Closed circuit, free-flow, underwater breathing system

Claim 1

A method of conducting underwater diving operations, said method comprising: providing underwater enclosure means operable to permit diver ingress and egress; providing helmet means operable to provide a breathable atmosphere for a diver at a submerged location; providing flexible conduit means extending at least between said underwater enclosure means and said helmet means and including supply conduit means and return conduit means; continuously circulating a flow of breathable gas from said underwater enclosure means through said supply conduit means to the interior of said helmet means and from the interior of said helmet means back through said return conduit means to said enclosure means; causing the continuous flow of gas passing from said helmet means through said return conduit means to be transmitted to return tank means located remote from a diver wearing said helmet means; removing gas from said return tank means by operation of depressor means, with said depressor means being operable to maintain a relatively low pressure in said return tank means to promote a continuous flow of gas from said helmet means through said return conduit means and to said return tank means; transmitting gas from said depressor means to compressor means at a location remote from said diver; transmitting gas from said compressor means to supply tank means, with said compressor means being operable to pressurize gas in said supply tank means to a relatively higher pressure level; transmitting gas from said supply tank means through said supply conduit means continuously to the interior of said helmet means, with said relatively higher pressure in said supply tank means being operable to induce and sustain a continuous flow of gas from said supply tank means through said supply conduit means to the interior of said helmet means; independent of diver breathing effort, regulating the rate of continuous flow of gas from said supply conduit means through the interior of said helmet means and into Said return conduit means, including passing said continuous flow of gas continuously through check valve means in said supply conduit means generally adjacent said helmet means, passing said continuous flow of gas continuously through flow throttling means, located generally adjacent said helment means, passing said continuous flow of gas continuously through said helmet means, with said continuous flow of gas circulating continuously through said helmet means and continuously removing carbon dioxide therefrom, and passing said continuous flow of gas from said helmet means continuously into said return conduit means while maintaining a back pressure on said continuous flow of gas downstream of said helmet means and maintaining a positive pressure in said helmet means relative to the ambient water pressure surrounding said helmet means, and providing means in said return conduit means continuously operable to close said return conduit means generally adjacent said helmet means in the event of a rupture in said return conduit means remote from said helmet means; at a location remote from said diver, providing gas recoditioning means operable to receive gas from at least one of said compressor or depressor means, utilizing said gas reconditioning means, removing at least in part carbon dioxide therefrom, and transmitting said gas with said carbon dioxide removed at least in part therefrom to said supply tank means; said continuous flow of gas from said supply conduit means through the interior of said helmet means and into said return conduit means being operable to provide a free and continuous flow of breathable gas operable to generally displace, from the vicinity of said diver''s face, gas exhaled by said diver and induce said displaced exhaled gas to flow out of said helmet means and into said return conduit means.

Claim 2

A method of conducting underwater diving operations, said method comprising: providing underwater enclosure means operable to permit diver ingress and egress; providing helmet means operable to provide a breathable atmosphere for a diver at a submerged location; providing flexible conduit means extending at least between said underwater enclosure means and said helmet means and including supply conduit means and return conduit means; continuously circulating a flow of breathable gas from said underwater enclosure means through said supply conduit means to the interior of said helmet means and from the interior of said helmet means back through said return conduit means to said enclosure means; causing the continuous flow of gas passing from said helmet means through said return conduit means to be transmitted to return tank means located remote from a diver wearing said helmet means; removing gas from said return tank means by operation of depressor means, with said depressor means being operable to maintain a relatively low pressure in said return tank means to promote a continuous flow of gas from said helmet means through said return conduit means and to said return tank means; transmitting gas from said depressor means to compressor means at a location remote from said diver; transmitting gas from said compressor means to supply tank means, with said compressor means being operable to pressurize gas in said supply tank means to a relatively higher pressure level; transmitting gas from said supply tank means through said supply conduit means continuously to the interior of said helmet means, with said relatively higher pressure in said supply tank means being operable to induce and sustain a continuous flow of gas from said supply tank means through said supply conduit means to the interior of said helmet means; independent of diver breathing effort, regulating the rate of continuous flow of gas from said supply conduit means through the interior of said helmet means and into Said return conduit means, including passing said continuous flow of gas continuously through check valve means in said supply conduit means generally adjacent said helmet means, passing said continuous flow of gas continuously through flow throttling means, located generally adjacent said helment means, passing said continuous flow of gas continuously through said helmet means, with said continuous flow of gas circulating continuously through said helmet means and continuously removing carbon dioxide therefrom, and passing said continuous flow of gas from said helmet means continuously into said return conduit means while maintaining a back pressure on said continuous flow of gas downstream of said helmet means and maintaining a positive pressure in said helmet means relative to the ambient water pressure surrounding said helmet means, and providing means in said return conduit means continuously operable to close said return conduit means generally adjacent said helmet means in the event of a rupture in said return conduit means remote from said helmet means; at a location remote from said diver, providing gas recoditioning means operable to receive gas from at least one of said compressor or depressor means, utilizing said gas reconditioning means, removing at least in part carbon dioxide therefrom, and transmitting said gas with said carbon dioxide removed at least in part therefrom to said supply tank means; said continuous flow of gas from said supply conduit means through the interior of said helmet means and into said return conduit means being operable to provide a free and continuous flow of breathable gas operable to generally displace, from the vicinity of said diver''s face, gas exhaled by said diver and induce said displaced exhaled gas to flow out of said helmet means and into said return conduit means.

