Thermoelectric crash helmet cooling system with no mechanically moving components or fluids

Abstract

An apparatus and method for cooling the interior of an aviation crash helmet without incorporation of any mechanically moving components or fluids. The said system can cool or warm the head of the user through the use of thermoelectric cooling elements, solid state fans or electro-aerodynamic pumps, heat exchangers, and a customized ventilation system. None of the components in the present invention contain mechanically moving parts, fluids, or chemicals. The preferred embodiment was designed for aircraft crash helmets, but this invention can be incorporated into any existing crash helmet which can accommodate incorporating thermoelectric pumping modules and provide a steady power supply to the said components. This present invention can be incorporated into any existing crash helmet through customization of helmet inserts. It can also be incorporated into the design of new crash helmets which would facilitate the maximization of the efficiency of the said cooling system.

1 . An air conditioned crash helmet containing no fluid or mechanical driven components comprising:
 an impact resistant body having an exterior shell;   an interior which defines a head receiving cavity;   a front region and having a back region which is located adjacent a lower edge of the helmet exterior shell body;   a first opening in the helmet body located at the front region of the helmet, closest to the users forehead, the first opening defining an air intake passage for the intake of external air;   a plurality of ducts and/or ventilation passages where air can travel through the interior of the helmet, between the user and the exterior shell;   at least one solid state fan or electro-aerodynamic pump communicating with the air intake passage to draw air into the ventilation passage and forcing air from the front region of the helmet into the direction of the rear region thereof;   at least one thermoelectric cooling element located in the helmet body interior in communication with the intake passage, in contact with a heat exchanger, and upstream of the solid state fan or electro-aerodynamic pump, the thermoelectric element having a cold side and a hot side;   a DC power source for powering the thermoelectric cooling element and the solid state fan or electro-aerodynamic pump;   a heat exchanger connected to the thermoelectric cooling element which facilitates the movement of heat, via conduction, from the hot side of the thermoelectric cooling element into the heat exchanger; which facilitates the transfer of heat from the thermoelectric cooling element into the air inside the ventilation passages, where the solid state fan pushes the heated air out of the helmet through the exhaust passages.   
   
   
       2 . The crash helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the helmet interior has a ventilation system installed therein and wherein the ventilation liner has a plurality of air conditioning ducts formed therein in communication with an air intake passage, whereby air forced through the air conditioning ducts into the head receiving cavity in the interior of the helmet body. 
   
   
       3 . The crash helmet of  claim 2 , wherein the thermoelectric cooling element is a Peltier cooling element. 
   
   
       4 . The crash helmet of  claim 3 , wherein the heat exchanger is located in direct contact with the hot side of the thermoelectric cooling element, and the heat exchanger operates with no mechanically moving components and does not require or utilize any fluids, refrigerants, chemicals, or any disposable elements to function. 
   
   
       5 . The crash helmet of  claim 4 , wherein the solid state fan is an electro-aerodynamic pump and contains no mechanical moving components and draws heated air away from the heat exchanger and pushes it toward the rear region of the helmet wherein the exhaust passages expel hot air into the atmosphere. 
   
   
       6 . The crash helmet of  claim 5 , wherein the power source for the thermoelectric cooling element and the solid state fan is provided through the internal power source provided from the vehicle, which allows the said invention to be connected to any source of DC power.