Hydraulic and earth engineering – Diving – Suit or accessory therefor
Patent
1996-02-14
1998-05-12
Graysay, Tamara L.
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Diving
Suit or accessory therefor
405192, 405193, B63C 1102
Patent
active
057496790
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method of, and to a device for, letting out air or gas from life jackets of divers, in particular of scuba divers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The actuating elements for activating the valves for letting air or gas into and out of the life jackets are arranged in an easy-to-reach region of the same and are generally actuated by pressing buttons. For this purpose, the air-inlet valve is supplied with compressed air from the compressed-air bottle. By actuating the inlet valve, the latter is moved from the shut-off position into an open position, in order then to release the path for the compressed air into the life jacket and thus to increase the buoyancy of the diver. In the same manner, the outlet valve is opened in order to allow air to escape from the life jacket and thus to reduce the buoyancy.
The disadvantage with the known systems is that these have to be fitted above the air volume in the life jacket, in order to ensure that the air can escape and is not trapped in the manner of an air bubble below a valve which is submerged in the water with the opening downwards. A further disadvantage with the known air-outlet valves is that, in the open position, the inner part of the life jacket is in direct connection with the water surrounding the diver, with the result that, depending on the design of the valves, a greater or lesser quantity of water can pass into the life jacket, and the air volume available for adjusting the buoyancy thus becomes lower.
A measure such as the one above is described in the text book Pady Diver Manual, Pady EU Services, Hettlingen, Chapter 1, page 21, in the "Features" section. Here, there is even a recommendation for a separate water-discharge valve for improved emptying of water which has penetrated into the life jacket. Furthermore, the valve or valves has/have a strictly non-linear behaviour, i.e. a behaviour dependent on the surrounding conditions, by way of which the desired adjustment of the buoyancy is rendered disproportionately more difficult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to realise a method and a device by means of which, by optimizing the air-outlet valve, the safety of the diver is increased, it being the intention for the air-outlet valve to be arranged at any location. Furthermore, the direct connection of the inner part of the life jacket, via the open outlet valve, to the water is to be avoided, in order thus to prevent water from penetrating into the life jacket in an undesired manner. Finally, the outlet behaviour is to be linearized, in order to simplify the adjustment of the buoyancy/depression.
This aim is achieved, in the case of the inventive method of letting out air or gas from life vests of divers, in particular of scuba divers, by a predeterminable air quantity or a predeterminable air-quantity fraction being discharged, by a continuous or discontinuous intake and displacement operation, from the interior of the life jacket to the medium surrounding it.
Advantageous developments of the method according to the invention are set forth further below.
The object is, furthermore, achieved by a device for letting out air or gas from life jackets of divers, in particular of scuba divers, having at least one housing which is in operative connection with the life jacket and contains at least one valve by means of which a piston, which can be activated by means of an actuating element, can be moved between two end positions within a piston chamber, which piston, by virtue of its alternating movement for air intake, air compression and air displacement, actuates at least one downstream nonreturn valve and at least one shut-off valve.
Advantageous developments of the device according to the invention are set forth further below.
By virtue of the invention, it is, then, possible by means of a piston with integrated nonreturn valve, for air to be taken in from the interior of the life jacket into a piston chamber, on the one hand, and, in the next operating cycle, for air to be d
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patent: 3695048 (1972-10-01), Dimick
patent: 4045835 (1977-09-01), Flam et al.
patent: 4379656 (1983-04-01), Darling
patent: 4437790 (1984-03-01), Trop
patent: 4601609 (1986-07-01), Hyde
patent: 4650151 (1987-03-01), McIntyre
patent: 4674429 (1987-06-01), Buckle et al.
GfT Gesellschaft fuer Tauchtechnik mbH & Co. KG
Graysay Tamara L.
Mayo Tara L.
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