Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6170483
-
Patent Number
6,170,483
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, November 4, 199825 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, January 9, 200123 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Weiss; John G.
- Weiss, Jr.; Joseph F.
Agents
- Ostrolenk, Faber, Gerb & Soffen, LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 128 20111
- 128 20127
- 128 20426
- 128 20522
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
Self-contained diving equipment comprising means (10) for refilling a compressed air tank (40) connected via a flexible air tube (1) to a snorkel and a breathing nozzle (70). The refilling means are deactivated when underwater, and an external air intake (61) is connected via a tube to the nozzle to feed air directly from the surface (10) when the swimmer is not underwater. The equipment further comprises a moisture removal device (20) and a filter (21) between the compressor (13) and the tank (40), as well as means (30) for controlling the activation and deactivation of the refilling means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is in the field of apparatus making it possible to stay temporarily underwater and relates more particularly to self-contained diving equipment.
To allow a swimmer to explore the deep sea, the idea of using a tube connecting his nose or his mouth to the open air has long been in existence. For example, snorkels are known in which one end is integral with a mouthpiece and in which the other end comprises a bent tube whose opening can be obstructed by a ping-pong ball when this end crosses the level of the water. The swimmer then moves about while holding his breath, that is to say he stops breathing, and his stay under the water is limited by his lung capacity, since he can no longer supply himself with air.
On the other hand, diving apparatus is known in which the diver can be supplied from compressed air cylinders, the disadvantage being considerable weight and the need to refill the cylinders in a special-purpose station.
The present invention proposes to combine these two types of apparatus so as to enable a swimmer to move around equally well at the surface or at a shallow depth, while breathing continuously in the same way, by virtue of a nozzle allowing the supply of air, whether the swimmer is at the surface of the water or submerged.
When the swimmer is travelling at the surface, means for refilling a compressed air tank are provided so as to increase the duration of underwater observation, the weight of the apparatus remaining limited.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The proposed equipment enables swimmers and holiday makers to move around in the water in complete safety after very simple introductory training in the operation of the equipment. They will thus be able to learn about underwater life without, however, having to obtain a diver's license beforehand. The equipment according to the invention is therefore particularly simple and moreover free of danger since it comprises a limiter which hampers respiration once a predetermined depth is reached.
According to the invention, the self-contained diving equipment comprises a compressed air tank connected by a flexible air tube to a breathing nozzle, at least one external air intake connected by a tube to the breathing nozzle and ensuring the direct admission of surface air when this intake is not submerged, an injector provided with means for opening or closing the air tube coming from the tank and means for closing or opening the air tube coming from the external air intake, means for refilling the compressed air tank which are able to supply the tank when the diver is at the surface and to interrupt the supply during submersion, and by means for controlling the starting and stopping of said refilling.
In a preferred embodiment, the equipment moreover comprises a depth limiter associated with a depth sensor.
Preferably, all these components are held on the user's back by virtue of a jacket or straps which can also comprise an enclosure which can be inflated if need be in order to raise the swimmer.
In one embodiment, the means for refilling the tank comprise a motor supplied from batteries and driving a compressor connected to an external air intake. It is possible to provide a moisture removal device between the compressor and the tank and also an active carbon filter.
The control means comprise a moisture detector making it possible to check whether the compressor is in the water so that it enjoys good cooling.
The appended drawing represents, by way of example, an embodiment of the subject of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a schematic view of the principal constituents of an item of self-contained equipment according to the invention,
FIG. 2
is a transverse section through a moisture removal device and through an active carbon filter,
FIG. 3
is a section through an air pressure sensor whose piston is associated with a variable resistor and whose measurement cue is returned to a control,
FIG. 4
is a section through a depth sensor whose piston is associated with a variable resistor as well as with a depth limiter and whose measurement cue is returned to a control,
FIG. 5
is a section through a snorkel comprising the air intake required by the diver as well as the air intake required by the compressor, and
FIG. 6
is a section through the nozzle comprising the whole of the underwater breathing part and the air intake required for surface respiration correctly speaking and its surface/underwater convertor.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the drawing of
FIG. 1
, the components grouped together inside the rectangle
10
constitute means for refilling with compressed air, which take in the external air via the tube
1
coming from the snorkel
12
.
As a variant, the tube
11
can be connected directly to a compressed air reserve which is independent of the swimmer and which thus makes it possible to refill the tank
40
with the aid of a cylinder.
The compressed air passes in succession through a moisture removal device
20
and a carbon filter
21
before being fed into a tank
40
. On leaving the tank, the pressurized air passes through a pressure sensor
30
and also a depth sensor associated with a depth limiter
50
before arriving, via a flexible hose
51
, at the breathing nozzle
70
, which can also receive surface air directly via a flexible hose
61
leading into a snorkel
12
.
The means
10
for refilling with compressed air comprise a snorkel
12
which conveys the air taken in at the surface to a compressor
13
actuated by a motor
14
supplied from a pack of removable batteries
15
. The air is compressed to
12
bar and leaves via the tube
11
heading for the moisture removal device
20
and the active carbon filter
21
. Control means
16
are moreover subject to moisture detectors
17
and
18
, integral with the compressor
13
, and so that the compresson is in the water at the time that the motor started up by the control
16
.
