Patent · US Expired

Diver heater system

US4167932A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
15References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 3, 1977
Grant dateSep 18, 1979
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 3, 1997

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB63C11/28
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A heater system for warming the body of a diver while underwater, to be used in combination with and powered by an air supply tank is disclosed. In essence, the heater system functions by taking in controlled amounts of water from the ambient, heating this water and delivering it to the diver's suit. High-pressure air from the air supply is admitted into the heater system through a pressure regulator which reduces the air pressure and utilizes the energy thus provided to operate as a pneumatic motor and water-circulating pump. The reduced-pressure air controls a fuel pressure regulator, allowing fuel, such as propane, to enter the system from a fuel canister. The air and fuel of controlled volume are permitted to mix and flow together into a catalytic combustion chamber where combustion is initiated by a spark generator. The circulating water passes through a heat-exchanging chamber surrounding the combustion chamber, absorbs the heat produced by the combustion reaction and is further pumped to the diver's suit.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.