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Author
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Topic: Apollo A7L suit zippers and pressure tests
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DG27
Member Posts: 268
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2010
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posted 10-19-2020 03:12 AM
   
quote:
Originally posted by Apolloman:
It seems to me that it's not quite the same, right? Or I misunderstand something?
My discussion you quoted was on the A7L suit. I believe Bill is specifically discussing the A7LB zipper configuration, which you can see in the photo in your posting on July 26, 2015. In the A7LB suit the restraint zipper is on the outside of the pressure sealing zipper and the restraint layer and the bladder layer are not bonded together at the zippers. The last two photos of the posting on July 7, 2015 show the zipper configuration for the A7L suit. The restraint layer is still on the outside of the bladder, however the restrain zipper is actually on the inside of the pressure sealing zipper and both zippers together with the bladder and restraint layers are bonded together at the edges of the zippers. Different configurations for different suits. |
Explorer1
Member Posts: 238
From: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Registered: Apr 2019
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posted 10-19-2020 08:27 AM
Can I ask where the zippers came from that were posted on the previous page? They appear to be in excellent condition. Were they attached to a suit at some point? |
DG27
Member Posts: 268
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2010
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posted 10-19-2020 05:46 PM
The unused zippers were spares. |
Explorer1
Member Posts: 238
From: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Registered: Apr 2019
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posted 10-21-2020 05:02 AM
What a great find. Can I ask how you came across the spare zippers? |
Graves
Member Posts: 11
From: Pearlington MS
Registered: Jan 2019
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posted 10-21-2020 08:57 AM
I, however, need a safe way to fix a stuck zipper on an old A7LB, since I was afraid to force it open. |
DG27
Member Posts: 268
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2010
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posted 10-21-2020 06:44 PM
What zipper type does it have? Is it an A7LB EVA or IVA suit. If you can send some pictures I may be able to help. |
DG27
Member Posts: 268
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2010
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posted 10-23-2020 01:48 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Explorer1:
Can I ask how you came across the spare zippers?
Found the zippers at a surplus store a long time ago. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4584
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 10-23-2020 02:23 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Graves:
I, however, need a safe way to fix a stuck zipper on an old A7LB, since I was afraid to force it open.
This will probably offer little comfort but when I visited the Garber Institute at the Smithsonian they were conserving their suit collection by NOT zipping up the suits: some that were tough to open were to be left in the zipped configuration. That said, things may have change in the last 18 years. Might be worth contacting Garber for some advice on whether or not you should consider releasing the zipper and if so how. Would love to see a picture or two of your A7LB suit if at all possible? |
Spacepsycho
Member Posts: 904
From: Huntington Beach, Calif.
Registered: Aug 2004
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posted 10-27-2020 10:56 AM
Here is a BF Goodrich zipper that I purchased with a large collection of Gemini, Apollo and Shuttle items from a Goodrich engineer. This is a double zipper for a pressure suit, there's no history on it, but it's a very interesting piece of engineering. I can't get the large zipper to move but the small inner zipper works fine. Any ideas what suit it could be from?  
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DG27
Member Posts: 268
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2010
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posted 10-29-2020 01:16 AM
Your zipper section is from an A7L suit. It has that nicely machined redundant lock to prevent the pressure zipper from inadvertently pulling open. |
Apolloman
Member Posts: 232
From: Ledignan, Gard (30), France
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 07-07-2024 01:56 PM
I'm bringing this topic up again because I've found an interesting piece of information (from my point of view) and I'd like to know what you think, or if you've heard of it before..On the PDF document entitled "Challenges in the Development of the Shuttle Extravehicular Mobility Unit" we find the following passage: Low endurance life components used for the Apollo suit had to be replaced as a result of this longer life requirement. These included the Apollo suit pressure-sealing slide fastener used for donning and doffing. This component was found to be life limited to approximately 50 opening and closing cycles, with an average of 3 replacements required in each Apollo flight suit before launch. Does anyone know about this procedure, and if so, how did they go about making the changes (up to 3). Wouldn't this weaken the zipper area? |
DG27
Member Posts: 268
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2010
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posted 07-13-2024 12:23 PM
Don't think it would weaken the area. The old zipper would be cut out and a new zipper inserted. Additional bladder fabric used to replace any damaged bladder fabric around the zipper. While I have not seen an Apollo suit with a replaced zipper, I have seen many high altitude pressure suits with zippers replaced. It is a standard repair process for suits. |
Apolloman
Member Posts: 232
From: Ledignan, Gard (30), France
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 07-15-2024 02:34 AM
Thank you for the answer. (I am sending you the document in question by e-mail.) |
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