EP0861188B1 - Self-contained diving equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

Self-contained diving equipment comprising means (10) for refilling a compressed air tank (40) connected via a flexible air tube (1) to a snorkel and a breathing nozzle (70). The refilling means are deactivated when underwater, and an external air intake (61) is connected via a tube to the nozzle to feed air directly from the surface (10) when the swimmer is not underwater. The equipment further comprises a moisture removal device (20) and a filter (21) between the compressor (13) and the tank (40), as well as means (30) for controlling the activation and deactivation of the refilling means.

Description

The present invention is in the field of equipment allowing to stay temporarily underwater and relates more particularly to diving equipment autonomous.

To allow a swimmer to examine the funds sailors, we have long had the idea of using a tube connecting his nose or mouth to the open air. We know for example snorkels or schnorkels, one end of which is integral with a mouthpiece and the other end of which has a bent tube whose opening can be blocked by a ping pong ball when this end passes at water level. The swimmer then moves in apnea, that is to say that he stops breathing, and his stay underwater is limited by its lung capacity because it can no longer supply air.

On the other hand we know diving equipment to supply the diver with bottles compressed air, which have the disadvantage of a significant weight and the obligation to reload the bottles in a specialized station.

The present invention proposes to combine these two types of equipment to allow a swimmer to move either on the surface or at low depth, while continuously breathing the same way, thanks to a nozzle allowing the supply in air, whether the swimmer is on the surface of the water or submerged.

Means for recharging an air tank tablet are planned to increase the duration of the immersion observation, the weight of the equipment remaining limited.

In PCT WO 91/02677, the element called converter 5 ensures the transition from power to the open air to the bottle feed and vice versa. However, this transition from one state to another is achieved by via a float 53 which shuts off the air supply free and a valve 3 open and closed by means of a device 4. Bottle feeding is therefore completely separate from room 5 and comes directly to the mouthpiece or respiratory assembly 9, as presented in fig. 1 of PCT WO 91/02677, this supply being controlled by valve 3. Converter 5 is therefore a simple device for opening and closing the arrival of free air controlling valve 3. It cannot therefore be compared to the schnorkel shown and described opposite fig. 5 of the request cited under the heading, where the free air and air from the bottle are confined in the same enclosure.

The apparatus proposed according to the invention must allow swimmers, vacationers to evolve in all safety in the water after a very simple initiation for learn how the device works. They could so learn about underwater life without having to previously obtain a diving certificate. The apparatus proposed according to the invention will therefore be particularly simple and safe because it has a restrictor that interferes with breathing as soon as predetermined depth is reached.

Autonomous diving equipment according to the invention comprising a connected compressed air tank through a flexible air duct to a breathing mouthpiece, minus an outside air intake connected by a duct to the breathing nozzle and capable of ensuring admission direct from surface air when not submerged, means for recharging the air tank tablet capable of supplying the reservoir when the diver is on the surface or in immersion, and means of command to start and stop said refill, is characterized by a schnorkel provided with means opening and closing the air duct from of the compressor through the conduits and means opening and closing the air duct through the duct coming from the outside air intake to across the schnorkel.

The air intake connected to the nozzle ensures direct intake of surface air when the means compressed air charging stations are off, a injector provided with means for opening or closing the air duct coming from the tank and the means of closing or opening the air duct coming from the outside air intake being present, means of recharge the compressed air tank, able to supply the tank when the diver is in immersion or in surface and by start-up control means and stopping said recharging.

The operation of the tip assembly (Fig. 6) - schnorkel (Fig. 5) is therefore totally different from that of the device described in the PCT WO 91/02677. When the schnorkel is closed by the float and if the closing time is short and for example due to a wave or an intermittent dive one or two seconds, the compressor continues to suck air through the tube in the chamber. This tube via the duct is connected to the compressor, which allows avoid depression of the chamber.

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus also includes a depth limiter associated with a depth sensor.

Preferably all of these components are maintained on the user's back thanks to a vest or suspenders which may further include an enclosure capable of be inflated when necessary to reassemble the swimmer.

