Patent Grant
8568062
This application is a national stage entry under 35 U.S.C. 371 of International Application No. PCT/SE2008/050532, filed 8 May 2008, designating the United States. This application claims foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 and 365 to Swedish Patent Application No. 0701214-9, filed 18 May 2007.
The present invention relates to a safety device, diving equipment and a safety method in connection with SCUBA diving in order to control a diver's buoyancy, wherein the diver is equipped with diving equipment comprising at least one air pressure tank, a valve device connected to the pressure tank and arranged to supply air from said pressure tank via first supply means to a breathing regulator and via second supply means to an inflatable diving jacket in order to control the diver's buoyancy, an actuator being able to automatically initiate inflation of the diving jacket when the diver has not affected the air flow through the breathing regulator for a certain time period, wherein said actuator is controlled by an actuation mechanism that automatically sets the actuator in active mode when the diver is within an actuation zone. The invention also comprises an inflatable diving jacket comprising a weight pocket system. Moreover, the invention relates to a device for controlling a diver's buoyancy. The invention also relates to an inflatable diving jacket based on modules and comprising a compact pressure tank package and an inflator.
In skin diving with dive tanks, so called SCUBA diving (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus), the diver is provided with air from pressure tanks that he carries with him during the dive. For obvious reasons it is extremely important that the diving takes place in an appropriate way in order for accidents not to occur. Most persons that plan to dive choose to participate in training before starting to dive for real. Throughout the years, many appliances have been developed in order to prevent accidents in connection with diving. One example is the inflatable diving jacket carried by the diver, which helps him to control buoyancy and which is used in combination with weights in order to help the diver to descend. Examples of other appliances are tables and portable dive computers that help the divers to plan diving in order not to risk the bends or having to surface quickly because air is running out e.g. The diving equipment itself has also been developed and has been provided with devices that aim to prevent accidents. Most of these devices have the object of detecting any problems arising or to facilitate for the diver during a dive. Existing equipment, not least existing diving jackets, however suffer from drawbacks that may result in safety risks and/or do not adequately motivate the diver to improve the safety aspect of his or her diving equipment.
One situation that quite frequently results in near-accidents and sometimes in drowning is when the diver for some reason is suffering from stress as he surfaces. A standard protocol is that when the diver surfaces he should first make sure of his own buoyancy by air filling the diving jacket before removing the breathing regulator from the mouth. If a diver in that situation does not succeed in making sure of his own buoyancy by air filling the diving jacket, he will soon begin to sink due to the weight of the diving equipment. For this reason, accidents have occurred in which people have drowned despite diving in water with a depth of no more than two metres.
Safety devices are previously known in connection with diving equipment, with the purpose of improving the safety aspects in respect of the latter mentioned drawbacks. From FR 2741853 it is e.g. known such a device that comprises sensors in combination with actuation means in order, in connection with certain predetermined conditions, to initiate inflation of a diving jacket in order to eliminate situations of potential drowning. A device is further known from EP 034569, having a system that is intended to automatically inflate a life jacket upon cessation of breathing. A safety system is furthermore known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,418, which is intended to result in automatic inflation of a diving jacket upon cessation of breathing. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,543 it is further shown a device that stated to aid the diver in automatic control of buoyancy. Also U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,623 shows a similar device. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,738 it is further shown yet a variant of a safety device in connection with diving. According to this device there is provided equipment to control that a diver is not at a depth for which he doesn't have enough air left in the pressure tank. In the event that the device detects that the pressure tank does not contain enough air, the device will automatically inflate the diver's jacket such that the diver will ascend. The device can also be set to achieve an automated ascent up to surface if the diver descends to a predetermined maximum depth. None of these known devices can however be considered to satisfactorily solve the problem.
As to another safety aspect, the diver is trained to increase his buoyancy in an emergency situation by releasing the weights carried in a separate weight belt or in pockets at the front of and at the lower edge of the diving jacket. Therefore, weight belts and diving jackets are provided with buckles that are intended to be released by a simple hand manoeuvre in order for the weights to be quickly released, see for example Mares' diving jacket of model Dragon, which can be seen on Mares' website www.mares.com. Despite the efforts undertaken to facilitate the releasing of weights, it has been observed that only a few percent of divers killed have released the weights. The major reason for this is most likely that the diver acts irrationally in an emergency situation and in fact does not even try to release his weights. A diving buddy that attempts to release the weights will also face a very large risk due to the positioning of the weights.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved safety method in connection with SCUBA diving. This is achieved by initiating inflation of the diving jacket and dumping of the weights in the diving jacket, if the diver has not affected the flow of air through the breathing regulator for a certain predefined time. The invention also relates to a safety device for achieving this safety method. The invention also comprises a diving jacket that comprises a system of weight pockets that can be automatically released when the safety device is affected, and weights adapted to achieve this function. The invention also relates to an inflatable diving jacket based on modules and comprising a compact pressure tank package and an inflator.
Thanks to the invention, a diver that would otherwise risk drowning will be safely brought up to the water surface. By the method being based on sensing whether the diver breathes in his breathing regulator, the safety device can be arranged to initiate inflation of the diving jacket in situations in which normal safety systems would not detect the emergency, for example if the diver is apparently under control close to the water surface but without breathing in his breathing regulator (for a certain predefined time), which could for example be the case due to heart problems. Furthermore, the safety device can be arranged to initiate dumping of the weights of the diving jacket according to the invention, in order additionally to improve the diver's buoyancy, which together with the automatic inflation of the diving jacket will result in a synergistic effect.
In a preferred embodiment, the safety device is operated by air from the pressure tank, which means that the safety device will have high reliability. A preferred device according to the invention is also characterised in that it is affected only by a few components that are suitably known per se at the market, whereby product costs can be kept down. According to a preferred embodiment, the safety device is easy to connect to existing diving equipment or it can be integrated in new equipment, for example in connection with the pressure tank at the jacket or integrated in a dive computer. Thereby, safety in connection with SCUBA diving can be considerably improved in a flexible way and at a relatively reasonable cost. By being able to use the invention in principle in combination with existing equipment independent of the make, a diver may continue to use the equipment that he is most comfortable with, resulting in additional synergy in respect of safety. There may however result an additional function of the safety device if it is combined with a diving jacket according to the invention, which is arranged to allow for automatic dumping of the weights that the diver carries with him in order to descend. This function constitutes an essential part of the inventive idea and in the following description such a diving jacket has been used in order fully to exemplify the function of the safety device. It is however clear from the description that a number of combinations are possible of the safety device, parts of the inventive equipment and existing equipment, whereby the diver will be able to upgrade his equipment step by step.
