Mailing List Archive Mailing List Archive
We are currently working with a plastics manufacturing company to develop a proper drysuit for our upcoming expedition. After extensive testing, we have found that no currently available drysuits, adequately meet the stringent requirements set forth by both our project engineer and project phisiologist. Our first thought was to use hot water suits for proper thermal protection. After some rudimentary drag calculations and a few in-water tests, it was determined that not even a Double-Klingon Cruiser was able to tow 30,000 feet of hot water supply and return tubes. At this point one of our more forward thinking team members suggested drilling a 10 foot diameter hole into the aquafer. This hole would cut down on the amount of tubing being dragged into a cave. At the same time, we were working on neutral bouyancy tubing (which would float in the water column and not drag all over the cave floor) and our new pride of the fleet, the Triple-Klingon Cruiser. The TKC is an engineering masterpiece. Three full size Aqua Zepps banded together, providing the necessary range and the ability to carry 45,000 cubic feet of bailout gas. Alas, after a great outcry from environmentalist and cavers alike, the cornhole phase of the project was cancelled. This negated the TKC concept for towing in the hot water lines. This brings us to the present day with regards to the thermal protection issue. After much consideration, we have decided to adopt the self insulating concept. All of our push diver's are on the Shoney's all you can eat diet plan. This was necessary to achieve the desired 50% body fat ratio needed to spend 27 hrs in 70 degree water with only a pair of XXXXL long johns and one of our new drysuits. The Hefty company is now in the final stages of testing a man sized Cinch-Sak for our teams use. Each suit is custom cut from 6 square yards of Hefty's strongest garbage bag material. All seams are double radio welded and then the entire suit is leak tested by each member both in water and a dry test. For the dry test, the suit is worn until 30 psi of internal methane pressure is achieved (about 2 hours). No provisions for overboard discharge are incorporated into the design. Since the suits are disposable, one merely urinates and defecates in the suit and at the end of the dive, strips out of the suit and carries his waste products to the nearest trash receptacle. We are confident that this new technology will trickle down into the sport cave diving market. We, as a team, strive to share all our new found knowledge with the diving community at large. In future posts I will describe our newest rebreather, give an update on our scooter trials and generally keep you up to date as we blindly speed along to our appointment with destiny. The 'members' of the team wish to thank the entire dive community for their continued support. - BS
Navigate by Author:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Subject Search Index]
[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]
[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]