GB2475922A

GB2475922A - A helmet with Peltier device for cooling the wearer

Info

Publication number: GB2475922A
Application number: GB0921407A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Alexander Bertram; Mark Digby Teucher; James Anthony West
Original assignee: UK Sport Ltd
Current assignee: UK Sport Ltd
Priority date: 2009-12-07
Filing date: 2009-12-07
Publication date: 2011-06-08
Also published as: GB0921407D0

Abstract

A helmet (2) characterised by a Peltier device (20) connected by ducts (12) to apertures (14) which open into the space between the inner lining of the helmet (2) and the head of the user (6). The Peltier device (20) is operable to cool the wearer, and may be powered by batteries or by solar cells. The Peltier device may be operated by a switch, or be coupled to temperature or humidity sensors.

Description

ELECTROTHERMALLY COOLED HELMET

This invention relates to helmets. Hard helmets are used to protect the head in many sports situations such as cycling, winter sports, cricket, and baseball, and industry particularly the construction and oil and gas industries. Indeed it is of value for all head gear, particularly hard hats and helmets where there is insufficient forced or natural ventilation to cool a wearer, either when under when he/she is generating heat through exercise and/or is exposed to hot or humid weather.

Various estimates have been given for the extent of heat loss through the head, but for a normally clothed person it is often thought to be around 30 to 40%.However, for somebody wearing protective equipment such as in sport or on a construction site, this figure can be much higher. It can thus be seen that by placing a helmet on a person, particularly one undertaking vigorous exercise as in sport, or manual work as on a construction site, serious overheating of the individual may occur, which can lead to dehydration or heat stroke. This problem becomes even more serious if the person is in a hot and/or humid environment.

According to the present invention a helmet having a hard shell is provided with a Peltier device.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, one or a plurality of ducts having apertures into a space above the skull of a wearer are connected to a chamber associated with a Peltier device in the hard shell to conduct heat from the skull of a wearer and discharge the heat to the surrounding environment.

The Peltier device is normally battery powered, however where the helmet is to be used in a sunny environment, a solar panel on the helmet or clothing of a wearer can be used instead of the battery.

Optionally the Peltier device can be turned on by the helmet wearer, or be coupled to a temperature and/or humidity sensor in the space between the wearer's skull and the shell or in the surrounding environment such that it operates when a predetermined temperature and/or humidity is exceeded.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: figure 1 which is a schematic partial section of a helmet according to the invention; and figure 2 shows a detailed schematic section of the Peltier device used in figure 1.

In figure 1 helmet 2 comprises conventional internal structure (not shown) to mount the helmet snugly around the head of a prospective rider 6. For sport purposes this structure is often made and an individual basis to fit the skull of the individual. Typically the helmet has a hard shell 10 spaced apart from the skull by fingers of polystyrene formed as part of the internal structure and mounted within the shell 10. These fingers form spaces 11 between the skull of the prospective rider 6 and the shell 10. The internal structure is not part of this invention and many arrangements for this portion of the helmet are known.

Ducts 12 have apertures 14 opening into the space 11 above the skull of wearer 6. Duct 12 merge into a single duct 16 which opens into a chamber 18 in shell 10 beneath a Peltier device 20.

The Peltier device 20 is shown schematically in more detail in figure 2. It comprises a pair of electrodes 24 electrically isolated from one another. One of the electrodes 24 is connected to the negative side of a battery 22, the other to the positive side. Dopes bismuth telluride pellets 26 and 28 are disposed between the electrodes 25 and a further electrode cum heat sink 30 aligned with the other surface of shell 10, which also joins the bismuth telluride pellets 26 and 28. One of the pellets 28 is p-doped and is connected though an electrode 24 to the positive side of battery 22, the other pellet 26 is n-doped and connected to the negative side of battery 22.

With the battery on, electrons and holes flow in the pellets 26 and 28 absorbing heat from chamber 18, the heat discharged to the surrounding atmosphere 32 via the heat sink 30. Heat is drawn into chamber 18 through duct 16 in turn taking heat from space 11 though apertures 14 into duct 12, thereby absorbing heat released from the skull of the helmet wearer.

Although shown with battery power, where the helmet is to be used in a sunny environment, a solar panel on the helmet or clothing of a wearer can be used instead of the battery.

No control means is shown to turn the Peltier device on and off. In practice the wearer would switch it on or off, or it would be very straightforward to design in a temperature and/or humidity in the space between the wearer's skull and the shell or in the surrounding environment such that it operates when a predetermined temperature and/or humidity is exceeded.

Peltier devices themselves are readily available commercially, although for mass production purposes, a device designed specifically for the application may be preferred.

Claims

Claims 1. A helmet characterised in that it is provided with a Peltier device.
2. A helmet according to claim 1 and having a hard shell (10) characterised in that it has one or a plurality of ducts (12) having apertures (14) into a space (11) above the skull of a wearer which are connected to a chamber (18) associated with a Peltier device (20) in the hard shell to conduct heat from the skull of a wearer and discharge the heat to the surrounding environment.
3. A helmet according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the Peltier device is battery powered.
4. A helmet according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the Peltier device is powered by a solar panel.
5. A helmet according to any preceding claim in which the Peltier device may be switched on ay a wearer of the helmet.
6. A helmet according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the Peltier device is turned on and off by a temperature and/or humidity sensor.
7. A helmet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.