EP2583574A1 - Thermal protection accessory - Google Patents

Abstract

The accessory e.g. glove (1) has a textile layer (10) including an external surface and an internal surface, where a coating (20) covers a portion of the external surface of the textile layer. Barbs (30) are distributed on a surface of an area of the coating, where the textile layer includes glass fibers, metal fibers, or aramid fibers. The coating is made of a polymer of the family of nitriles, where the coating covers a palm (2), a lower part (3i), and a distal part (3d) of fingers (3) of the glove. An independent claim is also included for a method for manufacturing a thermal protective glove.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a thermal protection accessory and a method of manufacturing a thermal protection glove.

Such a thermal protection accessory can be used in certain industries to handle hot parts, possibly oily or greasy, with great dexterity and strong thermal insulation.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

In many industries, workers are required to handle parts or tools that are quite hot, with temperatures that can vary over a wide range, generally from 50 ° C to 250 ° C, and that require suitable protection means.

Classically, workers use thermal protective gloves traditionally known as "terry gloves". As their name suggests, these terry gloves are made of high-mesh textile loops, typically cotton, whose thickness allows thermal insulation.

However, because of their high thickness, these gloves offer degraded dexterity, smothered tactile sensations, and thus make it difficult to grip small objects and precision work. It is also easier to make mistakes, especially to let objects escape, as these gloves do not offer a very good grip. These gloves, rather intended for coarse work such as the handling of large parts, are therefore not suitable for work requiring greater precision or thoroughness on the part of the worker.

In addition, these gloves, because of their essentially textile structure, are not waterproof and are therefore not suitable for oily or greasy conditions. Indeed, the oils and greases present on the objects to be handled can interfere in the glove and thus create a thermal bridge ruining the insulating properties of the textile loops. Naturally, this impregnation of oil or grease also reduces the grip and dexterity of the glove and impairs the user's comfort.

There is therefore a real need for a protective accessory and a method of manufacturing a thermal protection glove which are lacking, at least in part, the disadvantages inherent in the known gloves mentioned above.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a thermal protection accessory comprising a textile layer comprising a first surface and a second surface, a coating covering at least a portion of the first surface of the textile layer, and spikes distributed on the surface of at least one zone. of the coating.

When using this accessory, the user to be protected is in contact with the second surface of the textile layer while the hot object is on the side of the first surface, that is to say the side of the plaster and pimples. In addition to its role of thermal insulation, the textile layer offers a comfort of contact and allows the support of the other protective elements constituted here by the coating and the pins.

The coating achieves another thermal barrier against the hot object: its contribution to the thermal insulation makes it possible to reduce the thickness of the textile layer for a given quality of insulation. Therefore, the thickness of the coating is generally low in front of the thickness of the textile layer, the reduction of the thickness of the textile layer leads to a reduction in the total thickness of the accessory and therefore better dexterity: the tactile sensations are thus less stifled, the movements less shackled, which allows a better control of the manipulated object and a greater precision in its manipulation.

In addition, the coating provides sealing of the accessory in case of handling oily or greasy objects in particular. Therefore, the textile layer is protected and does not impregnate: it does not form a thermal bridge, which preserves the insulating qualities of the accessory. The comfort provided by the textile layer is also preserved.

The pimples, in turn, play several roles. On the one hand, they improve the gripping of objects and limit their sliding, including in the presence of oil or grease. On the other hand, they play an important role in the thermal insulation offered by the accessory by moving away the heat source, that is to say the object manipulated, the user. Moreover, the pins make it possible to limit the points of contact with the source of heat and to maintain a film of air between the heat source and the surface of the coating, thus greatly limiting the heat transfer.

In some embodiments, the accessory is a glove or a potholder. In such a case, the first and second surfaces are respectively the outer and inner surfaces of the textile layer of the glove or the potholder. This embodiment is most suitable for industrial use. However, in other embodiments, the accessory may be constituted around a cloth or a cloth including acting as the textile layer.

In this disclosure, the adjectives "inferior", "superior" and the like are defined with respect to a reference position in which the hand carrying the glove is flat, palm facing downward. The adjectives "inside" and "outside" are themselves defined relative to the contour surface of the glove: in other words, the adjective "inside" is relative to the space where the hand is lodged while the adjective " "outside" is relative to the environment of the glove.

In some embodiments, the textile layer is made seamless. This allows a better comfort and a better finish, including aesthetics. In addition, the seamless knitting process does not generate falls, which is an economical gain. Therefore, the use of more expensive technical fibers is not discouraged.

In some embodiments, the textile layer is made of low thermal conductivity fibers.

