GB2240305A - Survival suit - Google Patents

Abstract

A survival suit (1) which has outer and inner layers (11, 12) forms into a garment providing the combined benefits of buoyancy, insulation of the user's body. and reflection of heat from any fire which may occur. The suit (4) is inflated by releasing gas from cylinders (7) on the legs into the space (8, 9) between the layers, the front section (2) of the suit being inflated first followed by the back section (3). The suit is also provided with a secondary buoyancy aid (4) positioned on the chest and can inflate automatically or manually on entering the water. <IMAGE>

Description

"Survival Suit" This invention relates to a survival suit.

It is normal practise in risk areas such as oil rigs located in hazardous environments, such as the North Sea, for workers to use survival suits and life jackets in the event of an emergency. However, most existing designs for survival suits are cumbersome due to the insulation used, such as neoprene rubber, and are consequently difficult to put on when required. These suits are normally stored in sleeping accommodation and are not taken to work sites, for this reason. However it is not always possible in the time available for a worker to return to his sleeping accommodation to put on such a suit and a life jacket in the event of an emergency.

A similar situation arises on helicopter and other transport vehicles, where in the event of an emergency a passenger is in theory supposed to put on layers of underclothing and a cumbersome suit and life jacket in what may be a very short period before the helicopter ditches. In addition to the difficulty and panic which may arise due to this the suits are also sufficiently cumbersome to restrict the movement of the wearer in his or her attempts to leave the vehicles.

The physiological aspects of being immersed in cold water without a survival suit or with an inadequate suit are well documented and include: pain all over the body; over-breathing or hyperventilation where breathing rises by 10 to 12 breaths per minute; acute increases in blood pressure and cramp; a possibility of sudden heart attack; and the possibility of swallowing water which may cause throat spasm which can lead to asphyxiation; as well as the obvious possibility of drowning.

Post-immersion effects are equally dangerous and unpleasant and include: inflammation of the lungs due to inhalation of fluids; acute swelling of the lungs; lack of oxygen; swelling in the brain; lung infections; pneumonia and an effect known as secondary drowning where difficulty in breathing may occur up to 48 hours after immersion.

Consequently, the introduction of a less bulky survival suit which may be worn at all times in transport vehicles and on oil rigs and other such establishments or which may be used by members of the armed forces or other personnel who find themselves in inhospitable environments would constitute a major safety advantage.

This problem has previously been addressed by the provision of an inflatable garment. The garment is normally worn un-inflated but may be inflated to provide insulation and buoyancy in an emergency.

However, such suits have a number of drawbacks. In use it is dangerous, for example, to jump into the water from an oil rig with the suit already inflated. Thus with such suits it is necessary to jump with the suit uninflated and then inflate the suit once in the water.

This is acceptable in some situations but does mean that initially no positive buoyancy is provided and the proper functioning of the suit requires the user to be conscious to operate the suit. Thus even if the suit is designed to be self-righting it will only do so when inflation is initiated by the user after entering the water. Clearly the need for buoyancy and self-righting is however more important should the user be unconscious on entering the water.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the disadvantages of the prior art.

According to the present invention there is provided a survival suit comprising outer and inner layers of material, formed into a garment which is shaped and dimensioned for substantially covering and enclosing a human body, the garment being inflatable by introducing a gas into the space between the outer and inner layers to provide both buoyancy and insulation, secondary buoyancy means being provided on the chest area of the garment.

Preferably, the secondary buoyancy means comprises a separately inflatable chest panel.

Preferably also, the outer and inner layers are heat reflecting material.

Preferably also, the garment includes an inflatable hood and a transparent spray cover to cover a user's head and face.

Preferably also, a gas cylinder is provided for inflation of the garment.

Most preferably, two gas cylinders are provided one attached to each leg of the garment.

Preferably also, the suit is manufactured in front and back sections each of which is inflatable separately.

Thus the front section may be inflated initially when the user enters the water to provide added buoyancy.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a survival suit in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the front and back sections and inner and outer layers of the survival suit of Fig. 1.

