Welding helmet having a filter arrangement

• US 10,667,952 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2011
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Magnusson, Kristina, Jarefors, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoey, Alissa L
• Application Number:
  US13/989,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20140013479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,109 Days
• Field of Search: 2427
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/064 with two windows, one for viewing and one for use during the welding process
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/067 with variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/44 Arrangements combining different electro-active layers, e.g. electrochromic, liquid crystal or electroluminescent layers

Abstract

A welding helmet (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) having a filter arrangement is disclosed. The welding helmet is provided with a main filter (102, 202, 302, 402, 502) and at least one auxiliary filter (104, 204, 304, 404, 504) separate from and positioned next to the main filter. The at least one auxiliary filter comprises an electro-optic element (10, 20) adapted to attenuate the transmission of optical radiation incident on the auxiliary filter.

Claims

1. A welding helmet having a filter arrangement comprising:

a face shield pivotably connected to a head harness fitted internally to the face shield and configured to be secured on a user'"'"'s head, wherein the face shield is configured to be raised out of view of the user when not in use, and lowered to a working position when the user is to perform a welding operation, wherein the face shield comprises a main central aperture centrally disposed in the face shield at eye level of the user when in the working position, a first side aperture disposed adjacent to and separate from the main central aperture at a first side, and a second side aperture disposed adjacent to and separate from the main central aperture on an opposite second side of the main central aperture;

a main filter, positioned in the first aperture, comprising a first electro-optic element adapted to attenuate transmission of optical radiation incident on the main filter, wherein, in the working position, the main filter is configured to be disposed in front of the user'"'"'s eyes in a direct line of vision of the user; and

a first auxiliary filter separate from the main filter and disposed in the first side aperture, and a second auxiliary filter separate from the main filter and disposed in the second side aperture;

wherein the first auxiliary filter comprises a second electro-optic element adapted to attenuate transmission of optical radiation incident on the first auxiliary filter, and

wherein at least the first auxiliary filter is adapted to be switched between a light state and a dark state independently from the main filter.

2. The welding helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second electro-optic element comprises an optically responsive medium disposed between transparent substrates.

3. The welding helmet as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second optically responsive medium comprises a liquid crystal material.

4. The welding helmet as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second optically responsive medium comprises an electrochromic material.

5. The welding helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first electro-optic element of the main filter comprises a liquid crystal material and the at least one auxiliary filter comprises an electrochromic material.

6. The welding helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second electro-optic element is adapted to switch between a first state and at least a second state, wherein the second state attenuates the transmission of optical radiation incident on the first auxiliary filter.

7. The welding helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the welding helmet comprises a logic function that is configured to allow the first auxiliary filter to be switched between a light state and a dark state in coordination with the main filter.

8. The welding helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first auxiliary filter comprises an electronic switch that is configured to allow the first auxiliary filter to be switched between a light state and a dark state manually.

9. The welding helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second auxiliary filter comprises a third electro-optic element adapted to attenuate transmission of optical radiation incident on the second auxiliary filter, and wherein the welding helmet comprises electronic controls configured to allow the first and second auxiliary filters to be switched between a light state and a dark state independently from each other.

10. The welding helmet as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a third auxiliary filter disposed above a top side of the main filter.

11. The welding helmet as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a third auxiliary filter disposed below a lower side of the main filter.

12. A welding helmet, comprising:

a head harness configured to be secured on a user'"'"'s head;

a first face shield configured to cover at least a substantial portion of a user'"'"'s head and face pivotably connected to the head harness and configured to be placed in front of the user'"'"'s face when placed in a working position; and

a second face shield movably attached to the first face shield, wherein each of the first and second face shields includes a main central aperture centrally disposed in the face shield at eye level of the user when positioned in the working position, a first side aperture disposed adjacent to the main central aperture at a first side, and a second side aperture disposed adjacent to the main central aperture on an opposite second side of the main central aperture;

a main filter positioned in one of the main central aperture of the first face shield and the main central aperture of the second face shield, the main filter comprising a first electro-optic element adapted to attenuate transmission of optical radiation incident on the main filter;

a first auxiliary filter separate from the main filter and disposed in one of the first side aperture of the first face shield and the first side aperture of the second face shield; and

a second auxiliary filter separate from the main filter and disposed in one of the second side aperture of the first face shield and the second side aperture of the second face shield,

wherein the first auxiliary filter comprises a second electro-optic element adapted to attenuate transmission of optical radiation incident on the first auxiliary filter, and

wherein the first auxiliary filter is adapted to be switched between a light state and a dark state independently from the main filter.

13. The welding helmet as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first face shield comprises a pivot mechanism se that is configured to raise and lower the first face shield while the welding helmet is worn.