chapter 14 

 ARAWAK SYSTEM ON SEALAB 



B. Deleman, B. Cannon, W. T. Jenkins, and P. A. Wells 



U. S. Navy Mine Defense Laboratory 

 Panama City, Florida 



INTRODUCTION 



The Arawak system for divers was purchased on contract from Westinghouse Electric 

 Corporation of Baltimore, Maryland. Equipment delivered consisted of four motors, four 

 pumps, and two sets of breathing-gas hoses (100 ft each), with vests and demand regulators. 



At Long Beach Naval Shipyard, the equipment was dismantled and installed on a common 

 base above the entry hatch. Minor modifications were made prior to installation. Gate values 

 were procured and installed in the supply and return systems to cross-connect all units, so 

 that one set of hoses would always be ready for use. 



After completion of installation all units were checked out and tested. Results were sat- 

 isfactory, but the units were very noisy. The time element prevented elimination of some of 

 the noise problems common to these pumps and compressors. Space limitations also restrict- 

 ed the installation design. 



ARAWAK EVALUATION, TEAM 1 



General 



No specific record of Arawak time was kept while Team 1 was in Sealab, except in the 

 ship's log. Therefore, only an estimate of the time used can be made at this time. Of the to- 

 tal period spent outside the habitat, divers employed the Arawak system about 50 percent of 

 the time. Since the major portion of Team I's initial tasks concerned the habitat or immedi- 

 ate vicinity, the Arawak was used considerably the first nine days. It is ideally suited to this 

 situation. 



Advantages and Disadvantages 



The major advantages of the Arawak are (a) lack of predive preparation, and (b) unlimited 

 gas duration. The units were very reliable, with the only malfunction being a stuck vane on 

 No. 2 vacuum pump. This pump was repaired on the bottom satisfactorily. 



The hoses were a nuisance, getting tangled and twisted every couple of days. The vest de- 

 sign needs improvement, especially in the way the hoses attach. There is a tendency due to 

 the weight of the hoses to pull the vest open. The regulator is too close under the chin and 

 must be disconnected to get out of the vest. The range was about 80 ft horizontal and 30 ft 

 up or down. At times kinks developed, causing extremely hard inhalation or exhalation. 



Operation 



The Arawaks were used extensively for pot handling, PTC work, and removal of the outer 

 port covers. They were easy to breathe in, and, since the two vacuum and two pressure pumps 



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