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Post by vance on May 28, 2021 13:48:25 GMT -8
I had a thought, and set the venturi tube cover up in the mill to cut away the overhang that interferes with the lever base.
Cake.
Then I made a new pin guide, like I mentioned above, that mostly seals the top of the pin bore. There are no square sides, and it is fixed, unlike the OEM pin.
The guide is drilled out to accept a long, 1/16" hardened pin which moves inside a 1/16" bore in the guide.
The top part is just undersized to the bore for a slip fit, there's the same old cut-away for airflow, and the the bottom is cut to a smaller diameter to allow air to pass up into the cut-away.
The bottom of the guide is chamfered to sit in the angled bore at the bottom of the valve body, so it can't tilt once clamped in place by the venturi cover plate.
It appears to work fine. I put the valve on a tank and it blows a great blast of air out the nozzle. I'll put it in boxes and see if it needs secondary jets to calm it down.
I'll post photos when I take it apart again.
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Post by vance on Dec 20, 2022 15:54:45 GMT -8
Another old thread revival, due to the slow activity here on the board. I'm posting on this particular thread b/c I'm staring at an HW Scuba sitting on my desk. It has a modded exhaust diaphragm, consisting of a James 3D printed flange, a VTP stainless clamp, and some rubber sheet. It also sports a custom air director I made out of a silver-soldered stainless steel plate and tube, which is the metal-head version of James' 3D printed model. It also has a VTP silicone duckbill. This, and the discussion above concerning the Super Deluxe, suggested that revisiting might stimulate some discussion. In case you were wondering, the Scuba Deluxe is languishing in the HW crate. IMG_5337 by Vancetp, on Flickr I decided not to do any other mods to it, since it works great as is. Now that it's done, there doesn't seem to be much use for it. It's for sure a part of the collection. I'll dive it again someday, maybe...
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Post by SeaRat on Dec 20, 2022 17:50:18 GMT -8
Believe it or not, my first regulator in 1959 was a Healthways Scuba (unmodified). I really liked the smooth breathing. I decided against a USD Mistral, due to noise and the rush of air. I also decided against the Dacor R-3 Dial-a-Breath, as that seemed not much better than the Healthways, and was more expensive (I bought that regulator and a single 38 cubic foot tank with a J-valve on the money I made picking strawberries and beans during the summer.
John
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Post by vance on Nov 20, 2023 16:24:21 GMT -8
I just sold one of my hotrod Scubas with the stainless air director and a new style exhaust diaphragm. That got me thinking about putting another one together out of the box o' parts. I have enough parts for 2 or 3, if I make some bits and pieces. Mostly, I need to make stainless clamps for the exhaust. I'll post more about that in an appropriate thread.
However:
While digging in the bo'p, I came across the Super Deluxe. I'd pretty much forgotten about it. Seems I'd been messing around with it in the past, changed it up, and then stole some parts off it.
Huh. Why'd I do that? It was an awesome performer, right up there with a Mistral. I guess I needed the valve guts and stainless cover for something else, and just tossed it back in the box!
So, today I started to put it back together. There are a couple of things I need to do to it to get it working again. The cover is currently RTV'd on, and that needs to be more secure. I'll use JBWeld instead.
I'm also going to chuck the valve body up in the lathe and cut the valve face down to compensate for the thickness of the stainless cover. The extra height introduced by the cover reduces the lever throw a bit, and it makes a big difference.
Photos to follow!
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Post by SeaRat on Nov 20, 2023 18:37:06 GMT -8
I just sold one of my hotrod Scubas with the stainless air director and a new style exhaust diaphragm. That got me thinking about putting another one together out of the box o' parts. I have enough parts for 2 or 3, if I make some bits and pieces. Mostly, I need to make stainless clamps for the exhaust. I'll post more about that in an appropriate thread. However: While digging in the bo'p, I came across the Super Deluxe. I'd pretty much forgotten about it. Seems I'd been messing around with it in the past, changed it up, and then stole some parts off it. Huh. Why'd I do that? It was an awesome performer, right up there with a Mistral. I guess I needed the valve guts and stainless cover for something else, and just tossed it back in the box! So, today I started to put it back together. There are a couple of things I need to do to it to get it working again. The cover is currently RTV'd on, and that needs to be more secure. I'll use JBWeld instead. I'm also going to chuck the valve body up in the lathe and cut the valve face down to compensate for the thickness of the stainless cover. The extra height introduced by the cover reduces the lever throw a bit, and it makes a big difference. Photos to follow! It seems that you are trying to modify an original Healthways Scuba. Is that correct? IMG_0749 by John Ratliff, on Flickr Here's what the insides of my Hybrid Healthways Scuba looks like (hybrid, as it has the guts of a Gold Label inside an original box and exhaust). You can see that I simply used the original wire clamp, but with some ShoeGoo glue backup, to make the exhaust. Healthways Scuba Hybrid3 by John Ratliff, on Flickr This regulator works as well as my Mistrals, with an even better (in my opinion) exhaust. Here are my drawings and calculations on the exhaust: SCUBA vs Aquamaster001 by John Ratliff, on Flickr Healthways Scuba Exhaust Calcs by John Ratliff, on Flickr This is a comparison between the Mistral's exhaust (when face down) and the original Healthways Scuba exhaust. John
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cg43
Senior Diver
Posts: 87
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Post by cg43 on Nov 21, 2023 10:04:44 GMT -8
Hello John
Interesting calculation!
