GB1095346A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1,095,346. Protective suits. OCEAN SYSTEMS Inc. March 10, 1965 [March 10, 1964], No. 10074/65. Heading A3V. [Also in Division B7] A protective suit for use in environments at superatmospheric pressures e.g. a diving suit 10, Fig. 1 , is made of two layers of a flexible material 42, 44, Fig. 2c, which layers are separated from each other by foamed resilient material 40 having a plurality of interconnected spaces or voids 46 therein that are charged with a pressurized gas through a tubular member 48 to effect adequate thermal insulation of the wearer and substantially prevent compression of the material 40 at comparatively high pressures e.g. the pressure exterted by water at a depth of 400 ft. The source of the gas may be a respiratory system 22 to 28 that is connected to the member 48 by a flexible tube 50 and may contain a mixture of 97% helium and 3% oxygen. Alternatively, the gas may be helium, oxygen or carbon dioxide, that is provided by an independent source (54), Fig. 3 (not shown), which is connected by flexible tubing (60) to the material 40 in the central region of the suit to give compensation for the hydraulic gradient between the upper and lower ends of the suit. The member 48 may contain a valve; and an audible or visible alarm-indicator (not shown) may be provided to give the wearer warning when either of the layers 42, 44 is punctured, the indicator being actuated by the rate of flow of gas into the material 40 increasing. Electric heating- elements (not shown) may be embedded in the material 40. The material 40 and the materials 42, 44 may be rubber and neoprene, respectively.