HANS device

HANS is an acronym for Head and Neck Support (English for head - and - neck brace ) and referred to a security system in car racing, the racing driver to protect against severe injuries in the head and neck area. Occasionally it will also H.A.N.S. written.

Function

Components of the HANS system are a shoulder corset made ​​of carbon fiber reinforced resin, which is connected to the driver's helmet and fixed under the seat of the car, as well as a matching helmet with attachment points. It is intended to protect mainly the driver's spine before overstretching ( whiplash ). In an accident extreme accelerations of the head are reduced and reduced to the neck and head area acting forces. It protects the driver additionally from bumping his head against the steering wheel. The basic principle here is that the forces at impact are absorbed by the belt system and not entirely act on the neck or spine.

The first versions had a fixed tether system for the helmet, so that hardly any lateral rotational movements of the head were possible. Then the sliding tethers system was invented later, which permits rotation of the head.

As before, the HANS system is criticized by some racers because, although it in a frontal collision protects the operator, but the neck so fixed in lateral impacts that a spinal injury is risked by the lateral body movement.

Variants

(Sitting upright, half lying ), depending on the seating position, the angle between the vertical section and the forward -facing, double-sided leg flat or sharp is. Offers systems are between 10 ° ( upright position) and 40 ° ( semi-recumbent seating position ). Also, the thickness of the neck is taken into account with two or three sizes. The different systems vary widely depending on the material used in weight, it is easy designs that are not only reinforced with carbon fibers, as well as simpler (severe) of plastics, reinforced with other fibers: 1200, 820 and 630 g

History

Mid-1980s was the HANS system by Robert Hubbard, an employee of the Michigan State University, invented. Because of the size of the first systems to be supported only in sports cars. In collaboration with Mercedes Benz, a Formula 1 -compatible version was developed in 1997, which must be worn for the 2003 season.

Use

Mandatory is a HANS system with the following competition series:

  • A1 Grand Prix
  • Champ
  • DTM since 2002
  • FIA Formula 1 World Championship since 2003
  • FIA GT World Championship
  • Formula BMW
  • GP2 Series
  • IndyCar Series
  • NASCAR since 2001
  • World Rally Championship
  • WTCC
  • ADAC Formula Masters
  • VLN Endurance Championship Nürburgring
  • Circuit Challenge Nürburgring

From 1 January 2008, it was also in the German mountain racing duty for all car classes, except group G and historic vehicles in Annex K. In Switzerland, was a start without HANS system in uphill races until 2008 in the groups SS, N and ISN possible.

The Belgian Motorsport sovereignty RACB recommended 2009 for all participants of the Belgian championship mountain wearing a HANS system; since the 2010 season, it is mandatory.

The suitability of the helmet to connect to a HANS system is detected by a hologram sticker with the labeling FIA standard 8858-2002. In all competitions FIA-sanctioned, so also for Formula 1, the more stringent standard applies FIA standard 8860-2004. Otherwise, any suitable helmet with each HANS system is combined.

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