Deployable Flame Resistant Head Shield for Flash Fire Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flame-resistant clothing regulations do not adequately protect the head and face area from flash fires, as simulations consistently show 100% third-degree burns in these regions, highlighting a significant need for targeted protection.
Innovation Solution
A flame-resistant protective head shield with a hollow body, a flexible substrate that deploys via a pressurized gas-powered actuator triggered by a heat sensor, providing rapid coverage of the head and face area, utilizing a lightweight flame-resistant material treated with sodium bicarbonate for enhanced protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If flame resistant clothing is worn according to regulations, then body burn protection is provided, but head and face area remains unprotected with 100% third degree burns
Solution Approach 1:
The protective system is segmented into two parts: standard flame resistant clothing for the body and a separate deployable face mask for head and face protection. This segmentation allows targeted protection where it is most needed (head and face) without requiring complete redesign of all protective clothing, thus adding minimal complexity while significantly improving head and face protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The face mask is pre-positioned around the wearer's neck in a stored state, ready for rapid deployment. The pressurized gas actuator is pre-charged and the sensor system is pre-calibrated. When a flash fire is detected, the mask automatically deploys in less than one second, providing preliminary protection before the fire can cause severe burns to the head and face.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a deployable face mask is added to protect the head and face area, then head protection is improved, but device complexity and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The face mask is constructed from flexible, thin flame resistant material that can be folded into a compact roll. This flexible film structure provides adequate protection against flash fires while minimizing weight and bulk. The thin film design allows the mask to be stored in a space-efficient manner around the wearer's neck without being a significant weight burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The face mask is stored in a nested configuration around the wearer's neck, with the flexible material rolled or folded into a compact form factor. This nesting approach minimizes the space and weight occupied by the protective device during normal wear, while still providing full protection when deployed.
3Speed
If rapid deployment is achieved using pressurized gas actuator, then response time to flash fire is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A pressurized gas actuator is used to rapidly deploy the face mask substrate. The stored pressurized gas provides the force needed to eject the mask from its stored position to its deployed position in less than one second. This pneumatic system achieves extremely rapid deployment speed while keeping the actuator mechanism relatively simple compared to alternative mechanical or electrical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system automatically detects the flash fire conditions and triggers the pressurized gas actuator without requiring manual intervention. The system is self-activating, detecting the hazardous condition and deploying protection automatically, which simplifies the control complexity while maintaining rapid response speed.
4Volume of moving object
If the substrate is stored within the interior cavity, then compactness is improved, but deployment time may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The face mask substrate is pre-positioned in a stored roll within the interior cavity of the hollow body, and the pressurized gas actuator is pre-charged. When deployment is triggered, the stored energy and pre-positioned substrate enable rapid ejection and deployment in less than one second, minimizing the time loss despite the compact storage configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressurized gas actuator provides the force needed to rapidly eject the substrate from its compact stored position within the interior cavity. The pneumatic pressure overcomes the compact storage configuration's potential delay, achieving both compact storage and rapid deployment by using gas pressure to quickly transition the substrate from stored to deployed state.
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 head shield effectively limits burns to simple first- or second-degree burns by deploying in less than a second, offering comprehensive facial protection without restricting movement or comfort, and can be easily transferred between garments.
Implementation Method 1
A pressurized gas powered actuator is provided to move the substrate in a fraction of a second from the stored position to the deployed position
Implementation Method 2
A sensor is provided for detecting a flash fire coupled to the actuator
Implementation Method 3
The substrate is movable between a stored position within interior cavity and a deployed position in which the free end of the substrate extends through the opening and upwardly to cover a head of the wearer
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A flame resistant protective head shield includes a hollow body having a neck receptacle to facilitate the body being positioned around a neck of a wearer. The body has an exterior surface and an interior surface. The interior surface defines an interior cavity. An opening is provided in the exterior surface in communication with the interior cavity. A flexible flame resistant substrate is provided having a secured end and a free end. The secured end is secured to the body. The substrate is movable between a stored position within interior cavity and a deployed position in which the free end of the substrate extends through the opening and upwardly to cover a head of the wearer. A pressurized gas powered actuator is provided to move the substrate in a fraction of a second from the stored position to the deployed position. A sensor is provided for detecting a flash fire coupled to the actuator. Deployment of the substrate by the actuator is triggered by the sensor sensing a flash fire.