GB2203017A

GB2203017A - Diver's headset communications assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2203017A
Application number: GB08706656A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger John Hicks
Original assignee: UK Secretary of State for Defence
Current assignee: UK Secretary of State for Defence
Priority date: 1987-03-20
Filing date: 1987-03-20
Publication date: 1988-10-05
Also published as: GB8706656D0

Abstract

A diver's headset communications assembly, includes a continuous waterproof connector assembly (9) between the connector (8) to an umbilical cable and cables (4, 5, 6) of the earphone (1, 2) and microphone (3) headset elements within the diver's helmet. The earphone and microphone cables (4, 5, 6) inside the diver's helmet are connected to a cable whip (7) outside the helmet by a connector assembly (9) which penetrates the wall (10) of the helmet and the ends of the cables are encapsulated by a material such as polyurethane rubber so that the electrical connections penetrate the helmet in an electrically insulating and watertight manner. The connector assembly (9) is shaped with a protruding boss at one end, adapted to fit tightly through a corresponding hole in the helmet frame (10) and the other end is of a greater diameter than the hole so that it cannot be pulled through. <IMAGE>

Description

DIVERTS HEADSET COMMUNICATIONS ASSEMBLY The invention relates to headset communications assemblies as used within a helmet or bandmask, principally but not exclusively for use by divers.

A headset communication assembly comprises a microphone and earphones arranged within a diver' s helmet or bandmask. Hereafter, helmet will be used to cover all the forms of helmet or bandmask within which such headsets can be arranged. The electrical cables from the earphones and microphone are fed out of the helmet and connected to the diver's umbilical cable.

In known prior art systems it is comnon practice to interconnect the microphone and earphone cables to a cable whip leading to the un33ilical cable by means of uninsulated terminal posts. Because of the salt water environment in which the majority of diving is carried out, these terminal posts rapidly become corroded, thus producing high resistances or intermittant connections.

A further problem occurs where the earphone and microphone cables are open ended to the ambient pressure. When the diver is submerged water is forced into the cables from where it can reach the headset elements, which then frequently fail. The costly replacement of these elements is then frequently necessary.

These problems cause a large percentage of failures in comrlLnication systems. The poor electrical connections can lead to wayward operation or compete failure of the communications system.

This situation has existed for many years in diving and no means of overcoming the problems has previously been devised.

The object of the invention is to provide a means of ensuring electrical integrity of the headset assembly and preventing water penetration into the helmet or the headset elements.

The invention aims to provide a diver's headset communications assembly, including a continuous waterproof connector assembly between the connector to the untilical cable and the cables of the earphone and microphone headset elements within the helmet.

The invention provides a diver's headset communcation assembly comprising: a) earphones and microphone headset elements for arrangement in a helmet; b) cables leading from the earphones and the microphone; c) connection means by which the earphone and microphone cables inside the diver's helmet are connected to a cable whip outside the helmet; and d) a connector by which the cable whip can be connected to the diver's umbilical cable; wherein the connection means comprises a connector assembly adapted to penetrate the wall of the diver' 5 helmet and be located thereat and insulating means encapsulating the ends of the earphone and microphone cables and the cable whip whereby electrical connections penetrate the helmet in an electrically insulating and watertight manner.

Preferably the connector assembly encapsulates the cable ends by means of a potting material, advantageously a polyurethane rubber.

Preferably the connector assembly comprises a connector block into which the cables are fed. The ends of the cables within the connector block then being potted by means well known in the art.

Advantageously the connector block is formed by a continuous waterproof moulding. Advantageously it is shaped with a protruding boss at one end, adapted to fit tightly through a corresponding hole in the helmet frame. The other end is advantageously of a greater diameter than the hole so that it cannot be pulled through. Preferably the wider end is cupshaped. The cables are preferentially inserted radially into the moulding through holes in the sides of the cup-shaped section and the ends of the cables are encapsulated by the potting material in thecup-sha;ped section. This is preferable as it enables the cables to be arranged to avoid contact with the oral/nasal mask. Alternatively the ends of the cables can be inserted into the cup-shaped section through its open top and then can be encapsulated by the potting material.

The connector block is connected to the helmet or mask frame by any convenient means for providing a waterproof seal.

The connector block thus replaces the need for a conventional helmet penetrator.

The invention will be further described, by way of exanp?le onlyr with reference to the drawings of which: Figure 1 shows, in side view, a diver's headset communication assembly according to the invention; Figure 2 shows diagramatically, in cross section, the connection means according to the invention as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows diagramatically in cross section an alternative form of connection means according to the invention.

As shown in Figure 1, earphones 1, 2 and a microphone 3 are connected by means of cables 4, 5, 6 respectively to a cable whip 7 which carries electrical wires from the cables 4, 5, 6 to a connector 8 for connection into the diver's umbilical cable (not shown). The cables 4, 5, 6 are connected to the cable whip 7 by means of a connector 9 which passes through a hole in the frame 10 of the diver's helmet (only shown in part).

