Audible alarm device for divers.

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

[Industrial application field] The present invention generally relates to a signal device for divers, and more specifically to an audible alarm device used in combination with a conventional scuba diving device.

[Conventional technology] It is recognized that divers, especially those who use scuba-type devices, should carry some type of signaling device. Such signaling devices are typically used on the surface of water to attract the attention of other parties, including other divers. In many cases, these signaling devices are used in non-emergency situations, but sometimes in emergencies where it is imperative to get the attention of other parties. This includes life-threatening conditions, in which case the death or serious injury of the diper will result if no other party's help or attention is obtained. Thus, the signaling device is an important part of the diver's device. However, such signaling devices have in the past been limited to visual signaling devices, typically as set forth in US Pat. No. 4,498,878 granted to Shieh and US Pat. No. 4,599,695 granted to Johnson. However, such visual devices are often ineffective in getting the party's attention, especially when the other party is not looking at the signal device in the normal direction. Moreover, all known visual signaling devices are fairly bulky and awkward to use, which discourages divers from carrying them around. Of course, there are audible signaling devices for general purposes, such as those set forth in US Pat. No. 3,785,335 given to Wagner, which discloses conventional air horns operated by Freon gas. This Wagner device can also be activated by blowing air into it. However, air horns are awkward and not useful for divers as they do not work in water environments anyway. Typically, the audible alarm device for scuba divers has taken the form of an ordinary whistle attached to the scuba device with a cord or the like. Such a device is convenient, but it requires the diver to blow air, and achieving that operation is probably not possible in special circumstances. Furthermore, there is a serious limit to the transmission capacity, that is, the transmission distance, of the sound of such a whistle. Therefore, it is important to have a technology for signal devices that is not only convenient and practical to use, but also attracts attention with the minimum effort of the diver.

[Outline of Invention] Therefore, the present invention is a means of receiving compressed air from a diver's tank, a means of sending air received from the diver's tank for expansion of a buoyant waistcoat, a means of responding to compressed air to issue an audible alarm, and a diver's tank. Provided is a means that the diver can operate to selectively transfer at least a part of the compressed air received from the air to the alarm means for issuing an audible alarm as a result.