Start-up occurs only when the assembly is submerged and when the aqueous link between the electrodes maintains a closed contact (cue sent by detectors
17
,
18
).
The device
20
for moisture removal and for filtering
21
is represented in FIG.
2
and makes it possible to recover the condensation arising from the difference in temperature between the compressor
13
(which is at around 60° C.) and the aquatic medium (around 20° C.). This device provides the user with dry air devoid of impurities which are harmful to respiration. It comprises a receptacle
22
which can be removed with respect to a cover
23
constituting a support. The cover
23
makes it possible to connect the tube
11
to a bent inlet passage
24
provided with spray holes
25
in its lower part. The cover also supports a bent outlet passage
26
comprising suction holes
27
. This outlet passage passes through an active carbon filter
28
and providing for the filtering of impurities. The dry air emerges via the tube
21
to the pressure sensor
30
(FIG.
1
).
The pressure sensor
30
shown schematically in
FIG. 3
is branched off from the tube
21
of
FIG. 1
, which opens out into an enclosure
32
containing a piston
33
which can move against a spring
34
. When the air arriving via the tube
21
displaces the piston downward to the maximum, the rod
35
of the piston drives the variable resistor
36
, the cue from which triggers the stoppage of the compressor
13
by way of the control
16
represented in FIG.
1
.
When the diver uses air while submerged and when the pressure is decreasing in the enclosure
32
, the piston rises and the rod
35
drives the variable resistor
36
, the cue from which actuates a buzzer
93
by way of the control
16
, represented in
FIG. 1
, to signal to the diver that he is running on the air reserve.
Indeed, when the pressure is insufficient, the piston
33
is held back by the spring
34
which is calibrated to 0.8 bar. As soon as the pressure rises, the piston moves linearly, until a maximum pressure of 12 bar is reached, at which value it switches off the compressor by way of the control
16
.
The enclosure
40
constitutes the air tank carried by the diver.
The depth sensor associated with the depth limiter
50
is provided to prevent a novice from descending to levels which call for the observance of decompression stages and also problems of pulmonary overpressure during ascent, and it is designed to limit the use of the equipment to above a depth of around 5 meters. As may be seen in
FIG. 4
, this limiter comprises a piston
52
arranged in an enclosure
53
and comprising an opening
54
to the outside. The piston is held back by the spring
55
which is calibrated to 0.5 bar. The piston
52
comprises a restriction represented in the drawing substantially level with the tubes
41
and
51
, in which position the air passes easily through the limiter. At a pressure of greater than 1.5 bar, the piston continues to descend, progressively closing the passage between the tubes
41
and
51
. The piston is limited in its travel by the mechanical stop
57
, in a position which ensures reduced air passage between the tubes
41
and
51
. The diver has difficulty breathing and is aware that he merely needs to ascend above the maximum depth permitted. Furthermore, the rod
58
of the piston drives the variable resistor
60
, the cue from which is sent to the control
16
so as to process and record the submersion profile. The control
16
triggers a buzzer or an audible alarm
93
.
The snorkel
12
represented in
FIG. 5
consists of a cylindrical enclosure
62
for closing the tube
61
, which enclosure comprises passages
63
which provide for air intake from outside. The enclosure
62
houses a movable float
64
provided, in its upper part, with a seal
65
intended to close off the openings
66
connecting with the tube
61
and, in its lower part, with a buoyancy ring
67
, made for example of cork. The position represented in the drawing is that in which the external air passes into the tube
61
through the passages
63
and the openings
66
. A valve
68
provides for the water-tightness of the tube
61
in the submersion mode. A hose
69
supplies the compressor with air.
On diving, the float
64
closes the openings
66
and during submersion it is the hydrostatic pressure acting on the surface of the assembly
64
which keeps the assembly in the closed position.
The breathing nozzle
70
is represented in section in FIG.
6
. The enclosure
71
is provided with the following elements:
a first nozzle
72
enabling connection of the tube
51
conveying the air from the tank
40
, a second nozzle
73
for connection of the tube
61
which directly conveys the surface air entering the snorkel
12
, a breathing mouthpiece
74
, an exhalation valve
75
, a hydrostatic diaphragm
76
which can move under the action of the pressure in the opening
77
and a pushrod
78
which enables the enclosure to be purged manually. All these components being fully known to those skilled in the art, their set-up will not be described in detail here.
The displacement of the hydrostatic diaphragm
76
acts on an injector
81
,
82
,
83
and
85
which is as already mentioned provided with means for opening or closing the tubes
72
and
73
. More precisely, in the embodiment represented in
FIG. 6
, the injector consists of a rod
81
having a spherical end
82
and a frustoconical end
83
, the rod
81
passing through a cylindrical cage (not shown) which also accommodates a spring
85
.