In order not to risk injuries due to rapid ascent from a large depth to the water surface, the method is primarily intended to initiate inflation of the diving jacket and dumping of the weights when the diver is (or recently has been) in a position close to the water surface. This is suitably achieved by providing the diving equipment with an actuator that initiates inflation of the diving jacket and dumping of the weights when the diver is in an actuation zone just below the water surface. Such a device is known from e.g. the applicant's patent application no. PCT/SE2006/050493. A reference to that document is hereby introduced.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, the actuator is preferably actuated if the diver is within an actuation zone A that is limited by an upper predefined actuation depth D1 and a lower predefined actuation depth D2. Hereby, the advantage is also attained that the jacket is prevented from being inflated if the diver is at a depth from which a direct ascent to surface is not desirable/suitable. For that reason, the upper predefined actuation depth suitably corresponds to a depth of between immediately below the water surface to a depth of 1 m, preferably 0.1-0.5 m, more preferred 0.1-0.3 m, most preferred about 0.2 m below water surface, and the lower predefined actuation depth corresponds to a depth chosen in consideration to preferences, e.g. a depth immediately above the usual depth for so called safety stops in connection with ascendance to surface, preferably 2-5 m, more preferred 3 m, most preferred about 2.5 m below water surface.
By the actuator preferably comprising a pressure sensing means that detects the diver's depth D, the advantage is attained that as soon as the diver enters the actuation zone the safety system is automatically activated at the same time the system prevents inflation of the diving jacket and dumping of weights when the diver is at a depth from which a rapid ascent to surface would be a serious health hazard. Whether the diver enters the actuation zone on his way down or on his way up to the surface is of no importance in this connection. By all components of the safety device only requiring pressurized air for operation, which pressurized air is always available from the pressure tank, a very reliable safety method can be provided. Of course the actuation zone can be adapted as desired and in dependence of how the diving in question is to take place.
Additional aspects of the invention are clear from the additional dependent claims and from the description.
In addition to this, the safety method, the safety device and the diving jacket according to the invention should also contribute to the achievement of one, some or preferably most of the objects listed below:
In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the attached drawing figures, of which:
a schematically shows a set of diving equipment according to an embodiment of the invention,
b schematically shows one embodiment of a pocket for a diving weight and a diving weight,
c schematically shows a set of diving equipment according to yet an embodiment of the invention,
a shows a side view of an inflator according to the invention,
b shows a cross-section of the flexible tube 12 with the cord 18 and the fourth connection 39 that runs inside it.
a-b show top view of a jacket coupling according to the invention,
a-b show a bottom view of an inflator coupling according to the invention,
a-b show an alternative embodiment of a pocket and a weight,
a shows a detailed side view of the holder 14,
b shows a detailed top view of the holder 14,
a-c show the holder 14 in different positions in a side view,
a-c show the weight dumping device 15 in different positions in a side view,
a shows a set of diving equipment used in connection with SCUBA diving. The equipment comprises at least one pressure tank 1, a valve device 2 connected to the pressure tank and arranged to supply air from said pressure tank via a first flexible tube to a breathing regulator 4. The valve device 2 is also arranged to lead air from the pressure tank to a so called diving jacket 6 and to a so called inflator 3 by aid of which the diver can manually inflate the diving jacket with air from the pressure tank 1, or alternatively release air from the diving jacket. The diving jacket 6, which is inflatable, is carried by the diver and it is used to control his buoyancy. In the shown embodiment, the diving jacket 6 is supplied with air via a second flexible tube 7 from the pressure tank. The inflator 3 is supplied with air from the pressure tank via a third flexible tube 9 that is connected to the pressure tank. A fourth flexible tube 12 connects the inflator 3 with the diving jacket 6, via a coupling device 17.
The diving jacket comprises pockets 13 for weights 11 that aid the diver to descend. The pockets are preferably positioned along the lower edges of the front side and the side of the diving jacket 6. The pockets comprise one holder 14 each, by aid of which the weights 11 can be retained in the pockets. The holders are connected, via a respective coupling mechanism 16, with a weight dumping device 15 that is arranged as a unit integral with the diving jacket. The weight dumping device, here indicated by a handle, comprises a release mechanism 42 that initiates the dumping of the weights. This part of the invention is applicable without connection with the other parts of the inventive concept. In other words, an inventive diving jacket 6 may offer a substantially facilitated manual dumping of the weights as compared with prior art diving jackets. Thereby, the chance of a diver in an emergency situation managing to dump the weights and thereby achieve improved buoyancy is improved. It is also realised that another person that comes to the diver's rescue will be able to assist the diver in dumping the weights in a manner that is substantially much easier, quicker and more safe to himself.
The pockets 13 are preferably rigid and suitably they have a slightly conical shape. Pockets are e.g. shown in the figure, which remind of a cowbell. The pockets are positioned with their mouths directed essentially straight down, whereby the weights may fall from the pockets with the smallest possible resistance. The weights as well as the pockets are preferably manufactured from a material that renders the friction them between as small as possible. Alternatively, they are surface treated or covered/dressed in such a material.
The figure shows pockets that have a principally vertical falling line. By falling line is intended the line along which the weights fall when the diver is in a vertical position. The invention is however not limited to diving jackets with pockets directed accordingly, but it is realised that the pockets can be directed with downwards inclination as long as the weights can fall by themselves from the pockets, i.e. under influence of their own weight only, even if the diver is not in a vertical position. One possible direction can e.g. be with a slight inclination downwards, forwards, which facilitates for the weights to fall down when the diver is swimming, which he often does with his body in an essentially horizontal plane. Thanks to the pockets being given a conical shape, such a direction of the pockets will mean that the weights can fall down by their own weight, even if the diver happens to lean somewhat backwards. Naturally, it is possible to combine pockets of different directions, whereby the pockets that are positioned along the side of the diving jacket e.g. can be given an essentially vertical falling line, while the pockets on the front side of the jacket are given a falling line that is directed with an inclination downwards, forwards.
