Monument to a Visionary.

HEADS DOWN OXYGEN DISPLAY or

HOW WE ELIMINATED HOSES & LEAKS,

MAKING REBREATHER DIVING SIMPLER

SAFER, AND MORE FUN

Lets start with the we and give credit where due and the evolution of an idea.

Dr. Bob has been working on making really KISS systems and I have been designing my semifinal system design (nothing is final on my workbench).

First was the FEOR (Dr. Bob) which is almost as elegantly simple as a split lung non pendulum system could be. (With apologies to the TP 2000). I built my own version of the FEOR but added an automatic oxygen injection system in a manner similar to Dave Sutton's (Franken-Rig) using a RGU rebreather tank and regulator.

When I added air for deeper diving, I turned to Patrick Duffy for sensors, modified a couple of 200 millivolt panel meter for the displays, and placed the displays into a clear otterbox. I placed the sensors in the counterlung and had the otterbox on a hose. On the right you can see the last of the many modified versions of the test bed with parts spread out for clarity.

Dr. Bob quickly duplicated my display modification and put his display and sensor into the scrubber body....his scrubber body was clear so he could monitor the condition of he scrubber (and watch leaks). This was brilliant. You must click here to see . how neat it is.

I taped my otterbox with dual displays onto my scrubber to eliminate dangle. I did not have a clear scrubber...but....

I did have a number of otterboxes in the "toy box".... so in the next version, I mounted my otterboxes on the scrubber with gobs of epoxy putty and put the sensors in the scrubber. This way I could easily change the batteries and adjust the meter. Ideas bounced back and forth from coast to coast as we played off each others progress.

Our systems have a number of advantages for divers. First and foremost, the PPO is displayed where it can be seen by simply looking down. You do not need to find the display hose and it is not dangling. Our systems are ambient pressure avoiding potential leaks. There is no mechanical stress on a hose. Sensors can be placed almost anywhere in the loop with the wires inside of the loop to the displays. Even back mounted rebreathers can benefit from this concept as a backup display or a buddy display. For those folks who do not like ambient systems, it still works with all the benefits of easy viewing, reduced hoses, reduced tangle, and reduced mechanical failure. It soon became apparant that we needed to formalize things. After conducting a patent search, Dr. Bob and I filed for a patent this month after many long but fun hours. That guy is brilliant, simply brilliant and one of the most nit picking editors you have ever met.

The patent already pending folks..... Dr Bob Iannello and Tom Rose....home builders stepping up to the plate for fun and profit. Other home builders can rip us off with our blessing (cause we can't do a damn thing about it so we might as well be gracious) but manufactures can get a check book out. Some lucky company will have the opportunity of a lifetime.

Bob & Tom making the world of diving safer and more fun.