In one embodiment, the means of tank refill include a motor powered by batteries and driving a compressor connected to an outlet outside air. An evacuation device can be provided humidity between compressor and tank as well as an activated carbon filter.

The control means include a detector humidity to check if the compressor is in the water so that this one has a good cooling.

The accompanying drawing shows, by way of example an embodiment of the object of the present invention.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique des principaux constituants d'un appareillage autonome selon l'invention.
• la figure 2 est une coupe transversale d'un dispositif d'évacuation d'humidité et d'un filtre à charbon actif,
• la figure 3 est une coupe d'un capteur de la pression d'air dont le piston est associé à une résistance variable et dont l'information de la mesure est renvoyée à une commande,
• la figure 4 est une coupe d'un capteur de profondeur dont le piston est associé à une résistance variable ainsi qu'à un limiteur de profondeur et dont l'information de la mesure est renvoyée à une commande,
• la figure 5 est une coupe d'un schnorkel comportant la prise d'air nécessaire au plongeur ainsi que la prise d'air nécessaire au compresseur, et
• la figure 6 est une coupe de l'embout comportant l'ensemble de la partie respiratoire en immersion et la prise d'air nécessaire à la respiration en surface à proprement parler et de son convertisseur surface-immersion.

In the drawing:

• Figure 1 is a schematic view of the main components of an autonomous apparatus according to the invention.
• FIG. 2 is a cross section of a device for removing humidity and an activated carbon filter,
• FIG. 3 is a section through an air pressure sensor, the piston of which is associated with a variable resistance and the measurement information of which is returned to an order,
• FIG. 4 is a section through a depth sensor, the piston of which is associated with a variable resistance as well as with a depth limiter and the measurement information of which is returned to an order,
• FIG. 5 is a section of a schnorkel comprising the air intake necessary for the plunger as well as the air intake necessary for the compressor, and
• Figure 6 is a section of the mouthpiece comprising all of the breathing part in immersion and the air intake necessary for breathing on the surface itself and its surface-immersion converter.

In the drawing of Figure 1, the components grouped in rectangle 10 constitute means of compressed air recharge, taking outside air through the conduit 1 coming from the schnorkel 12 or from a float area.

Alternatively, the conduit 11 can be directly connected to a reserve of compressed air independent of the swimmer and thus making it possible to recharge the reservoir 40 using of a bottle.

Compressed air passes successively through a moisture removal device 20 and a filter coal 21, before being introduced into a tank 40. At the outlet of the tank, the pressurized air passes through a pressure sensor 30 as well as a depth sensor associated with a depth limiter 50, before arriving by a flexible tube 51 to the respiratory end piece 70, which can also receive surface air directly by a flexible tube 61 leading to a schnorkel 12.

The means 10 for recharging with compressed air have a schnorkel 12 bringing the air taken from the surface to a compressor 13 actuated by a motor 14 powered by a group of removable batteries 15. The air is compressed up to 12 bars and exits via conduit 11 towards the moisture removal device 20 and the filter activated carbon 21. Control means 16 are furthermore subjected to humidity detectors 17 and 18, integral with the compressor 13 to make sure there is no water in circuit 1 and so that the compressor is in the water at when the engine is started, controlled by the command 16.

The start-up is done only when the whole is immersed and that the aqueous bond between the electrodes maintains a closed contact on the detector 18 and when the aqueous bond between the electrodes maintains an open contact on the detector 17. (information sent to order 16).

The device 20 for evacuating moisture and filtering 21 represented in FIG. 2 and makes it possible to recover the condensation emitted by the temperature difference between compressor 13 (which is around 60 °) and the aquatic environment (around 20 ° C). This device ensures the user air dry and free from harmful impurities to breathing. It has a removable container 22 by relative to a cover 23 constituting a support. The cover 23 connects the conduit 11 to a passage angled inlet 24 with spray holes 25 in its lower part. The cover also supports a outlet bent passage 26 having holes 27. This outlet passage passes through a filter with activated carbon 28 secured to a plug 29 and ensuring filtering of impurities. Dry air comes out through the conduit 21 towards the pressure sensor 30 (Fig. 1).