The diving equipment further comprises an actuator 8 that is arranged to communicate with said valve device 2 in order to initiate inflation of the diving jacket 6. Suitably, the actuator 8 is arranged also to initiate dumping of the weights of the diving jacket, preferably at the same time as the inflation of the diving jacket is initiated. For this function, there is a connection 41 between the coupling device 17 and the release mechanism 42 that cooperates with the couplings 16. Suitably, the actuator 8 is connected with the valve device 2 such that the connection them between is flexible, e.g. in the form of an intermediate elastic tube means (not shown) that allows for a certain pliability with the purpose of preventing impacts or knocks from resulting in large forces on the connection. The valve device 2 is suitably of conventional type and normally comprises a reduction valve (not shown) that reduces the air pressure from the pressure tank 1 (normally about 20-30 MPa). On the outlet side, the valve device comprises a number of tube couplings to which the actuator, the diving jacket, the regulator, the inflator etc. can be connected and provided with air of lower pressure, normally 0.8-1.1 MPa. One essential aspect for this is that the outlet side of the valve device 2 comprises a continuous room that is connected with the tube couplings. Thereby, the devices that are connected to the valve device will be in open communication with each other.
b shows a pocket 13 and a weight 11. The pocket 13 comprises a holder 14 that is arranged to retain the weight in the pocket (schematically shown). The holder 14 is connected to a weight dumping device 15, here indicated by a handle that is arranged, via a release mechanism 42 (not shown) and a coupling mechanism 16, to affect the holder 14 to release the weight, which is indicated by an arrow. The weight 11 comprises an attachment 120 arranged to cooperate with the holder 14. The weights also comprise some type of handle 121 that facilitates insertion and withdrawal of the weights into/from the pockets. The holder 14 and the attachment 120 could for example consist of magnets that hold the weight by magnetic force. Other attachment devices (magnets) 122, 123 can be arranged at the sides of the pocket and the weight, respectively, which cooperate and give a supplementary retaining force that is however not enough by itself to retain the weight in the pocket. In the shown example, automatic dumping of the weights is achieved by separation of any of the magnet pairs, here the pair of magnets that consists of magnets with the reference number 14 and 80, respectively. It is realised that the above mentioned is but one example of a manner of retaining and releasing the weight, respectively, and that other manners of achieving the same function naturally are included in the invention.
c shows a set of diving equipment with an actuator 8 according to the invention, which is integral with the inflator 3. In this embodiment, the second flexible tube 7 can be dispended with and instead the air from the pressure tank 1 is lead to the inflator 3 via a third flexible tube 9 that accordingly also will provide the actuator 8 with air. For the rest, the same parts are comprised as is shown in
In one embodiment according to the invention the pressure sensing valve 20 is constituted by a governor valve that operates between two end positions. The valve 20 is then closed in either end position, such that air cannot be conveyed through the valve 20 and into the conduit L10 to the diaphragm valve 21. Only in the case that a pressure from the surrounding water 200 affects the valve to make its pressure sensing means to indicate predetermined values, resulting in a position in between the above mentioned end positions, the pressure sensing valve 20 will open up the connection to supply air from the pressure tank 1, via the supply conduit L1a and further through its outlet L10 to the diaphragm valve 21.
The diaphragm valve 21 is a directional valve that guides the incoming air from the outlet L10 in the pressure sensing valve 20 (the air flow that comes in via the supply conduit L1a) to flow via said third connection L20 or said fourth connection L21. When the air pressure in L1b is static, which air pressure acts on the diaphragm valve 21, it will direct the air to flow out into said third connection L20. When there is a change in air pressure in the conduit L1b (which takes place in connection with an inhalation) the diaphragm moves inside the diaphragm valve 21, which in turn affects the direction of the flow through the diaphragm valve 21 to shift from going to L20 instead to go to the fourth connection L21.
Accordingly, the only driving air flow to the diaphragm valve 21 comes via conduit L10 and when it is active the air flow is directed through the diaphragm valve either to the third supply conduit L20 or to the fourth supply conduit L21, both of which are in communication with the delay means 22.
The delay means 22 operates to forward the air flow from the third supply conduit L20 to the conduit L3 only after a certain time period has lapsed, i.e. after a certain time delay. One of the inlets S1 to the delay means 22 must accordingly have been affected by an active pressure via conduit L20, in order for air to flow through the delay means 22 to the triggering valve 23. A resetting mechanism 22 is built into the delay means 22, which mechanism is coupled to the second inlet S2. This resetting mechanism, via the inlet S2, is activated when the diaphragm valve directs the air flow from the outlet L10 to go through the fourth supply conduit L21. This redirection takes place in its turn as soon as a pressure change is noted in the diaphragm valve 21. The air flow is accordingly deflected from L10 as soon as an inhalation takes place, which inhalation thus leads to a pressure change in the conduit L1b that is connected to the diaphragm valve. As soon as such a pressure change is perceived by the diaphragm valve 21 (i.e. a confirmation of an inhalation), the air flow from L10 will accordingly reset the delay means to its original position, such that once again there is achieved a predetermined time delay before activation of the triggering valve 23 can take place. The triggering valve 23 is a simple logic element always having one of its conduits L1c connected to the outlet from the pressure tank 21 and being activated to supply air through the flexible tube 7 as soon as it gets activated via a pressure impulse in the conduit L3 that is coupled to the delay means 22.
Via a first coupling device 26 (only shown schematically in
The figure also shows a flowchart for an adapter 50 that is used in order to connect the actuator 8 to a diving jacket 6 according to the invention, via the diving jacket's coupling device 17. The adapter 50 comprises a coupling device 51, suitably of the above described type, to which the second flexible tube 7 is connected. Two flexible tubes/channels 7′, 7″ run from the coupling device 51, whereof one flexible tube/channel 7′ is arranged to inflate the diving jacket 6 with air, and the second flexible tube/channel 7″ is arranged to provide a release mechanism 42 with air in order to initiate automatic dumping of the weights. The flexible tube/channel 7′ that is arranged to inflate the diving jacket with air suitably comprises a non return valve 24, such as a ball valve, that prevents air from the diving jacket from flowing backwards to the second flexible tube/channel 7″ thereby causing an undesired dumping of the weights. The non return valve 24 is a safety arrangement that in some cases can be dispensed with if the release mechanism 42 is instead adapted to withstand the pressure from the air that otherwise would flow backwards from the diving jacket. Naturally, this presupposes that the air pressure from the diving jacket is lower than the pressure from the actuator for which the release mechanism 42 is adapted. The person skilled in the art will realise that both these pressures will vary, partly depending on the depth at which the diver is and on how much air there is left in the pressure tank. This means that certain restrictions must be introduced in terms of maximal allowed dive depth and smallest allowed pressure in the pressure tank in order for the system to work.
The flexible tube 7 is, in a manner known per se, provided at its end with a spring-loaded ball valve, which means that the flexible tube 7 seals against air flow as soon as it is disconnected from the diving jacket 6 via its coupling point in the form of the coupling device 51 on the adapter 50. This also gives a simple possibility to disconnect the safety arrangement, if desired.
In the shown embodiment, the components of the actuator are in the main mechanical components, such as pneumatic and/or hydraulic controlled valves. This also gives the advantage that the safety device 8 doesn't need electricity to work. Hereby, it can be operated only by air from the pressure tank 1 and be activated by external influence, such as a certain type of moisture and/or a certain water pressure. Hereby, reliability in operation will be extra high. By “a certain type of moisture” should be understood influence that doesn't comprise rain but moisture in a continuous pool of liquid (a lake, a swimming pool, the sea, etc.), whereby the presence of a hydrostatic pressure can be sensed without using a manometer, for example by sensing continuous moisture present on certain areas of the actuator.
