ALTITUDE PROTECTION DEVICE

The altitude protection device according to the invention for an acceleration protection suit (1) operating according to the hydrostatic principle and having a plurality of liquid-filled veins (4) consists of a bladder (3) inserted in a pocket (2) and consisting of an elastic plastic. A knitted spacer fabric, preferably consisting of monofilament material, is enclosed in the pocket (2). This fabric is non-compressible under the loads to be provided and thus defines a minimum volume in the interior of the bladder (3). The bladder (3) is closed off or opened relative to the surrounding air in the aircraft cabin by means of a valve (5). The valve (5) is set up in such a way that it is opened if(see formula I) and closes if (see formula II) where (see formula III) represents the rate of change in the cabin pressure (see formula IV) and (see formula IV) represents a presettable maximum value of the rate of change. If the valve (5) closes and the cabin pressure falls further, the air located in the bladder (3) inflates the bladder (3) and the pocket (2), thus leading to an increased tensile stress in the fabric of the acceleration protection suit (1). This is transmitted to the veins (4). Their internal pressure consequently also rises; this results in an increased internal pressure in the entire acceleration protection suit (1).