Patent GB-113655-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Diving Dress.
Inventor: MELLERSH-JACKSON WILLIAM JOHN
IPC: B63C11/10
Filed: 1917-02-27
Abstract: 113,655. Jackson, W. J. Mellersh-, (Leavitt Diving Armor Co.). Feb. 27, 1917. Divers' dress; divers, air supply for; diving-tools.-In a diving-dress of the kind comprising rigid metallic body and helmet sections, flexible metallic arm and leg sections provided with means for preventing them from collapsing under endpressure, and shoulder sections pivotally mounted so as to cause the arm sections to approach each other when forwardly extended, the limb sections are formed of flexible metallic coils the convolutions of which are inter-engaged to form a water seal. The apparatus comprises rigid metallic body, helmet and breast, shoulder, and feet sections A, B, C, F respectively, and the interlocked metallic coils 1 of the flexible limb sections D, E may be covered with elastic waterproof material 2 such as rubber, a layer of non-metallic fabric 3 such as heavy canvas or thin flexible metal being preferably interposed. The section B is detachably clamped on the section A by a ring 5 turning on rollers mounted on studs 7 and actuated by a pinion 13. The ring is provided with lugs 10, which engage studs 11 on the section B when the ring is turned. Between the sections, packing 4<a> is arranged. Each shoulder section C is connected to the breast section B by a swivel joint, Fig. 3, comprising a flange 15 on the shoulder fitting in a ring 16 and secured by a nut 19, which also compresses packing 20. A ball bearing 18 is provided, and the ring 16 has a flange 21 by which it is secured to a flange 21<a>. The flange 21<a> is furnished with studs 24, the heads of which have inclined under surfaces adapted to engage similar surfaces on projections 26 around openings in the flange 21. These openings are sufficiently wide at one end to permit the passage of the stud heads and thereby allow of the disconnexion of a shoulder section: a reverse movement, effected by a pinion carried by the flange 21<a> and engaging a rack in the edge of the flange 21, causes engagement of the stud heads 24<a> and the projections 26 and clamps the the flanges 21, 21<a> tightly against the packing 22. The axes of rotation of the shoulder sections are out of alinement, so that, when the arms are raised, their free ends approach each other. Each arm section terminates in a ring 29, which receives a ball bearing 30 and a swivelling plate 31 held in position by a nut 33, which also retains packing 34<a> in place. Hooked gripping-members 41, mounted on co-axial shafts 36 spaced apart by a ball 37<a>. are manipulated by grips 44. Swivel mountings like that of the plate 31 are provided for the foot sections 4. Swinging struts 50, 53 prevent collapsing of the flexible limb sections. Electrical telephone conductors are enclosed in the supporting-cable 56, Fig. 9, which is preferably of woven wire and lined with a metal coil, preferably with interlocked convolutions. A collar 66 on the cable is clamped on packing 66<a> by a nut 65, which screws on a part 62 secured by a nut 64 to a member 60 in the helmet. A packing-ring 63 is provided, and the conductors detachably engage a plug 68 permanently connected to the conductors inside the diving-dress. The cable is looped to engage with two pivoted hooks 59, Fig. 1. Oxygen and caustic-soda tanks 68<a>, 69 communicate by pipes with a mixing-chamber 72, from which a pipe 75 is led to the helmet. The gases exhaled by the diver enter the inlet 70 of the tank 68<a> and are there robbed of carbonic acid and water, the nitrogen only passing to the chamber 72 to mix with fresh oxygen. If the suit leaks and water rises to the level of the inlet 70, a soluble body 77 is dissolved and thereby releases a spring- operated valve. which closes the inlet.