Electrician Face Shield UV IR Radiation Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrician face protection visors fail to effectively protect against radiant heat and UV/IR radiation from arc faults without impairing the wearer's vision or increasing the risk of accidents due to color distortion, and they are often heavy, conductive, or difficult to manufacture.

Innovation Solution

A transparent plastic visor coated with a special self-adhesive plastic film that maintains high visual transmission and color rendering index while reflecting and absorbing UV and IR radiation, using lightweight, flame-retardant, and electrically insulating materials like polycarbonate and acetate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If transparent plastic panes with high light transmission are used, then visibility is improved, but protection against UV and IR radiation is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight transmissionVSAvoidUV and IR radiation exposure
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite structure consisting of a transparent plastic pane (polycarbonate or acetate) combined with a specially coated layer that selectively filters UV and IR radiation while maintaining high visible light transmission. This composite approach allows the visor to provide both excellent visibility and comprehensive radiation protection without the drawbacks of colored filters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If colored panes are used to filter UV and IR radiation, then radiation protection is improved, but color perception is distorted

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUV and IR radiation protectionVSAvoidcolor accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a selective filtering approach where the coating on the transparent pane is designed to block specific wavelengths (UV and IR) while allowing visible light wavelengths to pass through unchanged. This localized filtering in the spectral domain maintains color accuracy for visible light while providing protection against harmful radiation, avoiding the color distortion associated with colored panes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Temperature

If metal layers are deposited to reflect heat, then thermal protection is improved, but electrical conductivity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat reflectionVSAvoidelectrical insulation
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameters by using non-conductive ceramic coatings or specialized polymer coatings instead of metal layers. These alternative materials provide thermal reflection and radiation blocking properties while maintaining electrical insulation, thus protecting against both thermal hazards and electrical shock without the conductivity problem of metal coatings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Object-affected harmful factors

If glass panes with special coatings are used, then radiation protection is improved, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradiation protectionVSAvoidvisor weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes from glass material to lightweight plastic materials (polycarbonate or acetate) with thickness optimized for protection. By combining the inherent strength and radiation-blocking properties of these plastics with selective coating layers, the visor achieves adequate radiation protection at a fraction of the weight of traditional glass construction, improving comfort and wearability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

5Object-affected harmful factors

If thick plastic panes are used to block radiation, then radiation protection is improved, but visibility and field of view are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradiation blockingVSAvoidfield of view
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a thin transparent plastic pane combined with a specialized coating layer that provides the radiation blocking function. This composite structure achieves effective UV and IR radiation protection without requiring increased thickness, thereby maintaining excellent visual clarity and an unobstructed field of view that is critical for electrical work.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution provides effective protection against radiant heat and UV/IR radiation with minimal impairment to the wearer's vision, reducing temperature increase and radiation exposure during arc faults, and is simple and cost-effective to produce.

Implementation Method 1

A transparent plastic visor coated with a special self-adhesive plastic film that maintains high visual transmission and color rendering index while reflecting and absorbing UV and IR radiation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

A transparent plastic visor coated with a special self-adhesive plastic film that maintains high visual transmission and color rendering index while reflecting and absorbing UV and IR radiation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

using lightweight, flame-retardant, and electrically insulating materials like polycarbonate and acetate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlame retardancy:

Implementation Method 4

using lightweight, flame-retardant, and electrically insulating materials like polycarbonate and acetate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical insulation: Dielectric

Data Source

PatentEP2323509B1Face shield for an electrician
Publication Date: 2012.09.26 BSD BILDUNGS & SERVICEZENT
  • EP2323509B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2323509B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a face shield for an electrician for protecting against accidental arcs, comprising a viewing pane, for working on or near electrical installations and operating equipment. The face shield comprises a protective shield arranged on a supporting body or framed in textile materials. The protective shield comprises a transparent plastic plate having a thickness between 1 and 10 mm, the color rendering index according to EN 410 of which should be greater than 90. The thickness and quality are selected in such a way that breakdown cannot occur in the event of an accidental arc. A thin, flexible plastic film is applied to the plastic plate, the thickness of which plastic film is selected between 0.01 mm and 0.5 mm. Said plastic film has a visual transmittance according to EN 410 of at least 40% and a color rendering index according to EN 410 greater than 90.