Claim 7

A method of conducting underwater diving operations, said method comprising: providing underwater enclosure means operable to permit diver ingress and egress; providing helmet means operable to provide a breathable atmosphere for a diver at a submerged location; providing flexible conduit means extending at least between said underwater enclosure means and said helmet means and including supply conduit means and return conduit means; continuously circulating a flow of breathable gas from said underwater enclosure means through said supply conduit means to the interior of said helmet means and from the interior of said helmet means back through said return conduit means to said enclosure means; causing the continuous flow of gas passing from said helmet means through said return conduit means to be transmitted to water separator means mounted within the interior of said underwater enclosure means for removing moisture from the continuous flow of gas returning from said helmet means; causing the continuous flow of gas from said water separator means to be transmitted to return tank means connected to the exterior surface of said underwater enclosure means Wherein ambient water surrounds said return tank means to lower the temperature of the gas within said return tank means and thus induce condensation of moisture out of the gas within the return tank means; removing gas from said return tank means by operation of depressor means, with said depressor means being operable to maintain a relatively low pressure in said return tank means tending to promote a continuous flow of gas from said helmet means through said return conduit means and to said return tank means; transmitting gas from said depressor means to compressor means at a location remote from said diver; transmitting gas from said compressor means to heat exchange means mounted exteriorly of said underwater enclosure means for cooling the gas exiting from said compressor means with the ambient water; transmitting gas from said heat exchange means to supply tank means connected to the exterior surface of said underwater enclosure means with said compressor means being operable to pressurize gas in said supply tank means to a relatively higher pressure level and said pressurized gas within said supply tank being cooled approximately to the ambient water temperature and thus induce condensation of moisture out of the gas within the supply tank means; transmitting gas from said supply tank means through said supply conduit means continuously to the interior of said helmet means, with said relatively higher pressure in said supply tank means being operable to induce and sustain a continuous flow of gas from said supply tank means through said supply conduit means to the interior of said helmet means and with the moisture content of said gas being reduced sufficiently so as not to condense upon a faceplate of said helmet means at ambient water temperature; independent of diver breathing effort, regulating the rate of continuous flow of gas from said supply conduit means through the interior of said helmet means and into said return conduit means; at a location remote from said diver, providing gas reconditioning means operable to receive gas from at least one of said compressor or depressor means; utilizing said gas reconditioning means, removing at least in part carbon dioxide from at least one of said compressor or depressor means, and transmitting said gas with said carbon dioxide removed at least in part therefrom to said supply tank means; said continuous flow of gas from said supply conduit means through the interior of said helmet means and into said return conduit means being operable to provide a free and continuous flow of breathable gas operable to generally displace, from the vicinity of said diver''s face, gas exhaled by said diver and induce said displaced exhaled gas to flow out of said helmet means and into said return conduit means and heating the gas within said supply conduit means above the ambient water temperature prior to transmitting the gas into said helmet means to provide a breathable atmosphere for the diver.

