Early European-regulators!

[pabloo]

The history of Polish diving apparatus part 5

KAIMAN R-7



KAIMAN (R-7)
Production: Poland
Manufacturer: Precision Engineering Manufacturer in Gdańsk
Time of production: 1970 - 1979
Constructor: Eng. Leszek Suchy
Construction: two-hose with one - way valves ; single-stage diaphragm, co-rotating unloaded reduction stage, with Venturi support.





P-13/P-22 set: 1x8L/2x8L 150 atm cylinder, air reserve 40-55 atm, 160-220/320-440L , set weight 13/23 kg



My Kaiman R7 with P22 tank set



The Kaiman R-7 was developed by eng. Lech Suchy in 68'-69' as experimental equipment to replace the two-stage MORS regulator and eliminate it's problems. The Kajman single-stage diaphragm automat was designed with several features such as: parallel-running unloaded reduction stage, tunable venturi with support and adjustable main spring tension. It was relatively unusual for single-stage reducers that time but is commonly used normal for the first and second stage of today's one-hose reducers.



Mr Suchy during Kaiman tests ...





The Kajman was intended for use at depths up to 40 m but was also tested up to 60 m (?) by Navy with the additional air tanks. Regarding to its usability and reliability of construction, it was used by the Navy and Army until the mid-1980s, replaced by modern, single hose UAN-82 regulator.





These with "red label" has serial number and description "Made in Poland". The nice looking shiny chrome finish was intended for civilian use and probably for export purpose.



These without tags with a matte finish were used by Navy and Army divers - they only have serial numbers and the "MW" (Navy) stamp from Navy Training & Diving Center, the internal construction was the same.



There is pdf restoration manual ... made by gentleman from US:)

www.tauchhistorie.eu/th14/kajman/kaiman-regulator-rebuild-johnson-2010.pdf

MARLIN R-8



MARLIN (R-8)
Production: Poland
Manufacturer: Precision Engineering Manufacturer in Gdansk
Time of production:1970-79
Constructor: Eng. Leszek Suchy
Construction: two-stage regulator with separated stages, with unloaded piston first stage (reduction to 8 bar) and support on the second stage.




 P-22 and P-13 tank set


The Marlin was designed and tested by Mr Suchy the same time as Kaiman between year 1968-69.
Some parts of these constructions were registered and patented in Poland and USA by Mr Suchy.



About Eng. Leszek Suchy...



Eng. Leszek Suchy designed his first diving apparatus in 1957 and was known as the constructor of the legendary Polish diving regulators R-7 "Kajman" and R-8 "Marlin" produced until 1980 by Precision Engineering Manufacturer in Gdańsk.



From 1959, Eng. Leszek Suchy was an active member of the Scientific Underwater Research Club at the Faculty of Fisheries at the University of Agriculture in Olsztyn. In 1968, Leszek Suchy was also construction consultant and "safety diver" in the Polish bathinautical experiment MEDUZA II. He left Poland in 1972 and did not have cooperation with the ZMP company after that time.



Kaiman and Marlin allowed thousands of Polish divers to discover the underwater world but finally, for "unknown reasons" in the early 1980s, the production profile of ZPM was changed and the production of Kaiman and Marlin was discontinued.



The designs and prototypes of new devices were abandoned thus 20 years of experience in the production of Polish diving and breathing apparatus was irretrievably wasted.

To be continued...

Regards

Pawel

[cg43]

Hello Pavel

Eng. Leszek Suchy made unusualy designs .

The Kaiman has a compensated downsream valve , very good .

The first stage of the Marlin has a compensation design I never saw before .
Probable it's unique . A compensation chamber inside the piston .
As there is not much air moving inside the piston , thereby the danger of freezing is less then in
a ordinary flow through the piston design .
 l like this design .

Greetings   Rainer

[vance]

I test dove a Kaiman I once owned. I think it's in Australia now. It was a good performing regulator. I liked the mouthpiece.

[pabloo]

Jan 28, 2024 14:47:19 GMT -8 cg43 said:

Hello Pavel

Eng. Leszek Suchy made unusualy designs .

The Kaiman has a compensated downsream valve , very good .

The first stage of the Marlin has a compensation design I never saw before .
Probable it's unique . A compensation chamber inside the piston .
As there is not much air moving inside the piston , thereby the danger of freezing is less then in
a ordinary flow through the piston design .
 l like this design .

