Retrofit Dive Helmet Fluoroelastomeric Coating for Chemical Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current diving equipment is inadequate in protecting divers from hazardous chemicals and contaminants in chemically contaminated waters, leading to equipment failure and health risks, especially in high-risk environments such as terrorist attacks, accidents, and disaster recovery operations.
Innovation Solution
A retrofitting system using fluoroelastomeric materials and Return Surface Exhaust (RSE) technology to upgrade existing dive helmets, incorporating soft-goods replacements, in-water-exhaust disablers, and surface-return exhaust subsystems to prevent hazardous material intrusion and ensure safe breathing environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If industry standard dive helmets are used in contaminated waters, then basic diving operations can be performed, but the equipment deteriorates rapidly and fails within minutes due to chemical exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining fluoroelastomeric coatings with existing helmet structures. The coating layer is applied to the interior surface of the helmet, creating a composite structure where the fluoroelastomeric material provides chemical resistance while the underlying helmet structure provides mechanical strength and protective function. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining equipment reliability in chemically contaminated environments without compromising the basic diving operation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical resistance parameters of the helmet by applying fluoroelastomeric coatings with specific chemical properties. The coating material is selected and applied to achieve resistance against specific contaminants such as diesel oil, hydraulic fluid, and other hazardous chemicals. This parameter change enables the helmet to maintain reliability when exposed to harmful chemical factors that would otherwise cause rapid deterioration.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If double exhaust valves are added to dive helmets, then some protection against water intrusion is achieved, but the valves fail to prevent water and aerosol intrusion during exhalation or head movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the unreliable double exhaust valve system from the helmet configuration. By taking out the problematic exhaust valve mechanism that failed to prevent water and aerosol intrusion, the design eliminates the source of reliability problems while still addressing water intrusion protection through alternative means such as the fluoroelastomeric coating on the helmet interior surface.
3Productivity
If existing dive equipment is used in hazardous environments, then immediate diving operations are possible, but divers face chronic health risks from chemical exposure and equipment failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-coating the helmet interior surfaces with fluoroelastomeric materials before the diver is exposed to contaminated waters. This preliminary protective measure ensures that when the diver enters hazardous environments, the chemical-resistant coating is already in place to prevent exposure, eliminating the need for delays while maintaining health safety. The protective layer is applied in advance to address both productivity and health protection requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system significantly enhances diver safety by preventing hazardous material intrusion and maintaining equipment functionality in chemically contaminated waters, reducing health risks and equipment failure, while being efficient and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
The coating is applied to the interior surface of the helmet to a thickness of about 0.002 to 0.005 inches and is allowed to cure at ambient temperature and pressure for a period of about 24 to 48 hours.
Implementation Method 2
The system comprises a helmet, a breathing gas supply subsystem, an in-water exhaust subsystem, and a coating applied to the interior surface of the helmet. The coating prevents hazardous material intrusion and maintains equipment functionality in chemically contaminated waters.
Implementation Method 3
a reduced-pressure source structured and arranged to provide a source of negative pressure to exhaust breathing gas from the helmet to the surface
Implementation Method 4
at least one demand-based exhaust regulator structured and arranged to control, on demand, exhaust of the breathing gas from the breathing environment of the helmet to the surface
Data Source
AI summary
A system designed to increase diver safety in high-risk environments containing one or more hazardous materials. The system comprises one or more retrofittable kits enabling the upgrading of contaminate-vulnerable materials of an existing dive helmet to provide full environment isolation for the diver. The system preferably utilizes fluoroelastomeric replacement materials and components to convert an open circuit dive system to a closed circuit dive system. Methods of system development are also disclosed.