With reference to
Actuation cannot take place when the diver is outside the actuation zone A, either on shore or not having commenced diving or when diving at a depth that is larger than that defined by the actuation zone A. This function, i.e. the inactive mode, is achieved by the pressure sensing valve 20 being designed to open up an actuation connection L10 under influence of an external water pressure within the range of D1-D2, which comprises the hydrostatic pressure at the upper actuation depth D1 and down to the hydrostatic pressure at the lower actuation depth D2.
At surface position or a position in which the diver 211 is just below surface 210, the valve 20 will be closed such that air cannot be supplied through its outlet conduit L10. In connection with descent the diver 211 will, at a certain point a (see
The actuation time T1 for the pressurized air to affect the delay means from start mode to trigger mode is considerably much longer, a magnitude of 10-100 times, preferably 10-20 times as long as the resetting time T2 for the pressurized air to affect the delay chamber in the opposite direction i.e. to the start mode, which resetting time T2 is not more than 2 seconds, preferably not more than 1.5 seconds and most preferred not more than 1 second.
As soon as the descending diver has passed the lower actuation depth D2, i.e. has passed point b in
When the diver is then below the lower actuation depth D2, the actuation mechanism 8 cannot be initiated since the pressure regulating valve 20 is in one of its closed positions.
When the diver then starts ascent and reaches an ascent point c at which the water 200 exerts a pressure on the pressure sensing valve 20 that once again has opened the connection to the outlet L10, driving air will once again be supplied to the diaphragm valve 21. Thereby, the functionality of the actuator 8 is the same as has been described above, as long as the diver is within the actuation zone A. The actuator will not be deactivated again until the diver has ascended to a point d at which the pressure of the surrounding water 200 falls below the predefined upper actuation depth D1. When the diver is at the surface he can accordingly throw out his breathing regulator 4 without risking that the diving jacket 6 inflates without due cause. If the diver on the other hand starts to sink, he would re-enter into the actuation zone A and in that case a deactivation of the actuator 8 can only take place by once again breathing in the breathing regulator 4. According to an alternative embodiment, the pressure sensing valve 20 is arranged such that it only arrests supply through the outlet L10 in connection with the diver leaving the actuation zone A via the lower depth limit D2, while it accordingly disconnects from actuation when the diver leaves the actuation zone A via the upper actuation depth D1. Hereby, the risk of the diving jacket 6 being inflated by error if the diver 211 after a successful ascent and before final ascent makes a brief descent, i.e. by mistake ends up in the actuation zone A just before ascent, is eliminated.
According to one embodiment according to the invention, the delay means 22 is constituted by a mechanical device comprising a hydraulic delay chamber (not shown). The hydraulic delay chamber allows an adjusting means of the delay means to move at different speeds in the two directions, by allowing a larger liquid flow through in one direction and a smaller liquid flow through in the other direction. Depending on from which conduit L20, L21 that the pressurized air acts on the hydraulic delay chamber, the adjusting means will accordingly move at different speed. When the pressurized air affects from the third conduit L20, the adjusting means will move from start mode in a direction towards trigger mode, whereby a considerably much smaller flow is allowed than if the pressurized air affects via the second conduit L21. This means that the hydraulic delay chamber will operate as a timer, for which the time for the delay means to move from start mode to trigger mode can be chosen by controlling the flow resistance in the respective direction.
Suitably, the time is chosen such that in case the diver does not breathe in the breathing regulator, the delay chamber should shift from start mode to trigger mode within 30 seconds, preferably within 20 seconds. If the diver during that time finds his breathing regulator 4 or alternatively breathes as usual in the breathing regulator when he is in the actuation zone A, the breathing will cause a pressure drop in the second connection L1b, which affects the diaphragm controlled valve 21 to redirect the air to the fourth connection L21. When the pressurized air affects this side S2 of the liquid filled delay chamber, a considerably much larger flow opens up through the delay chamber and this means that in the short time period that is required for the diver to inhale air, the liquid controlled delay chamber will be shifted to start mode and the safety function will be reset to start mode. This procedure is repeated as long as the diver is in the actuation zone A, since then the pressure valve 20 will supply driving air to the diaphragm controlled valve 21, which means that the delay chamber repeatedly starts to move in a direction from start mode to trigger mode as soon as a static pressure is reinstated in L1b, affecting the diaphragm valve 21 to guide the air towards the first side S1. The diver's breathing in the breathing regulator 4 will accordingly cause the pressure drop in the second connection L1b, which resets the delay chamber.
If on the other hand an emergency situation arises in which the diver does not find his breathing regulator within the predetermined time period, the liquid controlled delay chamber will by influence of the pressurized air be moved from start mode to trigger mode. Upon entry into the trigger position, a sixth connection L3 for pressurized air opens up via the delay chamber and to the trigger valve 23. By influence of the pressurized air via L3, the trigger valve 23 opens and thereby a direct connection L1c opens from the valve device 2 to the diver's diving jacket 6, which momentarily starts to inflate. The air will also affect the release mechanism 42 to trigger off, whereby the weights are dumped. The diver will automatically get the buoyancy needed to float up to surface.
a shows a side view (and schematically also the interior) of an inflator 3 that is known per se, which has been provided with an actuator 8 according to the invention, such that an inflator 3 of considerably much better function is thereby achieved. The inflator consists of a hollow and water tight casing, here in the form of a grip friendly handle that is connected via the third flexible tube 9 to the pressure tank 1, and via the third flexible tube 12 to the diving jacket 6. A cavity is formed inside the water tight casing 35, which cavity is in open communication with the diving jacket 6, via the flexible tube 12 and the coupling device 17. These components, i.e. the cavity in the casing 35, the flexible tube, the coupling device 17 and the diving jacket 6 will accordingly form a continuous room inside which the air can flow freely in both directions. A coupling 36 for the flexible tube 9 from the valve device 2 is advantageous a quick coupling of the same type as described above, whereby the same advantages will be achieved in respect of the possibility to disconnect the flexible tube 9. The flexible tube 12 is connected to the casing 35 in a shaft-like part that has been given a somewhat longer extension than normal in order to make room for the actuator 8. Preferably, the actuator 8 also here comprises a house 100 that advantageously can form an integral part of the casing 35 of the inflator. The house 100 accommodates the conduits and valves required according to the description above (see
Inside the casing there are a couple of valves 31, 33 that can be affected by buttons 30, 34. A second connection 37 in the form of a conduit/flexible tube for filling runs from the coupling 36 to a filling valve 31 that, when it is opened, allows air from the pressure tank to flow into the cavity in the interior of the inflator (indicated by arrows at the letter A) and further via the flexible tube 12 to the diving jacket in order to inflate the diving jacket with air. The inflator also comprises a mouthpiece 32 that is in communication with the cavity inside the inflator via a combined emptying and filling valve 33 that can be opened by the button 34.
