GB2259478A

GB2259478A - Autofill valve

Info

Publication number: GB2259478A
Application number: GB9119411A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Michael Greenhough
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-09-11
Filing date: 1991-09-11
Publication date: 1993-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 2011-09-11
Also published as: GB2259478B; GB9119411D0

Abstract

An air control valve for a buoyancy control diving jacket G having a manually connected inlet hose A for the air comprises a body with an inlet B, an unrestricted outlet to an instrument console E, a second outlet leading a non-return valve G allowing the air to exit via D to an emergency air reservoir, and a third outlet manually controlled by a valve F allowing air from the reservoir to flow into and inflate the jacket. The Autofill valve prevents a diver commencing his dive with an emergency air reservoir that may be empty or only part filled. The valve will also maintain high pressure air in the emergency air reservoir while the air in the main air cylinder is being depleted. The valve also enables the instrument console to be controlled so that it is easily interrogated by the diver or his companion and its potential for snagging is considerably reduced. <IMAGE>

Description

AUTOFILL VALVE A 1. This invention relates to Diving Buoyancy Control systems and instrumention.

2. Diving buoyancy control systems are well known and generally comprise of an inflateable bag in the form of a jacket, a compressed air supply (usually from the main air cylinder MAC) and/or an emergency air reservoir (EAR).

The EAR is a vital part of the system to ensure that the bag will rapidly fully inflate at depth as the volume of air and time required to fill increases with depth. The bag can be fully inflated rapidly in an emergency to bring the diver to the surface or partly filled/emptied to control buoyancy during the drive. The EAR has to be manually filled by the diver (normally from the MAC) prior to the dive and failure to do so can have serious consequences.

3. The instrumentation is normally contained in a console attached to the main air cylinder by an approx 700 mm long high pressure (HP) flexible hose to a pressure gauge in the console. This hose and console swings free on one side for the diver to catch hold of and present to his front when wishing to view the instruments.

4. The invention consists of a novel valve that resolves two separate major problems that exist in these systems, either independently or in combination.

a) To prevent the diver forgetting to fill, or top up, the emergency air reservoir prior to diving and consequently having insufficient emergency HP air supply in an emergency.

b) To control and manage the instrument console and prevent it from being damaged by swinging about or dragging and catching in obstructions. To ensure that it is in a known and ready site when required for interrogation.

c) The valve can also incorporate a direct feed option or other function that may require an air supply.

B 1. A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of an example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: a) Figure 1 shows a schematic layout of a possible configuration of the valve b) Figure 2 shows a possible layout with the valve incorporated into a typical diving jacket c) Figure 3 shows a possible direct feed option for buoyancy control completely independent of the EAR.

2. The novel valve in Figure 1 takes HP air from the MAC via an open supply hose A which is connected to the valve at B prior to opening the MAC valve. Should the diver forget to connect this supply then escaping HP air will immediately remind him to do so when the MAC valve is opened. Opening the MAC valve allows HP air to flow into the valve at B then along a pathway P to a non return valve (NRV)C. This NRV opens to allow HP air to fill the EAR via D. When filled the NRV closes to maintain HP air in the EAR so that as the air pressure in the MAC falls during the dive, the air in the EAR remains at full pressure.

Air can also flow along this pathway P, to a flexible hose then to the instrument console E (which indicates, among other readings, the contents of the MAC).

In an emergency the handwheel H to the valve F seat can be opened. This allows the stored HP air in the EAR to flow into, and rapidly inflate, the jacket G. When the air pressure in the EAR falls below that in the MAC then the NRVC automatically opens to allow the system to operate as a direct feed from the MAC as well.

Outlet D can be blanked off and the system then operates solely as a direct feed and console supply valve.

3. The novel valve described in B2 is illustrated in Figure 2 as a possible layout incorporated into a typical diving jacket.

Air is supplied from the MAC A via hose B. If fitted then the EAR is filled via hose C and the console D via hose E.

The console is releasably secured to the jacket or harness at position F that presents minimum opportunity for snagging. When the instruments need to be interrogated the console is released and pivoted into view at G then returned to F. The position where the console is secured can be easily seen or interrogated by the divers companion.

4. Figure 3 illustrates an option to include a direct feed only function by opening valve H with handwheel J.

Claims

1. An air control valve for a diving buoyancy control jacket having a manually connected air supply, a body including an inlet port, an unrestricted outlet port, a outlet port to an air reservoire controlled by a oneway valve and a manually controlled outlet valve.

2. A valve according to claim 1 wherein the inlet port can be connected and disconnected manually to the main air supply.

3. An open air supply connector according to claim 2 from the main air supply such that the system cannot operate unless the air supply is connected, and sealed, to the valve inlet.

4. A valve according to claim 1 thatwill automatically fill the air reservoire to the g in ar supply pressure once the mair. sfr supply is connected

5. A valve according to claim 1 wherein the outlet port is connected to the inlet port by a clear pathway to allow a service or instrument consul to be connected at the same pressure as the inlet pressure as that pressure varies.

6. A valve according to claim 1 wherein a second outlet port is controlled by a oneway valve to allow an air reservoir to fill to the same pressure as the initial inlet pressure and retain that initial pressure as the main air inlet pressure diminishes with use.

7. A valve according to claim 6 wherein a manually controlled outlet valve enables the air in the reservoire to be used as and when required, such as an emergency or for buoyancy control.

8. A valve according to claim 6 wherein the oneway valve will operate as a direct feed supply when the reservoire pressure falls to less than that of the main air supply.

9. A valve according to claim 8 wherein the oneway valve will operate as a direct feed of air from the main air supply when no reservoir is fitted.

10. A valve according to 7 whereby the manually controlled outlet valve will operate as a direct feed when a reservoir is not fitted.

11. A valve according to claim 5 which enables the instrument consol to be demountably secured to the jacket such that the instruments can be readily and clearly seen.

12. A valve according to claim 5 that enables the instrument consol to be demountably secured to the jacket such that its potential for sustaining physical damaged is greatly reduced.