Arc flash head protective gear and method for operating thereof

Abstract

An arc flash protective headgear includes a transparent protective screen that is connected to an immobile frame part acting as supporting structure. A protective function for a foldable visor is ensured under all conditions, including in particular in the event of a power failure. The movable visor can be locked with respect to the immobile head protection part in at least one position by an electrically actuatable locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is automatically locked using a sensor and electronics module, the energy supply of which is provided by an energy store or energy generator.

Claims

1. An arc flash protective headgear, comprising: an immobile head protection part (9); a movable visor (8) fastened in the immobile head protection part (9); a monitoring module with a position sensor (2) for monitoring a visor position; a further monitoring module with a head presence sensor (6) and an indicator for monitoring whether the arc flash protective headgear is being worn; an electrically actuatable locking mechanism (3) for locking the movable visor (8) with respect to the immobile head protection part (9) in at least one position, a sensor and electronics module (1) for automatically actuating the electrically actuatable locking mechanism (3); and an energy supply (4) being an energy store or an energy generator for supplying the sensor and electronics module (1).

2. The arc flash protective headgear according to claim 1, wherein the sensor and electronics module (1) includes two separate modules that are integrated into the arc flash protective headgear.

3. The arc flash protective headgear according to claim 1, wherein the sensor and electronics module (1) is integrated into a shared housing in the arc flash protective headgear.

4. The arc flash protective headgear according to claim 2, wherein the two separate modules include an electronics module, and wherein the electronics module is integrated into other parts of a protective equipment, outside of the arc flash protective headgear.

5. The arc flash protective headgear according to claim 1, wherein automatic locking and unlocking is effected by the electrically actuatable locking mechanism (3) with an electric motor, a linear motor, a magnetic switch/solenoid, a pneumatic system, or a hydraulic system.

6. The arc flash protective headgear according to claim 1, wherein the head presence sensor (6) for ascertaining whether the arc flash protective headgear is being worn is a temperature sensor, a radar sensor, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a presence sensor, a gas detection sensor, a distance measuring sensor, a proximity sensor, a motion sensor, a camera system with image recognition, or a combination of two or more thereof.

7. The arc flash protective headgear according to claim 1, wherein the energy supply (4) comprises replaceable batteries, rechargeable accumulators, capacitors, or solar cells.

8. A method for operating an arc flash protective headgear, comprising: providing the arc flash protective headgear with an immobile head protection part (9), a movable visor (8) fastened in the immobile head protection part (9), a monitoring module with a position sensor (2) for monitoring a visor position, a further monitoring module with a head presence sensor (6) and an indicator for monitoring whether the arc flash protective headgear is being worn, an electrically actuatable locking mechanism (3) for locking the movable visor (8) with respect to the immobile head protection part (9) in at least one position, a sensor and electronics module (1) for automatically actuating the electrically actuatable locking mechanism (3), and an energy supply (4) being an energy store or an energy generator for supplying the sensor and electronics module (1); automatically locking, controlled by the sensor and electronics module (1), the movable visor (8) with respect to the immobile head protection part (9) by the electrically actuatable locking mechanism (3) if the head presence sensor (8) indicates by way of a signal that the arc flash protective headgear is not being worn and/or before the energy supply (4) reaches a low or critical state of charge; unlocking, or enabling unlocking, the movable visor (8) after a user activates or switches on the sensor and electronics module (1); and informing the user by the electronics module via actuatable signal outputs (5) that the movable visor (8) is open.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising determining and evaluating a state of charge of the energy supply (4) via characteristic parameters of the energy store or energy generator selected from the group consisting of a battery voltage, an internal resistance, a discharge current, and pressure sensors.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the actuatable signal outputs (5) are a visual signal, an audible signal, a vibrotactile signal, or a structure-borne sound.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] FIG. 1 shows an arc flash protective headgear with closed visor.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows the arc flash protective headgear with open visor.

[0036] FIG. 3 is a detailed view with closed locking mechanism for the visor.

[0037] FIG. 4 is a detailed view with sensor and electronics module and open locking mechanism for the visor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] A first exemplary embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 1 shows arc flash protective headgear with a closed visor 8, which is integrated into an immobile head protection part 9. Typically, both parts are fastened to a hard hat 10.

[0039] The visor 8 can be opened, as shown in FIG. 2, without the hood having to be removed. The sensor and electronics module 1 is located in the lower, front chin area of the arc flash protective headgear. FIGS. 3 and 4 show a detailed view with a sensor and electronics module 1 and an open or a closed locking mechanism 3 for the visor 8. The sensor and electronics module 1 in this version contains all of the following components: position sensor 2, visor locking mechanism 3, energy supply 4, signal processing 5, head presence sensor 6 and a signal output 7.

[0040] The mode of operation is as follows:

[0041] After the user switches on/activates the sensor and electronics module 1, the visor 8 is unlocked and the monitoring function is activated. As soon as the visor 8 is opened, this is detected by the position sensor 2. It sounds an audible signal, which prompts the user to close the visor 8. The signal can sound different, depending on whether the head presence sensor detects whether the arc flash protective headgear is being worn or not. The signal goes quiet as soon as the position sensor 2 detects that the visor 8 is closed.

[0042] If the electronics ascertain that the energy supply 4 in the form of a battery has a low state of charge and the visor 8 is open, a further signal sounds, which prompts the user to close the visor 8. The visor 8 is automatically locked by the locking mechanism 3 of the visor 8 if the visor 8 is closed and it is not worn for a certain amount of time or a low state of charge of the energy source is detected. This is done by closing the locking tappet 11 located on the drive motor 13 in the corresponding locking lug 12.

[0043] Further options include the following:

[0044] The position sensor 2 can be realised by different components, for example by a photoelectric sensor, a microswitch, a proximity sensor, a radar sensor, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor or similar sensors, which can determine the position of the visor shield relative to protective headgear.

[0045] The head presence sensor 6 can also be realised using different components, for example a temperature sensor, a radar sensor, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a presence sensor, a gas detection sensor, a distance measuring sensor, a proximity sensor, a motion sensor, a camera system with image recognition or a combination of two or more of these sensors.

[0046] The visor locking mechanism 3 can be an electric motor, a linear motor or a magnetic switch or a solenoid. It can have a pneumatic or a hydraulic design.

[0047] The energy supply 4 can be realised by replaceable batteries, rechargeable accumulators, capacitors, solar cells or other electrical or mechanical energy stores and energy generators.

[0048] The signal output 7 to the user can be visual, audible or vibrotactile via structure-borne sound.

[0049] The state of charge of the energy supply 4 can be evaluated using various characteristic parameters of the energy store or energy generator, for example via the battery voltage, an evaluation of the internal resistance, the discharge current or by means of pressure sensors.

[0050] The electronics realised by the signal processing 5 and the signal output 7, the battery supply 4, the locking mechanism 3 and the sensors 2, 6 can be placed independently of one another at various positions on the protective headgear or even on other components outside the protective headgear. However, they can also be concentrated in one module. Communication between the electronic components can take place via cables or wirelessly.

REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS

[0051] 1 sensor and electronics module [0052] 2 position sensor [0053] 3 locking mechanism [0054] 4 energy supply [0055] 5 signal processing [0056] 6 head presence sensor [0057] 7 signal output [0058] 8 visor [0059] 9 immobile head protection part [0060] 10 hard hat [0061] 11 locking tappet [0062] 12 locking lug [0063] 13 drive motor