Design of a Simplified Air Regulator for Divers.

Abstract

A high volume, low pressure loss, balanced poppet valve was designed for use on demand type open-circuit underwater diving units. This supply valve, the EX-1, acts as a diver's second stage regulator providing air, on demand, to the diver with minimal breathing effort. The prototype EX-1 was fabricated and tested in January 1984 by the Navy Experimental Diving Unit, Panama City, FL. Test results showed that the EX-1 met the U.S. Navy performance requirements for helmet mounted second stage demand regulators. However, the valve/seat arrangement leaked excessively. Final modifications to the poppet valve and seat were made, eliminating aerodynamic forces which had acted on the poppet valve's seating surface. Additionally, a compliant seat was used which eliminated gas leakage. Brief testing of the improved EX-1 prototype on May 4, 1984 indicated that performance was equivalent or superior to performance of the best commercial second-stage demand regulators currently available.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1984
Accession Number
ADA144809

Entities

People

  • B. K. Miller Jr.

Organizations

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Autonomy
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Supplies
  • Divers
  • Engineering
  • Engineers
  • Gas Flow
  • High Pressure
  • Marine Engineering
  • Measurement
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Models
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Poppet Valves
  • Pressure Transducers
  • Regulators
  • Respiratory Physiological Phenomena
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Underwater Breathing Apparatus

Readers

  • Combustion and Flow Dynamics.
  • Materials Science