[Example] The present invention is a noise generator or alarm device, specifically designed to be used as a component of a conventional scuba diving device. Now, looking at Figure 1, some elements of a conventional scuba diving device are shown. It comprises a buoyancy compensating vest 12 that controls buoyancy for scuba divers and a scuba tank 10 that holds compressed air. When the waistcoat 12 expands, the buoyancy increases, and when the waistcoat 12 is deflated, the buoyancy decreases. In the conventional one, the air from the tank 10 is supplied to the introduction / discharge valve 15 via the low pressure hose 14, and then supplied to the buoyancy compensation waistcoat 12 via the air transfer wave hose 16. In the conventional one, the waistcoat 12 is expanded into compressed air by operating the air introduction button 19 in cooperation with the introduction discharge valve 15. On the other hand, the air is evacuated from the waistcoat 12 by operating the air bleeding button 20. In addition to this, the waistcoat 12 can be inflated by the diver by mouth through the mouthpiece 22. The other hose 24 is directed at the pressure regulator 26 and from the pressure regulator 26 towards the diver's mouthpiece (not shown). The actual connection between the corrugated hose 16 and the waistcoat 12 is not shown, but is typically approximately in the middle of the waistcoat 12. Fixtures that can be quickly attached and detached are typically attached to the air hose 14 and the introduction exhaust valve 15 near the air inlet button 19. The alarm device 30 of the present invention shown in the schematic views of FIGS. 1 and 2 is connected between the hose 14 and the introduction / discharge valve 15. The alarm device 30 includes a noise generating portion 32, a main body portion 34 having a female connector 36, and a male connector 38, which are connected in order by an internal passage (not shown in FIG. 2). The female connector 36 is adapted for quick installation and removal with the introductory discharge valve 15, while the male connector 38 is suitable for quick installation and removal with the low pressure hose 14. Therefore, the present invention is a noise generating device that can be easily incorporated into the conventional scuba diving device without making any modification to the conventional scuba diving device and without impairing the normal operation of the device. 3 to 5 show the details of the alarm device 30 of the present invention. As briefly shown above, the alarm device 30 has a noise generating section 32 and a main body section 34, which is a female at one end 44 (FIG. 3) connecting the alarm device 30 to the low pressure hose 14. It comprises a portion 40 having a straight internal opening or passage 42 between the connector 36 and the male connector 38 at the other end 46 connecting the alarm device 30 to the introduction discharge valve 15. In one operating mode, i.e., the operating state, the compressed air is guided straight through the passage 42 in the main body 34 from the low pressure hose 14 to the introduction / discharge valve 15. In this aspect, the scuba device operates as before, as if the alarm device 30 of the present invention did not exist. The main body 34 also has an internal opening 50 that penetrates it and interlocks with the passage 42 and extends upward from now on. The opening 50 has a circular cross section and increases in diameter from 0.1 inch (0.25 cm) in passage 42 to about 0.6 inch (1.5 cm) in three steps. In the illustrated embodiment, the side wall of the opening 50 has an inward taper angle of 1. Has. Limiting the top of the opening 50 is a circular lip 52 about 0.11 inch (0.28 cm) high. The lip 52 has a wall 54 on the outside, which is configured to define a square volume 55 with a side of about 1 inch (2.54 cm). The noise generating portion 32 is indispensable for the main body portion 34, and is a circular cup-shaped component added to the main body portion 34. The noise generating portion 32 is located on the side of the opening 50 in the main body portion 34 and substantially above the opening 50. The noise generating part 32 has a cavity 56 whose range is limited by a circular peripheral wall 60 and a slightly concave lower surface 62. In the illustrated embodiment, the perimeter wall 60 has an inward taper angle of 1 ° from the top to the bottom, an inner diameter of about 1.4 inches (3.56 cm), and a depth of about 1.13 inches (2.87 cm). is there. At the lower end of the perimeter wall 60 is a narrow perimeter lip 63, just below which is a concave lower surface 62. An oblique hole 64 with a diameter of about 0.06 inch (0.15 cm) connects the noise generating portion 32 to the lower part of the opening 50 in the main body 34 at a height approximately halfway between the cavity 56. There is a button stem guide 68 inside the opening 50 inside the main body 34. The button stem guide 68 has a shape that closely matches the shape of the opening 50 and reaches from the top of the opening 50 to its intermediate stage, the lip 70. The O-ring 71 is placed at a plurality of selected points around the button stem guide 68 to provide a fluid-tight seal between the button stem guide 68 and the opening 50. There is an opening 72 in the central axis direction in the vertical direction through the button stem guide 68. The opening 72 has an upper part with a diameter of about 0.34 inches (0.86 cm), just below it a narrow lip with a diameter of about 0.23 inches (0.58 cm) and a lower part with a diameter of about 0.15 inches (0.38 cm). At the bottom of the axial opening 72 is a lateral opening 74 with a diameter of 0.08 inch (0.2 cm) that penetrates the wall of the button stem guide 68. The opening 74 connects the axial opening 72 to a groove 76 around the outer surface near the bottom of the bottom stem guide 68. Then, the end of the hole 64 leading to the opening 50 fits into the peripheral groove 76. In this way, there is a continuous fluid passage between the passage 42 leading to the cavity 56 in the noise generating portion 32, the opening 50, the axial opening 72, the lateral opening 74, the groove 76 and the hole 64. A long button stem 75 is arranged in the button stem guide 68. The button stem 75 is in the form of a bolt with a shank 77, a threaded upper free end and a head 78. The diameter of the shank 77 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the lower part of the axial opening 72 on the button stem guide 68. The button stem 75 is arranged such that the head 78 of the button stem 75, which has a diameter larger than the diameter of the lower part of the opening 72, is located below the lower