New Break-through Helmet Construction

[galahs]

Australia has a show called "The New Inventors" on ABC.

Tonight a bloke demonstrated a new helmet design to introduce better shock absorption into motorbike helmets.

Basically it featured an inner low density polystyrene structure made up of cones to help absorb impact better, then a layer of dense polystyrene to offer greater resistance to impact.

Virtually a crumple zone within you helmet.

His studies showed that in many motorbike accidents where head injuries occurred, the helmet did not absorb the impact enough as the high density polystyrene was too hard. This new design allows for helmet deformation, absorbing the initial impact with increasing resistance to offer protection.

What's better is as this is all in the internal construction of the inside linings, the helmet still looks like a normal helmet.

A really good idea indeed.

The commentators on the show suggested this should become the new standard in helmet design.

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/txt/s2006698.htm

Cone-Head

Cone-head is a shock-absorbing liner for helmets that incorporates low-density foam embedded in a unique conical configuration into the currently used high-density foam.
About the Inventor

Apart from spending a great deal of his career on motorcycle helmet liners his other big research project was researching safer methods in coal mines after the Moura coal mine explosion in 1987.

He keeps himself busy by renovating his Queenslander. He also likes to read, especially historical books, as well as bushwalking and riding his bicycle.

Contact

For more information about Cone-Head, contact the following:
donmorgan@optusnet.com.au

Here you can see the inner softer cone head layer (middle of pic), then the harder polystyrene outer cast around it (to the right)


As a cone is impacted it firstly deforms easily but then requires more and more force. perfect for use in a crumple zone.

Don worked on a research project in the 80s into the effectiveness of Motorcycle and Bicycle Helmets where the findings were that the liners of helmets were too hard and too stiff and did not effectively absorb an impact. Don went out with the traffic investigation squad to understand the accidents and to retrieve the helmets. What he discovered was bone fragments, fluid and teeth embedded into the foam but the liners showed little or no evidence of damage. This is where Don's interest in foam liners started. Don Morgan is a Physicist from Brisbane.

It aims to absorb and dissipate an impact force more effectively than the currently used hard single density helmet liners. The purpose is to reduce fatality and brain contusions.

Cone-head has a unique crushing mechanism. On impact, the liner will crush and as forces are translated through the thickness of the liner it then becomes harder to crush. The initial crushing helps to slow down the rate of deceleration of the head.

[trumpetguy]

Interesting.  This is basically how the ZR-1 helmet (which is DOT but NOT Snell-approved) "won" the Motorcyclist magazine test last year.  It transmitted less shock to the brain than any other helmet.  The ZR-1 doesn't do it with cones, but with a thicker and slightly less dense styrofoam liner.

For old geezers like me, that is a much better choice than a Snell helmet.  That article's authors pointed out that a Snell helmet, by virtue of its design to withstand repeated hits in the same location, transmits more shock to the brain.  For a 20 year old, that's OK -- the 20 year old brain can survive that.  But for those over 40, with a Snell helmet you might be left with a helmet that is more or less intact and a brain that isn't.  I bought a ZR-1 the next week!

[galahs]

That's exactly what this gentleman was saying.

The helmets looked intact, but the occupant had died or suffered brain damage. Therefore though an intact helmet looks like its done the job, its actually failed on a very primary level.

[galahs]

trumpetguy, I found this forum talking about the exact thing you mentioned.

http://www.dirtrider.net/forums3/showthread.php?t=116923


oh and here is the actual article

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/

[coll0412]

Yeah the cone helmet will never pass Snell because of its requirement to have 2 impacts on the same spot, if you deform the foam the first time, then its toast for the next time.

How important is it that you have a requirement that you hit you head twice in the same spot and have to live, and thats a hard question to answer.

[trumpetguy]

Yeah the cone helmet will never pass Snell because of its requirement to have 2 impacts on the same spot, if you deform the foam the first time, then its toast for the next time.

How important is it that you have a requirement that you hit you head twice in the same spot and have to live, and thats a hard question to answer.

I would argue that in most real-life accidents, that's not as likely to happen.  Everything is a gamble (calculated risk).  I'd rather be better protected from the brain shock than the (IMHO) less likely double impact.  And, at my age (50), that's probably more important.

[MrDan]

Ok - so who makes helmets that are DOT but specifically not Snell approved?  Everything I was looking at Shoei/Arai/etc seemed to be both.  It seems like I might want to avoid Snell approved next time ... hmm

[frankieG]

in my travels with the navy i have found Aussies, new zealanders and Canadians very well educated and resourcefull.  i think it must be that they have such good publicly funded education and health systems.