In some embodiments, the textile layer is mainly made of cotton. Cotton is comfortable, good thermal insulation, inexpensive, and easy to work which ensures a reduced manufacturing cost.

In other embodiments, the textile layer is made of polyamide and / or acrylic. Of course, most natural or synthetic textile fibers are also conceivable.

In some embodiments, the textile layer includes a first type of fiber primarily at the first surface and a second type of fiber primarily at the second surface. Preferably, the first surface is mainly constituted of polyamide fibers while the second surface consists mainly of acrylic fibers.

In some embodiments, the textile layer comprises glass fibers, metal fibers, or aramid fibers. These last ones make it possible to limit the risk of cut through the accessory.

In some embodiments, the gauge of the textile layer is between 7 and 18, preferably between 10 and 15, more preferably about 13. The gauge of a textile corresponds to the number of rows of stitches per inch of textile. The higher the gauge, the thinner the textile is and gets closer to the aspect of the tights: its dexterity increases but its thermal insulation decreases. The lower the gauge, the thicker the textile is and gets closer to the appearance of the big wool glove: its thermal insulation increases but its dexterity decreases. It has been observed that the gauge ranges presented here represent a good compromise between dexterity and thermal insulation given the additional insulation provided by the coating and the spikes.

In some embodiments, at least the second surface of the textile layer has bouffant. On the one hand, the contact is more comfortable; on the other hand, the small pockets of air present in the bulk of the textile increases the thermal insulation of the textile layer.

In some embodiments, at least the second surface of the textile layer has loops. These last ones also make it possible to increase the comfort and the thermal insulation of the textile layer.

In some embodiments, the coating consists primarily of an elastomeric or plastic polymer. These materials have indeed good sealing properties, dexterity, and thermal insulation and are easier to implement. It may be in particular natural latex, NBR rubber (nitrile butadiene rubber), butyl rubber, polychlorene, styrene-butadiene, synthetic polyisoprene, styrene-ethylene / butylene-styrene, fluoroelastomers, PVC, PVA, CSM, HNBR, acrylic, PU, EVA, plastisols, or other comparable materials. It can also be a mixture of two or more polymers.

In some embodiments, the coating comprises a polymer of the family of nitriles. These polymers have in fact properties physicochemicals particularly suitable for use in oily or greasy conditions. They also have good abrasion resistance.

In some embodiments, the coating comprises two layers of plaster. It may be two layers of the same coating produced successively or different layers of coatings. In addition to increasing the thermal insulation, this allows to take advantage of the properties of two different materials, a material can for example provide the seal while the second ensures a good grip. It is possible to envisage more than two layers of coatings.

In some embodiments, at least a portion of the coating is foamed. This foamed character of the coating makes it possible to increase the dexterity, particularly the gripping, and the thermal insulation, by incorporating microscopic air pockets, without compromising the waterproofness of the coating.

In some embodiments, the coating comprises two layers of plaster, one of which is foamed. It is then preferably the second layer, that is to say the surface layer.

In some embodiments, the coating covers the palm and at least the lower portion and the distal portion of the fingers of the glove. These are indeed areas generally in contact with the object being manipulated.

In some embodiments, to avoid hindering the movement of the hand and thus limiting dexterity, only the palm, the lower part, the side parts and the distal part of the fingers are covered with plaster. In particular, the back of the hand and at least a part of the upper part of the fingers are not coated.

In some embodiments, the pins are made primarily of an elastomeric or plastic polymer. The polymers that can be used for the coating can also be used for pimples.

In some embodiments, the spikes are made of the same material as the plaster. In addition to greater ease of implementation, this allows better fixing of the pins on the coating.

In some embodiments, the spikes are substantially frustoconical or truncated pyramid-shaped. It has indeed been observed that these forms offer the best performance, including gripping.

In other embodiments, the pins may be substantially hemispherical, parallelepipedal or any other shape.

In some embodiments, the pins have a height of between about 1 and 3 mm, preferably between about 1.5 and 2 mm. These values represent a good compromise between performance in dexterity and thermal insulation.

In some embodiments, the pins have a width of between about 1 and 3 mm.

In some embodiments, the pins are distributed according to an orthorhombic network, preferably a quadratic parameter between 3 and 10 mm.

In other embodiments, the pins are distributed in staggered rows.

In some embodiments, the pins are distributed at least on the palm of the glove. They can also be present on the lower part of the fingers of the glove.

The present disclosure also relates to a method of manufacturing a thermal protection glove, comprising the following steps: knitting a textile glove, coating a coating on at least a portion of the outer surface of the textile glove by quenching in a plaster bath, and placing pimples on the surface of at least one area of the plaster.