From a branching in the second connection 37, there is a third connection 38 for pressurised air from the pressure tank 1 via the valve device 2, to the actuator 8. It should be noted that this third connection 38 is always in open communication with the valve device 2. The actuator 8 further comprises an outlet 40 for pressurised air (indicated by the arrow at the letter C) from the trigger valve 23 and the additional valve 29 (if such exists) to the hollow interior of the inflator, from which the pressurised air can flow to the diving jacket via the flexible tube 12 in order automatically to inflate the same.
From the actuator 8 there is a fourth connection 39 intended for pressurised air (indicated by the arrow at the letter D) that is to be used to initiate automatic dumping of the weights from the diving jacket. This fourth connection 39 preferably consists of a flexible tube that via the coupling device 17 and the connection 41 leads the pressurised air to a release mechanism that when affected will initiate dumping of the weights. Finally the figure shows a cord 18 that runs inside the flexible tube 12 and an attachment 19b for the cord, arranged in the casing 35. The cord 18 is connected to a spring-loaded emptying valve 79 in an inflator coupling 80 that is modified for this purpose, by aid of which the inflator 3 according to the invention can be connected to the diving jacket 6 (shown in
An inflator 3 according to the invention, which has been provided with an actuator 8 according to the invention, will accordingly enable manual as well as automatic filling of the diving jacket. Manual filling of the diving jacket takes place by depression of a first button 30 on the inflator 3, which opens the filling valve 31 that, when opened, allows air from the pressure tank to flow into the cavity in the interior of the inflator and via the flexible tube 12 to the diving jacket. The inflator furthermore comprises the mouth piece 32 through which air also can be blown into the cavity, whereby the diver himself can inflate the diving jacket. In order to be able to inflate the diving jacket via the mouth piece, the diver must open the combined emptying and filling valve 33, which is done by keeping a second button 34 depressed. Hereby a passage is opened (in the figure indicated by the arrows at the letter B) between the cavity and the mouth piece 32. This passage will also allow for emptying of air from the diving jacket, which takes place momentarily unless the diver has shut the opening of the mouth piece 32 and blows air into it. As realised, the mouth piece will also allow the diver to use the air in the diving jacket for breathing, only for a limited time however. As is also realised, a situation may arise in which the diver for some reason may have lost his breathing regulator 4, e.g. due to failure, whereby he nevertheless will be able to breathe through the mouth piece 32 by keeping both buttons 30 and 34 depressed. Thanks to an actuator according to the invention now having been integrated in the inflator, yet another important safety function can now be offered. If the diver does not have enough presence of mind to remember to open the valve 31, the actuator 8 will be activated when the predetermined time period T for delay has run out, whereby air from the pressure tank will flow into the cavity of the inflator. This air will inflate the jacket and dump the weights and at the same time the diver will receive more air for breathing. It is realised that it is an advantage if the actuator, when once having been activated, continues to be in the open position such that the connection L1c is constantly kept open for supply of breathing air from the pressure tank 1.
This part of the invention is applicable without connection with the other parts of the inventive concept. In other words, an inflator according to the invention, in which the actuator is connected as described above, can have the advantage that no additional tube is required between the actuator and the diving jacket. Nor is an additional adapter required in order to connect the tube/tubes from the actuator to the coupling device 17 on the diving jacket 6, which is the case when a separate actuator is to be connected to the diving jacket. Yet another advantage is that an outlet on the valve device 2 is liberated, which thereby can be used for other purposes. Yet another advantage is that no extra measures have to be undertaken, in the form of flexible couplings, etc., in order to make sure that the actuator 8 will withstand external loads, such as described in connection with
b shows another cross-section of the flexible tube 12 with the cord 18 and the fourth connection 39 that runs inside it.
The jacket coupling 60 according to the invention, which is joined with the diving jacket 6, comprises a threaded coupling device 62 in the form of a sleeve that is provided with a bottom 65, which is suitably arranged in air tight connection with the outer shell 61 of the diving jacket. The tube coupling 62 comprises a passage 63 for pressurised air to and from an inflatable room 64 in the interior of the diving jacket. The passage 63 consists of a through hole in the centre of a bottom piece 65 of the tube coupling. The bottom piece 65 comprises a groove 66 that extends in circumferential direction along the upper side 65b of the bottom piece. In this connection, the upper side of the bottom piece is the side that forms opposing side to the underside 65a of the bottom piece that faces the interior of the diving jacket. In the bottom of the groove 66, there is an inlet 67a to a channel 67 with an outlet 67b on the underside 65a of the bottom piece, to which the conduit 41 that forms the connection with the release mechanism 42 is connected. A sealing 90, 91a, 91b rests on the upper side 65b of the bottom piece, which sealing is at least partly held in place by a rim 98 at the edge of the opening 63. The sealing 90, 91a, 91b comprises at least one hole 92 that connects the groove 55 with a corresponding groove 66 in the overlying adapter 50. Two circular ridges 68a, 68b that surround the groove 66 are arranged on the upper side 65b of the bottom piece. These ridges cooperate with corresponding ridges 58a, 58b on the overlying adapter 50 and the sealing 90, 91a, 91b, such that two sealing contact surfaces are formed between the opposing pairs of ridges 58a, 68a, 58b, 68b and the sealing 90, 91a, 91b. The inner sealing surface 58b, 68b, 91b is primarily intended to prevent the air, that is supplied to the diving jacket via the passage 63, from flowing into the groove 66 and further through the channel 67 and the flexible tube 41, to the release mechanism 42. The outer contact surface 58a, 68a, 91a will, together with the inner contact surface 58b, 68b, 91b, make sure that the air supplied to the diving jacket via the channel 7″ is further conveyed to the channel 67. Naturally, the outer contact surface 58a, 68a, 91a will also make sure that pressurised air cannot pass through the joint between the adapter 50 and the jacket coupling 60.
