Measuring and testing – Instrument casing
Patent
1993-02-18
1994-11-29
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
Measuring and testing
Instrument casing
738651, G01D 1124
Patent
active
053679083
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to gauge protection apparatus.
This invention has particular but not exclusive application to protection apparatus for the protection in use of diving gauges, and for illustrative purposes reference will be made to such application. however, it is to be understood that this invention could be used in other applications, such as any application where a gauge or the like must be protected against physical damage whilst remaining visible for use.
In general, the gauges utilized by divers using self contained underwater breathing apparatus comprise a depth gauge and an air cylinder contents gauge, with or without a compass or the like. Up until recently, such gauges have been of the mechanical analogue type, including a glass face adapted to resist the ambient water pressure whilst permitting viewing of the gauge scale. In recent times, electronic gauge sets have become available, which gauge sets automatically perform the calculations of limits of time and depth, these calculations previously being done manually using tables to interpret the readings of the analogue gauges. Electronic gauges, in common with their mechanical ancestors, generally include a transparent viewing window over the display surfaces of the gauge.
The internal components of most dive gauges are delicate and require protection from shock. To this end, dive gauges are generally grouped into sets by insertion into a rubber or flexible plastic boot. However, since most rubbers are opaque, and since clear silicone rubbers have tended to distort the image of objects observed through it, it has been found desirable to provide apertures in the boot to permit reading of the gauges set therein. The transparent, generally glass or plastic, viewing window or windows of the gauge set are therefore exposed and as such may be damaged by impact. Whilst it would be theoretically possible to replace the glass or other brittle, transparent components with components of a more impact resistant substance such as polycarbonate, acrylic plastic or laminated material, in practice the high compressive strength and resistance to scratching of glass renders glass the preferred material.
The provision of a physical barriers on the glass surface as have been proposed generally suffer from an inherent drawback in that the readability of the gauge is generally impaired to an unacceptable degree. Also, positioning of protective elements on the surface of the glass does not protect the fragile components from impacts which deflect the elements. Raising of the edges of the boot about the viewing apertures also reduces the risk of damage, but in doing so also reduces the readability of the gauges.
The present invention aims to alleviate the above disadvantages and to provide gauge protection apparatus which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in gauge protection apparatus for protecting the face of a housed gauge, including:
a protecting member;
locating means for operatively positioning said protecting member on the gauge housing whereby said protecting member overlies the gauge face in spaced relationship thereto, and
securing means for securing said protecting assembly to the housing of said gauge.
Most dive gauges are manufactured and sold in the form of an assembly of one or more gauges, with or without a dive computer, inserted in a rubber boot. In such applications it is intended that the housing of the gauge refers to the boot mounting the gauges. The following description will hereinafter use the term "housing" with reference to this common type of gauge presentation. However, in older type equipment, the gauge may be without a boot and in such applications the term "housing" may be taken to mean the actual casing of the gauge. Of course, where multiple gauges are housed in a common boot, it is intended that the term "gauge" as used hereinafter also includes multiple
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Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Worth Willie Morris
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