Award

DUE TO THE DANGER OF FROSTBIT OF THE FINGERS AT VERY LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES, THERE IS A NEED TO DEVELOP HANDWEAR THAT WILL PROTECT THE FINGERS AT TEMPERATURES LOWER THAN THAT PROVIDED BY CURRENTLY AVAILABLE HADWEAR, WHICH PROTECTS DOWN TO ABOUT -60 DEG F. SINCE THE HUMAN PHYSIOLOGIC BLOOD FLOW RESPONSE TO LOWERED SKIN TEMPERATURE IS INADEQUATE TO PROVIDE THE HEATING NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE HANDS AND FINGERS, WE PROPOSE AN INNOVATIVE METHOD TO TRANSFER SOME OF THE BODY CORE THEMAL ENERGY TO THE HANDS. THIS METHOD INVOLVES THE USE OF THE HEAT PIPE, A NEW TECHNOLOGY WHICH HAS VERY HIGH EFFECTIVE HEAT CONDUCTIVITY, FAST RESPONSE TIME, FLEXIBILITY, LIGHTWEIGHT, AND A COMPACT FORM. WITH THE PROPER WORKING FLUID INSIDE THE HEAT PIPE, OPERATING TEMPERATURES CAN BE EXTENDED TO -80 DEG F. THE EMPHASIS IN THIS PHASE OF THE RESEARCH WOULD BE TO PROPOSE AND DESIGN A WORKING MODEL OF THE HANDWEAR SYSTEM WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE USER TO WEAR THE SYSTEM FOR A MINIMUM OF TWO HOURS.