Claims
- 1. An underwater whistle adapted to be coupled with a pressure hose leading from a pressure regulator mounted on the scuba diver's pressurized tank and regulating air pressure to a predetermined pressure, said whistle comprising:
- an elongate housing tube formed with a resonant chamber therein, said resonant chamber having inlet and outlet bosses, said inlet and outlet bosses each being formed with internal screw threads;
- an elongate reed plate disposed within said resonant chamber projecting from said inlet boss to said outlet boss and formed medially with a sound generating orifice;
- inlet and outlet fittings formed with external screw threads screwed into said inlet and outlet bosses, respectively, and configured with respective inlet and outlet ports;
- inlet and outlet plug means interposed between said respective inlet fitting and reed plate and said outlet fitting and reed plate and configured to direct air from said inlet fitting to one side of said orifice and from the other side of said orifice to said outlet fitting;
- inlet coupling means for coupling said pressure hose leading from said pressure regulator to said inlet fitting; and
- a control valve for controlling air flow from said outlet fitting, whereby a diver may controllably open said control valve to communicate air supplied by said pressure hose to said resonant chamber and through said orifice to cause said reed plate to vibrate and generate an audible sound vibration.
- 2. An underwater whistle as in claim 1 wherein;
- said housing tube is formed at its opposite extremities with longitudinally outwardly, radially expanding conical inlet and outlet bearing surfaces;
- said inlet and outlet plug means each include split frusto-conically shaped plugs formed by semi-conical half plugs disposed on opposite sides of the respective opposite extremities of said reed plate to be wedged between said respective bearing surfaces and the opposite sides of said reed plate; and
- said reed plate is formed with a longitudinal groove leading from the inlet end thereof to said orifice.
- 3. An underwater whistle as in claim 2 wherein:
- said inlet fitting includes an inlet coupling nipple having an air channel therethrough and formed with external screws threads;
- said inlet coupling means includes internal threads for mating with said external threads of said coupling nipple;
- an outlet nipple formed with external screw threads;
- an outlet coupling means formed with internal threads for mating with said external threads of said outlet nipple; and
- an outlet hose having an upstream end and a downstream end, said upstream end coupled with said outlet coupling nipple.
- 4. An underwater whistle for coupling with a pressure hose leading from a pressure regulator mounted on a scuba diver's pressurized air tank and regulating air pressure to a predetermined pressure, said whistle comprising:
- an elongate housing tube formed with a resonant chamber therein, said housing tube having inlet and outlet bosses, said inlet and outlet bosses each formed with internal screw threads;
- flow actuated means for generating audible vibrations, said flow actuated means received within said resonant chamber and fixedly interposed between said inlet boss and said outlet boss;
- an inlet fitting having external threads thereon for screwing into said inlet boss, said inlet fitting further having an inlet air channel therethrough;
- an outlet fitting having external threads for screwing into said outlet boss, said outlet fitting further formed with an exhaust vent therethrough;
- first and second sealing means for forming an air tight seal between said respective inlet and outlet fittings and the internal surface of said housing tube;
- an inlet coupling means for coupling said pressure hose from said pressure regulator, said inlet coupling means communicating between said pressure hose and said inlet air channel; and
- a control valve for controlling air flow from said exhaust vent, whereby when the diver opens said control valve air will flow from the pressure hose at said predetermined pressure through said resonant chamber to actuate said audible vibration generating means fixedly attached therein, thereby generating an audible sound vibration.
- 5. An underwater whistle as in claim 4 wherein:
- said inlet and outlet fittings are each formed with respective O-ring channels therein circumscribing each said fitting;
- said sealing means being O-rings dimensioned to fit within said O-ring channels whereby, when said O-ring is situated in said O-ring channel and said respective inlet and outlet fittings are screwed into said respective inlet and outlet bosses, said O-rings are snugly interposed between said inlet fitting and the internal surface of said housing tube.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This is a divisional of co-pending application Ser. No. 07/040,161 filed on Apr. 20, 1987, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,510.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to a pneumatic whistle, which can be used underwater or in an air medium, and is driven by pressure from a scuba diver's air tank. Description of the Prior Art:
Scuba (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) diving has grown as a major sport and is also practiced for commercial, technical, scientific, and military purposes. The demand for safe and reliable scuba diving equipment has expanded tremendously in the past decade, leading to major advancements in the art.
