channels provide thermal management. This local differentiation of properties optimizes both protection and comfort.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional protective equipment design is used, then manufacturing is simple, but protection against impact-induced cardiac trauma is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Soft armor layers are positioned between the rigid protective plates and the wearer's body to provide beforehand cushioning. These layers attenuate impact forces before they reach the wearer's torso, specifically protecting against impact-induced cardiac trauma while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
4Strength
If rigid protective plates with limited airflow design are used, then structural integrity is maintained, but cooling efficacy is reduced leading to heat-induced injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The protective system is segmented into multiple functional layers: rigid protective plates for ballistic protection, soft armor layers for impact attenuation, and airflow channels for thermal management. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the others.
Solution Approach 2:
Airflow channels are integrated into the protective system to facilitate pneumatic cooling. Ambient air flows through these channels, removing heat from the wearer's body and reducing the risk of heat-induced injuries while maintaining structural integrity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design significantly improves cooling efficacy, reduces the risk of heat-induced injuries, and provides enhanced protection against impact-induced cardiac trauma by allowing effective airflow and distributing the impact energy more effectively, resulting in improved wearer comfort and performance.
Implementation Method 1
creating a 'stack effect' airflow that channels ambient air for enhanced cooling
Data Source
AI summary
Ballistic and athletic personal protective equipment utilizing rigid panel(s) featuring designs for improved cooling employing “stack effect” airflow in combination with optimized wearer contact surface geometry. Improved ballistic and athletic personal protective equipment designs contain rigid panel(s) for protection of wearer from impacts, ballistic threats and the like. The equipment is provided with spacers arranged to provide a stack effect powered airflow between rigid panel(s) and wearer, cooling the same. The spacers are further designed, dimensioned and arranged to provide optimal heat transfer and mass transfer efficiency from wearer to cooling air within the protective equipment system, providing optimal cooling effects. The system is simple, light, and inexpensive, providing improved wearer comfort and safety from hyperthermia for optimal performance at elevated temperatures.