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Post by vance on Dec 16, 2021 15:12:25 GMT -8
There are diluters that are second stage regulators only. They are used with a remote first stage.
As far as "safe for open water use", I'm not sure anyone would want to depend on one of these w/o a backup. And, the diluters suffered terribly from corrosion in salt water. Bill's decision to keep his for fresh water use only is a good one.
When (OK, IF,) mine is ever finished, I'll try it out in a pool. I wish I could find a freshwater dive spot around here! There must be some. I know that Terry (Duckbill) dives some rivers around Sacramento-ish. It'd be great to find a 20-30 ft deep freshwater regulator testing spot within a couple hours drive.
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Post by antique diver on Dec 17, 2021 5:30:33 GMT -8
P-47 aircraft O 2 supply fill port showing 425 -450 psi to be used, and labeled as "low pressure oxygen". I can't help but think there were also "high pressure" systems in use in some aircraft. Also wondering why the low pressure was used instead of more compact 1800 psi storage. I know there were wire-wrapped 1800 psi tanks used for something in some aircraft.... maybe later models?
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Post by nikeajax on Dec 17, 2021 8:53:18 GMT -8
Bill, I don't know if you caught the implication on the nomenclature, with "Caution: keep clean, dry and free from all oils". They were using %100 OXY! I was watching something on Yewtub the other day and they had explained one of the fatal flaws in the Boeing B-17, in that, an air-line ran past one of the gun turrets. Sometimes the turret would rub against this line causing the line to rupture and creating a catastrophic, very hot and intense fire. This would usually kill the entire crew, but one craft somehow was able to survive so they could fix the problem. As those bomber were multi-crewed, I'm wondering if that's where the high-pressure tanks came into play? JB EDIT: HUH! So that's why they're called a "diluter": it's diluting down the pure oxygen!
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Post by vance on Dec 17, 2021 17:38:37 GMT -8
I did a bit of work on my mold. Too many projects! This one keeps getting back-burnered. And a mock-up with the reclaimed HW friction plate shown in place before the deed. The major problem I have now is convincing my wife or daughters to donate a pair of panty hose for the project! There's always Amazon, but if I do that, I'll start getting offers for who knows what!
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Post by nikeajax on Dec 17, 2021 18:37:58 GMT -8
Can't you find something at the Dollar Store?
JB
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Post by vance on Dec 17, 2021 18:42:45 GMT -8
Huh. Good idea.
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Post by antique diver on Dec 17, 2021 19:14:56 GMT -8
I did a bit of work on my mold. Too many projects! This one keeps getting back-burnered. And a mock-up with the reclaimed HW friction plate shown in place before the deed. The major problem I have now is convincing my wife or daughters to donate a pair of panty hose for the project! There's always Amazon, but if I do that, I'll start getting offers for who knows what! Looks like you're off to a good start! Good luck, and I hope it doesn't drive you crazy...
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Post by antique diver on Dec 18, 2021 8:24:46 GMT -8
Bill, I don't know if you caught the implication on the nomenclature, with "Caution: keep clean, dry and free from all oils". They were using %100 OXY! I was watching something on Yewtub the other day and they had explained one of the fatal flaws in the Boeing B-17, in that, an air-line ran past one of the gun turrets. Sometimes the turret would rub against this line causing the line to rupture and creating a catastrophic, very hot and intense fire. This would usually kill the entire crew, but one craft somehow was able to survive so they could fix the problem. As those bomber were multi-crewed, I'm wondering if that's where the high-pressure tanks came into play? JB EDIT: HUH! So that's why they're called a "diluter": it's diluting down the pure oxygen! Yes, the O 2 comes full strength to the diluter first stage, but a wonderfully designed mechanical device introduces cabin air into the demand cavity by way of a venturi powered by the O 2 flow. The true genius of this little black box is that the Oxygen flow and the air intake flow are each automatically adjusted by the atmospheric pressure. Both the Oxygen first stage flow and the cabin air intake flow are regulated to a gas mix that is appropriate for the altitude. This saves precious stored Oxygen from being wasted when altitude does not warrant breathing the pure gas. First Stage Atmospheric Cartridge in place with cover off: Atmospheric Cartridge with lever system to control variable position of Oxygen poppet: Cabin Air Atmospheric Cartridge works to vary amount of cabin air mixed with Oxygen: Oxygen Venturi Components: (plastic tube not part of original) For conversion to diving the Cabin Air Atmospheric Cartridge and the Oxygen Venturi components are removed from the diluter. First stage remains in place.
