High Pressure Hose Reserve Air Supply for Underwater Diving

Abstract

A tankless secondary air supply system to be used in an emergency situation during underwater diving is disclosed. Specifically, the present invention is a high pressure hose reserve air supply for underwater diving. The system is configured with a secondary hose separately connected to the main air tank. The secondary hose is of larger than customary bore and is made of flexible reinforced material in order to store reserve air when filled with pressurized air from the main tank. The hose is connected to the main tank with a check valve which permits the air from the main tank to automatically fill the hose immediately upon connection via the first stage regulator. The check valve maintains the high pressure air supply within the hose. The air which is stored in the hose serves as a secondary source of air during an emergency situation via a secondary regulator mouthpiece.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A high pressure hose reservoir system for use with a standard air supply system for underwater diving, the standard air supply system having a primary air supply tank, tank valve, a first stage regulator with a high pressure side and a low pressure side, primary breathing air hose, and primary second stage regulator and mouthpiece, the high pressure hose reservoir system comprising:
 a reservoir valve in flow communication with the high pressure side of the first stage regulator;   a reservoir high pressure hose in flow communication with the reservoir valve; and   a reserve second stage high pressure regulator and mouthpiece in flow communication with the reservoir high pressure hose;   wherein the high pressure hose reservoir system provides an emergency air supply to the user when the standard air supply system is depleted.   
     
     
         2 . The high pressure hose reservoir system of  claim 1  wherein the reservoir valve is a check valve. 
     
     
         3 . The high pressure hose reservoir system of  claim 1  further comprising a reserve air supply pressure gauge. 
     
     
         4 . The high pressure hose reservoir system of  claim 1  wherein the check valve is integrated with the first stage regulator. 
     
     
         5 . The high pressure hose reservoir system of  claim 1  wherein the reservoir high pressure hose comprises a length in the range of 60 to 70 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The high pressure hose reservoir system of  claim 1  wherein the reservoir high pressure hose comprises an internal diameter in the range of 0.5 to 1 inch. 
     
     
         7 . The high pressure hose reservoir system of  claim 1  wherein the reservoir high pressure hose comprises rubber. 
     
     
         8 . The high pressure hose reservoir system of  claim 1  wherein the reservoir high pressure hose comprises a braided polyester outer layer over a woven Kevlar inner layer. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the standard air supply system for underwater diving further includes a tank pressure hose and the high pressure hose reservoir system further comprises a T-connector in flow communication with the high pressure side of the first stage regulator, wherein an in-flow connection of the T-connector is attached to the first stage regulator and out-flow connections of the T-connector are connected to the tank pressure hose and the reservoir valve. 
     
     
         10 . A high pressure hose reservoir system for use with a standard air supply system for underwater diving, the standard air supply system having a primary air supply tank, tank valve with DIN-type connector, a DIN first stage regulator with a high pressure side and a low pressure side, primary breathing air hose, and primary second stage regulator and mouthpiece, the high pressure hose reservoir system comprising:
 a T-connector having an in-flow connection and two out-flow connections; wherein the tank valve with DIN-type connector is attached to the in-flow connection of the T-connector and the DIN first stage regulator is attached to an out-flow connection of the T-connector;   a reservoir valve in flow communication with an out-flow connection of the T-connector;   a reservoir high pressure hose in flow communication with the reservoir valve; and   a reserve second stage high pressure regulator and mouthpiece in flow communication with the reservoir high pressure hose;   wherein the high pressure hose reservoir system provides an emergency air supply to the user when the standard air supply system is depleted.