How to do scuba? Self-made aqualung: the instruction on manufacturing

Self-made aqualung is an inexpensive device for breathing under water. Authors of numerous reviews assure that this device can replace expensive diving equipment in case of diving to a depth of up to four meters. So, the self-made aqualung is what it is and how to make it?

Dependence of man on technology

Asked how to do homemade scuba gear, we must remember that any human activity that is not connected with the use of any instruments, equipment or other equipment, makes us hope only for our own luck or the help of a friend. To such, for example, is the usual swimming. Using man's technique - car or scuba - multiplies his capabilities many times. But in proportion to the complexity of technology, the dependence on a person also increases.

A diver equipped with a "mask, fins, tube" kit is in an unpleasant situation when one of the available equipment is lost under water. But in a much more difficult position falls diver, if under the water suddenly stops the supply of air. This can happen at a depth that can not be surfaced in one breath. Bulky scuba gear reduces mobility and increases water resistance. Such an emergency situation can occur under the ice or in a cave. Submariners should pay more attention to the technique used. Especially it concerns those who have decided to make a self-made aqualung.

On the complexity of the question

Modern diving equipment is focused on its comfort and safety. All components and components of the equipment should be thought through to the smallest detail. Experts have developed rules for the use of equipment, violating which is strongly discouraged. A novice amateur, in the event of the slightest difficulties in operating the equipment, should seek advice from his trainer, since the trouble-free use of equipment is the key to safe diving.

Scuba is a fairly complex device. Experts argue that it is not easy to create an improvised self-made scuba diving in the home. For this it is necessary to have the appropriate knowledge and to be able to work on good turning equipment. Those who are interested in the question of how to make self-made scuba gear with their own hands, should learn about this device as much as possible.

History

The word "aqualung" in translation means "water lungs". History shows that the device was created gradually. The first patented air supply regulator from the surface and adapted it for use in aqualung. In 1878, the device for breathing under water was invented . It used pure oxygen. In 1943 the first scuba gear was created. Its authors were the French Emile Gagnan and Jacques-Yves Cousteau.

Device

Those who decided to create a self-made scuba craft should know that this unit consists of 3 main parts and several additional devices:

• Cylinder . Usually, one or two containers with a compressed respiratory mixture are used. Each capacity holds 7 - 18 liters.
• The regulator . It consists of a reducer and a pulmonary automaton. Scuba gear may contain one or more reducers.
• Compressor of buoyancy. Inflatable waistcoat, whose special purpose is to regulate the depth of immersion.
• A pressure gauge equipped with a signal that triggers when the air pressure reaches 30 atmospheres.

Features

If you want to create an improvised self-made scuba, you need to know about the peculiarities of its components.

• The high-pressure bottle that is part of the aqualung is an air storage tank. The working pressure in it is 150 atmospheres. A standard cylinder of 7 liters capacity at this pressure accommodates 1050 liters of air.
• Scuba divers are used for single-, double- or three-ball scuba. Usually the capacity of the cylinders is 5 and 7 liters, but if necessary, 10-, 14-liter cylinders are used.
• The shape of cylinders is cylindrical, with an elongated neck, provided with an internal thread for fastening a high-pressure pipe or branch pipe.
• Cylinders are made of steel or aluminum. Steel cylinders are covered with a protective anticorrosive layer, which is used as zinc. Cylinders made of steel are more durable than aluminum, but they are less buoyant.
• Cylinders are filled with a gas mixture or compressed filtered air. Modern tanks are equipped with overfill protection.
• They are connected to the air reducer, which reduces the pressure from 150 to 6 atmospheres throughout the operation of the aqualung. With such indicators of pressure, the respiratory mixture enters the pulmonary automaton.
• Pulmonary automatic device is the main device in the scuba device, because it provides air for breathing, the pressure of which is equal to the pressure of water on the chest area of the diver.

Types of scuba

If you decide to design a self-made aqualung, you should know that diving uses three types of equipment: open, closed, semi-closed circuits. They are distinguished from each other by the method of breathing used.

Open circuit

Used in inexpensive, light and outfitted equipment. Works exclusively on the supply of air. When exhaled, the recycled content is released into the environment, not mixing with the mixture filling the cylinders. This eliminates oxygen starvation or carbon dioxide poisoning. The system is simple in design and is safe to operate. But it has a significant drawback: it is not suitable for deep-sea diving because of the high consumption of the respiratory mixture at great depths.

Closed circuit

Aqualung works according to the following principle: the diver exhales air, which is processed - cleared of carbonic acid, saturated with oxygen, after which it again is suitable for breathing. The advantages of the system:

• Small mass;
• Small dimensions of equipment;
• Possible immersion in the deep water;
• Long-term stay of the scuba diver under water;
• There is an opportunity for the diver to remain unnoticed.

