Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
  • B63C11/00—Equipment for dwelling or working underwater; Means for searching for underwater objects
  • B63C11/02—Divers' equipment
  • B63C11/18—Air supply
  • B63C11/20—Air supply from water surface
  • B63C11/202—Air supply from water surface with forced air supply
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
  • B63C11/00—Equipment for dwelling or working underwater; Means for searching for underwater objects
  • B63C11/02—Divers' equipment
  • B63C11/18—Air supply
  • B63C2011/188—Air supply comprising warning means for breathing gas run-out

Definitions

• the invention relates to scuba diving systems comprising a reservoir of breathable gas which remains on the surface of the water.
• the plunger is connected to the tank by a supply circuit comprising a pipe which is generally relatively long to allow the plunger to move in a certain area around and below the tank.
• a supply circuit comprising a pipe which is generally relatively long to allow the plunger to move in a certain area around and below the tank.
• tanks for hookah systems There are various types of tanks for hookah systems. Some are rigid, others are flexible. Among the advantages of flexible tanks, one can cite the fact that the tank is light and that it can be made very compact when the system is not used. This notably facilitates the problem of transporting the system to the practice site.
• the tank remains floating on the surface even at the end of the dive, not only so that the diving system does not sink, but above all to form a buoy on which the diver can take support. end of dive.
• the tank since the tank is flexible, its volume will decrease, especially at the end of the dive if the diver sucks all the gas contained in the tank
• the object of the invention is to propose a diving system which is both simple and practical in design and which makes it possible to guarantee by a space-saving device that the tank remains floating on the surface of the water, even at the end of the dive. .
• the invention provides a diving system comprising a flexible breathing gas tank intended to float on the surface of the water and comprising a supply circuit by which a plunger is connected to the flexible tank to draw gas therefrom.
• breathable characterized in that the system comprises a cut-off member of the supply circuit which cuts off the supply of breathing gas to the plunger when the pressure in the tank falls below a predetermined cut-off threshold.
• FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a diving system in accordance with the teachings of the invention
• Figure 2 is a schematic view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a supply cut-off member.
• a diving system 10 comprising a tank of pressurized breathable gas 12 and comprising a supply circuit 14 which allows the underwater diver to breathe the gas contained in the tank 12.
• the tank is a flexible tank and it is intended to remain on the surface of the water.
• the supply circuit 14 is very schematically represented by a supply pipe 16 which is connected to the reservoir and the free end of which is provided with a mouthpiece 18 preferably incorporating a regulator by which the plunger can suck in the breathable gas. contained in the tank 12.
• the diving system 10 also includes means (not shown) which make it possible to fill the tank with a breathable gas mixture such as air. These means can be a simple device for connection to an air compressor. It may also be means intended to be carried on board with the tank. The air will for example be stored in the tank 12 under a maximum pressure of 10 to 20 bars. In certain cases, in particular if the air storage pressure is high, provision may be made for a two-stage regulator system.
• the reservoir 12 is a flexible reservoir in the sense that at least some of the walls which delimit it are liable to deform by allowing the volume, both internal and external of the reservoir, to be reduced or increased.
• the reservoir will however have an inextensible maximum volume, which volume will for example be reached from an absolute pressure of the order of 1.2 to 1.5 bars. From this pressure, the tank will have reached an "inflated” state and, beyond, its volume will no longer increase significantly.
• the reservoir will preferably have a very small external volume once "deflated”.
• the reservoir is a fully flexible reservoir made up of a waterproof fabric bag.
• This construction is both simple and light, and it makes the tank extremely compact when not in use.
• the reservoir 12 can be fully deflated and folded back on itself.
• the constituent material may also be a flexible and waterproof plastic material (for example a polyurethane) or the reservoir may be constructed with a multi-layer material using a first layer of a material ensuring mechanical resistance to pressure and at least one waterproof inner layer.
• the reservoir may be only partially flexible. It could thus include at least one rigid or semi-rigid face making it possible to attach accessories such as carrying straps or systems for connection to a device for filling the reservoir, and even to fix the connection means of the supply circuit 16.
• the reservoir could also have two opposite rigid walls joined to one another by flexible walls so that, in the position of use, the reservoir is substantially parallelepiped shape but that, in the storage position, it no longer takes the form of a rigid flat rectangle of small thickness.
• the flexible walls could also consist of rigid elements hinged together.
• the reservoir 12 forms the entire emerged part of the diving system.
• the system includes other components or accessories.
• This pump could thus be integrated into a compartment integral with the tank.
• the tank can play the role of float by providing these accessories with a buoyancy reserve to keep the assembly on the surface of the water, without having to provide any specific flotation device.
• the tank can be associated with a rigid or semi-rigid structure forming, in combination with the tank, a hydrodynamic float on which the diver can rest to swim on the surface of the water with a minimum of effort.
• the diving system comprises, in addition to the flexible tank according to the invention, at least one auxiliary tank which may be flexible or rigid.
• the diving system 10 comprises a cut-off member 20 of the supply circuit 14 which, below a predetermined pressure threshold in the tank 12, prevents the plunger from drawing air into The reservoir.
• the predetermined pressure threshold will be determined as a function of the pressure necessary to maintain the reservoir 12 in an "inflated" state in which it retains all or at least a significant part of its flotation capacity.
• This predetermined cut-off threshold could for example be an absolute pressure threshold in the tank. It can thus be set at an absolute pressure value between 1.2 and 1.5 bar. It may also be a relative pressure threshold in the tank with respect to atmospheric pressure, the cut-off device imposing a pressure in the tank greater than atmospheric pressure, for example from 50 to 200 millibar.
• Illustrated in Figure 2 is an example of a cutoff member capable of being used for the implementation of the invention.
• the cut-off member 20 is here a calibrated valve produced in the form of a differential pressure diaphragm valve, a member which is known per se, and it is shown in the cut-off position of the supply.
• the valve thus comprises a housing 22 which is divided in leaktight manner by a membrane 24 into two chambers: a circulation chamber 26 and a control chamber 28.
• the control chamber 28 is open to the atmosphere so that the pressure which reigns there atmospheric pressure.
• the circulation chamber 26 is in turn divided into two compartments: an upstream compartment 30 which is connected to the interior of the reservoir 12, and a downstream compartment 32 to which the supply pipe 16 is connected.
• the two compartments 30, 32 communicate at the level of a circular seat 34 arranged opposite the membrane 24.
• the membrane 24 carries a plane shutter 36 which is capable of pressing against the seat 34 to interrupt any circulation of fluid between the two compartments 30, 32
• a compression spring 38 is arranged in the control chamber 28 to prestress the shutter 36 in the direction of the seat 34.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Pulmonology (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Respiratory Apparatuses And Protective Means (AREA)
• Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8866845

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

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Family Cites Families (11)

• 2001
  • 2001-08-23 FR FR0111283A patent/FR2828867B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2002
  • 2002-07-12 EP EP02796287A patent/EP1419087A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2002-07-12 US US10/486,206 patent/US20040234343A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-07-12 WO PCT/FR2002/002470 patent/WO2003018399A1/fr not_active Ceased

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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