This post features something a little different; a selection of submissions made to the United States Patent Office.
I can't think of a better place to start than with the inventors of the aqualung! The dates here are for submission to the U.S. office. Cousteau and Gagnan would have already applied for patents in other territories when these were made.
The first two illustrations show the three cylinder rig worn by Cousteau and his team in The Silent World. (Click for larger images).
Cylinders A and B contained the main supply of air with cylinder C acting as a reserve. When the diver turned on the supply from C he knew it was time to begin his ascent. The application mentions that this system does away with the need for a pressure gauge!
The next set of drawings are for a fin that resembles many seen today where the blade section is designed to flex independently and improve thrust.
Finally we have Cousteau's iconic "Diving Saucer" aka the SP-350 Denise.
In my next entry I'll be looking at applications for slightly more unusual designs.
I can't think of a better place to start than with the inventors of the aqualung! The dates here are for submission to the U.S. office. Cousteau and Gagnan would have already applied for patents in other territories when these were made.
The first two illustrations show the three cylinder rig worn by Cousteau and his team in The Silent World. (Click for larger images).
The next set of drawings are for a fin that resembles many seen today where the blade section is designed to flex independently and improve thrust.
Finally we have Cousteau's iconic "Diving Saucer" aka the SP-350 Denise.
In my next entry I'll be looking at applications for slightly more unusual designs.