EP2160320B1

EP2160320B1 - Improved self-contained underwater breathing apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP2160320B1
Application number: EP08737552A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Luciano Manini; Roberto Giampieretti
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-06-25
Filing date: 2008-04-24
Publication date: 2011-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 2028-04-24
Also published as: ATE523421T1; EP2160320A1; WO2009001178A1; ITMI20071273A1

Abstract

An improved self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (10) comprising a watertight container enclosure (11), preferably made of rigid material, which can be selectively opened and worn by the user like a backpack, a pressure reducer (22) constrained inside the watertight container enclosure (11) and an external console element (25) connectable to other air supplying devices, wherein the pressure reducer (22) is connectable on one side to an air store (18), in turn constrainable inside the watertight container enclosure (11), and connected on the other side to the external console element (25), provided with buoyancy control means (30-36, 40-41), the improved self- contained underwater breathing apparatus (10) being stably assembled.

Description

The present invention refers to an improved self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, as described for example in FR-A-2651203 .
Currently existing are various types of self-contained underwater breathing apparatus for underwater activities commonly known in the industry by the name "scuba" an acronym standing for "Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus".
Such apparatus are generally made intended for traditional underwater activities, in which the diver dives following the "surface-bottom-surface" diving technique typical of the most currently common diving standards, codified by the US Navy.
The "surface-bottom-surface" diving technique codified by the US Navy provides for that the diving starts with a descent step to the programmed depth along a monotonic descending path, that the diver remains at such depth for the entire period of time available, that is for the period of time compatible with the air store capacity available at the end of the descent and the air consumption rate calculated for the ascent, and that the diver completes the diving resurfacing with a suitably slow monotonic ascent, possibly performing safety stops to comply with periods provided for by the controlled decompression directives.
However, according to the current diving techniques there are also other different codified diving methods, resulting from standardisation of behavioural techniques and methods developed over the years within the hyperbaric physiology studies and researches aimed at protecting the diver underwater against possible pathologic effects due to the variation of the hydrostatic pressure upon variation of depth.
In particular, the diving technique currently known as "yo-yo diving", which provides for alternating descents and ascents within the same diving session, is not performed by non-professional divers in that as of date the diving standard actually adopted is the one codified by the US Navy.
However, such diving technique is currently performed free of risks within specific professional shallow diving activities, up to 12 metres deep, such as for example, activities performed by Great Britain marine nurseries maintenance personnel. Hyperbaric physiology studies performed on behalf of Health and Safety Executive, a British public body, contribute to prove that there is no actual incompatibility between the diving standard codified by the US Navy and the information gathered regarding "yo-yo diving" at shallow depths.
As a matter of fact, the US Navy standard covers a very wide and general diving scope in terms of the diving depths and thus it does not provide for specific characteristics of physiologically admissible behaviours in the marine strip within the first metres in depth.
However, the "yo-yo" diving technique currently undertaken, as mentioned beforehand, in extremely specific diving circumstances deserves special attention aiming at its extensive application in non-professional diving.
The possibility to undertake easy and safe diving activities articulated in several short periods of stay underwater up to a depth of 12 m, one separated from the other by a surface exploration snorkelling session, in brief "developed snorkelling session" for easy exposure purposes, might actually facilitate access to diving for an extremely wide range of potential users. For example, this might be the case of tourists or non-professional sportsmen who, attracted by the possibility to explore the marine depths, in their most fascinating areas, that is over the first metres in depth, easily experimented the snorkelling activity - looking underwater equipped with a diving mask, swim fins and a snorkel - due to the special comfort of access which characterises such activity and those who would like to take a further step ahead into actual diving activity undertaken at a non-professional level as well as occasionally but feel discouraged for a number of operational difficulties which tend to negatively influence their approach to traditional diving.
Such difficulties regard both the complex operations required to be performed on the currently known "scuba diving" equipment at each diving session, as well as the poor manageability of the entire set of equipment known currently. As a matter of fact, such equipment is dimensioned to operate at depths much greater with respect to the 12 metres limit typical of the "developed snorkelling".
Furthermore, according to the current diving technique, the various operational components making up the known scuba diving equipment required for diving must be preliminarily assembled to each other each time one prepares for a diving session.
