A WELDING HELMET WITH A DETACHABLE WELDING VISOR

Abstract

There is provided a welding helmet having a protective shield and a welding visor. The welding visor is detachably attachable to the protective shield by means of a bayonet coupling. The bayonet coupling has a first bayonet part and a second bayonet part. The first bayonet part is rotatably connected to the welding visor for a rotation between a release position, in which the bayonet coupling is disengaged, and an engage position, in which a disengagement of the bayonet coupling is disabled. The bayonet coupling further forms a pivot for pivoting the welding visor relative to the protective shield between a welding position, in which the welding visor covers the see-through window, and a non-welding position, in which the welding visor uncovers the see-through window. A locking member is provided that is switchable between a locked position and an unlocked position.

Claims

1. A welding helmet, comprising: a protective shield, and a welding visor, wherein the protective shield is suspended at a head suspension system, and the welding visor is detachably attachable to the protective shield by means of a bayonet coupling, wherein the bayonet coupling comprises a first bayonet part and a second bayonet part, wherein the first bayonet part is rotatably connected to the welding visor for a rotation between a release position, in which the bayonet coupling is disengaged, and an engage position, in which a disengagement of the bayonet coupling is disabled, the bayonet coupling further forming a pivot for pivoting the welding visor relative to the protective shield between a welding position, in which the welding visor covers the see-through window, and a non-welding position, in which the welding visor uncovers the see-through window, and wherein a locking member is provided that is switchable between a locked position, in which the rotation of the first bayonet part from the engage position toward the release position is blocked, and an unlocked position, in which the rotation of the first bayonet part from the engage position toward the release position is enabled.

2. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the second bayonet part is formed by a rim that is connected to the protective shield.

3. The welding helmet of claim 2, wherein the first bayonet part is formed by a ring-shaped collar for mating on the rim, wherein the collar is rotatably mounted in a through-hole of the welding visor.

4. The welding helmet of claim 3, wherein the collar is axially fixed within the welding visor.

5. The welding helmet of claim 3, wherein the first bayonet part comprises a first engagement member that protrudes radially inwardly from the collar and wherein the second bayonet part comprises a second engagement member that protrudes radially outwardly from the rim, and wherein the engagement of the bayonet coupling is established by an engagement of the first and second engagement member.

6. The welding helmet of claim 3, wherein the first bayonet part has a lever that protrudes radially outwardly from the collar, wherein the locking member is displaceably arranged at the lever for a displacement between the locked and the unlocked position.

7. The welding helmet of claim 6, wherein the welding visor adjacent the through hole comprises a receptacle, and wherein the locking member in the locked position engages in the receptacle and thereby locks the first bayonet part and the welding visor with each other.

8. The welding helmet of claim 1, further having a link for pivotally suspending the protective shield at the head suspension system, wherein the link comprises a knob for adjusting a retention against pivoting of the protective shield relative to the head suspension system.

9. The welding helmet of claim 8, wherein the link further comprises a screw nut and wherein the knob comprises a screw bolt for establishing a screw connection with the screw nut, wherein the protective shield can be suspended at the head suspension system by establishing the screw connection with a portion of the protective shield and a portion of the head suspension system arranged between the knob and the screw nut.

10. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the see-through window comprises a clear protective plate.

11. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the welding visor comprises an Automatic Darkening Filter (ADF).

12. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein in the welding position the welding visor seals an area on the protective shield in which the see-through window is located.

13. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the bayonet coupling in the engage position of the first bayonet part provides an engagement of the welding visor relative to the protective shield over the full pivot range between the welding visor and the protective shield.

14. The welding helmet of claim 13, wherein the pivot range between the welding visor and the protective shield between 50 degrees and 60 degrees.

15. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the second bayonet part is monolithically formed with the protective shield.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0029] FIG. 1 is a side view of a welding helmet in a welding position according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG. 2 is a side view of the welding helmet shown in FIG. 1 but in a non-welding position;

[0031] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a welding helmet according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, having a welding visor and a protective shield that are detached from each other;

[0032] FIGS. 4 to 6 are partial side views illustrating an operation of a welding helmet according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a collar and a locking member for a welding helmet according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0034] FIG. 8 is a perspective cross-sectional partial view of a welding helmet according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0035] FIG. 9 is a further perspective cross-sectional partial view of a welding helmet according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a welding helmet 1 according to the present disclosure. The welding helmet 1 has a protective shield 2 which is illustrated in a lowered position that corresponds to a position in which the protective shield 2 covers a wearer's face. The welding helmet 1 further has a head suspension system 6 for supporting the welding helmet 1 on a wearer's head. The welding helmet 1 further has a welding visor 3. The welding visor 3 is configured to filter those portions of light of a welding arc hat would be harmful for a wearer of the welding helmet 1 observing the welding arc through the welding visor 3.

[0037] The welding visor 3 therefore comprises an automatic darkening filter 5. The automatic darkening filter 5 allows a welder to safely observe the welding arc during welding. In the example the automatic darkening filter 5 is based on two liquid crystal cells. The liquid crystal cells are electrically switchable between a light-state and a dark-state. When switched in the dark-state, the automatic darkening filter 5 blocks a significant amount of light from being transmitted therethrough. This enables a user to observe a welding arc by seeing through the automatic darkening filter 5 without risking exposure to harmful light radiation from the welding arc. In the light-state the automatic darkening filter 5 permits a significant amount of light to be transmitted therethrough. Thus, the automatic darkening filter 5 in the light-state allows the user to see under ambient light conditions (in the absence of the welding arc). The two (or more) liquid crystal cells are arranged optically in sequence. This provides for multiplying the darkening effect (in particular in the dark-state) and thus a sufficient eye protection from light radiation.

[0038] The welding visor 3 is illustrated in a welding position in which the welding visor 3 covers a see-through window (indicated as number 4 in FIG. 2) provided in the protective shield 2. The welding visor 3 is however pivotable between the welding position (shown in FIG. 1) and a non-welding position (shown in FIG. 2).

[0039] FIG. 2 shows the welding helmet 1 with the welding visor 3 in the non-welding position in which the welding visor uncovers the see-through window 4. The protective shield 1 is still in the lowered position. The protective shield 2 has a clear visor 5 that closes the see-through window 4 in the protective shield 2. Thus, a wearer's face is protected by the protective shield 2 and the clear visor 5 for example from particles ejected from a workplace the wearer faces toward. Although the clear visor 5 may not provide a sufficient protection against harmful light emitted from a welding arc in some cases, the clear visor 5 allows the wearer of the welding helmet 1 to see through the clear visor 5 at ambient light conditions. Therefore, in the lowered position of the protective shield 2 with the welding visor 3 being in the non-welding position the welding helmet 1 may for example be used for protecting a wearer during grinding or similar works.

[0040] As illustrated in FIG. 3 the welding helmet 1 is configured so that the welding visor 3 can be removed from the protective shield 2. The welding helmet 1 for this purpose has a bayonet coupling formed of a first bayonet part 7 at the welding visor 3 and a second bayonet part 8 at the protective shield 2 as described in more detail in the following.

[0041] FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate the function of the bayonet coupling from an operation perspective, for example according to an operation performed by a wearer of the welding helmet 1. The first bayonet part 7 is rotatably connected to the welding visor 3. In particular, the first bayonet part 7 is rotatable between a release position R and an engage position E. The rotatability of the first bayonet part 7 is restricted to the rotation between the release position R and the engage position E. Therefore, the first bayonet part 7 is stopped in the release position R from a further rotation in a direction from the engage position E toward the release position R, and in the engage position E from a further rotation in a direction from the release position R toward the engage position E. The engage and release position are indicated in the Figures for explanation purposes and may not be particularly marked on the welding helmet 1. The release position R designates a position of the first bayonet part 7 in which the bayonet coupling can be disengaged. Further, the engage position E designates a position of the first bayonet part 7 in which a disengagement of the bayonet coupling is disabled. This means that in the engage position E the first and second bayonet part are rotatable relative to each other although they are axially engaged for preventing a disengagement. In this regard the term axially refers to a rotation axis A (see FIG. 8) of the rotatability of the first bayonet part 7.