Greetings   Rainer

Hello Rainer

Yes, they were unusual for that time and worked well 







The KAIMAN was very popular so you can find it "time to time" for less than 100 EUR...sometimes even with P22 tanks 

So I have 4 Kaimans   



The MARLIN reg is little mysterious...they were produced and used same time as Kaiman but you can't buy them anywhere.
If someone has it don't want to sell it...same like Drager single hose regulators 





www.oxydiver.de/indexkaiman.htm

Regards

Pawel

[pabloo]

Jan 28, 2024 16:25:24 GMT -8 vance said:

I test dove a Kaiman I once owned. I think it's in Australia now. It was a good performing regulator. I liked the mouthpiece.

Hello Vance

I like it too    it has low breathing resistance regardless of the pressure in the cylinder and you can "tune" venturi support. 



But I've never used other "single stage" so I have no comparsion to Drager PA 60 / Monomat or Spiro Royal Mistral.

Regards

Pawel 

[vance]

I think the ultimate single stage DH reg for performance is the Healthways GL, when properly tuned. Better than the Mistrals.

Not on topic, but the best breathing DH reg I have used is the Sportsways HydroTwin II (or NED version) with a 1 1/2" DSV hoseloop. It is a fantastic balanced design.

I have been working, on and off, on a balanced GL valve, but have not yet attained equal performance for various reasons.

I'll get there.

[spirou]

Hello,

So many things and threads, few weeks ago on another thread I post a picture of an EXPLORER produced by la spirotechnique between 1983 and 1986, I am asking myself if there are patented, and if it exist regulator using the same design,and yes it was a polish regulator earlier , soon I must dismantled the reg to performed his maintenance, and post photos.

Screenshot_2024-02-13-20-59-44-508~2 by Patrick Michel, sur Flickr

Cheer's

Fred
Cheer's Fred

[spirou]

Take a look also on the orientation of the LP hose, ( USD prodiver)😉, not so much as the prodiver on the front but the idea is also there.

[spirou]

Few photos, on the first photo, explorer near prodiver, the forms of the boby to give give a front orientation on the LP hoses

IMG_20240404_120706_205 by Patrick Michel, sur Flickr

Here the explorer dismantled

IMG_20240404_120706_205 by Patrick Michel, sur Flickr

Here the two pistons, the little spring on the left is like the one on the Aquarius, for the adjustment of the Ip
IMG_20240404_122557_217 by Patrick Michel, sur Flickr

[spirou]

I made a mistake here is the photos of the explorer dismantled

IMG_20240404_122402_129 by Patrick Michel, sur Flickr

Enjoy


Fred

[cg43]

Hi Fred

Every time I saw this first stage I wonder why they used such a small piston diameter .
Ok , this is a balanced design using the same principle as the Suchy R 8 Marlin therefore
don't need a greater piston diameter .
I guess there is a small hole in the poppet of the big piston .

Greetings   Rainer

[spirou]

Apr 4, 2024 6:32:01 GMT -8 cg43 said:

Hi Fred

Every time I saw this first stage I wonder why they used such a small piston diameter .
Ok , this is a balanced design using the same principle as the Suchy R 8 Marlin therefore
don't need a greater piston diameter .
I guess there is a small hole in the poppet of the big piston .

Greetings   Rainer

Yes there is small hole of the big piston , the orings are not  placed like the Martin , so the orings placed like a single piston unbalanced, it's  easy for maintenance.  I must placed photos of the crow, the diameter compared to the unbalanced ( xl2 club) , is much more wide.
I find an article in French magazine "OCEAN" , where he was compared with mk5, they say that there no big difference, the performance are similar in deep.  Regarding the mk10 , mk10 use also a narrow piston , compared mk5 and other piston from scubapro. May be the would have stuff around piston to reduced the freezing.🥶🥶🥶, but take a look one next picture

[spirou]

IMG_20240404_180649_328 by Patrick Michel, sur Flickr

When the explorer appears they also produced the Serie 25 and club the piston size is close from 25 and club.
IMG_20240404_181315_722 by Patrick Michel, sur Flickr

Easier to produce piston who are close

Enjoy

[pabloo]

Hello Fred

Very interesting reg...have you ever us it before or you are going to service this one ?

I will find Marlin 1st stage unmounted photo ...



Regards
Pawel

[spirou]

Apr 4, 2024 10:56:20 GMT -8 pabloo said:

Hello Fred

Very interesting reg...have you ever us it before or you are going to service this one ?

I will find Marlin 1st stage unmounted photo ...



Regards
Pawel

Hello Pawel, 😀

Nice photos of the Marlin, we could take a look closely, on the parts, it's really a nice and simple regulator.
About mine I never dive this one, I purchase this regulator in February 2024. I am gone test this one soon, and given dive impression.

Best regard

Fred