This type of equipment is designed for the presence of a high level of training, beginners do not recommend using it. The disadvantages of the system include its significant cost.

Semi-closed scheme

The operating principle of such a system is a hybrid of open and closed circuits. Part of the recycled mixture is enriched with oxygen, after which it is again available for breathing, and its excess is released into the environment. At the same time, different depth of immersion involves the use of various gas respiratory cocktails for breathing.

Reserve source

Many divers use mini-aqualungs as a backup tank. The mini-model is a compact system designed for breathing under water at a shallow depth. It includes a reducer with a mouthpiece and a subcompact vessel with air. The parameters of the air volume depend on the individual characteristics of the scuba diver.

Scuba diving

Aqualung helps a person to swim underwater freely. It is not necessary to walk all the time on the bottom or stay in a vertical position. This is due to the widest application of equipment not only by divers, but also cameramen, repairmen, archaeologists, ichthyologists, hydraulic engineers and photographers, and others.

Many people try to make self-made scuba craft by their own hands. Motivation for making such a decision can be both a desire to save, and an irresistible love for technical creativity. Users of networks willingly share advice and recommendations regarding the production of the device at home.

"Sparka": homemade scuba from the gas cylinder

You will need:

• Oxygen cylinders, metal-composite, steel aviation with valves for cutting off the oxygen main (from the return stroke) and return charging valves. The volume of each: 4 liters, weight: 4.200, working pressure: 150 bar.
• Aircraft oxygen valve
• The flywheel is self-made.
• Reducer from a catapult aviation chair.
• Soviet gas reducer for propane.
• Self-made spring made of stainless steel wire , etc.

How to make?

1. Cylinders are connected by means of clamps made of stainless steel (can be made from the tanks of a washing machine). Between the cylinders are inserted inserts made of wood, covered with an epoxy-based fabric, with black PF paint. The holes are drilled in the reducer cover so that water does not stagnate.
2. The automatic activation of the oxygen system is removed. A lever with a check is installed.
3. A self-made scuba controller can be made from a spring connected to a safety valve of a reducer made of stainless steel wire and a dural cover with a connection to the outlet for connection of a pulmonary automaton. The gear unit is adjusted (pressure setting is 6.5 bar).
4. A pulmonary machine can be manufactured from a Soviet gas reducer. In its case, you need to insert 2 fittings, made of a duralumin tube (diameter - 16.5 mm). On one of them put on a mouthpiece with a clamp from a stainless plate. In the other, glue a textolite glass with a valve from the gas mask. If one fungal valve quickly fails, it should be made from a rubber reinforced mug (can be cut out of the shoe covers of the Soviet chemical kit) and a bolt with a nut that fastens the valve directly to the saddle. Instead of the old connecting pipe, a new duralite is manufactured, which is pasted on an epoxy base in place of the old one. The diameter of the valve seat is 2.5 mm.
5. To counteract the opening force of compressed air, a self-made pulling spring is installed in the lid, which is attached to the top of the lid by a horizontal stud.
6. The membrane is made of the same rubber from the shoe covers. A washer with a light weight is installed on it to eliminate vibration during inspiration. The inspiratory valve cushion can be turned on high-speed emery manually from a piece of rubber.
7. The pulmonary automaton is tightened with three bolts. Tightened even by hand, they are able to hold the membrane well. The lower part of the pulmonary machine for additional comfort of use of the equipment is equipped with a plate made of stainless steel on rivets, which is installed under the chin.
8. Shoulder nylon belts are made from chunks of a halyard without adjustment in the absence of necessity. There may be no quick-release buckle in the belt.

Description of the result

At a depth of 10 m, scuba gear allows you to perform heavy physical work (dragging on the bottom of cobblestones or fast swimming) without the effect of lack of air. Not equipped with a purge button, but without it you can do without. The pulmonary machine needs adjustment only on the first application, after which the minimal adjustment is made by the movement of the inspiratory valves. Operates at a pressure of 6-7 bar. Efforts to inhale are characterized as quite acceptable, similar to AVM-5. Weight - 300 g. It is connected to a hose without gaskets, by means of a conical connection. The device is very light (about 11.5 kg), compact and streamlined. There is no minimum pressure indicator in it.

Another version of self-made aqualung from gas cylinders

1. Prepare the can. Used a capacity of up to 22 liters, depending on the preferences. You can use 2 cylinders of 4.7-7 liters. For normal diving, a 200 bar can be used, for a technical diver, 300 bar.
2. Prepare the reducer with a pressure similar to that of the cylinder.
3. Connect the reducer to the cylinder. Make sure that the pressure in it is 6-11 bar higher than the ambient pressure.
4. Connect the hose to the reducer, attach the pulmonary automatic device to the hose. When it is in good working order and the master mistakes are not allowed, the pressure corresponds to the pressure of the environment.
5. Connect the regulators. Their number depends on the tasks assigned. For the planned amateur diving you need 2 regulators: the main and the reserve.
6. Install the buoyancy compensator (not necessary for proper operation of the aqualung, but it simplifies and makes diving safer).
7. Pump oxygen into the cylinder and check the assembled system. If all of its elements are connected without errors and the device is working, you should conduct the first test dive to insignificant depth. If it was successful, the scuba can be considered ready for operation.

