Background and Development of Boyle's Law Altitude Suits

摘要

All significant Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory (AMRL) investigations of design approaches and techniques applicable to emergency pressure suits for fliers during the 1960 to 1972 period are described and the results summarized. The first promising application of Boyle's Law; that is, 'the volume of a body of gas at constant temperature is inversely proportional to the absolute pressure' to the automatic pressurization of a suit was demonstrated at the School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB Tex., by Davis, Ritzinger, et al, in 1966. Subsequent efforts carried on by the AMRL are reviewed in sufficient detail to provide continuity and an overview of the program leading up to its termination at the Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory in the Spring of 1972 and transfer to the School of Aerospace Medicine at Brooks AFB, Texas. Final configurations that would fulfill all aircrew operational requirements are not fully developed. However, major progress was achieved in fabrication techniques and in the validation of features that should find application in a nearly optimum prototype approaching the real needs of the potential users. (Modified author abstract)