US4080964A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Diving gas recovery apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-06-28
•
Granted: 1978-03-28
•
Expires: 1996-06-28
Abstract
Abstract An improved diving habitat for providing breathing gas to a diver in which expired breathing gas is recovered from the habitat utilizing an indirect fluid coupling which is in fluid communication with the interior of the habitat and with a recovery line adapted for connection to a diving gas reconditioning system, the coupling providing for the transfer of the expired breathing gas from the habitat to the recovery line under normal conditions and further providing for a flow of water to the recovery line from the water environment in the event of a dangerous change in pressure in the recovery line.
Inventors
- 👤 Hilbert Joseph Savoie, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:11
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63C; B63C11/00; B63C11/02; B63C11/12; B63C11/18; B63C11/22; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/4456; Y10T137/4643
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A diving habitat for use underwater and being adapted for connection to a source of breathable gas and for connection to a diving gas reconditioning system for receiving expired breathing gas from the habitat and reconditioning said expired breathing gas for reuse, comprising: a diving habitat body adapted for mounting with the diver and including means for receiving a breathable gas and a recovery line extending to the diving gas reconditioning system; coupling means communicating the interior of said habitat body with said recovery line adapted for connection to such diving gas reconditioning system; said coupling means including means transferring expired breathing gas from said habitat body to said recovery line under normal conditions; and said coupling means further including substitution means for transferring surrounding water into said recovery line in response to a dangerous change in pressure therein thereby regulating the transfer of expired breathing gas from said habitat body and preventing such deleterious change in pressure from acting on said diving habitat body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
A diving habitat for use underwater and being adapted for connection to a source of breathable gas and for connection to a diving gas reconditioning system for receiving expired breathing gas from the habitat and reconditioning said expired breathing gas for reuse, comprising: a diving habitat body adapted for mounting with the diver and including means for receiving a breathable gas and a recovery line extending to the diving gas reconditioning system; coupling means communicating the interior of said habitat body with said recovery line adapted for connection to such diving gas reconditioning system; said coupling means including means transferring expired breathing gas from said habitat body to said recovery line under normal conditions; and said coupling means further including substitution means for transferring surrounding water into said recovery line in response to a dangerous change in pressure therein thereby regulating the transfer of expired breathing gas from said habitat body and preventing such deleterious change in pressure from acting on said diving habitat body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The structure set forth in claim 1, including: said substitution means includes means for interposing water at hydrostatic pressure between the interior of said habitat body and said recovery line to prevent the transfer of expired breathing gas to said recovery line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes: a collection chamber mounted on said habitat body, said collection chamber including first, second and third openings to place said collection chamber in fluid communication with the interior of said habitat body, with said recovery line and with water at hydrostatic pressure, respectively, said water flowing into said recovery line in order to substantially block off the flow of expired breathing gas to said recovery line in response to a dangerous decrease in pressure in said recovery line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
127 words
The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes: an enclosed collection chamber mounted with said habitat body, said collection chamber having a first opening to mount an exhaust line from said habitat body such that expired breathing gas flows into said collection chamber; said collection chamber including a second opening in fluid communication with the water environment; said collection chamber including a third opening in fluid communication with said recovery line; said water environment being at a hydrostatic pressure level; and said expired breathing gas being at a pressure greater than hydrostatic pressure, said opening to said water environment allowing said water to enter said chamber and said recovery line in response to said pressure in said recovery line dropping below hydrostatic pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
148 words
The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes: said diving habitat body having an exhaust line extending from the interior of said habitat; a chamber housing attached to said diving habitat body and having first and second collection chambers; said first collection chamber being attached to said exhaust line for initially receiving expired breathing gas; and said second collection chamber being in fluid communication with said first collection chamber, the water environment and with said recovery line, said first and second collection chambers cooperating to provide means normally maintaining an expired breathing gas/water interface that allows for the transfer of expired breathing gas from said first chamber to said second chamber and to said recovery line and further cooperating to provide means for the transfer of water directly to said recovery line whenever the pressure in said recovery line drops to an undesirable level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The structure set forth in claim 5, including: said chamber housing including a transfer passage connecting said first collection chamber with said second collection chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The structure set forth in claim 6, including said first collection chamber being in fluid communication with said water environment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The structure set forth in claim 7, including: said housing for said first and second collection chambers being tubular in configuration and having openings therein providing fluid communication between said chambers and said water environment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes: a tubular ring mounted with said habitat and connected to said exhaust line and to said recovery line, said tubular ring having an opening to said water environment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The structure set forth in claim 9, including: tilt control means for maintaining the hydrostatic pressure of said water environment on said opening in spite of said tubular ring being tilted with said habitat body from an upright position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
101 words
The structure set forth in claim 9, wherein said tilt control means includes: a housing attached to said tubular ring at said opening to said water environment and having a first chamber therein which is in fluid communication with said opening; said housing having a second chamber in fluid communication with said first chamber and with said water environment; and said housing being positioned with respect to said tubular ring opening that a portion of said second chamber is always exposed to water at a hydrostatic pressure level sufficient to prevent the escape of expired breathing gas to such water environment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The structure set forth in claim 11, including: said housing being in a generally elongated configuration and said second chamber of said housing being in a generally elongated configuration and being open to said first chamber at one end thereof and being open to said water environment at the other end thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The structure set forth in claim 12, including: a third generally elongated chamber positioned adjacent to said second chamber, said third chamber having an opening to said first chamber on said other housing end and having an opening to said water environment at said one housing end.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
72 words
The structure set forth in claim 9, including: an auxiliary chamber means attached to said opening in said tubular ring, said auxiliary chamber means having at least a portion thereof subject to a greater pressure than the recovery line in spite of tilting of said habitat body in order to prevent the loss of expired breathing gas outwardly of said tubular ring opening with said tubular ring being in a tilted position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The structure set forth in claim 9, including: valve means mounted in said recovery line to control the pressure therein.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The structure set forth in claim 9, including: a tube-like member attached to said tubular ring, said tube-like member being curved to extend outside of the rim of said tubular ring on both sides of said tubular ring opening.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
The structure set forth in claim 9, including: a tube-like member attached to said tubular ring and including a portion positioned below said connection of recovery line to said tubular ring when the habitat body is tilted either clockwise or counterclockwise whereby under normal pressure conditions, said expired breathing gas will flow from said habitat exhaust line to said recovery line.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
71 words
The structure set forth in claim 9, including: said tubular ring opening being attached to a hose member which includes a first portion extending outside of one side of said tubular ring and a second portion extending outwardly of the opposite side of said tubular ring so that either said first or second portion is positioned below said tubular ring with said tubular ring rotating to a clockwise or counterclockwise position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3968795A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-03-27 | 1981-09-26 | 1982-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-03-27 | 1985-09-26 | 1986-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-03-27 | 1989-09-26 | 1990-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |