Electric heating apparatus for supplying heated fluid to a diver{3 s clothing

Claim 1

Apparatus for supplying heat to a diver submerged in a body of water, the apparatus comprising: a garment adapted to be worn by the diver and including: internal fluid circulation passages through which fluid may be passed in heat exchanging relation with adjacent portions of the body of the diver through the thickness of the walls of said passages, fluid inlet means communicating with said internal fluid circulation passages, and fluid outlet means communicating with said internal fluid circulation passages; a source of electrical power positioned remotely from said housing; a source of gas under pressure generally equal to the ambient water pressure at which the diver is positioned, said source of gas under pressure being positioned remotely from said housing; a heating unit for supplying heated fluid to said internal fluid passages in closed, fluid recirculating relationship, said heating unit comprising: a housing having, an enclosed main chamber, and an enclosed second chamber; main chamber outlet means providing fluid communication between said main chamber and said fluid inlet means communicating with said internal fluid circulation passages; second chamber inlet means providing fluid communication between said second chamber and said fluid outlet means communicating with said internal fluid circulation passages; electrically powered pumping means mounted in said housing and comprising: pump inlet means for withdrawing fluid from said second chamber, and pump outlet means communicating with said main chamber for delivering the fluid thereto, said chamber outlet means and said pump outlet means being positioned at opposite ends of a fluid flow path through said main chamber; electrically powered heating means mounted in said housing and extending into said flow path for supplying heat to the fluid passing through said main chamber; temperature responsive electrical thermostat means mounted in said housing and extending into said flow path at a point therein downstream of said heating means, said thermostat means being operatively connected with said heating means to reduce the electrical supply thereto when the temperature of the fluid exceeds a predetermined value; said pumping means, said heating means and said thermostat means further including electrical connection terminals for connection of electrical power to said pumping means, said heating means and said thermostat means, said electrical connection terminals being connected through electrical cable means to said source of electrical power positioned remotely from said housing and being positioned externally of said main chamber; said housing further including, gas chamber means extending about and enclosing said electrical connection means and isolated from the fluids flowing through said heating unit, and gaS connection means in fluid communication with said gas chamber and connected to said source of gas under pressure generally equal to the ambient water pressure at which the dive is positioned; selectively and manually operable bypass valve means connected with said housing for passing a selectively variable proportion of the fluid in said main chamber directly back into said second chamber; and valve means interposed between said main chamber outlet means and said fluid inlet means communicating with said fluid circulation passages.