But not all the force from the exhaust diaphragm is distributed to the exhausthorn . A smaller part goes to the fixing in the can . Please give us the area or (and) the dimensions of the exhausthorn .
Greetngs Rainer
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Post by SeaRat on Nov 21, 2023 10:10:09 GMT -8
Hello John Interesting calculation! But not all the force from the exhaust diaphragm is distributed to the exhausthorn . A smaller part goes to the fixing in the can . Please give us the area or (and) the dimensions of the exhausthorn . Greetngs Rainer I'll have to look, but it may take some time. I'm getting busy with Thanksgiving right around the corner, and my son's coming over. John
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cg43
Senior Diver
Posts: 87
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Post by cg43 on Nov 21, 2023 16:15:14 GMT -8
Hello
I have three questions about the design .
!. What will happen if the inlet valve in the mouthpiece has an serious leak and you try to breath out ?
2. What will happen if the first (and only) stage valve don't closed (leaver jammed or seat failure) ?
3. What is different to the Scott Hydro Pac ?
Greetings Rainer
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Post by vance on Nov 21, 2023 16:17:38 GMT -8
Yes, this is the old quest for a GL type conversion of the Scuba valve. Ultimately, I want to perfect this and do the conversion on a much rarer long valve body, so I can shove some Conshelf guts all up in it for a balanced GL style valve. I've converted two of the short valves so far. One valve goes in the Super Deluxe (second photo on the second post on this page) and one will be going in a Scuba. I'm experimenting on the short valves for two reasons. One is the short valves are common to the later Scubas and Deluxes and I had a couple of orphans. The long valves were only made for a short time at the beginning. The other reason is the short ones are brass, but the long ones are stainless steel. Brass is much easier to machine, and I want to get it right before attempting the mod on stainless. I made both of these conversions for the Deluxe, so the one that will go in the Scuba is clocked for the Deluxe, not the Scuba. This means I'll have to file out the flat in the top box valve hole so the venturi tube will point the right direction. B/c the venturi tube extends into the horn, misalignments from the valve twisting in the box won't be a performance issue. However, when I do the long valve, it'll be clocked for the Scuba. Here are some photos of the valve and mod. Cover with soldered on venturi tube: Side view of cover/tube with sealer to stop air leaks around the tube: Bottom view with removeable jet:
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Post by vance on Nov 21, 2023 16:28:17 GMT -8
I did this conversion by drilling a hole from the side of the valve that angles downward to enter the HP pin bore. The angle of the drilling is very critical, since there's no room for error. Drilling the jet without breaking through the flat where the gasket sits is very fussy. I think John pointed out that the GL did not have a straight bore, but it had two angles. I'm not sure how they did that....
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cg43
Senior Diver
Posts: 87
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Post by cg43 on Nov 22, 2023 6:16:36 GMT -8
Hi Phil
You are in an eagerness to work now ?
Relax , take a deep breath and look at John's wonderfull drawings from yesterday (above his calculation's) . I'm not sure you see the drawback's of this design . That's the reason for my three question's yesterday .
I see it this way :
The area of the exhale diaphragm in the can (that's what John calculates) is greater than the area it closes the exhale horn . Therefore same pressure on both sides the exhale is closed firmly .
1. Mouthpiece inlet valve failure: Both sides of the exhale diaphrahm have the same pressure . Exhale is closed , but you can breath out through your nose .
2. hp valve don't close : Same pressure on both sides , the exhale diaphragm closes firmly , and pressure is building up until it is released .
The best way the mouthpiece is blown out off your mouth without any other damage .
Second best the exhale diaphragm or a hose is blown off or cut .
Worst your lung is injured .
3. The Scott Hydropac has a big and save overpressure valve , the hole mask on the diver's head (face) . No injurious pressure can build up . Save design . I don't see anything like this on the Healthway reg . Is there any ?
