Patent GB-245507-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in diving suits
IPC: B63C11/10
Filed: 1924-10-07
Abstract: 245,507. McGinness, M., and Davies, H. T. Oct. 7, 1924. Divers' dress.-In metal diving suits for deep- - sea diving, the limb members are operated by power under the control of the diver. Compressed air is preferably employed, the operating means comprising cylinders and pistons, and the air supply is controlled by a slight displacement of the diver's limbs or body. Preferably a device such as a valve controlled by a diaphragm acted upon by the external water pressure and by the pressure of the air supplied is used to regulate the power available in proportion to the depth of immersion. The limb joints are preferably arranged in pairs, a diagonally disposed ring joint being associated with a similar transwersely disposed joint. The suit is preferably constructed of steel plates, and comprises a body portion 1, Fig. 1, a head portion 2 having windows 3, arm members 4 jointed at 6, 7, and leg members 5 jointed at 9, 10, 11. The joints 6, 10 allow rotary movement about the axis of the limb, while the joints 7, 9, 11 allow movement in a plane at an angle to the axis. Claws 8 are provided at the end of the arms. The shoulder joint comprises a ball bearing 17 with packing rings 18, 19, an endless spring 20 and a cover ring 21. A curved cylinder 12 is attached to the arm member 4 and a curved piston rod 13 is attached to the body portion 1 by a bracket 14. The cylinder 12 has a partition 15 midway in its length, and the piston rod 13 terminates in pistons 16, 16 so that by admitting air to one or other of the parts of the cylinder the latter will be moved and so rotate the arm member 4 relatively to the body. The supply of air is controlled by a valve 22 in the arm member, operated by a crescent shaped lever 23, Fig. 5, adapted to be engaged and moved by the diver's arm, which admits air to one or other of the parts of the cylinder. The same valve allows air to exhaust from the other part of the cylinder. The diagonally disposed joints of the arm and leg members are similar in construction. Alternative operating means comprises straight cylinders 25, Fig. 8, on one member having pistons 26 connected by Bowden wires 27 to the other member of the joint. Ball-andsocket joints in which the parts of the limb member are moved angularly by pistons working in straight or curved cylinders may also be used. In another construction one part of the limb member is provided with supports 29, Fig. 11, to which is pivoted a ring 30, the other part of the member having two supports 31 also pivoted to the ring 30 so as to form a universal joint. The adjacent ends of the two parts. are connected by flexible material such as rubber covered fabric, supported by a coil spring 32. The joint is moved by Bowden wires 27 attached to the ring 30 and to pistons 26 working in cylinders 25. The automatic valve regulating the pressure of the compressed air for actuating the joints is actuated by a diaphragm 33, Fig. 12, acted upon on one side by the pressure of the external water admitted to the casing 35 and also by a spring 36, and on the other side by the compressed air supplied through the hose 37. The pressure can also be regulated within limits by the diver by means of a screw cap 38 which varies the effect of the spring 36 on the diaphragm. Alternatively a valve controlled entirely by the diver may be used. The control mechanism for the joints may be mounted in the body portion of the suit on a panel so that the diver may set the limbs in the desired position before putting his own limbs into them. The arm members are of such size that the diver may withdraw his arms into the body portion. Compressed air bottles may be carried on the back of the suit.