For example, outlined is the assembly of the various pressure reducers onto the cylinder and the relative control devices.
Thus, the need to perform such assembly operation at each diving session of the scuba diving apparatus forces the user of the currently known equipment to undertake a long and complicated preparation activity, which requires great meticulousness given that it concerns complex equipment of vital importance for the safety of the diver.
For occasional or neophyte non-professional divers, the special meticulousness required might lead to improper performance of the abovementioned preparation activity, hence implying high risk for the safety of the diver during the diving session. Or else, the divers with little experience might be led to giving up diving activities if not accompanied by a more experienced user at each diving session. These difficulties might negatively influence the occasional or neophyte non-professional diver's approach towards frequent diving activity.
Furthermore, in the traditional equipment, the structure of the assembled system is made up of different elements of the equipment, which are exposed both to corrosion phenomena and to the possible deposit of material dispersed in water, for example salt in sea diving, over the entire duration of the diving session. Therefore, at the end of each session, each component must be cleaned by washing using fresh and pure water, in such a manner to preserve their condition and functionality over time. Consequently, also the end of diving session operations are complex and tedious, with the disadvantage of further jeopardising the good approach of the occasional or neophyte non-professional diver towards regular diving activity.
Furthermore, according to the known art the range of the field of use provided for the configuration of the traditional equipment requires large dimensions of the various components of the equipment, each of which must be capable of safely meeting the maximum depth conditions, though such depth shall never be reached under the common usage of the equipment by non-professional divers, often solely interested in exploring substantially shallower depths with respect to the maximum depth the equipment is designed for. Such design set-up implies that the user constantly manoeuvres, for example even at a depth amounting to only 10 m, equipment designed for much greater depths, leading to additional unwanted encumbrance in terms of complexity of the equipment and procedures, but above all in terms of weight as well as the manageability of the equipment.
The objective of the present invention is that of providing a device capable of overcoming the abovementioned drawbacks of the known art in an extremely easy, inexpensive and particularly functional manner.
Another objective is that of providing an improved light, manageable and compact self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.
Another objective is that of providing a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus suitable to be employed not only under the general diving conditions outlined by the US Navy code but also, due to its versatility, in other diving conditions, "developed snorkelling", characterised by a different diving technique articulated in several short periods of stay underwater up to a depth of 12 m, one separated from the other by a surface exploration "snorkelling" session.
Another objective is that of providing an improved self-contained underwater breathing apparatus which is easy to use and requiring fewer preliminary preparation and final maintenance operations at each diving session with respect to the traditional equipment.
Another objective is that of providing an improved self-contained underwater breathing apparatus with the possibility to use power supplied by rechargeable batteries accommodated inside the apparatus itself. These objectives according to the present invention are attained by providing an improved self-contained underwater breathing apparatus as described by claim 1. Further characteristics of the invention are outlined by the subsequent claims.
Characteristics and advantages of an improved self-contained underwater breathing apparatus according to the present invention shall be clearer from the following exemplifying and non-limiting description with reference to the schematic drawings attached wherein:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of an improved self-contained underwater breathing apparatus according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the improved self-contained underwater breathing apparatus of figure 1;
Figure 3 is an exploded view of the improved self-contained underwater breathing apparatus of figure 1;
Figure 4 is an enlarged exploded view of some components of the improved self-contained underwater breathing apparatus of figure 1;
Figure 5 is a rear assembled view of the details of the improved self-contained underwater breathing apparatus of figure 4;
Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the improved self-contained underwater breathing apparatus according to figure 1;
Figure 7 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of an improved self-contained underwater breathing apparatus according to the present invention;
Figures 8a and 8b are two top perspective views of the improved self-contained underwater breathing apparatus of figure 7 according to two different steps of operation.

Referring to the figures, shown and indicated by 10 is an improved self-contained underwater breathing apparatus according to the present invention.
As observable from the front and rear views of the embodiment respectively in figures 1 and 2, such improved self-contained underwater breathing apparatus 10 comprises a watertight container enclosure 11, preferably made of rigid material, which can be selectively opened and worn by a user like a backpack, internally provided with a pressure reducer 22, connectable in a removable manner to an air store 18 in turn constrainable in a removable manner inside a watertight container enclosure 11.