A scuba diver's breathing apparatus typically incorporates a cylinder or tank of air carried on the scuba diver's back. The cylinder is usually pressurized with normal or atmospheric air in the range of 2250-3000 pounds per square inch (psi).
Attached to, and physically part of, every compressed air cylinder is a tank valve. The function of this valve is to permit air into or out of the cylinder through an on/off control knob.
Regulators are mounted by the diver to the tank valve. Most regulators have two stages. Each stage sequentially reduces the compressed air stored in the cylinder to levels sufficient for the diver to breathe.
The first stage of the regulator reduces air cylinder pressure from 2250-3000 psi to a constant intermediate pressure of 105-145 psi. Flexible rubber hoses, also called regulator hoses, convey this intermediate air to the second stage of the regulator. The second stage further reduces the intermediate air to breathable, or ambient, air pressure. The second stage is physically connected to the diver's mouthpiece through which breathable air is inhaled. Exhaled air is exhausted from the second stage directly into the water.
Intermediate air pressure ports on the first stage of the regulator may accommodate several regulator hoses. Each hose, however, has a constant intermediate pressure of 105-145 psi. In the example just described, the regulator hose was connected to the second stage, enabling the diver to breathe ambient air.
Purposes for which each regulator hose may be used are varied. Regulator hoses coming from the first stage may also be connected to the diver's buoyancy control device (BCD), which is an inflatable vest, jacket, or collar worn by the diver. Inflation of the BCD increases a diver's buoyancy and promotes ascent. Deflation of the BCD decreases buoyancy and promotes descent. Air for inflation of the BCD is supplied by the regulator hose connected to the first stage of the regulator.
Additionally, divers may use auxillary regulator hoses from intermediate pressure ports to power underwater tools - like chissels, hammers and drills.
In the past, underwater communication between scuba divers was principally limited to visual signals, such as hand signs or light signals. Unfortunately, hand signals are not clearly discernable at night, over great distances, or under low visibility water conditions. Similarly, underwater light signals are virtually undetectable during the day at any distance. Moreover, neither hand signs nor light signals are effective if the receiving diver is not directly viewing or is inattentive to the signaller. The inability to communicate clearly between scuba divers can have life threatening consequences.
The diving community desparately demands an economical, convenient, and reliable sound generator for safe and effective communication.
There exists a need for a sound generator to communicate: between submerged dive buddies or teams of divers; between scuba instructors and students; between submerged divers and divers or personnal at the surface; and between divers and other personnel at the surface. The need exists for this sound generator to have the capability of varying the frequency emitted in order to attract or repel marine life, as well as to enhance the effectiveness of communication between divers at various depths. In short, the diving community needs a variable sound generator which may be activated by air pressure of 105-145 psi typically found in regulator hoses attached to intermediate air pressure ports on the first stage of scuba diver's regulators.
Numerous acoustical energy generators have been developed for military purposes and which mount on underwater vehicles for marking purposes, decoy purposes, communication purposes, echo ranging purposes, and the like. However, such devices typically suffer shortcomings associated with high pressure devices, like hot combustion products and exhaust gases of rocket propulsion engines. Such devices are structurally complex, requiring numerous moving and complicated parts, rendering them generally expensive and unreliable for long and service free lives.
The pneumatic whistle of the present invention is characterized by an air tight resonating tube having an inlet plug attached to a regulator hose which is connected to an intermediate pressure port on the first stage of the regulator. There is an outlet valve on the opposite end of the resonating tube. Interposed between the inlet and outlet valve is a variable sound generator responsive to air pressures on the order of 105-145 psi being applied thereto, to generate air vibrations which propogate against the wall of the resonant chamber for propogation through the surrounding water or air.
Other objects, features and variations of the invention will be evident from consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Divisions (1)
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Number |
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40161 |
Apr 1987 |
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Patent Grant
4893580
