Post by SeaRat on Sept 7, 2004 20:41:08 GMT -8
As a result of the "Downstream Single Stage Regulator" thread, I have started looking at the different patents. I had no idea it was so easy to get to them now (if you want to see how, go to Sam's post on that thread).
I have been looking at the Cousteau/Gagnan origital patent (#2,485,039, J.Y. Cousteau et al), and came across this passage:
This passage then goes on to discuss the functioning of the regulator attached to the tanks.
What is interesting to me, having both read The Silent World and seen the movie of the same name, is the function of the third cylinder. I'll send a copy of the diagram shortly, so you can see the setup.
In the movie, Cousteau referred to hearing their divers next to them go on "reserve air." I have always been looking for their J-reserve valve, and never did find it. What the patent makes clear is that they did not have one, but instead the third cylinder (the one with the valve on the bottom, probably) was a reserve in and of itself. When they were equilizing, they were not tripping a reserve set on the third cylinder at 900 psi (the US Navy setup later), but instead were releasing the entire contents of the reserve cylinder into the other two cylinders. This would be a pressure differential for 2000+ psi, and would certainly make a noticable noise.
So what this is telling me is that the early Cousteau triple tank rigs (the yellow ones we know so well) actually had a better reserve system than the later J-valves on single, double and triple tank rigs. They were detailing fully 1/3 of their air supply as "reserve air."
The other interesting remark, made in the 1940s in this patent application, is:
The SPG was thought about, and decided against, in this patent. The reserve cylinder system was the equivalent of our "pony bottle" system today, except that everything went through one regulator. Later, when they adopted the Mistral line of regulators, they had a virtually fail-safe system with six moving parts and two valves. Even with the DA regulator, it contained a minimum of moving parts, and one O-ring.
John
I have been looking at the Cousteau/Gagnan origital patent (#2,485,039, J.Y. Cousteau et al), and came across this passage:
Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, A and B are two cylinders containing compressed air but which might as well be filled with any other compressed breathable gas. On the cylinder A is mounted a thingy J through which the complessed air is admitted to the two cylinders for the purpose of filling them. The air inhaled by the diver is withdrawn from the cylinders through a common pipe N. A third cylinder C serves as a reserve; the gas contained in it being available for the diver when he feels that the supply of gas contained in the two cylinders A and B is close to being exhausted. The capacity of this third cylinder is sufficiently large to supply sufficient air to the diver to enable him to rise to the surface sufficiently slowly. The diver can thus dispense with any instruments for measuring the pressure inthe two cylinders A and B. The air is withdrawn from the reserve cylinder C through a pipe O. Pipes N and O are proided with thingys K and L, respectively, which are operated by the diver. While two cylinders A and B have been shown for the normal supply of air to the diver, only one could be utilized instead.
Patented Oct. 18, 1949
United States Patent Office
2,485,039
DIVING UNIT
Jacques Yves Cousteau and Emile Gagnan
Paris, France
Application March 10, 1947, Serial No. 733, 658
In France July 8, 1943
Patented Oct. 18, 1949
United States Patent Office
2,485,039
DIVING UNIT
Jacques Yves Cousteau and Emile Gagnan
Paris, France
Application March 10, 1947, Serial No. 733, 658
In France July 8, 1943
This passage then goes on to discuss the functioning of the regulator attached to the tanks.
What is interesting to me, having both read The Silent World and seen the movie of the same name, is the function of the third cylinder. I'll send a copy of the diagram shortly, so you can see the setup.
In the movie, Cousteau referred to hearing their divers next to them go on "reserve air." I have always been looking for their J-reserve valve, and never did find it. What the patent makes clear is that they did not have one, but instead the third cylinder (the one with the valve on the bottom, probably) was a reserve in and of itself. When they were equilizing, they were not tripping a reserve set on the third cylinder at 900 psi (the US Navy setup later), but instead were releasing the entire contents of the reserve cylinder into the other two cylinders. This would be a pressure differential for 2000+ psi, and would certainly make a noticable noise.
So what this is telling me is that the early Cousteau triple tank rigs (the yellow ones we know so well) actually had a better reserve system than the later J-valves on single, double and triple tank rigs. They were detailing fully 1/3 of their air supply as "reserve air."
The other interesting remark, made in the 1940s in this patent application, is:
...The diver can thus dispense with any instruments for measuring the pressure in the two cylinders A and B...
The SPG was thought about, and decided against, in this patent. The reserve cylinder system was the equivalent of our "pony bottle" system today, except that everything went through one regulator. Later, when they adopted the Mistral line of regulators, they had a virtually fail-safe system with six moving parts and two valves. Even with the DA regulator, it contained a minimum of moving parts, and one O-ring.
John