Breathing Protection Hood Suspension Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing respiratory protection hoods for aircraft, particularly those using compressed oxygen, can be difficult to put on and maintain, especially in stressful situations, due to mediocre ergonomics and the risk of improper adjustments, and they often compromise on fire resistance and head movement tracking.
Innovation Solution
A hood design featuring a flexible suspension member with a cap that rests on the user's head, distributing the weight of the equipment and integrating a pressurized oxygen tank with a carbon dioxide filtration system, allowing for a universal fit and improved ergonomics without the need for buckles or straps, and using a fireproof and waterproof textile for the envelope.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a transparent outer shell is used, then the user can see outside, but the fire resistance is reduced and the ergonomics are poor because the shell floats on the user's head
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent shell is segmented by attaching it to a suspension structure that divides the hood into multiple functional zones. The shell is no longer a single floating piece but is distributed and anchored through the suspension element, improving both fire resistance and ergonomics while maintaining visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
A suspension element acts as an intermediary between the transparent shell and the user's head. This intermediate structure provides secure anchoring points, preventing the shell from floating while maintaining the transparent viewing areas for visibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If loops, straps, or elastic bands are provided for securing the hood, then the hood can be adjusted to fit, but the assembly time increases and there is a risk of incorrect adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension element is designed to automatically adapt to the user's head shape and size without requiring manual adjustment. The elastic and mesh components self-adjust to provide a secure fit, eliminating the need for user intervention with straps and buckles.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension element incorporates dynamic components such as elastic zones and flexible mesh that automatically adjust to different head shapes and movements. This dynamic adaptation replaces static adjustable straps, reducing assembly time while maintaining versatility.
3Ease of operation
If the transparent shell is made to follow head rotations, then the viewing window tracks movements, but the shell requires additional securing mechanisms that compromise ergonomics
Solution Approach 1:
The shell is segmented and anchored at multiple points through the suspension element, allowing different sections to move independently with head rotations. This segmentation enables tracking of head movements without requiring a single complex securing mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent shell is made from flexible material that can bend and move with head rotations. Combined with the suspension element, this allows the shell to track head movements while maintaining secure attachment without complex mechanisms.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A respiratory protective hood comprising a flexible, airtight envelope (2) intended to be put on the head of a user, the flexible envelope being provided with a transparent window (20) and comprising, in its lower part, a source (3, 4) of oxygen-enriched gas and connected to an outlet orifice (7) opening into the internal volume of the flexible envelope (2), characterized in that the hood (1) comprises a flexible suspension element (16) disposed inside the flexible envelope (2), the suspension element (16) forming a cap (17, 18) having a surface area less than the surface area of the outer flexible envelope (2), at least a part of the edge of the suspension element (16) is rigidly connected to the flexible envelope (2), in the position of use of the hood, the suspension element (16) resting on the top of the user's head at a height intermediate between the base and the top of the hood (1).