In some embodiments, these steps are performed successively in the order listed above.

In other embodiments, the setting of pins is performed before the coating of the coating.

In some embodiments, the knitting is performed seamlessly on a straight machine set with a gauge of between 7 and 18, preferably between 10 and 15, more preferably about 13.

In some embodiments, the knitting uses a vanishing method to dispose a first type of fiber mainly at the outer surface of the textile glove and a second type of fiber mainly at the inner surface of the textile glove.

In some embodiments, the knitting step forms loops on the inner surface of the textile glove.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises a step of mechanical scraping of the inner surface of the textile glove to give him bouffant. It can in particular be made using metal rollers.

In some embodiments, the glove is threaded onto a porcelain shape during quenching in the plaster bath.

In some embodiments, the angle of attack and / or the conformation of the glove during quenching are adjusted to coat the palm and at least the distal portion of the fingers.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises a step of creating porosities in the coating.

In some embodiments, the plaster bath is a foam plaster bath.

In some embodiments, the method comprises a step of sanding the coating by spraying particles. Preferably, these particles are common salt grains. It can also be crystals of any other salt, or more broadly any chemical species; it can be ice crystals in particular. Other abrasive particles such as sand or metal filings may also be used. This step can be performed on an already foamed coating to diversify the size of the pores in particular.

In some embodiments, the pins are put in place by coating.

In some embodiments, the coating of the pins is carried out using a perforated plate and a doctor blade. In such a case, the plate with holes is arranged flat on the coated portion of the textile glove; polymer is poured onto the plate to fill the holes; a squeegee scrapes the excess polymer on the surface of the holes.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises a step of vulcanizing the coating and / or spikes.

The above-mentioned characteristics and advantages, as well as others, will appear on reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the device and the method proposed. This detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are schematic and are intended primarily to illustrate the principles of the invention.

In these drawings, from one figure (FIG) to the other, identical elements (or element parts) are identified by the same reference signs.

The FIG 1 is a front view of an accessory according to the invention.

The FIG 2 is a rear three-quarter view of the accessory of the FIG 1 .

The FIG 3 is a schematic section of a part of the accessory of the FIG 1 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE (S) OF REALIZATION

In order to make the invention more concrete, examples of accessories and methods according to the invention are described in detail below, with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is recalled that the invention is not limited to these examples.

The FIG 1 and 2 represent an exemplary embodiment of a thermal protection accessory in the form of a glove 1 according to, respectively, a front view and a rear three-quarter view. The FIG 3 schematically illustrates, without worries scale and proportion in particular, the cross-sectional structure of the glove 1. This section may correspond in particular to the palm area 2 of the glove 1. An example of implementation of a method of manufacture of such a glove 1 of thermal protection will be simultaneously described.

This glove 1 comprises firstly a textile layer 10 of polyamide PA6 and acrylic. This textile layer 10 is seamlessly knitted in the form of a glove of the desired size on a straight machine. The latter is set on a 13 gauge to give the glove 1 thermal insulation of quality while maintaining good dexterity.

This textile layer 10 is knitted with a vanishing process making it possible to arrange the polyamide fibers PA6 mainly on the side of the outer surface 11 of the textile layer 10 and the acrylic fibers mainly on the side of the inner surface 12 of the textile layer 10.

When knitting, glass fibers, metal fibers, or aramid fibers can be added to further provide the user U protection against cuts. Typically, stainless steel or Kevlar fibers can be used. Elastane fibers are also added to provide some elasticity to the textile layer 10.

Once knitted, the inner surface 12 of the textile layer 10 undergoes a step of mechanical scraping with the aid of metal rollers to give him bouffant 15. This bouffant 15 includes pockets and passages in which air remains trapped and thus reinforces the thermal insulation of the textile layer 10.

Once completed, the textile layer 10 is threaded and shaped onto a porcelain shape to prepare it for quenching in a plaster bath. The conformation of the porcelain shape, and therefore of the textile layer 10, as well as the angle of attack according to which the textile layer 10 is immersed in the plaster bath, makes it possible to coat the desired area (s) with outer surface 11 of the textile layer 10.

In this embodiment, a coating layer 20 covers the palm 2, the lower part 3i of the fingers 3, the lateral part 31 of the fingers 3, and the distal part 3d of the fingers 3. Here, the distal part 3d corresponds to the part surrounding the last phalanx of each finger. Conversely, the back of the glove 4, the wrist 5, and an upper portion 3s of each finger 3 which does not correspond to the distal portion 3d is not covered by the coating 20. The areas covered with coating 20 are indeed those which are brought into contact with the hot object O. The areas that do not require it are not covered with coating 20 to preserve the dexterity of the glove 1.

