"Do Everything" Welding Helmet
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Michael Buckman’s WindMaker is a welding helmet that keeps you cool, lights up your work area, and even blows away dust and smoke. It may look like something out of a Star Wars movie, but Buckman says it would also be at home in a hog barn, grain bin or woodworking shop.
“I had a lot of jobs welding in very contaminated, enclosed areas like the holds of ships,” recalls Buckman. “Sometimes I would have to have someone holding a flashlight so I could see to weld.”
Buckman designed the WindMaker to make welding and other dirty jobs safer and easier. The concept is simple. The WindMaker pulls air from the rear through a HEPA-rated (high-efficiency particulate air) filter and directs it forward for breathing. As it moves, it cools the skin and prevents the breath from fogging the faceplate. A second fan near the chin pushes out stale air.
He teamed up with Salient Technologies, a product design firm, to make a prototype from his plans. Salient helps companies and inventors with concept development, prototypes, and production design.
The team engineered a virtual prototype using computer imaging and design. Using what they learned, they constructed a fully functional proof-of-concept prototype, complete with battery-powered filtered ventilation, auto-dimming screen, LED illumination and an exhaust system that the user can direct at the workspace, keeping fumes and smoke out of their field of view.
Buckman says the WindMaker is very adaptable. “We have designed it to use interchangeable lenses so it could be used when mowing lawns, working in a wood shop or cleaning out a grain bin or silo,” he says. “We can use Bluetooth to connect with your cell phone. Just open the cell phone to activate and talk. It’s also video camera capable with its own data storage.”
Buckman says the U.S. Navy is interested in the WindMaker for the ability to capture video of welds for later reference. He suggests that future adaptations could include computer screen-like lenses that let the welder see the plans for the weld on his lens as he works. Other plans include using photovoltaic cells to capture light from welding flashes to increase battery life.
The helmet is now in prototype stage and Buckman is deciding whether to license the WindMaker or sell the patent outright to a manufacturer.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Michael Buckman, Universal Healthier Helmets (buckmanresearch49@yahoo.com); or Salient Technologies, Inc., 3701 Trakker Trail, Unit 2A, Bozeman, Mont. 59718 (ph 406 585-7275; www.salient-tech.com).
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Do Everything Welding Helmet FARM SHOP Welders/Torches 64 Michael Buckman’s WindMaker is a welding helmet that keeps you cool lights up your work area and even blows away dust and smoke It may look like something out of a Star Wars movie but Buckman says it would also be at home in a hog barn grain bin or woodworking shop “I had a lot of jobs welding in very contaminated enclosed areas like the holds of ships ” recalls Buckman “Sometimes I would have to have someone holding a flashlight so I could see to weld ” Buckman designed the WindMaker to make welding and other dirty jobs safer and easier The concept is simple The WindMaker pulls air from the rear through a HEPA-rated high-efficiency particulate air filter and directs it forward for breathing As it moves it cools the skin and prevents the breath from fogging the faceplate A second fan near the chin pushes out stale air He teamed up with Salient Technologies a product design firm to make a prototype from his plans Salient helps companies and inventors with concept development prototypes and production design The team engineered a virtual prototype using computer imaging and design Using what they learned they constructed a fully functional proof-of-concept prototype complete with battery-powered filtered ventilation auto-dimming screen LED illumination and an exhaust system that the user can direct at the workspace keeping fumes and smoke out of their field of view Buckman says the WindMaker is very adaptable “We have designed it to use interchangeable lenses so it could be used when mowing lawns working in a wood shop or cleaning out a grain bin or silo ” he says “We can use Bluetooth to connect with your cell phone Just open the cell phone to activate and talk It’s also video camera capable with its own data storage ” Buckman says the U S Navy is interested in the WindMaker for the ability to capture video of welds for later reference He suggests that future adaptations could include computer screen-like lenses that let the welder see the plans for the weld on his lens as he works Other plans include using photovoltaic cells to capture light from welding flashes to increase battery life The helmet is now in prototype stage and Buckman is deciding whether to license the WindMaker or sell the patent outright to a manufacturer Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Michael Buckman Universal Healthier Helmets buckmanresearch49@yahoo com ; or Salient Technologies Inc 3701 Trakker Trail Unit 2A Bozeman Mont 59718 ph 406 585-7275; www salient-tech com
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