Fluid-Bladder Exoskeletal Armor for Impact and Thermal Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current protective equipment for athletes and military personnel fails to adequately protect against concussions, neck injuries, torso injuries, and hyperthermia, does not facilitate cooling or warming, and lacks real-time impact tracking and neck immobilization.
Innovation Solution
A fluid-based exoskeletal body armor system comprising a helmet and protective suit with integrated fluid bladders and temperature conditioning units that absorb impact forces, regulate body temperature, and provide real-time impact indicators and wireless tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current helmet and protective equipment are used, then basic head and body protection is provided, but concussive brain injuries are not adequately reduced and neck injuries are not protected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs fluid-filled bladders within the helmet and protective suit that respond to impact forces. When an impact occurs, the fluid pressure changes to provide dynamic cushioning and support, particularly protecting the neck and brain from concussive forces without requiring complex mechanical structures
Solution Approach 2:
The protective equipment utilizes changes in fluid pressure and temperature as key parameters. The fluid pressure adjusts dynamically during impact events to provide optimal protection, while temperature control systems modify thermal parameters to prevent hyperthermia, replacing static protective structures with dynamically adjustable parameters
2Temperature
If current protective equipment is used, then physical protection is provided, but body heat dispersal is inhibited leading to increased core temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The protective suit incorporates phase change materials that absorb excess body heat by transitioning from solid to liquid state, or vice versa, thereby regulating body temperature. This passive thermal regulation works in conjunction with active fluid circulation systems that transfer heat away from the body
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid circulation system within the protective suit acts as a thermal management system, circulating fluid to absorb and transport body heat away from the core, preventing hyperthermia while maintaining protective coverage
3Loss of information
If current equipment is used, then basic protection is provided, but real-time tracking of player status and impact data is not available
Solution Approach 1:
The protective equipment integrates sensors that detect impact forces, fluid pressure changes, and physiological parameters, transmitting this data in real-time to coaches and medical personnel. This feedback loop enables immediate response to injuries while the sensors leverage existing fluid pressure mechanisms already present in the protective structure
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical protection against impact, enables thermal regulation, and acts as a sensing medium for detecting impact forces and transmitting physiological data, eliminating the need for separate dedicated systems for each function
4Force
If current helmet constructions are used, then head protection is provided, but helmet-to-helmet contact is encouraged and head-to-neck mass ratio increases
Solution Approach 1:
The helmet incorporates fluid-filled bladders that dynamically adjust to impact forces, distributing loads more evenly across the head and neck structure. This reduces peak forces during helmet-to-helmet contact while maintaining a simpler overall construction compared to multi-layer rigid structures
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
Enhances protection against concussions and injuries, maintains optimal body temperature, and enables real-time monitoring and response to impacts.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid bladder formed in at least two of the head portion, neck portion and torso portion, the fluid bladder containing a fluid
Implementation Method 2
temperature conditioning units that absorb impact forces, regulate body temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A protective suit comprising: a head portion comprising a fluid-filled head portion chamber; a neck portion releasably secured to the head portion and comprising a neck portion chamber, wherein the fluid-filled head portion chamber is in fluid communication with the neck portion chamber; and a torso portion releasably secured to the neck portion and comprising a fluid-filled torso portion chamber, wherein the fluid-filled torso portion chamber is in fluid communication with the neck portion chamber; and wherein the head portion is configured to be disposed on a head of the wearer, the neck portion is configured to be disposed in an arcuate manner around a neck of the wearer, and the torso portion is configured to be disposed on a torso of the wearer, such that when a force of an impact is received on the head portion, fluid from the fluid-filled head portion chamber is transferred into the neck portion chamber to support the neck of the wearer against translational and rotational forces imparted to the wearer, and when a force of an impact is received on the torso portion, fluid from the fluid-filled torso portion chamber is transferred to the neck portion chamber to support the neck of the wearer against translational and rotational forces imparted to the wearer.