Importance

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Abstract

A protective garment (10) adapted to be worn by personnel in high temperature or otherwise harmful environments. Tile garment comprises a torso section 11 and depending on the wearer's needs and desires, arms (14), head (13) and leg sections (15) and readily attachable complementary portions for covering the face, hands and feet extremities. The garment is equipped with a supply of precooled and dehumidified ventilating gas or other coolant medium to be flowed over various body parts of the wearer. The coolant supply comprises one or more storage containers (20) carried about the waist. The coolant is supplied therefrom through a valve (25) to an inlet (41) in the suit. From the inlet, the coolant medium is distributed through flexible conduits (50) which include component distribution systems (55A, 55B, 57A, 57B, 61A, 61B) leading to the various body parts. The conduits are preferably attached to the lining of the suit and each provided along its length with holes (59) which are of increasing diameters in the direction away from the suit inlet to provide more uniform flow to a body area. Each component distribution system includes a thermostatic valve (81) or valve (61) controlled by a thermocouple (60) fixed at a location in the distribution zone such as at the ankles, wrists, or waist of the wearer whereby the valve acts to control coolant flow to a particular body area in order to maintain the surface temperature of the particular body area in a narrow range about 72.degree. to 76.degree.. The garment also includes sensors for monitoring and signalling physiological signs and providing other information as to the location, physical condition and identity of the garment wearer and an electrical communications system for transmitting such information to a remote base station and for receiving information therefrom.

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First Claim