Sextant Avionique

Vincent Vitte

Benoit Darbo

Patrick Lacroux

Eric Petit

Protective helmet equipped with optronic systems and adjustment method

Disclosed is head equipment having a shell with flanks on each side of a plane of symmetry of the shell, an upper part and a rear part, and a rigid structure designed to bear an optronic device. The head equipment comprises linking assemblies to attach the structure and the shell to each other in a locally movable way. The linking assemblies are attached to the structure and to the shell and are capable of changing shape. The linking assemblies may be blocks of elastomer or pins attached to the structure, sliding in cylinders attached to the shell.

Head equipment with isostatic link between shell and optronic instruments

The disclosed pair of hinges enables the visor to be swung with respect to the shell of the helmet in a complex motion that starts in a turned-down position by a motion of translation moving the visor away from the shell of the helmet in order to move it away from a shoulder or joint, if any, and continues up to a raised position by a rotation that retracts the visor over the shell of the helmet. They are synchronized mechanically by a system of gear wheels meshing with racks connected by a sheathed cable and being operated by just one hand by one of the handles with which it is fitted.

Pair of hinges with synchronized operation for the attachment of a

The purpose of this invention is a system to support at least one visor (2a; 2b) on a helmet (1), the visor being mobile on a slide (30a; 30b) between an operational position and a withdrawn position. The system according to the invention comprises, on each side of the helmet (1), a support and guide part (3) including the slide (30a; 30b), and held on the helmet (1) firstly by an attachment device (4), and secondly by a retaining device (5) preventing the part from leaving the helmet (1). In the release position, the attachment device (4) completely releases the part (3). However the part remains attached to the helmet by the retaining device (5) such that it can move to the position from which the visor can be extracted from the slide without hitting against the helmet shell (10). The system in the invention makes it possible to quickly change the visor without the need for tools. It is particularly useful for aircraft or helicopter pilots.

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Bordeaux, France

Vincent Vitte