The present invention refers to the regulators for underwater breathing apparatus.
As is known, said regulators include a flexible diaphragm which, through the difference in pressure which is generated between the chamber of the regulator and the outer environment whenever the diver inhales, operates a lever coupled in well known manner to the valve controlling the air flow from the compressed air source. It happens that during the phase of entry of the diver into the water, for instance with a backward dive from a boat, it is possible that the diaphragm will be subjected to an excessive flexion due to the sudden pressure increase caused by the impact with the water, which in turn causes an excessive movement of the lever coupled to the valve controlling the air flow, giving rise to undesired self-delivery effects.
It is therefore the main object of the present invention to obviate to the drawbacks of the known regulators by providing the regulators with a manually operable device which may be operated from a first operational position in which it is capable of preventing, when the diver enters the water, the excessive shifting of the lever associated with the valve controlling the air flow and which, when the diver is underwater, may be shifted to a second operational position in which it allows the lever to perform its normal function of controlling the compressed air inlet duct.
According to the present invention said object is obtained by providing a regulator for an underwater breathing apparatus of the kind comprising a box-like body having a first and end a second end; a chamber in said body, the chamber containing a regulating device for regulating the flow of air; a mouthpiece tube connected to the first end of the body and carrying a mouthpiece; an air inlet hose connected to the body by means of an air inlet valve, the valve being controlled by the regulating device; a diaphragm for actuating the regulating device when a user inhales, at least on exhaust hose connected to the body; and means manually operable from the outside and movable from a first position, in which it limits the movement of the regulating device, to a second position in which it allows the unlimited movement of the regulating device.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description, made with reference to the enclosed drawing, in which:
In
On a side wall 104 of the box-like body 1 near the place where the diaphragm 4 is housed, in this case it is the wall opposite to the compressed air inlet duct 2, there is provided a limiting device for limiting the movement of the lever 5 toward the inside of the chamber 3. This device includes a knob 16 connected through a screw 17 to an end of a spindle 18 housed within a through hole 19 formed on the side wall 104 of the regulator. The other end of the spindle 18 extends within the regulator chamber 3 and to the end a substantially “L” shaped element formed by a base 21 parallel and spaced from the spindle 18 and by a shank 22 orthogonal to said spindle 18. Near the “L” shaped element 20, in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the spindle 18, a pin 23 is secured to the spindle 18. The pin 23 may be accomodated in one of two diametrically opposed seats 24 and 25 formed on the inner side wall 104 of the regulator. As mentioned, the spindle 18 has an end extending outside of the regulator to which is connected a knob 16. The knob 16 is internally provided with a cylindrical seat 26 coupled to a cylindrical pin 27 projecting outward from the side wall 104. The cylindrical pin 27 has an axial annular groove 28 in which is inserted one end of a compressed spring 29, whose other end is fastened in the bottom wall of the cylindrical seat 26 of the knob 16. Moreover, in order to guarantee the watertight sealing of the above described limiting device, there is provided a sealing ring 30 inserted between the spindle 18 and the inner wall of the through hole 19.
The operation of the limiting device is as follows: normally the “L” shaped element 20 is in an inactive position, which is the position shown with the dotted line in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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GE2001A0028 | Mar 2001 | IT | national |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20020134386 A1 | Sep 2002 | US |