- Author
- Pleskun, W.G. | Ruseckas, J. A.
- Title
- Design and Fabrication of a Passively Pressurized Suit. Final Report. July 1968-April 1970.
- Coporate
- David Clark Co., Inc., Worcester, MA
- Sponsor
- Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
- Report
- AMRL-TR-70-120, September 1970, 20 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Contract
- F33657-68-C-1663
- Keywords
- pressure suits | exposure | atmospheric pressure
- Identifiers
- Boyle's Law; passive pressurization tubes; respiratory balance; restraint coverall; chamber flight; altitude protection
- Abstract
- The design and fabrication of feasibility models of passively pressurized suits for wear during exposure to low atmospheric pressures is described. The technical approach specified highly expandable tubular bladders to form air tight compartments that would expand upon lower cabin pressure, fill the space between the restraint coverall and pressurized the body. Bladders of varied sizes were fabricated from low modulus elastomeric sheet material, each containing an air charging valve. The multiple bladder configuration improves reliability since rupture of one will result in a pressure loss proportional to the ratio of air in the one cell to the total air charge in all cells. Problems were encountered due to lack of constancy in desired total cell volume with changing body positions, in determining the air charge for different sizes of subjects, and with the tensile characteristics of fabrics which allow stretch and hystersis. Temperature has no appreciable effect on suit pressure due to the narrow range of skin temperatures tolerated comfortably by human subjects.