Non-return hot water diving suit

• US 4,274,759 A
• Filed: 02/12/1979
• Issued: 06/23/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lowell Corporation
• Original Assignee: Diving Unlimited International, Inc.
• Inventors: Stinton, Robert T., Long, Richard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor, Dennis L.
• Application Number:
  US06/011,200
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 405/185, 405/186, 2/2.1 R, 251/118, 251/127, 137/613, 137/611
• US Class Current: 405/186
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/04 Resilient suits
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/202 with forced air supply B63C11/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/28 Heating, e.g. of divers' suits, of breathing air

Abstract

A non-return hot water diving suit in which hot water is supplied to keep the diver warm is exhausted from the suit through a single outlet valve, readily accessible to the diver. In the event of failure of the hot water supply the valve can be quickly closed, trapping the existing hot water in the suit and extending the length of time available for the diver to return to safety. In the preferred form the valve is combined with a flow controlling baffle, which will allow normal hot water outlet flow, but inhibits sudden or rapid intake of cold water through the open outlet.

Claims

1. A non-return hot water diving suit, comprising:

a waterproof body encasing suit providing a sealed interior to protect the body against cold exterior water;

the suit having inlet means for connection to a supply of hot water to admit the hot water into the interior of the suit;

the suit further having a single hot water outlet for allowing hot water to be exhausted from the interior of the suit therethrough, the outlet including a positive shut-off valve; and

flow restricting means disposed between the interior of the suit and the outlet for allowing hot water to be exhausted from the interior of the suit through the outlet at a predetermined substantially constant first rate and for preventing cold exterior water from surging into the interior of the suit through the outlet at a second rate significantly greater than the first rate due to pumping action in the suit or failure of the hot water supply.

2. A diving suit according to claim 1 in which the flow restricting means includes a pocket member peripherally sealed to the interior wall of the suit and covering the outlet, the pocket member having a plurality of ports extending therethrough for permitting hot water to flow from the interior of the suit into the space defined between the pocket member and the interior wall.

3. A diving suit according to claim 2 wherein the ports are offset from the outlet.

4. A diving suit according to claim 2 wherein the flow restricting means further includes a porous baffle panel positioned between the pocket member and the outlet.

5. A diving suit according to claim 4 wherein the baffle panel is peripherally sealed to the interior wall of the suit.

6. A diving suit according to claim 4 wherein the baffle panel is made of a woven material.

7. A diving suit according to claim 2 wherein the suit has a chest portion in which the outlet is positioned, and wherein the pocket member extends over a major portion of the chest portion.

8. A diving suit according to claim 2 wherein the pocket member is peripherally sealed to the interior wall of the suit so that it lies substantially flat thereagainst.

9. A diving suit according to claim 1 in which the flow restricting means includes a porous baffle panel peripherally sealed to the interior wall of the suit and covering the outlet.

10. A diving suit according to claim 9 wherein the baffle panel is made of a woven material.

11. A non-return hot water diving suit, comprising:

a waterproof body encasing suit providing a sealed interior to protect the body against cold exterior water, the suit having interior and exterior walls and a chest portion;

the suit further having inlet means for connection to a supply of hot water to admit the hot water into the interior of the suit;

the suit further having a single hot water outlet located in the chest portion for allowing hot water to be exhausted from the interior of the suit therethrough, the outlet icluding a positive shut-off valve; and

flow restricting means disposed between the interior of the suit and the outlet for allowing hot water to be exhausted from the interior of the suit through the outlet at a predetermined substantially constant first rate and for preventing cold exterior water from surging into the interior of the suit through the outlet at a second rate significantly greater than the first rate due to pumping action in the suit or failure of the hot water supply, the flow restricting means including;

a pocket member peripherally sealed to the interior wall of the chest portion of the suit and covering the outlet, a pocket member having a plurality of ports extending therethrough for permitting hot water to flow from the interior of the suit into the space defined between the pocket member and the interior wall of the suit, the pocket member extending over a major portion of the chest portion and lying substantially flat thereagainst; and

a porous baffle panel made of a woven material positioned between the pocket member and the outlet, the panel being peripherally sealed to the interior wall of the suit so that it covers the outlet.