The pressure sensor 30 shown diagrammatically in the figure 3 is placed in diversion on the conduit 21 of the Figure 1, which opens in an enclosure 32 containing a piston 33 displaceable against a spring 34. When the air arriving through line 21 moves the piston down as far as possible, the piston rod 35 drives the variable resistance 36 whose information triggers stopping the compressor 13 via the control 16 shown in Figure 1.

When the diver uses air in immersion and the pressure decreases in the enclosure 32, the piston goes up and the rod 35 causing the resistance variable 36, the information of which activates a buzzer 93 by via control 16, shown in Figure 1, to notify the diver that he is on the reserve air.

Indeed, when the pressure is insufficient, the piston 33 is held back by the spring 34 which is calibrated at 0.8 bar. As soon as the pressure rises, the piston moves linearly up to a maximum pressure of 12 bars, value at which it cuts the compressor by through command 16.

The enclosure 40 constitutes the air tank carried by the diver.

The depth sensor associated with the depth 50 is provided to prevent a neophyte from descend to levels requiring observation of landings decompression and overpressure problems pulmonary at the time of the ascent and its purpose is to limit the use of the apparatus above a depth of about 5 meters. As visible at the FIG. 4, this limiter comprises a piston 52 arranged in an enclosure 53 having an opening 54 on the outside. The piston is held back by the spring 55 which is tared at 0.5 bar. The piston 52 has a throttle 56 shown in the drawing substantially at the level of ducts 41 and 51, position in which the air passes easily the limiter. At a pressure higher than 1.5 bar, the piston continues to descend, gradually closing the passage between conduits 41 and 51. The piston is limited in its stroke by the mechanical stop 57, in a position ensuring a reduced passage of air between the conduits 41 and 51. The diver has difficulty breathing and knows that he just go back above the maximum depth authorized. In addition the rod 58 of the piston drives the variable resistance 60, the information of which is sent to the command 16 in order to process and save the profile of the immersion. Command 16 triggers a buzzer or a audible alarm 93.

The schnorkel 12 shown in Figure 5 is constituted by a cylindrical enclosure 62 for closing the conduit 61, enclosure comprising passages 63 ensuring the air intake on the outside. Enclosure 62 contains a mobile float 64 provided, in its upper part, with a seal 65 intended to close the openings 66 connecting to the conduit 61 and, in its lower part, a ring of flotation 67, for example in cork. The position represented in the drawing is where the outside air passes through the conduit 61 through the passages 63 and the openings 66. A valve 68 seals the conduit 61 in the mode immersion. A tube 69 supplies the compressor in the air.

When diving, float 64 closes the openings 66 and during immersion, this is the hydrostatic pressure acting on the surface of the assembly 64 which maintains the assembly in the closed position.

un premier embout 72 permettant le raccord du conduit 51 amenant l'air en provenance du réservoir 40, un second embout 73 pour le raccord du conduit 61 amenant directement l'air de surface pénétrant dans le schnorkel 12, une embouchure respiratoire 74, un clapet d'expiration 75, une membrane hydrostatique 76 déplaçable sous l'action de la pression dans l'ouverture 77 et un poussoir 78 permettant de purger manuellement l'enceinte. Tous ces composants étant parfaitement connus de l'homme du métier, leur montage ne sera pas décrit en détail ici.

The respiratory end piece 70 is shown in section in FIG. 6. The enclosure 71 is provided with the following elements:

a first nozzle 72 allowing the connection of the conduit 51 bringing the air coming from the reservoir 40, a second nozzle 73 for the connection of the conduit 61 directly bringing the surface air entering the schnorkel 12, a respiratory mouth 74, a valve 75, an hydrostatic membrane 76 movable under the action of pressure in the opening 77 and a pusher 78 for manually purging the enclosure. All these components being perfectly known to those skilled in the art, their assembly will not be described in detail here.