[0042] In the situation illustrated in FIG. 4 the first bayonet part 7 is positioned in the release position R. Accordingly the welding visor 3 is released so that it could be removed from the protective shield 2. In the situation illustrated in FIG. 5 the first bayonet part 7 is positioned in the engage position E, for example in consequence of turning the first bayonet part 7 from the release position R shown in FIG. 4 to the engage position E shown in FIG. 5.

[0043] As shown, the first bayonet part 7 has a lever 11 which carries a locking member 11. The locking member 11 is switchable between an unlocked position (shown in FIG. 5) and a locked position (shown in FIG. 6). In the unlocked position the rotation of the first bayonet part 7 from the engage position toward the release position is enabled. Therefore, in the unlocked position first bayonet part 7 can be rotated from the engage position toward the release position. However, in the locked position the rotation of the first bayonet part 7 from the engage position toward the release position is blocked. Therefore, in the locked position first bayonet part 7 cannot be rotated from the engage position toward the release position. The locking member in the locked position thus prevents the first bayonet part 7 to inadvertently move, for example in consequence of pivoting the welding visor 3 relative to the protective shield 2.

[0044] FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate the function and structure of the bayonet coupling in more detail. In FIG. 7 the first bayonet part 7 and the locking member 11 are shown in an exploded view. In particular the first bayonet part 7 is formed by a ring-shaped collar 12. The collar 12 has an inner cylindrical surface 13 from which a first engagement member 14 protrudes radially (of the cylinder axis of the cylindrical surface 13) inwardly. Although not visible in this view, the collar 12 has three first engagement members 14 that protrudes radially inwardly from the cylindrical surface 13. The three first engagement members 14 are uniformly distributed over the circumference of the inner cylindrical surface 13, in particular are angularly offset relative to each other at 120 degrees.

[0045] As shown, the lever 10 extends radially outwardly from the collar 12. The lever 10 has an oblong hole 15 within which a pin 16 is received (see FIG. 8) for guiding the locking member 11 during sliding between the unlocked position and the locked position. The welding visor 3 has a receptacle within which the pin 16 engages (FIG. 9) in the locked position. In the unlocked position the pin 16 and the receptacle 17 are disengaged (not shown) so that the first bayonet part 7 can be rotated toward the released position relative to the welding visor 3.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 8 the welding helmet 1 has a link that comprises a knob 18 that forms a screw bolt 18a, and a screw nut 19. The screw bolt 18a and the screw nut 19 are screwed with one another. The protective shield 2 is and a head suspension system 20 are connected by the link. In particular a portion of the protective shield 2 and a portion of the head suspension system 20 are arranged between the knob 18 and the screw nut 19. Thus, the protective shield 2 and the head suspension system 20 can be clamped together by the screw connection formed between the knob 18 and the screw nut 19. Thereby the protective shield 2 is also pivotally suspended at the head suspension system 20 by the link. In particular, the protective shield 2 may be pivoted relative to the head suspension system 20 about the link. Further, the knob 18 may be turned for tightening or loosening the screw connection formed by the link and thereby a retention (against pivoting) between the protective shield 2 and the head suspension system 3 may be adjusted.

[0047] The protective shield 2 further forms the second bayonet part 8. In the example the second bayonet part 8 is formed by a rim 21 that is connected to, in particular monolithically formed with, the protective shield 2. The second bayonet part 8 comprises a second engagement member 22 that protrudes radially outwardly from the rim 21. The second bayonet part 8 particularly comprises three second engagement members 22. The three second engagement members are uniformly distributed over the circumference of the inner cylindrical surface 13, in particular are angularly offset relative to each other at 120 degrees. Each of the first and second engagement members extend only partially circumferentially about the rotation axis A. Thus, the second engagement members 22 leave a space between each other through which the first engagement members 14 can pass when the first bayonet part 7 and the second bayonet part 8 are separated from each other or mated with each other.

[0048] In the example the rim 21 forms a recess 23 within which the knob 18 is rotatably accommodated.