Method and apparatus for simulating head impacts for helmet testing
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
an impact delivery unit for delivering an impact force;
at least one head form adapted to be mounted to said frame such that said impact delivery unit can deliver an impact force to a designated location on said at least one head form;
said head form being configured to have a helmet installed thereon;
said at least one head form being operable to be;
(i) selectively rotated about a first axis of rotation of a plurality of axes of rotation such that when selected to be rotated about said first axis of rotation, the rotation of said at least one head form is constrained so that said at least one head form is only capable of rotation about said first axis of rotation of said plurality of axes;
(ii) selectively rotated about a second axis of rotation of said plurality of axes of rotation such that when selected to be rotated about said second axis of rotation, the rotation of said at least one head form is constrained so that said at least one head form is only capable of rotation about said second axis of rotation;
a measuring system for providing an indicator of the rotational acceleration of said at least one head form when rotated about each of said plurality of axes;
wherein said system is operable, when said impact delivery unit delivers a plurality of impact forces to said designated location on said at least one head form, such that said at least one head form can be selectively constrained to rotate separately about each axis of rotation of said plurality of axes, said measurement system is operable to provide indicators of rotational accelerations about each of said plurality of axes of rotation of said at least one head form during separate rotations about each axis of said plurality of axes of rotation.
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Abstract
An apparatus is disclosed that includes a frame, an impact delivery unit for delivering an impact force and at least one head form. The head form is adapted to be mounted to the frame such that the impact delivery unit can deliver an impact force to a designated location on the head form. The head form is configured to have a helmet installed thereon. The head form is selectively rotatable about each of a plurality of different axes of rotation, wherein movement of the head form is constrained to be able to move only in rotation and in rotation about only one axis of rotation of the plurality of axes at any time. A measuring system provides an indicator of the rotational acceleration of the head form when rotated about each of the plurality of axes. Also disclosed are methods for comparing the degree of protection afforded by first and second helmets.
33 Citations
36 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a frame; an impact delivery unit for delivering an impact force; at least one head form adapted to be mounted to said frame such that said impact delivery unit can deliver an impact force to a designated location on said at least one head form; said head form being configured to have a helmet installed thereon; said at least one head form being operable to be; (i) selectively rotated about a first axis of rotation of a plurality of axes of rotation such that when selected to be rotated about said first axis of rotation, the rotation of said at least one head form is constrained so that said at least one head form is only capable of rotation about said first axis of rotation of said plurality of axes; (ii) selectively rotated about a second axis of rotation of said plurality of axes of rotation such that when selected to be rotated about said second axis of rotation, the rotation of said at least one head form is constrained so that said at least one head form is only capable of rotation about said second axis of rotation; a measuring system for providing an indicator of the rotational acceleration of said at least one head form when rotated about each of said plurality of axes; wherein said system is operable, when said impact delivery unit delivers a plurality of impact forces to said designated location on said at least one head form, such that said at least one head form can be selectively constrained to rotate separately about each axis of rotation of said plurality of axes, said measurement system is operable to provide indicators of rotational accelerations about each of said plurality of axes of rotation of said at least one head form during separate rotations about each axis of said plurality of axes of rotation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of testing a helmet, said method comprising:
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providing an impact delivery unit having a force actuator for delivering an impact force; providing at least one head form such that said impact delivery unit can deliver an impact force to said at least one head form; impacting said at least one head form with said force actuator so as to rotate said at least one head form about a plurality of different axes of rotation in sequence; selectively rotating said at least one head form about a first axis of rotation of said plurality of axes of rotation such that when selected to be rotated about said first axis of rotation, the rotation of said at least one head form is constrained so that said at least one head form is only capable of rotation about said first axis of rotation; selectively rotating said head faun about a second axis of rotation of said plurality of axes of rotation such that when selected to be rotated about said second axis of rotation, the rotation of said at least one head form is constrained so that said at least one head form is only capable of rotation about said second axis of rotation; obtaining an indicator of each acceleration of said at least one head form when rotated about each of said plurality of axes; from the indicators of acceleration, determining the rotational acceleration of each said head form during rotations about each of said plurality of axes of rotation. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A method for testing a helmet, said method comprising:
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selecting a first head form from a plurality of head forms, each of said plurality of head forms each being configured to rotate only about a different axis of rotation of a plurality of axes of rotation; installing a helmet on said first head form; exerting a force against said helmet at a designated location to thereby cause said selected first head form to rotate about a first axis of rotation, wherein said first head form is constrained so that it is only capable of rotation about said first axis of rotation; measuring an indicator of rotational acceleration about said first axis of rotation of said selected first head form; determining a rotational acceleration of said selected first head form about said corresponding first axis of rotation; selecting a second head form from a plurality of head forms; installing said helmet on said second head form; exerting a force against said helmet at a designated location to thereby cause said selected second head form to rotate about said second axis of rotation, wherein said second head form is constrained so that it is capable only of rotation about said second axis of rotation; measuring an indicator of rotational acceleration about said second axis of said selected second head form; determining a rotational acceleration of said selected second head form about said second axis of rotation. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. An apparatus comprising:
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at least one head form; a helmet configured for attachment to said at least one head form; an impact delivery unit for delivering an impact force to said helmet at at least one designated location when said helmet is attached to said at least one head form; said at least one head form being operable to be; (i) selectively rotated about a first axis of rotation of a plurality of axes of rotation such that when selected to be rotated about said first axis of rotation, the rotation of said at least one head form is constrained so that said at least one head form is only capable of rotation about said first axis of rotation of said plurality of axes; (ii) selectively rotated about a second axis of rotation of said plurality of axes of rotation such that when selected to be rotated about said second axis of rotation, the rotation of said at least one head form is constrained so that said at least one head form is only capable of rotation about said second axis of rotation; a measuring system for providing an indicator of the acceleration of said at least one head form when rotated about each of said plurality of axes; wherein when said impact delivery unit delivers an impact to said at least one head form, said measurement device associated with each said head from measures the acceleration of each said head form during rotations about each of said plurality of axes of rotation.
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Specification