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Post by SeaRat on Dec 18, 2021 9:40:19 GMT -8
antique diver, As a former aircrew member of the HC-130 Hercules, I appreciate all these posts in this thread, as it is extremely interesting to hear the engineering behind the oxygen systems used in these aircrafts. HC-130 60219 refueling bird by John Ratliff, on Flickr More that modifying these oxygen regulators for diving, understanding the engineering behind the oxygen dilution is extremely interesting. Thank you for posting on this topic. Here are a couple of pilots very few have heard about, who probably used these oxygen diluters from WWII apa-history-month-hazel-lee-1932_b6947b93fa96d07d15063f84717d54ae.fit-560w by John Ratliff, on Flickr apa-history-month-hazellee-cockpit_8a30f456a8c50288a9e82b61a3553e2b.fit-2000w by John Ratliff, on Flickr US Memorial Day is a great day to learn about WWII WASP Pilots, Hazel Ying Lee and Maggie Gee: "They never met, but their early lives ran a strikingly similar course. They were both Chinese-American women who thwarted layers of prejudice and preconception to become World War II pilots. One died young, while transporting a fighter plane. The other lived to 89 and went on to become a scientist. Their names were Hazel Ying Lee and Maggie Gee, and they were WASPs, or Women Airforce Service Pilots." www.nytimes.com/.../hazel-ying-lee-and-maggie-gee... John
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Post by vance on Dec 20, 2021 12:53:12 GMT -8
Here's attempt #1 at a diluter diaphragm. I hope it works! This now has the second coat of silicone and is curing under a lamp. It's about 50 degrees in the Fortress of Projects Hardly Anyone Else is Interested In, so it needs a bit of help. I didn't mention this, but my mold is adjustable in height by pressing the center pipe up or down. This diaphragm is set at about 1/4" rise above the flange.
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Post by antique diver on Dec 20, 2021 15:06:34 GMT -8
Here's attempt #1 at a diluter diaphragm. I hope it works! This now has the second coat of silicone and is curing under a lamp. It's about 50 degrees in the Fortress of Projects Hardly Anyone Else is Interested In, so it needs a bit of help. I didn't mention this, but my mold is adjustable in height by pressing the center pipe up or down. This diaphragm is set at about 1/4" rise above the flange. It took me a minute to realize that I was seeing a reflection of the light on the nice smooth coating of Silicone. Nice job Phil!
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Post by vance on Dec 20, 2021 17:05:46 GMT -8
I know! You thought I got artistic with the silicone for a second, right? I looked at the photo a moment ago and thought, "Waiitt.. How did that big tan splotch form on the diaphragm!!?
It's one of those innie-outie mooncrater type deals, eh?
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Post by vance on Dec 20, 2021 17:24:22 GMT -8
I just wrapped a couple turns of some heavy string around the flange to set the string/o'ring groove. I use this cotton string to truss chickens for the rotisserie. Now I use it to truss diaphragms!
I might try to integrate an o'ring into the diaphragm skirt somehow on another one of these diaphragms. It'd be nice to have a snap-on diaphragm, but I'm not going to mess with this one just yet.
I'm thinking that the excess material under the groove could be rolled up and over an o'ring, then glued up with silicone. I was thinking of hand-sewing a loose chain stitch (not sure that's the correct term for what I'm thinking of) all around the diameter then slathering on some silcone to seal and secure the flap, but I don't know if it would allow enough stretch to get the diaphragm on.
Perhaps Bill T's talented wife would know of some suture that would hold it together!
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Post by antique diver on Dec 20, 2021 20:49:48 GMT -8
I just wrapped a couple turns of some heavy string around the flange to set the string/o'ring groove. I use this cotton string to truss chickens for the rotisserie. Now I use it to truss diaphragms! I might try to integrate an o'ring into the diaphragm skirt somehow on another one of these diaphragms. It'd be nice to have a snap-on diaphragm, but I'm not going to mess with this one just yet. I'm thinking that the excess material under the groove could be rolled up and over an o'ring, then glued up with silicone. I was thinking of hand-sewing a loose chain stitch (not sure that's the correct term for what I'm thinking of) all around the diameter then slathering on some silcone to seal and secure the flap, but I don't know if it would allow enough stretch to get the diaphragm on. Perhaps Bill T's talented wife would know of some suture that would hold it together! I'll ask her about that, but it might be a question better asked of a surgeon. Probably should use a synthetic thread for the actual installation to prevent rot.
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Post by vance on Dec 21, 2021 9:14:44 GMT -8
Whoa. This thing is soooo much closer to becoming a regulator than I ever though it would.
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