DEVICE FOR IMPROVEMENT OF THE VENTILATION INSIDE OF A HELMET, IN PARTICULAR FOR MOTORCYCLE USE

Abstract: Air is extracted by a collection zone (3) (fig. 3) through duct (8) and four holes (7) from chamber (4) located between the wearer's head and the polystyrene; the resulting low pressure that is created pulls other air through openings (5) at the sides of the front; the entry of the air by such openings is aided by the fact that a slight pressure is present inside the helmet in the front zone by dynamic effects, and this entry generates a true and real circulation that, preventing stagnation of the hot air, creates a real inside conditioning effect. Further the air, which enters by the lower part of the helmet and by the openings to eliminate the condensation on the visor, is sucked upward by chimney effect which also contributes to reducing the steaming of the visor itself.

Description: This invention relates to an adjustable device for improvement of the ventilation and conditioning of the air inside a protective helmet, in particular for motorcycle use of the integral type, by dynamic effect during movement of the helmet in the air: excess pressure inside the helmet on the front zone/low pressure outside the helmet on the upper discharge zone; to give rise to a true and real air conditioning inside the helmet by eliminating the annoying rise in temperature and steaming inside the helmet itself. Considering that the increase in temperature inside a helmet for motorcycle use causes fatigue and annoyance to the user, an internal ventilation system is proposed based on the effect of low pressure that is created in some zones of the helmet during the running because of the movement of the helmet in the air fluid. It being verified that the upper zone of the helmet provided with a deflector exhibits great low pressure values, it is used to extract the stagnant air on the inside. The further low pressure that is created pulls other air on the outside which contributes to create a true and real circulation. Helmet ventilation devices are known but which exhibit all the drawbacks of discharging of the air introduced by dynamic effect during movement, which stagnates in the front part or at most leaves by apertures located on the sides or lower edges located in the discharge zone. This with overheating of the environment inside the helmet and possible steaming of the visor under unfavourable atmospheric conditions. This invention has the object of eliminating the above drawbacks, by offering a ventilation device for the circulation of the air inside a helmet, in particular of the integral type for motorcycle use, characterized by the fact that it consists of means for extraction of the air to the outside by low pressure in dynamic operating conditions, placed on the upper part of the helmet beyond the center line of division between pressure and low pressure of the helmet itself when the latter is struck by a fluid current; means for bringing the air from the outside; and means for circulating the air inside the helmet to discharge said air to the outside so as to achieve conditioning of the air, humidity and temperature, inside the helmet. The ventilation device, object of the invention, further exhibits the following characteristics: -- the discharge deflector is placed in a low pressure zone that creates a real circulation and extraction of the inside air; -- the deflector has a particular aerodynamic shape that guarantees maximum efficiency and minimum noisiness (intake and outlet edges); -- there is a collection zone under the deflector that permits an effective aerodynamic connection with holes communicating with the inside; -- the air stagnating inside the helmet (between the wearer's head and absorption material) is sucked in a balanced manner through the flow holes, because of the particular shape of the connecting duct between said holes and the collection zone under the deflector; -- there is a zone of effective volume and circulation of air between the wearer's head and the impact absorption material; -- said zone is connected at the intake and outlet with ducts that permit air circulation; -- the air intake ducts are placed at the sides of the front part and therefore in a secure zone from the viewpoint of mechanical impact absorption tests and also in case of accidents; -- the intake ducts are obtained by discharges in the absorption material but are covered by sheets of semirigid material that prevent the comfort material from penetrating there and therefore blocking them; -- these ducts, being covered and closed cannot be blocked by the we arer's hair or by the comfort material as in other embodiments; -- the slots that serve for communication between the collection zone and the deflector can be suitably connected and their flow is adjustable by total or partial closing of the deflector that can slide on guides; -- fastening of the deflector is such that in case of an accident it is easily removed from the cap. A detailed but nonlimiting description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, object of the invention, is given below with reference to the accompanying drawings. -- Fig. 1 represents the diagram of the ventilation device with dynamic low pressure applied to the helmet; -- Fig. 2 represents a vertical longitudinal section of the helmet for a motorcyclist of the type integral with the device of the invention; -- Fig. 3 represents a bottom view of the ventilation device with low pressure ducts, applied to a helmet without comfort material; -- Fig. 4 represents the arrangement of the side intake ducts of the ventilation air at the level of the zone of circulation above the wearer's head and the collection duct located in the upper part of the cap of absorption material; -- Fig. 5 represents a view from below of the helmet with comfort material and shows the air circulation ducts. Description of the device The helmet (fig. 2) is equipped with an extraction deflector 1 (fig. 1) mounted on the upper part of the cap and communicating by means of slotted openings 2 with a chamber 3 located between the outside cap and cap of absorption material. Deflector 1 has the shape of a wing profile with connected outlet edge to reduce noise and turbulence and it is placed in the center line of the cap in a zone that puts it roughly at the point of greatest height of the helmet when the latter is put on by the wearer; therefore the discharge zone is palced beyond the center line of division between pressure and low pressure of the helmet. The deflector is also adjustable in capacity by sliding in a suitable seat (which also permits its closing). Circulation of the air (fig. 2 and 3) occurs in a circular zone above the wearer's head, made between the head itself and the absorption material. This zone 4 (fig. 2 and 5) communicates with the outside by six openings (fig. 3), two intake openings 5 and four outlet openings 7. The two intake openings 5 are obtained on the two extreme sides of the front zone above the front by means of two ducts made in the cap of absorption material, covered by sheets 6 of semirigid material that prevent the padding from penetrating into them (fig. 2). These ducts allow the direct passage of the air between the two zones on the side of front 5′ and the zone above the wearer's head. The four outlet openings 7′ are precisely four cylindrical holes 7 suitably connected which, going all the way through the cap of absorption material, put zone 4 in communication with duct 8 of a particular shape which ends precisely in collection zone 3 under opening slots 2 communicating with the outside. In duct 8 there is a particular configuration, which can be seen in the drawings, which makes possible a balanced extraction of the air through the four communication holes. Operating principle When the helmet moves in the fluid the effect of the low pressure created at the outlet of the duct pulls the air from the inside. This air is extracted by means of collection zone 3 (fig. 3) through duct 8 and four holes 7, from chamber 4 located between the wearer's head and the absorption material; the resulting low pressure that is created pulls other air through openings 5 on the sides of the front; entry of the air by such openings is aided by the fact a slight pressure is present inside the helmet in the front zone by dynamic effects, and this entry generates a true and real ci rculation which, by preventing the stagnation of the hot air, creates an effect of real inside conditioning. Further the air, which enters by the lower part of the helmet and by the openings to eliminate the condensation on the visor, is sucked upward by a chimney effect which also contributes to reducing the steaming of the visor itself. The system also be adapted to jet helmets for various uses. Thus, an efficient conditioning of the inside environment of the helmet is obtained by dynamic effect alone without resorting to sophisticated, expensive, uncomfortable and unreliable complicated devices installed in the helmet.

