US829274A - Diving apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

, 829,274- PATENTBD AUG. 21, 1906.

P KN OFF.

DIVING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. '1, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Alzomeyd.

[NVENTOR No. 829,274. PATENTED AUG. 21, 1906. F. KNOFF.

DIVING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED no.7, 1905.

2 SHEEN-SHEET 2.

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[NI/ENTOR M W M /&ZM 9 &

Allarneyl,

FRANK KNOFF, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. DIVING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 21, 1906.

Application filed December 7,1905. Serial No. 290,699.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK KNOFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Divers Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to divers apparatus, and has for its object to provide means for supplying a diver with air without the use of the ordinary pump operated by other persons above the surface of the water. With this invention the diver carries his own supply of air in a compressed-air tank upon his back. Means are provided for supplying such air to the helmet and for exhausting the foul air therefrom. The diver is thus not subject to the control or action of other persons.

Another important advantage resulting from the invention is that there are no lifelines or hose extending to the surface, and consequently no danger of fouling or entanglement of such devices.

The invention includes a pump which is contained in a box or sealed chamber connected to the helmet and is used for exhaust: ing the foul air from the helmet and discharging the same outside. The pump is driven by means of the compressed air carried by the diver, as heretofore referred to, a suitable motor being-employed for this purpose. After the air goes through the motor it is taken to the helmet and utilized for breathing pur poses. The supply of air is regulated by a valve which is attached to the pipe leading from the motor to the helmet, or the pump may be driven by any other suitable motor, such as a spring-motor.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a divers suit provided with the improvement. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the exhaust-pump with its casing or inclosure. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are sections on the lines 4 4 and 5 5, respectively, of the same figure. Fig. 6 is a detail in elevation of a spring-catch for holding the valve-operating rod of the pump.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 10 indicates the helmet of a divers suit having a fresh-air-supply pipe 11 and a foulair-ex haust pipe 12. The supply-pipe leads from a compartment 11 in the upper part of a tank 15, which compartment is supplied through pipe 11 by the exhaust-flow from an air-motor 13, which may be of any desired or suitable type. This motor is supplied with air from the lower or compressed-air compartment 15" of the tank 15. The exhaust-pump for foul air is contained in a casing 16 and will be more fully described hereinafter. The air-pipe 11 has a valve 11 therein to control the supply of fresh air to the helmet. These parts and devices are carried by the diver, being preferably strapped upon the back of the suit, as shown in the drawings, in which position they are out of the way of the diver while he is at work. The box or chamber 16 has an inlet from the exhaust-pipe 12 and an outlet 26 into the outer air or water, said outlet being provided with a check-cap to prevent ingress of water. The pump is of the oscillating type, the barrel 17 thereof being pivoted in bearings 17 so as to allow the pump to oscillate. The barrel has a cap 17 b at its lower end and at its upper end has an enlargement or chamber 18. The piston-rod 1W of the piston 19 is connected to the wristpin of a crank-wheel 20, which rotates in the chamber 16, and its shaft 21 is extended through the wall of said chamber to connection with the pitman or other device for transmitting the motion from the motor 13. The valve- openings 25 and 26 are located in the top of the enlarged part 18, the latter being connected by a flexible pipe 26 to outlet 26 such flexible connection permitting the oscillation referred to. At 22 is indicated a valve shifting or operating rod having at its lower end a finger 22 which projects through a slot 17 into the pump-barrel below the piston-head. The rod 22 is connected to a lever 23, which is provided with a rod 24, which passes through the opening 25 to connection with a double-valve lever 27, located within the enlarged part 18 of the pump-barrel. Said lever is pivoted at 27 and carries two rubber packing- disks 27 and 27 which seat, respectively, against the tubes 25 and 26 as the lever is vibrated. 22 is a guide-piece for the rod 22, and 19 1s a spline which works through a notch in the cap 17 b to prevent the piston-rod 19'" from turning around. The piston-rod is provided with tappets 19 and 19, which alternately operate the valve-rod 22 and open or close the valves. Near the lower end of the pump-cylinder is a catch 17, (see Fig. 6,) which consists of two clips or pair of springs arranged to engage the rod 22 and to retain it in either its upper or its lower position until struck by the tappet which.

throws it to the opposite position. This prevents the valves 27 and 27 from changing positions until the rod is shifted by the tappets. In use the tank l5 is charged with compressed air and the motor is started before the diver enters the water. The motor operates the pump and the pump draws the exhaust from the helmet into the chamber 16 and into the pumpbarrel, from which it is then discharged through the outlet-valve 26". After being used in the motor 13 the air is then conducted by the pipe 11 into the helmet, where it is supplied to the diver for breathing purposes.

I claim- 1. The combination with a divers suit, of a tank for compressed air carried thereon, a motor connected to the tank and driven by the air therefrom, a connection between the motor and the suit, to deliver the air from the former to the latter, and a pump connected to and driven by the motor and having a connecting-pipe to the suit to exhaust the air therefrom.

2. The combination with a divers suit, of an exhaust-air pump therefor, comprising an outer casing having a pipe connection to the suit, a barrel and piston in said casing, the

barrel having an inlet-valve from within the l casing and an outlet-pipe and valve opening outside the casing, and means to operate said pump. 3. The combination with a divers suit, of an exhaust apparatus comprising a casing having a pipe connection to the suit, and a valved escape-outlet, and a pump-barrel and piston within the casing, having an inletvalve from Within the casing and a pipe connected to said outlet, and means to operate the pump.

4. The combination with a divers suit, of an exhaust apparatus comprising a casing having a pipe connection to the suit and a valved escape-outlet, and an oscillating pump the barrel of which has an inlet-valve from the casing and a flexible pipe connection to said outlet, and means to operate the pump.

In testimony whereof 1 have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK KNOFF.

Vitnesses:

H. G. BATOHELOR, PAUL LEN Z.

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