Helmet and Visor
Development responsibility: HARC
Current Design
Working with MACA (Mine Action Centre, Afghanistan) and Afghan
deminers, we have designed this helmet and visor combination, shown
here being set up for a test against a PMN mine at Jalalabad, Afghanistan.
The visor is 4.5mm thick polycarbonate, made in Islamabad by HARC, and
the helmet is TuffLite by Protector Safety, Australia. Live mine tests
have satisfied MACA that this design will met their needs (brief
report on first of two series of tests).
 
(helmet/helmet-uwa.jpg,
jalalabad/jtestb23.jpg
- click for full-size images)
Note that the helmet is actually worn back-to-front: the head harness
inside the helmet is reversible. The cost of manufacture is expected to
be about US$53. Deminers find it attractive and comfortable, especially
when compared to current headgear which weighs about 2 kilograms.
We are working on some further developments:
a) Electric extraction fan to cool a deminer's
head in warm weather conditions.
b) Anti-fogging treatments for the visor
in cold weather.
c) Scratch-protection films to extend
the life of the visor (polycarbonate is easily scratched).
d) Residual stress inspection
to ensure than visors retain full impact strength
Origin of concept
Andy Smith brought samples
of full face visors on his visit to Pakistan in June 1997. He made these
in small workshops in Africa and Cambodia. He showed us how to use an
oven for heat forming polycarbonate sheet material used for visors.
Andy Smith's research suggests that most deminers have no face protection,
or inadequate protection (see reports). He suggests that the thin visors
used in Afghanistan currently may be inadequate protection.
We realised that different types of visor could be made locally in Pakistan
at significantly lower cost than current (UK, USA) suppliers.
Full face visor with integral
hat (A. Smith)
Origin of concept
Andy Smith brought samples of full face visors on his visit to Pakistan
in June 1997. He made these in small workshops in Africa and Cambodia. He
showed us how to use an oven for heat forming polycarbonate sheet material
used for visors.
Andy Smith's research suggests that most deminers have no face protection,
or inadequate protection. (See reports) He suggests that the thin visors
used in Afghanistan currently may be inadequate protection. Note that HALO
trust use similar visors.
|
helmet/visor-softhat-2-s.jpg |
Demonstration prototype
If needed in the short term, prototypes can be purchased from Zimbabwe
at a cost of about US$90 (not including freight and import duties/taxes).
We plan to be able to manufacture these towards the end of 1997. The head
band is available from local suppliers, and the hat (adapted for deminers
needs) can be locally made. |
helmet/visor-softhat-1-s.jpg |
Helmet Weight Support
Development responsibility: UWA/HARC
This concept was developed to eliminate neck fatigue from wearing a 2
kilogram helmet and visor. Since the development of the light weight helmet
and visor combination, this idea is not being pursued any further. However,
even the lightweight helmet does cause some fatigue, so the helmet weight
support may be needed in future.
Origin of concept
We would welcome collaborators to work
on related devices.
We will supply you with reports and working drawings, papers etc., provided
you agree to joint publications arising from this.
Contact
us
| Demining Home Page | James Trevelyan's Home Page
| UWA Home page |
For
more information on any of these send us E-mail at demining@mech.uwa.edu.au
All graphics by Demining Research
Team. Aug 1998.
Webmaster: Edin
Tabak
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