The Design, Development, and Construction of a High-Pressure Mechanical Respirator for Testing Underwater Breathing Apparatus to The United States Navy

A mechanical respirator (Figure 1) was designed and built to functional requirements furnished by the Navy Experimental Diving Unit. The respirator is intended to provide a standard breathing test for use in evaluating diving equipment. With the respirator, tests can be conducted at atmospheric pres...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Caudy ,Don W, Glasgow,James S
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
BREATHING APPARATUS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DIVING
HIGH PRESSURE
Life Support Systems
RATES
UNDERWATER
UNDERWATER EQUIPMENT
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Summary:A mechanical respirator (Figure 1) was designed and built to functional requirements furnished by the Navy Experimental Diving Unit. The respirator is intended to provide a standard breathing test for use in evaluating diving equipment. With the respirator, tests can be conducted at atmospheric pressure or to pressures simulating 2000 feet of seawater. The respirator remains exterior to the test chambers during pressurized tests of diving equipment and all controls are available for adjustment without entering the chamber. Equipment for adding heat, moisture, and CO2 to the gases being breathed is provided, although the CO2 addition system is limited to pressures simulating 1500 feet of seawater. The mechanical respirator will breathe tidal volumes from 0.5 to 4 liters at rates of 5 to 60 breathes per minute. The breathing rate is indicated by a meter mounted on the control panel. By changing cam plates the breathing curve can be adjusted such that the exhale-to-inhale time ratio can be varied form 1.0 to 1.3. Hourmeters are provided to record test duration and total machine operating time. (Author)