Referring now to Figure 2 as well, which shows the connector 9 cut away and in detail, the ends of the cables 4, 5, 6 and the cable whip7 pass into the cup shaped inner section 11 where they are encapsulated in an insulating potting material 12. The cables 4, 5 and 6 are inserted radially into the cupshaped section through holes 4a, 5a (not shown for cable 6). Electrical wires 13 passing through the cables from the headset elements 1, 2, 3, via cables 4, 5, 6 and cable whip 7, to the connector 8 for connection to the umbilical cable, are represented by dashed lines. The wires 13 pass through the potting material from the ends of the cables4, 5, 6 to the end of the cable whip 7.The cable whip 7 passes into the cup-shaped inner section 11 through a protruding boss section 14 which extends from the cup- shaped section 11 through a hole in the helmet frame 10. The protruding boss section 14 is tight fitting through the hole in the frame 10. It also has a screw thread 15 onto which a nut is screwed to hold the connector 9 tightly in place on the helmet frame 10. A ring section 17 on the connector 9 acts as awasher on the inner side of the helmet frame 10 and awasher 18 is fitted on the outer side of the frame 10 to ensure a watertight seal to the frame 10. The cup-shaped section 11, protruding section 14 and ring section 17 are moulded in one piece to form the connector 9.

Figure 3 shows an alternative arrangement of the connector 9 shown in Figure 2. In this connector 9 the cables 4, 5, 6 are inserted into the open end 18 of the cup-shaped section 11 and then encapsulated in the potting material 12.

To fit the headset assembly to a diver's helmet or bandmask the umbilical connector 8 is passed from the inside of the helmet through the hole in the helmet frame 10 and the connector 9 is then fitted through the hole and attached tightly to form a waterproof seal to prevent ingress of water into the helmet.

To enable the umbilical connector 8 to be passed through the hole the diameter A of the hole and hence of the protruding boss section 14 must be greater than the diameter B of the widest part of the umbilical connector 8.

Thus the interconnections between the cables 4, 5, 6 and the cable whip 7 within the connector 9 form an integral part of the headset assembly as shown in Figure 1, with connector 9 in fact forming the helmet penetrator.

The e headset assembly according to the invention has many advantages over the prior art systems. Primarily it avoids the problems of corrosion of terminal posts and water ingress into the helmet or cables.

It has a further advantage in that the whole assembly can be changed very easily and quickly. This is particularly useful where divers are in a decompression chamber following deep dives and the headset communication system requires changing. In the past the whole helmet had to be "locked out" of the chamber system or the diver had to fiddle with small awkward connectors. With the system of the invention all that is required is for one nut to be unscrewed, the assembly to be extracted, a new one inserted and one nut to be screwed up again. This can be done easily and quickly.

Another advantage of the invention is that the electrical connections are insulated. Where there is a requirement for microphones to be "powered" i.e. having an integral preamplifier. to improve line driving and impedance matching qualities the presence of DC voltages in the helmet to power the preamplifier make it essential to insulate the connections, not only for safety reasons but also to prevent massive electrolytic action.

The assembly of the invention meets this requirement.

The e assembly of the invention can be used with most helmets and bandmasks in common use, though the penetrator hole in the mask needs to be enlarged to accommodate the protruding boss on the connector and to allow fee & through of the cable whip to the umbilical connector.

The electrical connections within the assembly can be configured to suit any existing communications system e.g. 4 wire, 2 wire, duplex or simple.

Use of the invention is not restricted to diving situations. It can be used wherever the communications headset is fitted in a helmet and it is desirable to prevent water, gas, smoke etc entering the helmet or cables.

Claims

~CLAIMS

1. A diver's headset communication assembly comprising: a) earphones and microphone headset elements for arrangement in a helmet; b) cables leading from the earphones and the microphone; c) connection means by which the earphone and microphone cables inside the diver's helmet are connected to a cable whip outside the helmet; and d) a connector by which the cable whip can be connected to the diver's umbilical cable; wherein the connection means comprises a connector assembly adapted to penetrate the wall of the diver' 5 helmet and be located thereat and insulating means encapsulating the ends of the earphone and microphone cables and the cable whip whereby electrical connections penetrate the helmet in an electrically insulating and watertight manner.

2. A diver's headset communications assembly according to claim 1 wherein the connector assembly encapsulates the cable ends by means of a potting material.

3. A diver's headset communications assembly according to claim 2 wherein the potting material is a polyurethane rubber.

4. A diver's headset communications assembly according to any one preceding claim wherein the connector assembly comprises a connector block into which the cables are fed.

5. A diver's headset communications assembly according to claim 4 wherein the connector block is formed by a continuous waterproof moulding.

6. A diver's headset communications assembly according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the connector block is shaped with a protruding boss at one end, adapted to fit tightly through a corresponding hole in the helmet frame.

7. A diver's headset communications assembly according to claim 6 wherein the other end is of a greater diameter than the hole in the helmet frame so that it cannot be pulled through.

8. A diver's headset communications assembly according to claim 7 wherein the wider end is cup-shaped.

9. A diver's headset communications assembly according to claim 8 wherein the cables are inserted radially into the moulding through holes in the sides of the cup-shaped section and the ends of the cables are encapsulated by the potting material in the cup-shaped section.

10. A diver's headset communications assembly according to claim 8 wherein the ends of the cables are inserted into the cup-shaped section through its open top and then encapsulated by the potting material.

11. A diver's headset communications assembly according to any one of claims 4 to 10 wherein the connector block is connected to the helmet or mask frame by any convenient means for providing a waterproof seal.

12. A diver' s headset communications assembly as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the attached drawings.

13. A diver's headset communications assembly as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 3 of the attached drawings.