When the diver is at the surface, the injector is in the position represented in the drawing, the compressed air arriving via the tube
51
pushes the frustoconical end
83
which bears against the upper part of the cylindrical cage
84
, closing the first nozzle
72
and consequently the tube
51
. At the surface, the diver receives atmospheric air directly via the tube
61
, which air passes through the snorkel
12
and can be breathed through the breathing mouthpiece
74
. On exhalation, the diver discharges the gas via the exhalation valve
75
.
In submersion mode detector
18
submerged), the snorkel
12
is closed and when the diver breathes he causes a pressure reduction in the enclosure
71
. The hydrostatic diaphragm
76
moves inward, pushing the spherical end
82
upward, thereby displacing the rod
81
and consequently the frustoconical end
83
, which opens the passage in the nozzle
72
for connection to the tube
41
and
51
, conveying the air from the tank
40
. The compressed air arriving in the enclosure
71
pushes the diaphragm
76
back downward and, under the action of the spring
85
, the injector returns to the position represented in the drawing. This represents a situation of servocontrol and hydrostatic equilibrium.
A tube
86
passing through the enclosure
71
takes external air from the snorkel
12
and sends it to the compressor
13
via the tube
1
.
As already mentioned, the majority of the components described are held on the user's back by virtue of a jacket or straps, which are not represented in the drawing, with the exception of the nozzle
70
and the snorkel, the tubes
51
and
1
consisting of flexible hoses. Furthermore, the jacket can include an enclosure which can be inflated by virtue of a carbon dioxide canister so as to raise the diver. As a variant, provision may be made to inflate this kind of buoy automatically when the air pressure in the tank drops below a predetermined threshold.
Returning to the general view of
FIG. 1
, the presence will also be noted of the emitter of acoustic signals
93
, actuated by the control
16
which receives the cue from the sensor
30
when the pressure of the compressed air decreases, and the cue from the depth sensor
50
when the swimmer descends below the predetermined depth threshold. It will also be recalled that the previously mentioned moisture detector
18
comprises electrodes which, when they are in the water, close a contact, permitting the motor
14
to be started only when the assembly is submerged.
Claims
- 1. Self-contained diving equipment comprising:a compressed air tank, a breathing nozzle, a first flexible air tube connecting the compressed air tank to the breathing nozzle to supply air to the breathing nozzle; an external air intake a compressor, a second tube connecting the compressor to the compressed air tank to supply air to the tank, apparatus for operating the compressor for refilling the compressed air tank when the external air intake is not submerged and to interrupt the refilling of the compressed air tank when the external air supply is submerged including a device for controlling starting and stopping refilling of the tank; a third tube connecting the external air intake to the breathing nozzle for insuring direct admission of surface air to the external air intake when the external air intake is not submerged; a fourth tube for supplying air from the external air intake to the compressor; a snorkel between the external air intake and the third tube to the breathing nozzle and between the external air intake and the compressor, the snorkel provided with first means for opening and closing the third tube between the external air intake to the snorkel and the breathing nozzle and with second means for opening and closing the fourth tube connecting the external air intake to the compressor.
- 2. The diving equipment of claim 1, wherein the apparatus for operating the compressor comprises a motor for driving the compressor and batteries for operating the motor, the compressor being connected to the external air intake of the snorkel.
- 3. The equipment of claims 2, further comprising a moisture removal and filtering device comprising a carbon filter between the compressor and the compressed air tank.
- 4. The equipment of claim 2, further comprising a control device for the compressor motor, the control device comprising a piston having a shaft, a variable resistor subject to the acts of the shaft and connected with the motor for controlling the motor.
- 5. The equipment of claim 4, further comprising a moisture detector connected with the control device for the compressor motor.
- 6. The equipment of claim 1, further comprising a depth sensor for sensing the depth of the snorkel, a depth limiter connected with the depth sensor and operable to give a cue to both for operating the snorkel and to limit breathing flow rate when a preset depth is exceeded.
- 7. The equipment of claim 1, further comprising an emitter of an acoustic alarm signal operable when the snorkel is at a set depth.
- 8. The equipment of claim 1, further comprising a support adapted to engage a wearer of the equipment.
- 9. The equipment of claim 1, wherein the snorkel includes the external air intake and both the third and the fourth tubes having a respective inlet for air in the snorkel;the first and second means being in the snorkel and operable to close the third and fourth tubes upon submersion of the snorkel.
- 10. The equipment of claim 9, wherein the fourth tube passes through the breathing nozzle to the compressor.
- 11. The equipment of claim 9, wherein the snorkel has a chamber communicating into the breathing nozzle and the inlet to the fourth tube being in the chamber, whereby air in the breathing nozzle is available to the inlet to the fourth tube for a time after the first means has closed the third tube.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
3334/95 |
Nov 1995 |
CH |
|
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
102e Date |
371c Date |
PCT/CH96/00414 |
|
WO |
00 |
11/4/1998 |
11/4/1998 |
Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
WO97/19848 |
6/5/1997 |
WO |
A |
US Referenced Citations (5)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
9102677 |
Mar 1991 |
WO |