Unmanned Evaluation of the U.S. Navy MK 15 and a Modified MK 15 (MK 15 1/2) Closed Circuit UBA (Underwater Breathing Apparatus)

摘要

The Navy Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU) performed unmanned testing on a U.S. Navy MK 15 and modified MK 15 closed-circuit (C/C) underwater breathing apparatus (UBA) using a hyperbaric breathing simulator. The purpose of these tests was twofold: (1) to evaluate breathing resistance/breathing work characteristics of the MK 15 and modified MK 15 UBAs using a variety of mouthpiece and hose configurations and (2) to evaluate carbon dioxide (C02) absorbent canister duration for the modified MK 15 UBA at a depth of 50 feet-of-seawater (FSW) in a wide range of water temperatures. Breathing resistance/breathing work studies were made using five different mouthpiece and hose configurations at depths to 150 FSW at simulated work rates ranging from light to extreme. C02 canister duration tests were conducted in water temperatures ranging from 29 to 90 F. The modified MK 15 UBA (MK 15 1/2) was equipped with the following changes effecting rig performance: (1) a MK 16 UBA center section providing increased scrubber capacity and better thermal protection and (2) the Rexnord prototype mouthpiece with the larger diameter MK 16 hoses.