“How does that seal?” or “What keeps the space out?”
Here are some photos of the seal arrangement between the pressure helmet and the ring on the suit. In photo 1 you can see one of the latches that are located around the ring. Just below it is the rubber seal. This is not an "O" ring in the normal sense, in profile it looks more like a windshield wiper.
In photo 2 you can see the latch in its full open or unlatched location. This allows the flange on the helmet to pass the latch and contact the seal. The lower part of the helmet flange is pushed into the seal forming and air tight connection.
In photo 3 you can see the flange on the helmet.
Photo 4 shows the helmet seated in the ring
Photo 5 is the same view as photo 1 except with the helmet fully engaged into the ring on the suit.
I hope this explains a bit more clearly the simple yet elegant methods used to seal up the A7L. Many of the same methods and hardware are still in use today.
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All of this information is great and really illuminates the amount of research you’ve done. The working of the neck seal is MUCH clearer to me now, thank you. I assume the principle is the same for the wrist connections, as well. How I’m going to manage to manufacture something like that it going to require a bit of a think, however.
Hello, I am French and I am a webmaster of a site totally dedicated to the program Apollo
I would have a question in you put :
-”How on the true space suit A7L are fixed wrist connectors and the neck ring????????
Thank in advance for your answer
Best regard
(sorry for my poor english)
Interesting topic I enjoyed reading and looking at the photos. Thanks.
Is that the astronauts’ suit on the photo? So this is how they made it? Wow what a very long and detailed process.