TIM™ Thermal Instrumented Manikin

Ed Smallhorn of S.E.A. was the project and design engineer responsible for the TIM™ series of thermal manikins designed and developed for The Cord Group Limited. The TIM™ Thermal Manikin Test System is designed for evaluating the thermal insulation of protective clothing. 

The system is specifically designed to test survival suits for ocean emergencies but can be used to test any thermal protective garments or systems such as snowmobile suits and sleeping bags.

The system consists of a manikin and data acquisition/control system connected to a computer running special purpose software. The manikin itself has 15 sections based on aluminum castings equipped with temperature sensors and electric heaters. Shoulder and hip joints are rotatable to allow the manikin to assume seated and standing test positions. All stationary and moveable joints in the manikin are sealed making the manikin immersible.

In operation, the manikin is dressed in the suit to be tested and immersed in a suitable environment.  The computing equipment then controls the heaters to maintain the skin of the manikin at a set temperature, and measures the electrical power required to do so. This power is equivalent to the heat that escaped through the suit due to the temperature difference across it. The power and temperature difference are then used, along with the known surface area of the manikin to calculate the thermal resistance offered by the suit.

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