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Sideways HANS device instead of shoulder cover?
Posted: 26 May 2013, 20:11
by g-force_addict
IMO the FIA should ban the aero shoulder covers (not sure if they have an specific name) as they might get stuck in a crash by tub deformation.
Does anyone know if HANS device prototypes has been proposed to deal with sideways head movement?
If so, How are they strapped sideways?
Have helmetless HANS devices been designed?
So they may be used in road-cars.
Although many here don't like the idea of F1 being road-car related, it's just not ethical to just ignore tenths if not hundreds of thousands who die in car accidents worldwide. F1 is supposed to be the pinnacle of technology.
Maybe a head strap will be required which might double as glasses holder, hands-free headset, head massage or something else to encourage use?
Maybe straps can be thin, which inflate upon inpact like Ford inflatable seatbelts?
Re: Sideways HANS device instead of shoulder cover?
Posted: 26 May 2013, 20:26
by Just_a_fan
If the tub were ever to deform enough for that to happen - and it would break rather than deform anyway - the driver would probably be dead already. The lateral loads to break the tub would be so high that the driver would probably die from brain damage.
Re: Sideways HANS device instead of shoulder cover?
Posted: 26 May 2013, 20:45
by g-force_addict
The bible "says seek and you will find"
Holy Grail found!
Now I'm a believer!
http://lornasvoice.files.wordpress.com/ ... design.jpg
Re: Sideways HANS device instead of shoulder cover?
Posted: 26 May 2013, 20:48
by Tim.Wright
g-force_addict wrote:IMO the FIA should ban the aero shoulder covers (not sure if they have an specific name) as they might get stuck in a crash by tub deformation.
Does anyone know if HANS device prototypes has been proposed to deal with sideways head movement?
If so, How are they strapped sideways?
Have helmetless HANS devices been designed?
So they may be used in road-cars.
Although many here don't like the idea of F1 being road-car related, it's just not ethical to just ignore tenths if not hundreds of thousands who die in car accidents worldwide. F1 is supposed to be the pinnacle of technology.
Maybe a head strap will be required which might double as glasses holder, hands-free headset, head massage or something else to encourage use?
Maybe straps can be thin, which inflate upon inpact like Ford inflatable seatbelts?
You again...
First: they are not aero shoulder covers they are foam padding to protect the driver's head in a side impact. They were mandated as safety devices since 1996
Second: A carbon tub wont ever deform enough to lock the foam headrests in
Third: HANS relies on having a connection between the head and the chassis. Take away the helmet and you need to do it another way which will be equally intrusive
Fourth: A helmet would protect road car drivers a million times better than what you suggested and would be less intrusive as well.
Re: Sideways HANS device instead of shoulder cover?
Posted: 26 May 2013, 22:08
by Robbobnob
not to mention the shoulder rests also provide protection from side impact from debris
Re: Sideways HANS device instead of shoulder cover?
Posted: 26 May 2013, 23:28
by langwadt
Robbobnob wrote:not to mention the shoulder rests also provide protection from side impact from debris
indeed, when you look at videos from before the shoulder rest it seems crazy that they were driving around with the
head so exposed
Re: Sideways HANS device instead of shoulder cover?
Posted: 26 May 2013, 23:39
by flyboy2160
Tim.Wright wrote:...
Third: HANS relies on having a connection between the head and the chassis.....
TW, doesn't the classical HANS device attach the helmet to a frame that is attached to the driver, not to the car chassis? Otherwise you'd break the driver's neck as he moved slightly within the seat belts. (

or were you upset again at g-force addict and got it backwards!)
Re: Sideways HANS device instead of shoulder cover?
Posted: 26 May 2013, 23:44
by Tim.Wright
flyboy2160 wrote:Tim.Wright wrote:...
Third: HANS relies on having a connection between the head and the chassis.....
TW, doesn't the classical HANS device attach the helmet to a frame that is attached to the driver, not to the car chassis? Otherwise you'd break the driver's neck as he moved slightly within the seat belts.
Yes its attached to the driver, but the goal is to completely fix the fram. There is some flexibility but this is not to stop straining the neck. The ideal solution would be to strap the helmet to the chassis, but then the driver can'e exit the car in a hurry.
Re: Sideways HANS device instead of shoulder cover?
Posted: 27 May 2013, 00:12
by langwadt
Tim.Wright wrote:flyboy2160 wrote:Tim.Wright wrote:...
Third: HANS relies on having a connection between the head and the chassis.....
TW, doesn't the classical HANS device attach the helmet to a frame that is attached to the driver, not to the car chassis? Otherwise you'd break the driver's neck as he moved slightly within the seat belts.
Yes its attached to the driver, but the goal is to completely fix the fram. There is some flexibility but this is not to stop straining the neck. The ideal solution would be to strap the helmet to the chassis, but then the driver can'e exit the car in a hurry.
The point of HANS is restrain the helmet and head the same as the body, so you don't break the neck in a high-g shunt
HANS and body are both held by the seat belts so I'd say that is probably the best you can do
Re: Sideways HANS device instead of shoulder cover?
Posted: 27 May 2013, 00:51
by Lycoming
If the body is affixed to the chassis by the seat and the belts, then fixing the head to the chassis accomplishes more or less the same effect as fixing the head to the body (the ultimate goal). Fixing both to the chassis via the belts means that when you need to get out quickly, one latch releases everything.
Re: Sideways HANS device instead of shoulder cover?
Posted: 27 May 2013, 03:28
by flyboy2160
You can't fix the helmet to the chassis. The belts are not rigid; they intentionally stretch to absorb some of the crash G loads. The driver's neck will be snapped in a crash.
Re: Sideways HANS device instead of shoulder cover?
Posted: 04 Jun 2013, 06:40
by flynfrog
[youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLEMTdwq9sU[/youtube]
[youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOsoNGwDTcg[/youtube]
You can see how far the body moves in a crash strapping the head to the tub will be intadeath I am afraid