surface of the button stem guide 68. The O-ring 79 is located under the head 78 of the button stem 75 to provide a fluid-tight seal between the button stem 75 and the button stem guide 68. The upper free end of the button stem 75 is screwed into a square button 80 that is 0.82 inches (2.1 cm) on a side in the illustrated embodiment, which fits a square volume 55 limited by a wall 54. .. The button 80 includes a cylindrical portion 81 hanging at the center of the button 80 into which the button stem 75 is screwed, and an external square wall that limits the outer surface of the button, and there is a gap between the cylindrical portion 81 and the external square wall. Has. A spring 82 is arranged around the button stem 75 between the underside of the cylindrical portion 81 of the button 80 and the narrow lip confined within the axial opening 72 of the button stem guide 68. Inside the button stem guide 68, washers and O-rings are placed under the spring 82 to ensure that the button stem 75 does not allow fluid to pass through and moves reliably. When the button 80 is pushed down, the spring 82 is compressed and the head 78 of the button stem 75 moves downward away from the underside of the button stem guide 68. Therefore, compressed air flows from the passage 42 into the opening 72 in the button stem guide 68, through the lateral opening 74 in the button stem guide 68, into the peripheral groove 76, and through the hole 64 into the noise generator 32. Inflow. When the button 80 is in the upper limit position lifted by the spring 82, the head 78 of the button stem 75 is firmly secured to the underside of the button stem guide 68. The O-ring 79 under the head 78 acts to prevent fluid, or compressed air, from flowing into the axial opening 72 of the button stem guide 68. Therefore, the compressed air does not flow into the noise generating unit 32. A hornbell 84 as a component is arranged inside the noise generating unit 32. The Hornbell 84 has a diameter of approximately 1.42 inches (3.6 cm) at the top, from which it curves inward with a radius of curvature of 0.36 inches (0.91 cm) to a diameter of 0.44 inches (1.1 cm), from there. It has a curved internal perimeter circular wall 86 that curves with a slight inward slope. The total height of the inner perimeter wall 86 is 1.05 inches (2.7 cm). The outer peripheral wall 88 extends downward from the upper edge of the inner peripheral wall 86. The outer peripheral wall 88 extends downward and terminates slightly above the inner peripheral wall 86 (0.03 inches (0.08 cm) above in the illustrated embodiment). The diameter at the top of the outer peripheral wall 88 is 1.32 inches (3.4 cm) and has an outward taper angle of 2 ° in the illustrated embodiment. Four openings 90 are arranged at regular intervals on the outer peripheral wall 88. In the illustrated embodiment, the opening 90 is about 0.1 inch (0.25 cm) in diameter and is located about 0.68 inch (1.7 cm) from the top of the hornbell. The hornbell is located in the cup-shaped cavity of the noise generating part 32, the upper edge of the inner peripheral wall 86 is located with respect to the inner surface of the peripheral wall 60 of the noise generating part 32, and the lower edge 92 of the outer peripheral wall 88 is the peripheral lip. Supported by 63. The thin diaphragm 94 is also located between the lower edge 92 of the outer wall 88 of the bell and the lip 63, and is supported by the lip 63. The lower edge of the inner peripheral wall 86 of the hornbell is also in contact with the upper surface of the diaphragm 94. Since the inner peripheral wall 86 extends slightly below the outer peripheral wall 88, the diaphragm 94 is slightly concave in the illustrated embodiment. In normal operation, the spring 82 deflects the button 80, i.e. the button stem 75, to the top position so that air cannot flow into the axial opening 72 of the button stem guide 68, thus causing noise. There is no movement of air in part 32. Air directly passes between the low pressure hose 14 and the wavy hose 16 through the main body 34. However, if the diver alerts a third party to alert, the button 80 is pressed, which pushes the button stem 75, causing the head 78 of the button stem 75 to move away from the underside of the button stem guide 68. The compressed air is then passed from the passage 42 through the opening 50, then through the axial opening 72, the lateral opening 74, and the groove 76, and finally through the hole 64 into the cavity 56 of the noise generating portion 32. This rapid inflow of air activates the hornbell 84. In response, the Bell 84 produces a very large amount of noise, which can attract the attention of the desired third party. The present invention has been described above because it can generate a large amount of noise and is suitable for incorporation into a conventional scuba diving apparatus. As a result, the combination is practical, easy to use and does not interfere with the operation of the diving equipment or the operation of the diver. Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown, it is not surprising that various modifications, modifications and substitutions can be incorporated into such inventions without departing from the invention limited by the claims. For example, the structure of the present invention is used in combination with the introduction / discharge valve 15 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an environmental diagram showing an alarm device of the present invention connected to a conventional scuba diving device. FIG. 2 is an environmental diagram showing a part of the alarm device of FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view of the alarm device of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the device of FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 3 along lines 5-5 of FIG. 10 ...... Scuba tank, 12 ...... Buoyancy compensation waistcoat, 14 ...... Low pressure hose, 15 ...... Introduction discharge valve, 16 ...... Wave Type hose, 19 ... expansion button, 24 ... low pressure hose, 26 ... pressure regulator, 30 ... alarm device, 32.... .Noise generator, 34 ... body, 36 ... female connector, 38 ... male connector, 42 ... passage, 50 ..... Internal opening, 56 ...... cavity, 60 ...... surrounding wall, 62 ...... lower surface, 63 ...... lip, 64 ...... hole , 68 ...... Button stem guide, 72,74 ...... Opening, 75 ...... Button stem, 76 ...... Groove, 77 ...... Shank , 78 ...... Head, 80 ...... Square Button, 82 ...... Spring, 84 ...... Hornbell, 86 ...... Internal Peripheral Wall, 88 ...... External peripheral wall, 90 ...... Opening, 92 ...... Lower edge, 94 ...... Diaphragm