WO1994014349B1

WO1994014349B1 - Protective helmet fitted with optronic systems and method of adjustment

Info

Publication number: WO1994014349B1
Application number: PCT/FR1993/001280
Authority: WO
Filing date: 1993-12-21
Publication date: 1994-08-18

Abstract

Protective helmet comprising a shell (30) fitted with optronic means (10, 40), whereby the wearer is able to visualize an image. Adjustment of the position of the electronic means (10, 40) in relation to the wearer's vision is simplified by adjusting beforehand the interpupillary space of said means.

Claims

AMENDED RECORDS [received by the International Bureau on 17 June 1994 (17.06.94); claims 1-26 replaced by new claims 1-28 (5 pages)]

1. Protective helmet comprising a shell (30), optronic means (10, 40) generating a collimated image, a combiner (2, 2 ') having a reflective surface, which has at least one axis of revolution, the combiner returning the collimated image towards the position of an eye (0) of a wearer of the helmet, the helmet being provided with means for adjusting and locking in a set position the position of the optronic means with respect to the combiner, helmet characterized in that means (60-77, 22-24, 28-29, 39, 90-98) for adjusting the position of the optronic means allow a rotation of these means about the axis - or one of the axes - of revolution of the combiner.

2. Protective helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (10, 40) constituting the optronic assembly are assembled on a rigid autonomous mechanical structure (20, 41) itself attached to the shell (30) of the helmet.

Helmet according to claim 2, characterized in that the mechanical structure (41) is self-supporting.

4. Helmet according to claim 2, characterized in that the mechanical structure comprises a plate (20) having substantially the shape of at least a portion of the shell (30) of the helmet.

5. Helmet according to claim 2, characterized in that the rigid autonomous structure (20) is constituted by a reinforcement of the helmet shell.

6. Helmet according to claim 2, characterized in that the rigid autonomous structure (20) carries a rigid substructure (1) housing optronic means.

7. Helmet according to claim 6, characterized in that the rotation of the optronic means (10, 40) results from the fact that the substructure rigid (1) and the rigid structure (20) are movable in rotation relative to each other, the locking means being means for blocking the rigid substructure (1).

8. Helmet according to claim 7, characterized in that the rigid substructure comprises a shaft (63) whose cross section has the shape of a circle on which is reported a sector (66) terminated by two inclined planes (67). , 68) the shaft being rotatable in a housing (64) of a body (60) fixed relative to the rigid structure (20), the blocking of the shaft being provided by a pusher (77) and a screw (73, 74) pressing on each of the inclined planes (67, 68).

9. Helmet according to claim 6, characterized in that the rigid autonomous structure (20) is mounted on the shell (30) of the helmet by means of parts (22, 23, 24, 29) allowing its rotation relative to the hull (30) of the helmet and parts (39, 28) for fixing (20) in a set position, the substructure (1) being integral with the rigid autonomous structure (20).

10. Helmet according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a carrier (88) movable in a support (83), the carrier bearing a right image and a left image, and means (53, 82, 86 , 87, 89) for positioning the right or left image adapted to the set position.

11. Helmet according to claim 3, characterized in that the self-supporting mechanical structure (41) consists of substructures in the form of rigid tubes (43) comprising two legs (44) L symmetrical to each other by compared to a vertical plane.

12. Helmet according to claim 11, characterized in that the tube-shaped substructures (43) house optronic elements (40). 22

13. Helmet according to claim 12, characterized in that the two branches (44) are equipped with means (90-98) for their rotations about horizontal axes parallel to the sagittal plane of the helmet.

14. Helmet according to claim 13, characterized in that the means of rotation of the legs comprise a knurled screw (92) trapped in a chappe (93) mechanically connected to the shell (30) of the helmet, the knurled screw being extended so symmetrical by threaded rods (94, 95) engaged in pivoting captive bolts (96) of caps (97) mechanically connected to a structural member of each leg (44).

15. Helmet according to one of claims 2, 4 or 6, characterized in that the fixing of the mechanical structure (20) is ensured by taking in a hard foam.

16. Helmet according to one of claims 4 or 6, characterized in that the mechanical structure (20) is mounted on the shell (30) of the helmet by means of fastening tabs (31) mechanically connected to the plate ( 20) or to the shell (30).

17. Helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that the combiner (2, 2 ') is an integral part of a protective visor (3) fitted to the helmet.

18. Helmet according to claim 17, characterized in that the means of rotation of the optronic means (10) consist of a shaft (63) and a bearing (80, 81) pivoting one inside the other, one being fixed relative to the shell of the helmet (30) and the other fixed relative to the optronic means (10).

19. Helmet according to claim 17, characterized in that the means of rotation of the optronic means (40) comprise a slot (91) and a pin (90) sliding in this slot (91), one of these elements being 23

fixed relative to the shell (30), and the other being fixed relative to the optronic means (40).

20. A method of setting in an adjusted position an image generated by a set of optronic means (10, 40) of a helmet visualization, the helmet comprising a shell (30), the image being projected onto a surface (2). , 2 ') of a reflecting element at least a part of the received light, this element (2, 2') having the function in the set position of returning the image to the pupil of an eye (0) of an observer, characterized in that:

the optronic means are assembled on a rigid autonomous structure;

the rigid structure carrying the optronic means (10) and the helmet shell (30) are assembled directly into the set position.

21. A set positioning method according to claim 20, characterized in that the setting in the set position is obtained by an adjustable assembly of the rigid structure on the shell of the helmet.

22. The method of claim 20, applicable to the rigid structure, comprising at least two parts, a first and a second movable relative to each other, characterized in that the setting in the set position is obtained by a adjustable assembly of one part relative to the other.

23. The method of claim 22, characterized in that the setting in the set position is obtained by an adjustable assembly of a portion on the other and an adjustable assembly of the rigid structure on the shell of the helmet.

24. The method of claim 21, applicable to a reflective element having at least one axis of revolution in which the adjustable assembly of the rigid structure on the shell of the helmet is an assembly. adjustable by rotation of the structure relative to the shell around one of the axes of revolution of the reflective element.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the assembly is further adjustable by translation in one direction.

26. The method of claim 21 characterized in that the assembly is adjustable by two-axis translation.

27. Method according to one of claims 22 or 23 applicable when the bending element has at least one axis of revolution, wherein the adjustable assembly of a structural portion relative to the other is obtained by rotation of one part relative to the other, the rotating part, rotating around one of the axes of revolution of the reflecting element.

28. Method according to one of claims 21 or 27, characterized in that the reflecting element is a constituent part of a visor of the helmet.