The adapter 50 according to the invention, which is positioned as a joining piece between the jacket coupling 60 and a conventional inflator coupling 70, is provided with a threaded connection ring 51 that runs freely in a groove 52 in the outer edge of the adapter. The adapter and the jacket coupling 60 are connected by screwing the connection ring 51 onto the threaded tube coupling 62. The adapter can be seen simply as a sleeve with a comparatively thick wall 55, and the through hole in the centre of the sleeve consists of a passage 53 for pressurised air. At least at its lower part, the hole preferably has the same diameter as the hole that forms the passage 63 in the jacket coupling. In the wall 55, there are two channels 7′, 7″, the inlets of which coinciding in a recess in the outside of the wall to which the flexible tube 7 is connected by some type of suitable coupling 7a. Pressurised air from the actuator 8 is led via the flexible tube 7 and the two channels 7′, 7″, to the diving jacket 6
One channel 7′ is arranged to lead the pressurised air to the diving jacket 6 and mouths in the passage 53. The other channel 7″ mouths in a groove 56 in the underside 55a of the wall 55. The groove coincides in the circumferential direction with a corresponding groove 66 on the upper side 65b of the wall 65 of the jacket coupling and is surrounded by two circular ridges 58a, 58b that cooperate with corresponding ridges 68a, 68b of the underlying jacket coupling 60 and the seal 90, 91a, 91b, as is described above. The other channel 7″ is arranged, via the channel 67 of the jacket coupling 60 and the connection 41, to lead the pressurised air to the release mechanism in order to initiate automatic dumping of the weights. The channel 7′ comprises a non return valve 24, such as a ball valve, that prevents air from the diving jacket from flowing backwards to the other channel 7″, because if that happened it could cause an undesired dumping of the weights.
A threaded coupling device 59 is arranged along the outer edge of the upper side, which coupling device extends axially as a thinner wall, the dimensions of which matching a corresponding coupling device 62 of the jacket coupling 60. This is beneficial since it makes it easy to connect the adapter to an existing inflator coupling 70 without requiring other measures in the form of transitions, etc. A sealing 99 rests on the upper side 55b of the relatively thick wall, which sealing is at least partly held in place by a rim 98. On the upper side 55 of the wall there is furthermore a circular ridge 58a that cooperates with a corresponding ridge 78a of the overlying inflator coupling 70 and the sealing 99, preventing pressurised air from passing in the joint between the adapter 50 and the inflator coupling 70.
The inflator coupling 70, which is known per se, also acts as a sealing cap on the coupling device 17 and its design reminds of the adapter 50 in several aspects. The inflator coupling 70 has the shape of a round disc with a relatively thick wall 75, where the through hole in the centre of the disc forms a passage 73 for pressurised air. In the wall 75, there is a through channel 74 from the outside of the wall and in to the passage 73, to which the flexible tube 12 from the inflator 3 is connected. Via the flexible tube 12, the diving jacket can be manually filled and emptied of air, which has been described in connection with
The upper opening of the passage 73 is covered by a perforated cap 77. Inside the passage 73, there is a spring-loaded valve 70 that seals against the cap 77. The valve comprises an attachment 19a for a cord 18 that runs about a deflection means 19c and further through the channel 74 and the flexible tube 12, to the inflator 3. The valve 79 can be opened in order to release air from the diving jacket by tensioning the cord 18, which is described in connection with
The inflator coupling comprises a threaded connection ring 71 that runs freely in a groove 72 in its outer edge, by aid of which the inflator coupling can be screwed together with the adapter 50. According to the same principle as has been described above, a sealing contact surface is formed between a circular ridge 78a on the underside 75 of the wall, corresponding to the circular ridge 58c of the adapter 50 and the sealing 99.
The inflator coupling 80 according to the invention reminds largely of the known inflator coupling 70 that is also described in connection with
The flexible tube 39 is arranged, via the channel 67 of the jacket coupling 60 and the connection 41, to lead the pressurised air from the actuator 8 to the release mechanism 42 in order to initiate automatic dumping of the weights. One essential aspect in this connection is that the flexible tube 39 and the bifurcation 39a form a closed connection between the actuator 8 and the groove 76.
The groove 76 is surrounded by two circular ridges 78a, 78b, that cooperate with corresponding ridges 68a, 68b of the underlying jacket connection 60 and the sealing 90, 91a, 91b. The inner sealing surface 78b, 68b, 91b is primarily intended to prevent the air, that is supplied to the diving jacket via the passage 73, 63, from flowing into the groove 66 and further through the channel 67 and the flexible tube 41, to the release mechanism 42. The outer contact surface 78a, 68a, 91a will, together with the inner contact surface 78b, 68b, 91b, make sure that the air supplied to the diving jacket via the flexible tube 39 is further conveyed to the channel 67. Naturally, the outer contact surface 78a, 68a, 91a will also make sure that pressurised air cannot pass through the joint between the inflator coupling 80 and the jacket coupling 60.
The jacket coupling 60′ according to prior art, which is joined with the diving jacket 6 according to prior art, comprises a threaded coupling device 62′ in the form of a sleeve that is provided with a bottom 65′, which is suitably arranged in air tight connection with the outer shell 61′ of the diving jacket. The tube coupling 62′ comprises a passage 63′ for pressurised air to and from an inflatable room 64′ in the interior of the diving jacket. The passage 63′ consists of a through hole in the centre of a bottom piece 65′ of the tube coupling. A sealing 99′ rests on the upper side 65b′ of the bottom piece, which sealing is at least partly held in place by a rim 98 at the edge of the opening 63′. A circular ridge 68a′ is arranged on the upper side 65b′ of the bottom piece, which ridge cooperates with a corresponding ridge 78a of the overlying inflator device 80 and sealing 99 according to the invention, such that a sealing contact surface is formed which prevents the pressurised air that is led into the jacket via the passage 63′ from passing the joint between the two couplings 60′, 80.
It is realised that connection of a conventional diving jacket and an inflator according to the invention in which the actuator 8 is integrated, can be done without any need of extra measures, which is advantageous. By using an inflator according to the invention, all the advantages thereof are achieved except the function of automatic dumping of the weights, since a conventional diving jacket lacks this function.
a shows the upper side of a jacket coupling 60 according to the invention, in a planar view, i.e. the figure shows the side that forms opposing and cooperating side to/with the inflator coupling as these are connected to each other. The figure shows the air passage 63 to the diving jacket, the two ridges 68a, 68b that surrounds the groove 66 and in the bottom thereof the inlet 67a to the connection 41 is seen.
b shows a planar view of the jacket coupling 60 with the sealing 90 positioned therein. It is clear from the figure that the grooves of the sealing axially coincide with the groove 66 of the jacket coupling, such that air intended for initiating dumping of the weights is given free passage down into the groove.
a shows the underside of an inflator coupling according to the invention, in a planar view. The figure shows the air passage 73 to the diving jacket, the two ridges 78a, 78b that surround the groove 76 and in the bottom of the groove 76 the outlet 39a from the bifurcation 39a is seen, which supplies the pressurised air that is used to initiate dumping of the weights.
b shows the inflator coupling in a view from below. The sealing 90 has been positioned on top of the ridges 78a, 78b only to show how the sealing function is achieved on both sides of the groove 76.