[Jake D]

Ok - so who makes helmets that are DOT but specifically not Snell approved?  Everything I was looking at Shoei/Arai/etc seemed to be both.  It seems like I might want to avoid Snell approved next time ... hmm

Check Suomy.  I think they are one, but not the other. 

[trumpetguy]

Ok - so who makes helmets that are DOT but specifically not Snell approved?  Everything I was looking at Shoei/Arai/etc seemed to be both.  It seems like I might want to avoid Snell approved next time ... hmm

ZR-1  -- also they're inexpensive.

Read the Motorcyclist magazine article for other specific models.

[galahs]

On the show, the inventor stated that it did pass the Snell double impact test 

[The Buddha]

Bwaaa ... the trade off is ... a larger helmet.
The Z1R is the size of an SUV ...  <---- see its like that guy ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[bubba zanetti]

On the show, the inventor stated that it did pass the Snell double impact test 

Will they pass the AS1698, thats the main thing we've got to worry about.

[trumpetguy]

On the show, the inventor stated that it did pass the Snell double impact test 

I'd be curious to see how it stacks up in shock transfer compared to the ZR-1.

And yes, Srinath is right -- the ZR-1 is big.  But I'm not exactly a fashion maven, so it doesn't bother me.

[Chris18]

The entire point of the SNELL test was to test for brain damage and head trauma.

This is like that myth that the "brace-position" on airplanes are actually designed to kill you. Of course the Snell and DOT arn't there because they are bad for you. Both are government tests that are there to ensure your safety.

This bloke may be on to something, but he never says what helmets he tests against. If could be some cheap plastic helmets for 100$, or just an open face helmet, which actually have very little protection at all.
I've seen the helmet of a bloke who smashed his head into a lamp post at 160 km/h, an Arai RX-7 Corsair, and his head was the only part of his body that didn't suffer any major damage.

I don't know about you guys, but I trust a major helmet company like Arai or Shoei, with more than 40 years experience, more than I trust a single scientist.

Another thing people need to be aware of is the CE marking on suits. The CE marking is not a standard of safety and protection, it's just a marking of quality, so you don't buy something that falls apart.

[trumpetguy]

The entire point of the SNELL test was to test for brain damage and head trauma.

Yes and no.  At some level (especially for older riders), these are not the same.  Head trauma may be avoided by a super tough shell, but brain damage may occur due t shock transmission.   The Motorcylist article mentioned above discusses this in detail.

So for me (at 50 yrs) a Shoei or Arai or any other Snell helmet is not the answer.  I'll stick with my ZR-1 (even if I look like a balloon head).  It's my judgment call, of course.

[blue05twin]

The entire point of the SNELL test was to test for brain damage and head trauma.

This is like that myth that the "brace-position" on airplanes are actually designed to kill you. Of course the Snell and DOT arn't there because they are bad for you. Both are government tests that are there to ensure your safety.

This bloke may be on to something, but he never says what helmets he tests against. If could be some cheap plastic helmets for 100$, or just an open face helmet, which actually have very little protection at all.
I've seen the helmet of a bloke who smashed his head into a lamp post at 160 km/h, an Arai RX-7 Corsair, and his head was the only part of his body that didn't suffer any major damage.

I don't know about you guys, but I trust a major helmet company like Arai or Shoei, with more than 40 years experience, more than I trust a single scientist.

Another thing people need to be aware of is the CE marking on suits. The CE marking is not a standard of safety and protection, it's just a marking of quality, so you don't buy something that falls apart.

Dot is goverment test.  Snell is not a goverment requirement or test it's a independant test.  If a helmet company wants to participate in a Snell thest they must supply the helmets to be tested and PAY for the Snell certificate that they passed.

Arai, Shoei all of the major helmet manufactuer's only release Snell hemets in the US, overseas in Europe they have a totally different testing standards.  I'm not sure but I belive that the Europe and Japan safty standards are the same.

[galahs]

The good thing about this 'cone head' technology' is it is suitable to be used in ALL styles of helmet.

To pass snell you will have to have a harder outer shell to survive the double impact test. But that doesn't mean the polystyrene used in the inner layers can't be better upgraded at absorbing shock.

The keyword = absorbing


You don't want to transfer shock to the head, you want to absorb and soften the impact. That's what the inside liner does, and this is what this prototype aims to do better than the current method used in helmets.

people are always coming up with better and better ideas. The science behind this cone head principle appears sound. So don't just dismiss it because its a new technology that the BIG brands didn't think up.

I'm great full for every designer who comes up with a way to make riding our prides and joy safer