DIVERS LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM INCLUDING A BAIL-OUT REBREATHER

摘要

As one aspect diver's secondary life support system comprising a semi-closed circuit rebreather set connected via one or more hoses to an isolating valve and a helmet- or mask-interface, the rebreather set in a standby mode during normal diving operations being maintained at a pressure in excess of ambient external pressure. A further aspect of the invention is a semi-closed circuit rebreather set for a diver's secondary life support system, the set being attachable by one or more hoses (2) to an isolating valve (4) and helmet- or mask-interface (17), the set comprising at least one counterlung (1), a moisture absorber (10), a carbon dioxide scrubber (11), and a restrictor (6) which is attachable to a pressurised gas bottle (5) so that when the set is actuated gas can bleed into the set at a substantially constant rate. It is a particularly advantageous feature of such a set that it may be maintained at a pressure in excess of ambient external pressure when in a standby mode. By maintaining an over-pressure in the rebreather set in use, the possibility of sea water leakage into the set is avoided.