The abovementioned pressure reducer 22 is further connected from one side to an external console element 25, in particular on an upper portion of the rear surface of the watertight container enclosure 11, which is constrainable to other devices to convey the air contained in the store 18 to the external.
According to the invention, such improved self-contained underwater breathing apparatus 10 as just described above is assembled in a stable manner, that is it does not require any assembly activity before and/or after use.
In particular, according to the embodiments shown, the watertight container enclosure 11 is a parallelepiped-shaped element made up of a first and a second shell element 12 and 13, preferably made of rigid material, joint to each other by watertight joining means 14, such as for example gaskets, in which the second shell element 13 forms the front surface of the watertight container enclosure 11, while the first shell element 12 forms the side and rear surfaces.
As shown in figure 2, fixed externally on the rear portion of the first shell element 12, that is the surface adapted to come into contact with the back of the diver, are the abovementioned constraint means 15 adapted to allow a user to wear and/or transport the enclosure 11 itself during its use as if it were a backpack.
In the example shown, such constraint means 15 are an ergonomic backrest element 15 provided with shoulder straps 16, preferably upholstered, and with a ventral belt 17, or a harness, in such a manner to provide the abovementioned transport structure for the enclosure 11 of the mountain backpack type.
As observable in the exploded figure 3, according to the invention, accommodated inside the enclosure 11, and precisely in the inner compartment of the first shell element 12, is the air store 18, which is generally a common cylinder 18.
Preferably, such cylinder 18 is accommodated in the inner compartment of the first shell element 12 in a space laterally delimited by two bulkheads 19 and by a cover 20 provided with watertight gaskets 21.
As argued, the improved self-contained underwater breathing apparatus 10 according to the present invention further comprises a pressure reduction group 22 constrained inside the enclosure 11, an example of such component is shown in figure 4, which acts the function of first stage for reducing the pressure of the air regulator group from the cylinder 18 to external devices.
In particular, connected to the abovementioned pressure reduction group 22 is a related set of fittings 23a, 23b which are in turn connected to couplings 24a and 24b of a console element 25.
The pressure reduction group 22 of the regulator group, entirely analogous to the first membrane regulator stage currently available in the market, is accommodated, as already mentioned, inside the container enclosure 11 and it interacts with the cylinder 18.
The operation of the pressure reduction group 22 is based on a membrane device which detects the variations of the external pressure and consequently commands a valve regulating the air flow rate at the exit, opening or closing depending on the abovementioned pressure variations.
In the solution shown in figure 5 such membrane 26 is located on the console 25 and forms the sole element of the pressure reduction group 22 which remains in contact with the external liquid environment. Furthermore, such pressure reduction group 22 is connected to the fittings 27 of the cylinder by means of a high pressure pipe fitting 28 arranged outside the watertight enclosure 11.
As a matter of fact, the abovementioned fittings 27 must be compulsorily accessible during use according to the provisions of the EN regulations in force.
In addition to the membrane 26 of the regulator group 22, provided on the console 25 facing outwards are the already mentioned couplings 24a and 24b.
In particular, the couplings 24a are of the high pressure type while the couplings 24b are of the low pressure type and they respectively correspond to fittings 23a and 23b projecting from the pressure reduction group 22.
Connected to the abovementioned couplings shall be other external devices entirely known and not subject of the present invention such as for example the second regulator stage, the second store regulator stage and the pressure gauge or any other more advanced equipment.
According to the invention, the improved self-contained underwater breathing apparatus 10 also provides for that inside the enclosure 11 rechargeable batteries might be accommodated to supply power. Said power can be used to supply the control equipment, acoustic or visual safety devices, communication systems, propulsion elements or as auxiliary sources of energy for external components, such as torches and underwater photography flashes.
Furthermore, according to the invention, the improved self-contained underwater breathing apparatus 10 can comprise buoyancy control means.
Shown in the figures, for exemplification purposes, are two distinct and alternative embodiments of such buoyancy control means respectively with references 30-36 and 40-41.
Figure 6 shows an exploded view of a first embodiment of such buoyancy control means 30-36 which are accommodated inside the second shell element 13.