The displacement of the hydrostatic membrane 76 acts on an injector 81, 82, 83 and 85 which is as already mentioned provided with means for opening or closing conduits 72 and 73. More precisely in the mode shown in Figure 5, the injector is constituted by a rod 81 having a spherical end 82 and a frustoconical end 83, the rod 81 passing through a cylindrical cage 84 which also receives a spring 85.

When the plunger is on the surface, the injector is in the position shown in the drawing, the compressed air arriving via conduit 51 pushes the frustoconical end 83 which rests on the upper part of the cage cylindrical 84, closing the first end piece 72 and by consequently the conduit 51. On the surface, the diver receives directly through duct 61 passing atmospheric air through the schnorkel 12, air it can breathe at across respiratory mouth 74. At expiration, the plunger evacuates the gas through the exhalation valve 75.

In immersion mode (humidity detector 18 in water), the schnorkel 12 closes and when the diver breathes, it causes depression in the enclosure 71. The hydrostatic membrane 76 moves inward, pushing the spherical end 82 toward the top, which causes displacement of the rod 81 and therefore from the tapered end 83 which opens the passage in the end piece 72 for connection to the conduit 41 bringing the air coming from the reservoir 40. The compressed air arriving in the enclosure 71 pushes the membrane 76 towards the bottom and, under the action of spring 85, the injector takes the position shown in the drawing. We are in a situation of enslavement and balance hydrostatic.

A conduit 86 crossing the enclosure 71 takes the outside air from the schnorkel 12 and sends it to compressor 13 through line 1.

As already mentioned, the majority of the components described are kept on the user's back thanks to a waistcoat or suspenders, not shown in the drawing, with the exception of the end piece 70 and the schnorkel, the conduits 51 and 1 being constituted by flexible tubes. In addition the vest may include an enclosure capable of being inflated thanks to a carbon dioxide cartridge to reassemble the diver. Alternatively, provision may be made to inflate this kind of buoy automatically when the air pressure of the tank goes below a predetermined threshold.

Returning to the general view of Figure 1, we note again the presence of the signal transmitter acoustic 93, actuated by control 16 receiving sensor 30 information when the air pressure tablet decreases, and the sensor information depth 50 when the swimmer moves below the threshold predetermined depth. It will also be recalled that the humidity detector 18 mentioned previously comprises electrodes which, when in water, close a contact, authorizing the starting of the engine 14 only when the assembly is submerged.

As for the humidity detector 17 mentioned above associated with the air inlet to compressor 13 by the duct, it ensures that pumping takes place only if the conduit 1 is dry, the contact of this second detector being open.

Claims (8)

1. Self-contained diving equipment comprising a compressed air tank (40) connected via a flexible air hose (51) to a breathing nozzle (70), at least one external air intake (61) connected via a tube to the breathing nozzle to feed air directly from the surface when not immersed, a means (10) of refilling the compressed air tank suitable for feeding the tank when the swimmer is on the surface or diving, and a means (16) of controlling activation and deactivation of the said refilling system, further comprising a snorkel (12) equipped with a means of opening and closing the air tube (66) from the compressor (13) through the tubes (1 and 86) and a means of opening and closing the air tube (66) via a tube (69) from the external air intake (61) through the snorkel (12).
2. Equipment as in claim 1, with this refilling system (10) further comprising a motor (14) supplied by batteries (15) and driving a compressor (13) connected to an external air intake (1) via the snorkel (12).
3. Equipment as in claim 2. further comprising a moisture removal and filtering device (20), a carbon filter being arranged between the compressor and the tank (40).
4. Equipment as in claim 2, further comprising a control system (30) consisting of a plunger (33) with a shaft (35) and a variable resistor (36) servo-controlled by this shaft and designed to control the said motor (14) by means of the control (16).
5. Equipment as in claim 4, with the said control system (30) further comprising at least one humidity detector (17 or 18).
6. Equipment as in claim 1, further comprising at least one acoustic alarm signal transmitter (92, 93).
7. Equipment as in claim 1, further comprising a depth governor (50).
8. Equipment as in claim 1, further comprising a component support harness.

Images