Welding helmet having a filter arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11324633-B2
Application number	US-202016885580-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 28, 2020
Priority date	Dec 1, 2010
Publication date	May 10, 2022
Grant date	May 10, 2022

Abstract

A welding helmet having a filter arrangement is disclosed. The welding helmet is provided with a main filter and at least one auxiliary filter separate from and positioned next to the main filter. The at least one auxiliary filter comprises an electro-optic element adapted to attenuate the transmission of optical radiation incident on the auxiliary filter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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 switchable between a light state and a dark state either in coordination with the main filter or 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 optically responsive medium comprises a liquid crystal material.

4. The welding helmet as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the 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.

8. The welding helmet as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first auxiliary filter comprises an electronic switch that is configured to switch the first auxiliary filter 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 in coordination with the main filter.

10. 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 first and second auxiliary filters are switchable between a light state and a dark state either in coordination with the main filter or independently from the main filter.

11. 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 first and second auxiliary filters are switchable between a light state and a dark state either in coordination with each other or independently from each other.

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

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

14. 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;
a second face shield movably attached to the first face shield, wherein at least one 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 the main central aperture, 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 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 the first auxiliary filter is adapted to be switched between a light state and a dark state either in coordination with the main filter or independently from the main filter.

15. The welding helmet as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the main central aperture, the first side aperture, and the second side aperture are disposed in the second face shield.

16. The welding helmet as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the first face shield comprises a clear visor.

17. The welding helmet as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the clear visor is curved.

18. The welding helmet as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the first face shield comprises a pivot mechanism that is configured to raise and lower the first face shield while the welding helmet is worn.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Magnusson Kristina M
• Jarefors Kenneth

Classifications

• A61F9/064

  with two windows, one for viewing and one for use during the welding process · CPC title

• A61F9/067 Primary

  with variable transmission · CPC title

• A61F9/06

  Masks, shields or hoods for welders · CPC title

• F16P1/06 Primary

  specially designed for welding · CPC title

• G02F2201/44

  Arrangements combining different electro-active layers, e.g. electrochromic, liquid crystal or electroluminescent layers · CPC title