In particular, in such example the buoyancy control means 30-36 provide a controlled flooding mechanism for a part of the enclosure 11. As mentioned, the enclosure 11 is watertight and it is connected to the external by two pumps 30 and 31 shown in figure 6 through the respective distribution devices 32 and 33.
The flooding and emptying circuits are connected with the external environment through the vent and suction valves 34 and 35.
By commanding the two abovementioned pumps 30 and 31, the diver is capable of regulating the level of flooding of the enclosure 11, in such a manner to achieve the desired net thrust, ascending or descending, such as the vertical force generated between the overall Archimedes' thrust and the weights of the diver, of the dry equipment and of the ballast water added into the enclosure 11.
Shown in figure 6 is also a hole 36 made in the first shell 12 through which the pipe of the vent and suction valve 34 is engaged.
An analogous hole, not shown, is made at the valve 31. The distribution devices 32 and 33 serve to guarantee the uniformity of the flooding level in the enclosure 11.
In order to guarantee the diver a better manoeuvrability of his angular buoyancy around the roll and the pitch axis, the internal of the enclosure 11 can also be partitioned with separation walls in such a manner to create separate smaller flooding compartments. Said flooding compartments are, in turn, watertight, they are not connected to each other and they can be connected to the two bilge pumps by a distribution group capable of guaranteeing a uniform flooding level in all the compartments.
According to the points argued above, the buoyancy control means 30-36 are thus "constant displacement and variable ballast" means, wherein the term displacement indicates the weight of the water moved by the apparatus in question.
Also provided, according to the invention, is a second embodiment for the so-called "variable displacement and constant ballast" buoyancy control means 40-41.
Such embodiment is shown in figure 7 where the first and the second shell element 12 and 13 forming the enclosure 11 are connected to each other by means of a deformable "bellows" component 40.
Such bellows 40 is preferably a band of flexible and impermeable material made of, as a non-exhaustive example, cordura or rubber capable of allowing the volumetric extensibility of the enclosure 11 and thus generating the suitable displacement variations of the apparatus.
The bellows 40 is stably fastened to the perimeter of one of the two shell elements 12 and 13, for example to the perimeter of shell element 13, while on the other side it is couplable to the perimeter of the other shell element 12 by means of a coupling and uncoupling group, provided with watertight gaskets, capable both of guaranteeing the watertight sealing of the content of the enclosure, and easy access to the internal components for maintenance operations.
According to such embodiment provided inside such enclosure 11, and preferably in the residue space of the shell element 12, is a housing for the ballast required to compensate for the Archimedes' thrust, made using the same variety of materials of which the traditional ballast is made, for example lead, but suitably shaped to find an appropriate accommodation in the abovementioned compartments.
Such accommodation is provided in such a manner to allow quick ejection of the ballast from the abovementioned housing when underwater, without jeopardising the watertight sealing of the other components held inside the enclosure 11.
Figures 8a and 8b represent the latter embodiment provided with the bellows element 40 at two different steps of operation.
In particular, such figures 8a and 8b schematise two different volumetric configurations that the improved self-contained underwater breathing apparatus 10 is capable of achieving due to the extensibility of the bellows 40. Such extensibility allows the diver to inflate the compartment by pumping low pressure compressed air drawn from the cylinder 18, or by insufflating it through the mouth by means of an auxiliary pipe, as well as deflating it by means of valves, manual or more advanced valves, schematised for exemplification purposes by the detail 41.
Thus, the volume variations which, affecting the entity of Archimedes' thrust acting on the apparatus, occur allowing the diver to modulate the net resultant of the gravity and hydrostatic forces which determine the diver's vertical buoyancy.
The operation of the device subject of the finding is entirely understandable.
The improved self-contained underwater breathing apparatus 10 according to the present invention comprises a watertight container enclosure 11, preferably made of rigid material, which can be selectively opened and worn by a user like a backpack, internally provided with a pressure reducer 22 connectable on one side to an air store 18, generally a common cylinder 18, in turn constrainable inside the watertight container enclosure 11, and connected on the other side to an external console element 25 for supplying air.
Furthermore, provided for are buoyancy control means 30-36, 40-41 for allowing the user an ideal control of his buoyancy in water.
In particular, all the elements forming the assembly, that is the pressure reducer 22, possibly the cylinder 18, and the buoyancy control means 30-36, 40-41 are provided built in inside the watertight container enclosure 11 in a stably assembled configuration without requiring any additional assembly.