The coating 20 is an elastomeric polymer of the family of nitriles, here NBR rubber (nitrile butadiene rubber). In addition, the latter is foamed, that is to say it has a foam texture with numerous microscopic cavities in which air is trapped, thus reinforcing the thermal insulation of the coating 20.

In this example of implementation, the textile layer 10 has been quenched in an already foamed plaster bath. In addition, the foamed coating layer thus obtained has also undergone a complementary sanding treatment during which grains of sand have been projected on the coating layer 20. The impacts of sand grains in fact allow to create roughness on the surface of the coating 20.

In other exemplary embodiments, this sanding treatment can be carried out using grains of salt. In addition to the formation of asperities under the effect of impacts, salt grains retained by the coating cause the formation of cavities during their dissolution.

The coating 20 is then vulcanized in an oven at a temperature between 70 ° C and 120 ° C to ensure the stability of the coating layer 20 on the textile layer 10.

Once the coating is dry and vulcanized, the spots are coated on certain areas of the coating 20.

In this embodiment, the pins 30 are tapered, pointed towards the hot object O, and measure about 2 mm high and 2 mm in diameter. They are made of the same material as the coating 20, that is to say preferably a nitrile elastomeric polymer such as NBR rubber.

The studs 30 are here distributed on the surface of the palm 2 and the lower part 3i of the fingers 3 in a regular and uninterrupted quadratic lattice of parameter approximately equal to 5 mm and directed in the main direction of the glove 1.

To achieve the coating of the pins 30, the glove 1 is threaded flat, coated areas directed upwards, on a flat metal form intended to smooth and smooth the coated surface of the glove 1. A hole plate having a network of holes corresponding to the desired locations of the pins 30 is then applied to the coated surface of the glove 1. A doctor blade then poured polymer into the holes while scraping the excess polymer overflowing holes. The hole plate is then removed once the coating is complete.

The shape of the spikes 30 is given by the shape of the holes of the perforated plate and can be corrected during a post-treatment step of these spike blanks before vulcanization. The shape of the pins 30, here tapered, can thus be obtained simply by taking advantage of the viscoplastic flow of the picot blanks or by applying to them a specific shaping treatment.

Once the desired shape obtained, the pins 30 are quickly passed to the oven during a vulcanization step to ensure their stability and good grip on the coating 20.

The modes or examples of embodiment described in the present description are given for illustrative and not limiting, a person skilled in the art can easily, in view of this presentation, modify these modes or embodiments, or consider others, while remaining within the scope of the invention.

In addition, the various features of these modes or embodiments can be used alone or be combined with each other. When combined, these features may be as described above or differently, the invention not being limited to the specific combinations described herein. In particular, unless otherwise specified, a characteristic described in connection with a mode or example of embodiment may be applied in a similar manner to another embodiment or embodiment.

Claims (15)

Thermal protection accessory, characterized in that it comprises
a textile layer (10) comprising a first surface (11) and a second surface (12),
a coating (20) covering at least a portion of the first surface (11) of the textile layer (10), and
pins (30) distributed on the surface of at least one zone of the coating (20). Accessory according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a glove (1) or a potholder and in that the first (11) and second (12) surfaces are respectively the outer and inner surfaces of the layer textile (10) of the glove (1) or the potholder. Accessory according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the textile layer (10) comprises glass fibers, metal fibers, or aramid fibers. Accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the gauge of the textile layer (10) is between 7 and 18, preferably between 10 and 15, more preferably equal to 13 approximately. Accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least the second surface (12) of the textile layer (10) has bouffant (15). Accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the coating (20) comprises a polymer of the family of nitriles. Accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least a portion of the coating (20) is foamed. Accessory according to claim 2 and any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the coating (20) covers the palm (2), and at least the lower part (3i) and the distal part (3d) of the fingers (3) of the glove (1). Accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the pins (30) are made of the same material as the coating (20). Accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the pins (30) are substantially frustoconical or truncated pyramid shape. Accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the pins (30) have a height of between about 1 and 3 mm, preferably between about 1.5 and 2 mm. A method of manufacturing a thermal protection glove, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: producing a textile glove (10), coating a coating (20) on at least a portion of the outer surface (11) of the textile glove (10) by quenching in a plaster bath, and placing pins (30) on the surface of at least one zone of the coating (20). A method according to claim 12, characterized in that it further comprises a step of scraping the inner surface (12) of the textile glove (10) to give him bouffant (15). Method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that it further comprises a step of creating porosities in the coating (20) by projection of particles. Method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the establishment of the pins (30) is performed by coating with a plate with holes and a doctor blade.

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