Curved Welding Eye Shield With Zoned Optics for Reduced Eye Fatigue
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Workers face inconvenience in changing eye protection structures according to varying welding tasks and intensity of sparks, requiring a solution that allows easy shape adjustment and comprehensive body protection.
Innovation Solution
An eye protection structure with a window featuring a transmissive portion having different outer and inner radii of curvature, a thicker central portion than edge portion, and optionally including a rib and opaque portions for enhanced protection and reduced eye fatigue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If workers wear traditional eye protection structures for welding, then their eyes are protected from light and sparks, but they must change the protection structure according to different work contents and welding intensity
Solution Approach 1:
The window is divided into different regions with different optical properties: a central transparent region for viewing and peripheral colored regions for different welding intensities. This segmentation allows workers to use different parts of the same window for different welding tasks without changing the entire protection structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The window integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides eye protection from sparks, allows viewing through the transparent central region, and offers different levels of light filtration through colored peripheral regions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need to change between multiple separate protection structures for different welding conditions.
2Reliability
If workers wear eye protection structures for extended periods, then their eyes are continuously protected, but eye fatigue and vision deterioration occur due to the protective structure's interference with natural vision
Solution Approach 1:
The window has different optical properties in different regions: the central region is transparent with minimal optical interference to maintain natural vision and reduce eye fatigue, while peripheral regions have colored filters for spark and light protection. This local differentiation allows continuous wear without the harmful effects of uniform tinting across the entire window.
Solution Approach 2:
The window has a convex curved surface that matches the natural curvature of the human eye and face. This curvature reduces optical distortion and improves visual comfort during extended wear, thereby reducing eye fatigue while maintaining continuous protection.
3Ease of manufacture
If the window has a uniform thickness and curvature, then manufacturing is simpler, but optical distortion and visual discomfort occur during prolonged use
Solution Approach 1:
The window employs a convex curved surface design that follows the natural contours of the human face and eye. This curvature improves optical quality and visual comfort during extended wear, addressing the need for manufacturing precision while remaining feasible through standard molding techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The window features variable thickness with a thicker central region for optimal viewing and thinner peripheral regions. This local variation in thickness optimizes optical properties in different areas, reducing distortion where it matters most while remaining manufacturable through precision molding processes.
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
The eye protection structure effectively protects workers' eyes from long-term exposure, preventing vision deterioration and fatigue by allowing easy shape adjustment and comprehensive protection during welding tasks.
Implementation Method 1
a first radius of curvature of an outer surface of the transmissive portion and a second radius of curvature of an inner surface of the transmissive portion are different from each other
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of the present disclosure discloses an eye protection structure for protecting a worker, the eye protection structure including a window convex outward to cover both eyes of the worker, wherein the window includes a transmissive portion, the transmissive portion includes an inner surface facing the worker's face and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface, a first radius of curvature of the outer surface of the transmissive portion and a second radius of curvature of the inner surface of the transmissive portion are different from each other, and a thickness of a central portion of the transmissive portion is greater than a thickness of an edge portion of the transmissive portion.