Suit part, anti-G
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2002.0613.002
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- OBJECT TYPE
- limb/hydraulic
- DATE
- 1939
- ARTIFACT NUMBER
- 2002.0613.002
- MANUFACTURER
- University of Toronto
- MODEL
- F.F.S. III
- LOCATION
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
More Information
General Information
- Serial #
- prototype 1
- Part Number
- 2
- Total Parts
- 10
- AKA
- left forearm
- Patents
- N/A
- General Description
- cotton [and possibly other] fabric components; metal zippers and eyelets; rubber bladders and tubing; synthetic tubing connectors
Dimensions
Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.
- Length
- 37.0 cm
- Width
- 14.0 cm
- Height
- 7.0 cm
- Thickness
- N/A
- Weight
- N/A
- Diameter
- N/A
- Volume
- N/A
Lexicon
- Group
- Aviation
- Category
- Clothing
- Sub-Category
- N/A
Manufacturer
- AKA
- University
- Country
- Canada
- State/Province
- Ontario
- City
- Toronto
Context
- Country
- Canada
- State/Province
- Ontario
- Period
- This model suit used c. 1939- early 1940 [possibly for testing purposes only]
- Canada
-
Dr. W.R. Franks, Professor in Medical Research, University of Toronto was a leader in aviation research work conducted in Canada during the late 1930s-1940s on problems associated with acceleration. Among his accomplishments in the field, Franks developed an anti-G suit (the " F.F.S."] which applied pressure to the calves, thighs and abdomen to prevent pooling of the blood in the veins of these areas, and supported the increased pressure developed in the arterial bed of the same regions. This prevented blackouts and unconsciousness, and delayed the onset of fatigue- critical problems for pilots subjected to centrifugal force during aerial manoeuvrers. [Ref. 6] This [and other versions of the F.F.S.] required testing in a controlled and reproduceable environment. For this purpose, a "human centrifuge", the R.C.A.F. accelerator was designed and constructed. [see 1987.0229 and 1976.0529]. [Ref. 5] - Function
-
To prevent pooling of the blood in the veins of the abdomen and extremities. - Technical
-
The Mark III F.F.S. was the first anti-G suit to be used in actual air operations anywhere in the world. It demonstrated the value and practicality of anti-G suits, which lead to further development of the technology and later versions of the Franks suit. The first prototype suit was constructed of thin cotton and made to fit Franks himself . It was sewn together in Franks' office at the University of Toronto, and had thin rubber bladders vulcanized throughout, allowing the wearer's full body to be protected by a thin film of water. Franks wore the suit during testing in a Finch Fleet biplane. He realized that not all areas of the body required equal protection from G-forces, and modified his original prototype accordingly. This piece may be one of the elements of the refined prototype suit. [Ref. 6, p.114] The body part for which the piece was designed, and some elements of construction/finish are handwritten in black lead pencil on the exterior, suggesting it may also have served as a pattern, or provided instructions for assembly [by tailor ?]. - Area Notes
-
Unknown
Details
- Markings
- "LEFT/ FOREARM" printed in black lead pencil on white cotton form . "S&W1942" stamped into metal buckle. "978.8" printed by hand in black lead pencil on off-white paper tag tied to one length of tubing.
- Missing
- One component of suit: piece is complete in itself.
- Finish
- Off-white cotton fabric and thread; off-white elastic lacings; silver metal eyelets; black metal buckle; gold tone metal zipper [shared with .1 left upper arm segment] has black and tan colour woven fabric [cotton ?] facings; light brown and black rubber tubing extends from internal rubber bladders [tubing shared with .1 left upper arm]: tubing connectors are black metal and/or opaque brown synthetic.
- Decoration
- N/A
CITE THIS OBJECT
If you choose to share our information about this collection object, please cite:
University of Toronto, Suit part, anti-G, circa 1939, Artifact no. 2002.0613, Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation, http://collection.ingeniumcanada.org/en/id/2002.0613.002/
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