I one time had a bad experience with an firefighter reg. without exhale valve . This happens althougth I put my lips very lose against (not over) the breathing connection . After a very quick inhale the damned pilotvalve reg. does't closed immediately . I get such a heavy blast in my lung that I thought I injured my lung . Later I was not sure to be injured or not .
Since this experience I'm not lucky with all the design's where the exhaust can be blocked . At least the inhale valve has to close very quick and save .
Greetings Rainer
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Post by vance on Nov 22, 2023 10:38:09 GMT -8
Hi Phil You are in an eagerness to work now ? Relax , take a deep breath and look at John's wonderfull drawings from yesterday (above his calculation's) . I'm not sure you see the drawback's of this design . That's the reason for my three question's yesterday . I see it this way : The area of the exhale diaphragm in the can (that's what John calculates) is greater than the area it closes the exhale horn . Therefore same pressure on both sides the exhale is closed firmly . 1. Mouthpiece inlet valve failure: Both sides of the exhale diaphrahm have the same pressure . Exhale is closed , but you can breath out through your nose . 2. hp valve don't close : Same pressure on both sides , the exhale diaphragm closes firmly , and pressure is building up until it is released . The best way the mouthpiece is blown out off your mouth without any other damage . Second best the exhale diaphragm or a hose is blown off or cut . Worst your lung is injured . 3. The Scott Hydropac has a big and save overpressure valve , the hole mask on the diver's head (face) . No injurious pressure can build up . Save design . I don't see anything like this on the Healthway reg . Is there any ? I one time had a bad experience with an firefighter reg. without exhale valve . This happens althougth I put my lips very lose against (not over) the breathing connection . After a very quick inhale the damned pilotvalve reg. does't closed immediately . I get such a heavy blast in my lung that I thought I injured my lung . Later I was not sure to be injured or not . Since this experience I'm not lucky with all the design's where the exhaust can be blocked . At least the inhale valve has to close very quick and save . Greetings Rainer I have a couple of questions about your post: Do you believe the Scuba's exhaust diaphragm design is inherently bad and dangerous to use? If both sides of the diaphragm have equal pressure, the pressure exerted by the diver's exhalation isn't enough to overcome that balance? I don't know if this would be what you mean by an overpressure valve, but the later Scuba's exhaust horn has drillings in the end of the horn that protrudes into the exhaust box. A wide rubber band goes over it to seal it from water intrusion. In the event the exhaust diaphragm becomes stuck to the flange somehow, the diver is still able to exhale through the mouthpiece. I would think that this extra exhaust valve would, in the case of runaway freeflow or a leaking HP valve, allow pressure from the regulator to blow past the mouthpiece opening and exit through the exhaust hose. I believe John has dived his Scuba with no mouthpiece non-return valves....
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Post by vance on Nov 22, 2023 15:43:49 GMT -8
Hi Ranier,
I have seen John's drawing and calculations several times. Yes, this design has drawbacks galore. The over-complicated and seriously flawed design has taken some of us here a long time and a lot of work to get the rev1 Scuba to work again w/o OEM or reproduction replacement parts.
One drawback you didn't mention is the serious repercussions of a leaking exhaust diaphragm. A leak would cause the intake side to flood, which would not be good. Another is the tendency to allow the exhaust hose to take on water when the diver is head down. HW addressed this with an additional exhaust valve, a duckbill, after the Cousteau patent expired.
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cg43
Senior Diver
Posts: 87
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Post by cg43 on Nov 22, 2023 15:46:25 GMT -8
Hello Vance
Sorry I didn't noticed the "Exhaust Auxiliary Valve N0. 27" and the drillings in the horn on CG45 . As long as this valve works adequate I see no safety drawback .
If you remove the inhale valve in the mouthpiece your exhale pressure goes to both sides of the exhale diaphragm . There is no way to move the diaphragm away from the horn . In this case only the auxilary valve opens . This way you can test the auxilary valve without opening the reg.
If the inhale valve in the mouthpiece worked well , your exhale pressure can be highter then a littel overpressure in the can and break the exhaust valve loose .
Thank you for showing me the auxilary valve Rainer
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Post by vance on Nov 22, 2023 16:10:37 GMT -8
I decided to apply one of my Scuba Deluxe labels right over the original on a Scuba that had a paintless label. I made a tiny punch on the lathe and punched out 3 little holes for the rivet heads. Then I cut a rectangle out of the serial number box so the original serial number would show. It came out very well! I'm thinking of having some more labels made, and fixing them up (pre-punched and cut) for all those funky label Scubas out there! For anyone who doesn't know about these labels, the graphic was done by JB. He's a talented guy!
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