Thus provided is an improved light, manageable and compact self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, which requires fewer preliminary preparation and final maintenance operations at each diving session with respect to the traditional equipment, and which can be used for diving starting from a few metres up to reaching greater depths.
It has thus been observed that an improved self-contained underwater breathing apparatus according to the present invention attains the objectives previously outlined.
The improved self-contained underwater breathing apparatus of the present invention thus conceived is susceptible to various modifications and variants, all falling within the same invention concept as defined in the appended claims; furthermore all details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. In practice, all the materials used, alongside their dimensions, may vary depending on the technical requirements.

Claims

Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (10) comprising a watertight container enclosure (11) which can be selectively opened and worn by a user like a backpack, a pressure reducer (22) constrained inside said watertight container enclosure (11) and an external console element (25) connectable to other air supplying devices, wherein said pressure reducer (22) is connectable on one side to an air store (18), in turn constrainable inside said watertight container enclosure (11), and connected on the other side to said external console element (25) provided with buoyancy control means (30-36, 40-41).
Apparatus (10) according to claim 1 characterised in that said watertight container enclosure (11) is parallelepiped-shaped and comprises a first and a second shell element (12, 13) selectively connectable to each other by watertight joining means (14) wherein said second shell element (13) forms the front surface of said watertight container enclosure 11), while said first shell element (12) forms the back and the side surfaces.
Apparatus (10) according to claim 2 characterised in that said first shell element (12) is internally provided with two side bulkheads (19) for containing said air store (18) and in that said apparatus (10) comprises a cover element (20) provided with at least one watertight gasket (21) for covering the front and the top part of said air store (18).
Apparatus (10) according to claim 1 characterised in that said pressure reducer (22), said air store (18), and said buoyancy control means (30-36, 40-41) are provided built in inside said watertight container enclosure (11) in a stably assembled configuration without requiring any additional assembly.
Apparatus (10) according to claim 1 characterised in that said pressure reducer (22) is connected to said console element (25) by a plurality of fittings (23a, 23b) which project at the rear part with related couplings (24a, 24b) for other devices.
Apparatus (10) according to claim 1 characterised in that said buoyancy control means (30-36, 40-41) comprise mechanisms (30-36) with variable ballast.
Apparatus (10) according to claim 6 characterised in that said mechanisms (30-36) with variable ballast comprise controlled flooding mechanisms (30-36) of at least one internal portion of said watertight container enclosure (11).
Apparatus (10) according to claim 7 characterised in that said controlled flooding mechanisms (30-36) of at least one internal portion of said watertight container enclosure (11) comprise two pumps (30, 31) provided with two vent and/or suction valves (34, 35) accommodated in holes (36) of said watertight container enclosure (11) and connected to two internal distribution devices (32, 33) for entry and/or exit of water from said watertight container enclosure (11).
Apparatus (10) according to claim 6 characterised in that said watertight container enclosure internally comprises at least one watertight flooding compartment connected to at least one of said distribution devices (32, 33).
Apparatus (10) according to claim 1 characterised in that said buoyancy control means (30-36, 40-41) comprise mechanisms (40-41) with constant ballast.
Apparatus (10) according to claim 10 characterised in that said two shell elements (12, 13) which form said watertight container enclosure (11) are joined by a deformable bellows element (40) made of flexible and impermeable material adapted to selectively vary the internal volume of said watertight container enclosure (11).
Apparatus (10) according to claim 10 characterised in that said watertight container enclosure (11) internally comprises at least one constant ballast element arranged in a suitable housing and quickly ejectable when underwater keeping said container enclosure (11) watertight.
Apparatus (10) according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that said watertight container (11) comprises an ergonomic backrest structure (15) at the rear part provided with two shoulder straps (16) and with a ventral belt (17).
Apparatus (10) according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that said watertight container enclosure (11) internally comprises electronic devices for various accessory equipments.
Apparatus (10) according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that said watertight container enclosure (11) internally comprises rechargeable batteries for supplying power to equipment related to the safety of the diver and/or to the diving activities performed.
Apparatus (10) according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that said watertight container enclosure (11), comprises internal storage spaces for external components of the diving equipment.