A survival suit 1 comprises two layers of material, an outer layer 11 and an inner layer 12, formed into a suit 1 which is capable of substantially covering and enclosing a human body, the suit 1 being inflatable by introducing a gas into the space 8 and 9 between the outer and inner layers 11 and 12. The outer and inner layers 11 and 12 are manufactured from a heat reflecting material so that the inner layer 12 will reflect body heat back towards the user and the outer layer 11 will reflect the heat from any fire which may break out in the event of an emergency.

The suit 1 is formed in two sections, a front section 2 and a back section 3 both of which are inflatable independently.

The sections are inflated by releasing gas from one of two cylinders 7 positioned on the legs of the garments.

Additional secondary buoyancy is provided on the front of the suit in the form of a buoyancy aid 4 attached to the chest area of the suit 1. This buoyancy aid is in the form of a separately inflatable chest panel.

When in use the suit 1 is worn by any person who is travelling in or working in an inhospitable cold climate, and in particular anyone who is working offshore where immersion in sea water is a possibility.

Unlike existing survival suits the suit 1 may be worn at all times when travelling, for example, to offshore oil installations by helicopter.

The suit is worn in the un-inflated form at all times when travelling. In the event of an emergency and the helicopter having to ditch in the sea the wearer of the suit 1 does not then have to don a cumbersome survival suit and life jacket; he simply inflates the buoyancy aid 4 and then takes up the crash position and awaits impact. On impact with the sea the wearer may easily and quickly escape from the body of helicopter into the open sea as the lightweight and only partially inflated suit does not restrict his movements.

When safely out of the helicopter the wearer will inflate the front section 2 of the suit 1 by introducing gas into section 8 of the suit 1 between the inner and outer layers at the front of the suit 1.

This is achieved by releasing gas from one or other of the gas cylinders 7. This allows the wearer the advantage of buoyancy as well as not greatly restricting his movements and allowing him to move away as quickly as possible from the helicopter.

When the wearer considers himself to be in a safe position he may release gas from the remaining cylinder 7 into the space 9 between the outer and inner layers of the back section 3 of the survival suit 1, therefore inflating the suit completely and insulating himself from the surrounding cold water.

This suit 1 is equally useful when escaping from stationary oil installations where the benefits of ease of access and the lack of requirement of an additional life jacket are equally beneficial.

In order to ensure that the wearer is positioned in as safe a position as possible at all times i.e.. lying face up in the water the additional buoyancy aid 4 attached to the front of the suit 1 is inflated before the wearer enters the water so that a degree of buoyancy and a self-righting effect is provided initially before the remainder of the suit is inflated.

When the suit is fully inflated the wearer is positioned horizontally on the surface of the water and consequently is more easily visible than he would be in the more substantially vertical position which is normal with the present survival suits. An inflatable hood 5 and transparent spray cover 6 prevent inhalation of water by the user when in this position.

Consequently, the suit 1 as presently described provides the combined benefits of buoyancy, insulation of the user's body from the considerably lower water temperatures, and the reflection of heat from any fire which may occur in the event of an emergency.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (8)

CLAIMS:

1. A survival suit comprising outer and inner layers of material, formed into a garment which is shaped and dimensioned for substantially covering and enclosing a human body, the garment being inflatable by introducing a gas into the space between the outer and inner layers to provide both buoyancy and insulation; secondary buoyancy means being provided on the chest area of the garment.

2. A survival suit as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the secondary buoyancy means comprises a separately inflatable chest panel.

3. A survival suit as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer and inner layers are heat reflecting materials.

4. A survival suit as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the garment includes an inflatable hood and a transparent spray cover to cover a user's head and face.

5. A survival suit as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein a gas cylinder is provided for inflation of the garment.

6. A survival suit as claimed in Claim 5, wherein two gas cylinders are provided one attached to each leg of the garment.

7. A survival suit as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the garment has separately inflatable front and back sections.

8. A survival suit substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.