Claim 8

A method of conducting underwater diving operations, said method comprising: providing underwater enclosure means operable to permit diver ingress and egress; providing helmet means operable to provide a breathable atmosphere for a diver at a submerged location; providing flexible conduit means extending at least between said underwater enclosure means and said helmet means and including supply conduit means and return conduit means; continuously circulating a flow of breathable gas from said underwater enclosure means through said supply conduit means to the interior of said helmet means and from the interior of said helmet means back through said return conduit means to said enclosure means; causing the continuous flow of gas passing from said helmet means through said return conduit means to be transmitted to water separator means mounted within the interior of said underwater enclosure means for removing moisture from the continuous flow of gas returning from said helmet means; causing the continuous flow of gas from said water separator means to be transmitted to return tank means connected to the exterior surface of said underwater enclosure means Wherein ambient water surrounds said return tank means to lower the temperature of the gas within said return tank means and thus induce condensation of moisture out of the gas within the return tank means; removing gas from said return tank means by operation of depressor means, with said depressor means being operable to maintain a relatively low pressure in said return tank means tending to promote a continuous flow of gas from said helmet means through said return conduit means and to said return tank means; transmitting gas from said depressor means to compressor means at a location remote from said diver; transmitting gas from said compressor means to heat exchange means mounted exteriorly of said underwater enclosure means for cooling the gas exiting from said compressor means with the ambient water; transmitting gas from said heat exchange means to supply tank means connected to the exterior surface of said underwater enclosure means with said compressor means being operable to pressurize gas in said supply tank means to a relatively higher pressure level and said pressurized gas within said supply tank being cooled approximately to the ambient water temperature and thus induce condensation of moisture out of the gas within the supply tank means; transmitting gas from said supply tank means through said supply conduit means continuously to the interior of said helmet means, with said relatively higher pressure in said supply tank means being operable to induce and sustain a continuous flow of gas from said supply tank means through said supply conduit means to the interior of said helmet means and with the moisture content of said gas being reduced sufficiently so as not to condense upon a faceplate of said helmet means at ambient water temperature; independent of diver breathing effort, regulating the rate of continuous flow of gas from said supply conduit means through the interior of said helmet means and into said return conduit means; at a location remote from said diver, providing gas reconditioning means operable to receive gas from at least one of said compressor or depressor means; utilizing said gas reconditioning means, removing at least in part carbon dioxide from at least one of said compressor or depressor means, and transmitting said gas with said carbon dioxide removed at least in part therefrom to said supply tank means; said continuous flow of gas from said supply conduit means through the interior of said helmet means and into said return conduit means being operable to provide a free and continuous flow of breathable gas operable to generally displace, from the vicinity of said diver''s face, gas exhaled by said diver and induce said displaced exhaled gas to flow out of said helmet means and into said return conduit means and heating the gas within said supply conduit means above the ambient water temperature prior to transmitting the gas into said helmet means to provide a breathable atmosphere for the diver.

