On/Off Mouthpiece for Double Hose Regs?

[Divebum Don]

Sorry R/B divers, but NO actual R/B diving here, Haa! ...but I dive a modern Mistral D/H for video taping, research diving, Etc. (as well as vintage D/H regs for fun).

I'm looking for an On/Off mouthpiece/valve. Entries, surface swims, and exits all cause freeflow. I have a mouth piece plug, but it's cumbersome. I've added a 1" ball valve that's handy at the first stage, BUT a mouth piece with On/Off would be best.

Any suggestions would be appreciated??

TIA, Don

 

[jepuskar]

Yes, get a rebreather.

 

[padiscubapro]

Sorry R/B divers, but NO actual R/B diving here, Haa! ...but I dive a modern Mistral D/H for video taping, research diving, Etc. (as well as vintage D/H regs for fun).

I'm looking for an On/Off mouthpiece/valve. Entries, surface swims, and exits all cause freeflow. I have a mouth piece plug, but it's cumbersome. I've added a 1" ball valve that's handy at the first stage, BUT a mouth piece with On/Off would be best.

Any suggestions would be appreciated??

TIA, Don

put a "trombone" style valve at an avalable lp hose or port on the reg.. rebreather mouthpieces are expensive and not sure it would work safely..

 

[jlovold]

The best solution here would be to make an entirely new "hybrid" regulator...

Use a normal first and second-stage with an exhaust return hose with perforations along the hose (on the underside) to allow water in and out, to avoid the "air-lift"-effect...

Then you will actually fix three problems:

-Breathing resistance
-Free-flow
-Positive buoyancy

 

[DA Aquamaster]

That would not be an entirely new design at all - its been done before as offers nothing over a double hose design.

Breating resistance with an upgraded double hose reg like a PRAM is no worse than a single hose reg provided the cans are properly positioned.

The same applies with a Mistral. The cracking effort may be slightly higher but it uses a strong venturi effect that makes the actual work of breathing quite low.

A tombone valve would not work as there is no LP hose to utilize.

A DSV is the way to go but they are expensive. As long as it would fit the 1/5" diameter hose, it would work. As for safety, the traditional "Kleer-eze" USD mouthpiece used on the mistral incorporates cage valves so that air flow is one way and the inlet hose cannot flood. A DSV would most likely use a similar system to ensure the gas moves the correct way through the loop so safety would not be an issue.

It would be fairly easy to build one, just a bit time consuming and you'd need a lathe.

 

[jlovold]

I have not seen any "hybrid" regulators yet...

Would you care to introduce one?

 

[Luis H]

I have not seen any "hybrid" regulators yet...

Would you care to introduce one?

The Demone

Here is a regulator that used basically that concept. The Demone, it was basically two single hose regulators (for redundancy) with two flooded exhaust hoses. You can read more about on this thread: Vintage Scuba Supply Community Forum - Demon Demone Double Hose Regulator

Or do a search in any of the vintage diving message boards.

 

[jlovold]

Thanks! Interesting design!

 

[kidspot]

while a DSV (Dive surface valve) is quite expensive, many homebuilders have made their own out of plumbing shutoff valves - not real pretty, but they seem to work and only cost a few dollars compared to a few hundred $$$ RGU Improved Work of Breathing

Don't know if that would work for you, or not, but just one more idea.

Aloha, Tim