WET SUITS 303 



Specific recommendations for a second-generation suit are outlined below. Following this 

 outline, suggestions are offered for the research, design, and development of other approaches 

 to thermally protective underwater garments. 



Electrically-Heated Constant- Volume Wet Suit 



Based on the evaluations of Sealab II subjects and Navy and U.S. Rubber project personnel, 

 the following design alterations and additions should be incorporated into an improved suit. 



Jacket— Alter the face profile, use a soft-rubber face seal, remove bunching in the chest 

 area, prevent Velcro from attaching to itself while donning and doffing. 



Trousers— Lower the hip openings, make ankle area softer to minimize chafing, prevent 

 Velcro from attaching to itself while donning and doffing. 



Mitts— Extend length by about one inch. 



Boots— Use stocking seal, increase height by one inch, position gussets and connectors on 

 inside ankle areas, try to make it easier to don swim fins. 



Snag Resistance— Apply stretch nylon to outer surfaces of all suit parts, supply separate 

 chafing gear kit to be used as required only for severe conditions, avoid snag-suit design used 

 previously. 



Resistance Wires— Redesign wire layout configuration, design new insulated wire for max- 

 imum resistance to failure in flexing and kinking. 



Power Control— Provide positive switch positioning for both ac and dc operation, design 

 special continuous power control silicon- controlled rectifier circuit for ac umbilical cable use. 



Voltage— Employ 24 volts to reduce current through connectors and switches and to make 

 system compatible with swimmer propulsion units. 



Battery Pack— Provide capacity compatible with scuba gas-supply duration (about one hour), 

 design pressure- resistant single battery housing to be suspended from scuba bottle(s), avoid 

 the maintenance and charging problems encountered previously. 



AC Umbilical Cable— Provide safety lock to prevent inadvertent disconnection from power- 

 control box, "marry" to Arawak hose, use bulkhead connection to Sealab HI. 



Constant Volume— Add low-pressure differential pop-off valves to rubber suit, provide in- 

 sulating gas (Freon 13B-1, CO2, or Nj) bottle to be attached to scuba or to "come-home" bottle 

 of Arawak, provide pressure regulator and manual flow control. 



Connectors— Design special gas/electric connectors for suit parts for minimal size and 

 quick operation. 



Tailoring— Obtain accurate measurements, draft patterns, and provide fitting and alteration 

 service. 



Testing— Perform thorough testing prior to use at Sealab III, incorporate modifications 

 where necessary and if possible prior to Sealab m. 



Training— Conduct thorough training sessions in a tank and in open water. Subjects should 

 become completely indoctrinated prior to use during saturation dives. 



Field Engineering— Provide services in the field to maximize successful usage of the suits. 



