This is a carry-over from Nemrod's comment about desireable features in a doublehose, not what defines a doublehose.
Throughout this post, keep in mind I don't know you (the OP) or your intentions or your background, so all this could be absolutely irrelevant.
My guess is that you're interested in designing a modern doublehose to have manufactured (either privately or by an existing scuba manufactuere) for the general diving market. So time for a quick design lesson. As I said, I have no idea of your background and my own design experience is reasonably limited so take this as you wish.
My guess is that you have 1 of 2 scenario's (markets) in mind.
The first being essentially a vintage doublehose made out of modern materials and slight improvements. It would look the same, work the same and be made of slightly different materials (ie silicones instead of rubbers, etc).Although I think there's a (small) market for this, I'd catergorise it as a 'rebuilt doublehose'. The design work is essentially done, with possibly a few moden tweaks and materials.
The second scenario...
If I was to build a 'modern doublehose' for a large market I'd be trying to move away from the retro look and be thinking about what features must be included (after a lot of market research). Think about what's good about the original doublehose, and what's not so good. Thinking more along the lines of 'whats great about a doublehose, not what IS a doublehose', in the 5 minutes I've spent thinking about this, I'd include on my list of requirements (
must haves):
- Breathes in any orientation. Vertical, horizontal, or anything in between.
- Acceptable reliability (I don't know an exact number. Maybe 0.5% failure)
- Aftersale support (availaibilty of parts and possibly service).
- Comforable for the user.
- Easy to use (very little or no new training required before use).
- Bubbles don't exit within the user's field of vision.
- Must be able to be cleared if flooded.
- Compatible with standard modern mouthpieces.
- Salt water, UV and mild chemical resistance.
- Compatible with most existing accesories (SPG's, power inflators and spare 2nd stages).
- Compatible with existing Yoke/DIN fittings.
- Compatible with 300 bar tanks.
- Sell for less than $350
- Able to function correctly at 200m.
- Breathing air must contain a humidity level of 20%
A complete list will take a long time to form but should include
everything you want the reg to be and nothing that's not vital in your design. Maybe you want yours to look like a vintage double hose. I don't mind what mine looks like, so didn't include it in my list.
Note the requirements here are what it should do. Not
how it should be done. For example, in my list one of the requirements is ability to be cleared if flooded. It does not say 'purge valve' as I don't mind how it's done, as long as it can be done. This helps you to focus on what you want out of this modern doublehose, rather than being stuck with the design you may have in your mind already.
Now the hard part. The next step would be to go through this list and work out
how each requirement will be achieved. If you can find a way to achieve everything in your requirements list, it should be impossible to build a product that does not do what you want it to do.
I think the concept of a modern reg that doesn't have its bubbles exist in front of your face is great. I don't think the market for a 'rebuild doublehose' is going to be huge (based on no real evidence). Maybe it's worth talking to retailers (of both modern and vintage equipment) and see what their feelings are about it.
Scubaboard is such a small and specialised community that I wouldn't be plunging into any great design project based just on the opinions here.