Self-made scuba diving from a fire extinguisher

1. A cylinder is used from a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher (pressure - 150 bar, capacity - 5 liters, weight - about 7.5 kg)
2. The valve must be turned to a round shape, screwed into a T-piece (from the cylinder from the ejection seat), which must be equipped with a charging valve.
3. Two duralumin plates are placed on it, they are tightened together.
4. They strengthen the gearbox, which is a converted second stage of the oxygen reducer from the ejection seat (running from 8 bar).
5. A self-made safety valve is manufactured, the diameter of the membrane is reduced by means of 2 plates.
6. A reducer valve seat is manufactured with a diameter of 1, 2 mm, a valve cushion (made of PTFE), in addition, some other minor modifications must be made.
7. The pulmonary automaton is similar to the model described above (see the section "Sparka": self-made scuba gear from a gas cylinder "). The body is used from another gearbox, as well as self-made exhalation and inspiration valves. The balloon is fixed with duralumin clamps on the fiberglass back.

Result

The device is reliable and trouble-free in operation. The main maintenance problem is corrosion of the dural housing of the reducer in salt water. To solve the problem, it is recommended to use silicone grease. The equipment is not equipped with a manometer, there are no filters (you can use a siphon tube in a bottle with small holes at the end). Weight - 9.5 kg.

On the Internet there are other versions of self-made models of scuba divers from a fire extinguisher.

Option number 1

• The device is made from a container - a receiver (2 liters) from a fire extinguisher.
• It is fastened to the chest area.
• Instead of a regulator, a self-made air button is used to manually apply air to the breath.
• The device is equipped with a check valve, which cuts off the air line in the event of a rupture of the hose that supplies air.
• There is no reducer, therefore it is used at a limited depth of immersion.
• The diaphragm is pressed against the valve seat by a spring. When you press the lever, it rises and the air goes to the inhale. Exhalation is carried out in the water with the help of an exhalation valve.
• The air supply from the surface is carried out from a transport welding cylinder with a volume of up to 40 liters. A pulmonary automatic device is connected to the device.
• Fixed on the hand of an air button is more convenient than a button, which you have to hold in your hand. The hand is partially released and used to do any work.

Option number 2

• A ballon from a fire extinguisher (1.5 liters) is used.
• The device uses a manual feed system for inhaling.
• The equipment is equipped with a valve - pneumatic button, valve and reducer.
• It consists of a tube, screwed into a fitting from the fire extinguisher, in which there is a reverse plastic valve, pressed to the conical seat by compressed air and a spring. The tube is wound on the body with a membrane and a pin, pressing on the plastic valve. On the back there is a lever, designed to be pressed with a finger.
• The air leaving this device passes through the nozzle (diameter - 2 mm), then goes to the breath in the mouthpiece. Exhalation is carried out by means of the valve.
• The cargo belt is quite simple to manufacture. It is made from lead cylinders, cast from a long-cut duralumin pipe. Equipped with a self-made quick-release buckle.

In the reliable functioning of the equipment, there is no doubt, but the tightness of the plastic valve closing the balloon is problematic

How to make a scoop from a bottle?

The Internet offers instructions on how to make homemade scuba from a bottle. According to the author who provided it, a sprayer used in horticulture can be used for this. It is easiest to find it in a specialized store for gardeners. When choosing a container, you should not prefer too large bottles: they will be strongly "pulled" upward.

You will need:

• Sprayer (pump);
• Flexible hose (plastic);
• Underwater tube used for diving;
• Capacity (bottle).

Technology:

1. First remove the stopper installed in the sprayer. This is necessary so that as much air as possible leaves the sprayer.
2. On the top of the sprayer, the hose is pulled, carefully sealed with silicone or hot glue.
3. On the bottom of the underwater tube is installed a lid from a plastic bottle, with a pre-drilled hole along the diameter of the hose.
4. The hose is inserted into the hole, carefully sealed, and sealed. A simple scuba gear is ready.

Operating principle

The bottle is connected to a pump sprayer and is filled with air. The capacity of 330 ml is filled with air by 50 rolls. This amount of air is sufficient for 4 full breaths. A larger container should be equipped with a load, since an air filled bottle, float up. To extract air from the bottle, just press the appropriate button on the sprayer.

Conclusion

Self-made scuba diving will save money and will provide an opportunity to experience an incomparable pleasure from participating in the creative process. In order to ensure the safety of one's own life and health, the craftsmen must strictly follow the instructions.