Hutchens Device
The Huchens Device is an effective tool in reducing the potential for injury in racing accidents.
The device is a harness system that reduces the amount of load transferred to the head and neck in angular frontal and frontal impacts. The harness transfers load from the head to the lap belt by means of the helmet tethers connected to the vertical straps on the harness. The vertical straps are then connected to the lap belt buckle. The Hutchens Device can be adapted to any current 5 or 6 point belt system.
The harness does not connect to the roll cage and does not need to be taken off or unhooked from the helmet to allow the driver to exit the car in an emergency situation.
Below is an example of a baseline 30 Rt front sled test with no head and neck restraint:
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The same impact with a rib support seat, shoulders, headrest and a Hutchens Device:
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The baseline test above Neck Tension = 8312 N, HIC = 3406 and Nij = 1.64.
In the Hutchens Device test above the Neck Tension = 2468 N, HIC = 501 and Nij = 0.52.
(These tests were done at 60 mph delta V, 45 peak G with a duration of 90ms.)
Because the peak neck loads happen very early in the impact event, it is imperative that the harness be worn tightly. The effectiveness of the harness is directly related to the amount of tension in the system before the impact. Safety Solution’s recommendation is that the driver should feel the harness tighten from the anchor to the helmet tethers within the first 1" of straight forward head movement. This tension should allow approximately 20 degrees of side to side movement.
Also very important to the proper function of the device is the proper placement of the helmet d-rings. The recommended placement of the single hook has been chosen to bring the head down quickly in the event. (See the impact simulation with a Hutchens device above.) As you can see the head is down before contacting the wheel. A father back helmet hook mount will cause the helmet to stay up and the chin will contact the wheel first.
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Sled test w/Rear mount hooks.
SAFETY SYSTEM
A Safety Solutions head and neck restraint, Huchens Device, is only one part of a good safety system for any race car. It is very important to make sure all of your safety equipment is in top shape and interacts well with the other components of your safety system.
A Hutchens Device has been shown to be most effective in a system with properly mounted seat belts and a 6-point sub-belt system. The 6-point has been shown to better control the occupant’s pelvis earlier in the event. By securing the pelvis earlier in the event, the upper torso and head loads will be reduced.
A rib support seat with shoulders and a quality head rest has also shown to be beneficial to the effectiveness of the harness system. The seat should be securely mounted and have a ramp-up to the front of the seat to help reduce the occupant motion in a frontal or angular frontal impact. The rib support seat will help slow down the upper torso and cause the body to curl around it. This motion will increase tension on the vertical straps of the harness.
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Example of a good Safety System: Note the lap belt movement and the head position.
A quality headrest and nets will help the occupant stay inside of the safety system and will help guide the head during the event. Contact with the steering wheel in a stock car is very likely. For this reason, a wheel with thin or relieved spokes and a column that can stroke can help control the head motion in an impact. This is the same principal that is used in your passenger car.
Head and neck restraint devices are most effective in angular frontal and frontal crashes. They become less effective in side and rear impacts. The occupant needs to rely on the other parts of the safety system in these types of impacts. The seat and headrest is the main restraint in side and rearward impacts.
WARNING: THESE ARICLES ARE SOLD WITHOUT WARRANTY, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. NO WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION IS MADE AS TO THIS PRODUCTS ABILITY TO PROTECT THE USER FROM ANY INJURY OR DEATH. THE USER ASSUMES THAT RISK.
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