SBIR-STTR Award

A variety of extreme environment hand-wear systems are currently available for military personnel ranging from three and six modular glove systems to a Cold/Wet Glove system. While these are designed to protect soldiers' hands from cold/wet climates, the basic system designs make them too bulky and cumbersome to provide the tactility and dexterity required in many military applications, including rappelling, fast-roping, and operating a weapon. Nor are existing systems designed to provide hand protection to -40 F. as required in this soliciation. Kreamer Sports manufacturers heated outdoor sportswear, including heated fingered and hooded fingered gloves, that utilize the latest state-of-the-art in conductive fabrics powered by several battery applications. The objective of the proposed work is to evaluate the newest advancements in thermal insulators, conductive heating materials, and heat transferring materials. Working on the body of research already performed by Kreamer Sports, we intend to produce data on new and innovative methods of heat generation and distribution. Our emphasis will be on advancing the viability of carbon/conductive materials to provide the desired extreme temperature performance while greatly improving the dexterity and tactility of current military hand-wear systems, at the same time investigating and analyzing the potential for other commercial and military applications.

Our Phase I study proved the feasibility of using monofilament carbon tow and thin resistant wire in a glove system to provide an adequate heat source to keep a soldier's hands comfortable in extreme cold temperatures while retaining hand dexterity and tactility. Our objectives during Phase II are to (1) incorporate our heat generation process into a super thin, non-melting, flame-rerardant material that can be worn as a "Layer Zero" glove under existing military glove wear, (2) reduce the electronic controller to a micro size that can be incorporated into the glove, (3) explore the latest state-of-the-art in rechargeable battery technologies that would allow our glove systems to be powered by the smallest and lightest possible battery, and (4) sustain a comfortable level of heat to the hand for long periods during temperatures as low as -50? F. An additional objective is to enhance the functionality of the electronic heat controller to better match a wide range of wearers needs in the field including the widening of the operating voltage range from 6 to 48 volts to allow for a broad spectrum of batteries and power sources including those in various vehicles

Keywords:
heated gloves, heat transfer, flame retardant, duty cycle controller, heat controller, hand protection, hand wear, battery-operated