Claim 11

A method of conducting underwater diving operations, said method comprising: providing underwater enclosure means operable to permit diver ingress and engress; providing helmet means operable to provide a breathable atmosphere for a diver at a submerged location; continuously circulating gas in a first essentially continuous loop comprising; providing flexible conduit means extending between said underwater enclosure means and said helmet means and including supply conduit means and return conduit means, continuously circulating a flow of breathable gas from said underwater enclosure means through said supply conduit means to the interior of said helmet means and from the interior of said helmet means back through said return conduit means to said enclosure means, causing the continuous flow of gas passing from said helmet means through said return conduit means to be transmitted to return tank means located remote from a diver wearing said helmet means, removing gas from said return tank means by operation of depressor means, with said depressor means being operable to maintain a relatively low pressure in said return tank means tending to promote a continuous flow of gas from said helmet means thrOugh said return conduit means and to said return tank means; transmitting gas from said depressor means into the interior of said underwater enclosure means and from the interior of said underwater enclosure means to compressor means at a location remote from said diver, transmitting gas from said compressor means to supply tank means, with said compressor means being operable to pressurize gas in said supply tank means to a relatively higher pressure level, transmitting gas from said supply tank means through said supply conduit means continuously to the interior of said helmet means, with said relatively higher pressure in said supply tank means being operable to induce and sustain a continuous flow of gas from said supply tank means through said supply conduit means to the interior of said helmet means, continuously circulating gas in a second essentially continuous loop comprising, continuously circulating gas from within the interior of said underwater enclosure means to said compressor means, transmitting gas from said compressor means to said supply tank means, and transmitting gas from said supply tank means into the interior of said underwater enclosure means, within the interior of said underwater enclosure means, providing gas reconditioning means; removing at least in part carbon dioxide from gas circulating through said underwater enclosure means with said gas reconditioning means; providing oxygen supply means operable to supply oxygen to the interior of said underwater enclosure means; sensing the oxygen content of oxygen in the open interior of said underwater enclosure means and causing said oxygen supply means to supply oxygen to said open interior of said underwater enclosure means in response to said sensing; said first and second essentially continuous gas circulating loops overlapping and serving to promote complete oxygen mixing and carbon dioxide removal control within the system while supplying a breathable atmosphere to one or more divers within the interior of said underwater enclosure means and to a diver utilizing said helmet means exteriorly of said underwater enclosure means; heating gas within the interior of said underwater enclosure means to a level at least above the ambient water temperature at said underwater enclosure means; and heating gas within said supply conduit means to a level at least above the ambient water temperature at said helmet means prior to delivery of the gas into said helmet means.

Claim 12

A method of conducting underwater diving operations, said method comprising: providing underwater enclosure means operable to permit diver ingress and engress; providing helmet means operable to provide a breathable atmosphere for a diver at a submerged location; continuously circulating gas in a first essentially continuous loop comprising; providing flexible conduit means extending between said underwater enclosure means and said helmet means and including supply conduit means and return conduit means, continuously circulating a flow of breathable gas from said underwater enclosure means through said supply conduit means to the interior of said helmet means and from the interior of said helmet means back through said return conduit means to said enclosure means, causing the continuous flow of gas passing from said helmet means through said return conduit means to be transmitted to return tank means located remote from a diver wearing said helmet means, removing gas from said return tank means by operation of depressor means, with said depressor means being operable to maintain a relatively low pressure in said return tank means tending to promote a continuous flow of gas from said helmet means thrOugh said return conduit means and to said return tank means; transmitting gas from said depressor means into the interior of said underwater enclosure means and from the interior of said underwater enclosure means to compressor means at a location remote from said diver, transmitting gas from said compressor means to supply tank means, with said compressor means being operable to pressurize gas in said supply tank means to a relatively higher pressure level, transmitting gas from said supply tank means through said supply conduit means continuously to the interior of said helmet means, with said relatively higher pressure in said supply tank means being operable to induce and sustain a continuous flow of gas from said supply tank means through said supply conduit means to the interior of said helmet means, continuously circulating gas in a second essentially continuous loop comprising, continuously circulating gas from within the interior of said underwater enclosure means to said compressor means, transmitting gas from said compressor means to said supply tank means, and transmitting gas from said supply tank means into the interior of said underwater enclosure means, within the interior of said underwater enclosure means, providing gas reconditioning means; removing at least in part carbon dioxide from gas circulating through said underwater enclosure means with said gas reconditioning means; providing oxygen supply means operable to supply oxygen to the interior of said underwater enclosure means; sensing the oxygen content of oxygen in the open interior of said underwater enclosure means and causing said oxygen supply means to supply oxygen to said open interior of said underwater enclosure means in response to said sensing; said first and second essentially continuous gas circulating loops overlapping and serving to promote complete oxygen mixing and carbon dioxide removal control within the system while supplying a breathable atmosphere to one or more divers within the interior of said underwater enclosure means and to a diver utilizing said helmet means exteriorly of said underwater enclosure means; heating gas within the interior of said underwater enclosure means to a level at least above the ambient water temperature at said underwater enclosure means; and heating gas within said supply conduit means to a level at least above the ambient water temperature at said helmet means prior to delivery of the gas into said helmet means.