From the above description of the jacket coupling 60, the sealing 90 and the inflator coupling 80, it is realised that it is advantageous, from a functional point of view among other things, to design the sealing such that the two sealing surfaces 91a, 91b that cooperate with the ridges 68a, 68b, 78a, 78b, are fixed in relation to each other by the spacing members 93 that are formed between the holes 92 of the sealing. It is also realised that it is advantageous for the inlet 67a and the outlet 39a for the air that is to initiate the dumping of the weights to be positioned in the grooves 66, 76, as this means that the connection of the couplings 60, 80 to each other can be made without having to concern about any particular way of fitting the couplings in the rotational direction. Naturally, this is also true for the above described embodiments of the coupling device 17.
a and 13b shows an alternative embodiment of the pockets 13 with the weights 11, in which the holder 14 is designed by aid of spring-loaded gripping means to grip and hold fast the attachment 120 on the upper side of the weight 13.
In this embodiment, the holder 14 is positioned inside the pocket 13, at its upper end, and is fixedly connected to the pocket casing. A coupling mechanism 16 runs via a wall entrance in the casing, which coupling mechanism 16 is connected to the weight dumping device 15 by aid of which the holder 14 can be manually locked and manually or automatically initiate dumping of the weight.
a shows a detailed side view of the holder 14. The holder comprises two shackles 143, 144 that are pivotally arranged about a shaft 140. At one of its ends, the first shackle 143 is connected to a first spring-loaded claw clutch 141a, 142a and at its other end, the first shackle comprises an attachment 45b for the coupling mechanism 16, which in this case is a pressure cable. The second shackle 144 that differs in shape from the first shackle is at one of its ends connected to a second spring-loaded claw clutch 141b, 142b and at its other end the second shackle comprises an attachment 48 for a casing 47 for the pressure cable 16. The shackles are moreover affected by a resilient force from a spring 147 (shown in
The figure shows the holder 14 in a locked position, which is clear from the fact that the coupling mechanism has been tensioned, whereby the ends of the shackles that comprise the attachment 45b for the coupling mechanism and the attachment 48 for the casing, respectively, are pulled in a direction towards each other. At the same time, the other ends that comprise the claw clutches move in a direction towards each other. As is clear from the figure, it is important that there is enough space at the side of the respective shackle, such that is can rotate outwards and release the weight. It is also realised that there must be enough space for the claw clutches to rotate outwards when the holder is in a locked position, in order to enable manual insertion and release of the weights, i.e. in the locked position shown in the figure.
14
b shows a top view of the holder 14, Here, the shaft 140 about which the shackles 143, 144 are pivotally arranged, is seen. The holder is attached to the pocket 13 casing via the shaft. The figure also shows the spring 147 that affects the shackles by an opening force.
Referring to
In order to prevent trash from risking to get stuck in the holder, thereby disturbing the function, the holder can be housed behind a wall (not shown) that separates the upper space of the pocket from the lower space that is intended to house the weight. A smaller opening may be arranged in the wall, allowing the attachment 120 to pass. The holder can also be enclosed in a casing that comprises a corresponding opening for the attachment. Naturally, the opening must be designed such that the attachment does not risk getting caught in the same, thereby preventing dumping of the weights. It is also possible to allow the wall to consist of soft bristles that efficiently will prevent trash from reaching the space around the holder but that will give way for the attachment. The wall may also consist of a flexible rubber sleeve that works in the same way. Yet an alternative is to house the holder in a space that encloses the pocket and to allow the claw clutches to act through the side walls of the pockets. In that case, the attachment 120 could be formed by grooves in the sides of the weights.
a-c shows a side view of a weight dumping device 15 that comprises a release mechanism 42. In
As soon as the air pressure via the connection 41 has stopped, the piston 46 will reassume its protruding position, by the spring pressing it out from the space 43 again. Thereafter, the handle 44 can once again be returned to its closed position, simply by being turned down, whereby the piston 46 will once again snap into the recess 49 and lock the handle 44. According to the preferred embodiment, the spring inside the space 43 is forceful enough to retain the handle in its locked position in order to prevent undesired release, but still soft enough to enable a diver by manual force to release the handle 44, i.e. turn the handle 44 and thereby press the piston 46 back against the spring force.
Many aspects will influence the choice of material and dimensions for the cylinders/containers 301, 302, 303. One basic property for the choice is that the total volume formed in the package should be large enough to house the desired amount of air. Thanks to a larger width being achieved by such a package, preferably at least 400 mm, as compared to what a traditional pressure tank may offer, the package may have a “thickness” that makes it compact and holding enough volume. Naturally, another aspect is the cost, in connection with which it is suitable to seek materials and production methods that give a reasonable level. In this connection it is advantageous to use tubes existing on the market, such as stainless tubes, of suitable dimensions (e.g. 60 mm outer diameter), which will allow for a reasonable cost of comprised materials, which tubes are suitably joined together by welding, which is a cost-efficient method that allows for high strength/tightness. The material of the cylinders/containers 301, 302, 303 is suitably a material of relatively high density, such as stainless steel, with the purpose of creating weight in the tank package, which is advantageous in connection with diving. Many advantages are achieved by the pressure tank package according to the invention. Contrary to conventional pressure tanks that are bulky, a very compact assembly is achieved according to the invention, which will result in considerably much better clearance than previously possible. Accordingly, improved availability and thereby also improved safety is achieved for the diver. Furthermore, the design of the pressure tank 1 contributes to better streamlining, whereby not at least less energy is used when a diver moves in the water. An additional and very important advantage is that the centre of gravity is moved towards the diver's body. Hereby, the diver's stability will increase since when using conventional pressure tanks 1, the centre of gravity is very far away from the diver's back whereby it will affect the diver with a moment as soon as he turns to one side. This aspect too will hence lead to improved safety in connection with diving.
If desired, the tank package can be enclosed in an openable casing 300, thereby offering the opportunity to further improve the ergonomic aspects for the user. For example, the backside of the casing can be given a very figure-hugging shape with padding to give good pressure relief against the back. One conceivable possibility for very good comfort is to provide the backside with a type of material that can be shaped after the person's back by heating and that keeps the shape upon cooling, such as is known today for individual adapting of skates e.g.
The front side of the casing 300, i.e. the side that faces the surrounding water, can be given a shape that improves diving properties additionally, such as by a streamline shape that leads the water around the casing in such a way as to improve stability during diving. Advantageously, the casing can be open to the surrounding, such that the water may flow into the casing and surround the containers/cylinders 301, 302/303, whereby the centre of gravity close to the diver is maintained. By the use of a casing, easy switching of the tank package can be offered by the casing comprising some type of attachment means for the tank package. Suitably, these attachment means can be used for tank packages of different sizes, such that the diver is given the possibility to use a tank package that holds a suitable amount of air for the planned dive.