Claims: 1. Ventilation device for circulation of air inside a helmet, in particular of the integral type for motorcycle use, characterized by the fact that it consists of means (openings 2) for extraction of air to the outside, by low pressure under operating conditions, placed in the upper part of the helmet beyond the center line of division between pressure and low pressure of the helmet itself when the helmet is struck by fluid current; by means (ducts 5) for bringing the air from the outside; and by means (4, 7, 3) for ciculation of the air inside the helmet to discharge said air to the outside to achieve conditioning of the air, humidity and temperature inside the helmet. 2. Ventilation device according to claim 1, wherein means or openings (2, 2′) are provided with deflector, hood or spoiler (1) to increase the values of the low pressure that are used to extract the stagnant air inside the helmet. 3. Ventilation device according to claim 2, wherein the extraction deflector has an aerodynamic profile with an intake and outlet edge to guarantee maximum efficiency and minimum noisiness. 4. Ventilation device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein deflector (1) allows regulation of the flow of the discharge air by its total or partial closing mounted to slide on guides or suitable seats. 5. Ventilation device according to claim 2 or 3 or 4, wherein its connection or junction with the outside surface of the helmet has preferred, calibrated breaking so that it can be removed easily from the cap in case of an accident. 6. Ventilation device according to claim 1, wherein means or openings (2) placed under deflector (1) are slotted and suitably connected and in communication with a lower collection zone (3) of the air to be expelled to permit an effective aerodynamic connection with the holes communicating with the outside. 7. Ventilation device according to claim 1 or 6, wherein the means for circulation of the air consist of a series of flow holes or ducts (7) connected to a collecting ring (8) which ends precisely in collection zone (3) at the outlet to permit balanced extraction, entry, of the stagnant hot air located on inside (4) of the helmet of the wearer and the absorption material. 8. Ventilation device according to claim 1 or 7, wherein there exists a zone (4) of effective volume and circulation of the air between the wearer's head and the material for absorption of impacts, said zone connected at intake (5′) and outlet (7′) to ducts (5, 7) which allow the circulation of air. 9. Ventilation device according to claim 1, wherein the means (5) for bringing in the air are intake ducts placed at the sides of the front wall and therefore in a secure zone from the viewpoint of mechanical tests of absorption of impacts and in case of accident. 10. Ventilation device according to claim 1 or 9, wherein intake ducts (5) are obtained by discharges of the absorption material. 11. Ventilation device according to one of claims 1 or 9 or 10, wherein intake ducts (5) are protected by sheets of semirigid material (6) to avoid being blocked by the pressure of the comfort material, and are opened or closed to avoid being blocked by comfort material and by the wearer 's hair. 12. Protective helmet incorporating the ventilation and conditioning device to avoid the annoying increase in temperature on the inside and steaming of the visor, according to one of claims 1 to 11.

Inventors: NAPPO, OTTAVIO
Applicants: DIGOPLEX S.A.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A42B3
IPC codes: A42B3