Pendulum Damping Helmet System for Rotational Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing helmet technologies fail to effectively reduce angular acceleration and deceleration effects on the head and brain during impacts, often adding mass and bulk that can exacerbate rotational injuries, and do not adequately account for the whole thickness and mass of the helmet in limiting deceleration.
Innovation Solution
A pendulum damping system is integrated within the helmet's thickness to respond immediately to external torque during impacts, featuring a pendulum mass that oscillates laterally and longitudinally within a damping hole, reducing angular acceleration and deceleration effects by dissipating impact energy through a resilient member and head stabilizer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If existing helmet technologies (ODSTM, MIPS®, SuperSkin®, 360° Turbine Technology) are used to reduce rotational acceleration, then angular acceleration protection is improved, but helmet mass and bulk increase which exacerbates rotational injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin, flexible membrane (5-15 micrometers thick) coated with lubricant on the outer shell surface to reduce friction during rotational impacts. This thin film approach provides angular acceleration protection without adding significant mass or bulk to the helmet, directly resolving the contradiction between protection effectiveness and weight.
2Strength
If harder and stiffer liners are incorporated to improve structural strength, then helmet durability is improved, but the ability to absorb translational and angular impact forces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the friction parameter at the outer shell surface by applying a lubricant coating, reducing the coefficient of friction to enable rotational slipping during impacts. This allows the helmet to absorb angular impact forces through controlled slippage rather than rigid resistance, maintaining energy absorption capability while providing structural durability.
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 pendulum damping system reduces angular acceleration and deceleration effects on the brain without compromising the helmet's ability to absorb translational or angular forces, providing improved protection against rotational and angular impacts by minimizing the added mass and optimizing energy dissipation.
Implementation Method 1
a pendulum mass that oscillates laterally and longitudinally within a damping hole
Implementation Method 2
reducing angular acceleration and deceleration effects by dissipating impact energy through a resilient member
Implementation Method 3
dissipating impact energy through a resilient member and head stabilizer
Data Source
AI summary
A helmet comprised of a hard outer shell, a compressible liner in contact with an inner surface of the hard outer shell, and a comfort liner in contact with an inner surface of the compressible liner. The damping hole is defined longitudinally along a longitudinal axis through the hard outer shell, the compressible liner, and the comfort liner. The helmet also includes a pendulum damping system disposed in the damping hole and extending longitudinally from the outer shell to the comfort liner. The pendulum damping system has a pendulum mass that is laterally displaceable within the damping hole.