It is furthermore clear from
According to an alternative embodiment, the other parts 306, 307 of the diving jacket 6 are formed by at least two separate units, the side pieces 306 and a front piece 307. Thanks to this system based on modules, a diver may in a flexible and variable way choose the component parts of his diving jacket 6, e.g. with the purpose of achieving different types of colour combinations, which could fulfil many purposes, such as colour combinations that provide fast/easy identification of divers in the group, aesthetically pleasing, indicating functionality, etc., and also have the positive effect of increasing the motivation of acquiring safer diving equipment. Moreover, the design enables for a partly damaged jacket to be repaired by exchange only of a limited part of the diving jacket 6. It is realised that this part of the invention is applicable without connection with the other parts of the inventive concept described above. It is in other words realised that the tank package 1 as such naturally can be used in connection with other existing sets of diving equipment and diving jackets, respectively, which are equipped with completely different types of valve devices than the above described and which also for the rest can be equipped with other types of equipment than the above described. In a corresponding manner, it is realised that the design based on modules, of a diving jacket as described above, can be used also in connection with other types of equipment than the above described, e.g. in combination with conventional pressure tanks, with or without valve devices according to the invention.
The person skilled in the art will realise that the invention should not be limited to the examples above, but the scope of the concept according to the invention comprises a large variety of elements and devices having the same functionality and being able to achieve the same purpose. It is realised for example that the actuator can be equipped with electronic sensors and regulators such as electronic pressure sensors, timing blocks, etc. It is realised for example that the breathing sensing means 21 can be composed of a variety of other devices than those described above. An obvious modification is to arrange some type of flow-sensing means in the flexible tube 5 or inside the breathing regulator 4, such as a mechanical device that indicates the emergence of a flow, e.g. a small impeller the rotation of which is detected in order to reset the delay means 22.
It is also realised that modifications in respect of the control and regulation functions of the actuator can be made within the scope of the invention. It may be desirable e.g. for an instructor in connection with training to be able to determine when the device should be activated and when not, and hence it is conceivable for the device to comprise means for remote actuation. This can be made such that the dive leader has a (small) computer unit with a display (e.g. a “Palm” or the like) that communicates with breathing sensing means arranged in connection with each breathing regulator 4, which means gives an alarm signal if a diver has not breathed in his regulator for a predetermined time period, whereby the dive leader, by aid of a remote actuation means (suitably the same unit that gives the alarm signal, e.g. the same Palm), can initiate the trigger valve 23 to open up in order for the diving jacket 6 of the equipment that gave the alarm signal (or all equipments) to inflate. Hence, it is realised that initiation of inflation of the diving jacket 6 and automatic dumping can take place in many other ways than those exemplified above.
It is also realised that the principles of the invention can be used also in connection with non conventional diving equipment, such as the case in which the diver employs a pressure tank only containing a small amount of air and that thereby doesn't need to be carried as a backpack but can be held by the diver's mouth such that no flexible tube is necessary between the pressure tank and the breathing regulator 4. Often, such a pressure tank 1 may contain an amount of air that is insufficient to secure inflation of the diving jacket 6. In that case, the diving jacket 6 can instead be provided with releasable ampoules that in connection with initiation will inflate the jacket with a suitable gas in order to provide sufficient buoyancy and preferably also will dump the weights. Of course, it is possible to use a combination of the last mentioned features, whereby the breathing regulator 4 is in electronic contact with an actuator 8 that is able to activate the interconnection from a conventional pressure tank 1, and/or ampoules according to the above. It is furthermore realised that the pressure sensing means coupled to the actuator need not be able to be mechanically affected, but instead an electronic pressure sensing means, e.g. in combination with a piezo-electric pressure sensor, can be used which controls the air supply to a valve mechanism with the same type of functionality as the diaphragm valve 21 described above. According to the same line of thought, it is realised that also the delay mechanism can be arranged to be completely electronic, for example by building in a timer function that fulfils the desired functionality, this too for example in combination with a piezo-electric pressure sensor. It is furthermore realised that many of these functions can be picked from dive computers existing today, accordingly enabling synergistic combinations. Another synergistic effect is that settings for e.g. the actuation zone, delay time, etc. are easy to change in a flexible manner. For training purposes it can also be desirable to provide a device that allows for testing the function on shore and accordingly it may be of interest to activate the device manually.
According to yet another aspect, it may be desirable to be able to increase the actuation zone, suitably coupled to some other conditions. An actuation zone that is deeper than the above given may in combination with a partial inflation of the diving jacket (which as such will result in a slow ascent to the surface) results in that the diver is transported to the surface instead of disappearing in the depth. Hereby, rescue operations can be performed in a considerably shorter time than what would otherwise be the case.
According to a modification of the invention, it can be used also to secure that persons who have drowned are brought to the surface, which is often a strong desire for the relatives. This can be achieved by coupling an additional function to said other functionalities, which function initiates triggering of the trigger valve 23 when a certain longer time period has elapsed, such as one hour, with the condition that breathing has not taken place in the breathing regulator 4 and suitably also with the condition that the pressure sensing means has not been exposed to a pressure corresponding to atmospheric pressure during this time period.
It is also within the scope of the invention to offer an automatic weight dumping function to divers that do not have a diving jacket according to the invention provided with pockets that offer this function. By arranging the pockets 13 on a belt or a harness, which is also arranged to comprise a coupling mechanism 16 and a weight dumping device 15, the diver can be offered this function. In that case, the weight dumping device is provided with pressurised air from the coupling device 17, via a separate flexible supply tube. In that case, the flexible supply tube is connected to the coupling device 17 via a special adapter that in principle is a mirror-image of the bottom piece 65 of the jacket coupling 60. The difference between this special adapter and the bottom piece 65 is that the connection 67 for pressurised air is led through the side of the adapter, to a coupling for the flexible tube 41. This special adapter is connected to the conventional jacket coupling 60′, between the latter and any one of an adapter 50 according to the invention and an inflator coupling 80 according to the invention.
It is also realised that the term connection may encompass a wide span of variation of actual embodiments, such as flexible tubes, channels that are moulded in the jacket or arranged in other ways, etc. It is also realised that many of the other mechanical components described above can be changed to other types of component variants that can offer the same function.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0701214 | May 2007 | SE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/SE2008/050532 | 5/8/2008 | WO | 00 | 3/24/2010 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2008/143581 | 11/27/2008 | WO | A |
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| 0034569 | Aug 1981 | EP |
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| International Search Report and Written Opinion issued in parent PCT Application, Oct. 28, 2011. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20100183373 A1 | Jul 2010 | US |
