[PSUBS-MAILIST] Gauge for outside viewport?

Wed Oct 7 16:14:33 EDT 2015

One can install mechanical seals by machining the end of a Minnkota, and
that's a really attractive solution for most PSUBS. But this is a 1,000
footer and will be tested deeper. I think the strength of the can itself
would probably be the issue.

Best,

Alec

On Wed, Oct 7, 2015 at 2:01 PM, hank pronk via Personal_Submersibles <
personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:

> Alec,
> I am driving Gamma with two Perry thrusters that have a simple mechanical
> seal. I think a Minkota could be modified with a mechanical seal. A new end
> cap and a shaft extension would do it. This could be a add on kit for
> Psubbers. I can send you pictures of the Perry seal set up.
> Hank
>
> ------------------------------
> * From: * Brian Cox via Personal_Submersibles <
> personal_submersibles at psubs.org>;
> * To: * Personal Submersibles General Discussion <
> personal_submersibles at psubs.org>;
> * Subject: * Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Gauge for outside viewport?
> * Sent: * Wed, Oct 7, 2015 2:05:54 PM
>
> Alec,   BTW, that big 12" seawater depth gauge doesn't have a phosphorus
> dial, however it is very readable in minimal light and does have a small
> reflective strip which runs around the one edge of the numbers.
>
> Brian
>
> --- personal_submersibles at psubs.org wrote:
>
> From: Alec Smyth via Personal_Submersibles <
> personal_submersibles at psubs.org>
> To: Personal Submersibles General Discussion <
> personal_submersibles at psubs.org>
> Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Gauge for outside viewport?
> Date: Wed, 7 Oct 2015 08:29:07 -0400
>
> Just a follow-up on this. While I'm pretty sure external oil filled gauges
> would work outside I find the oil doesn't like staying inside them, so I
> ended up bringing the gauges inside the hull. In the end, the majority of
> my air system is outside with just the gauges and the BIBS inside the hull.
> Apart from hull stops, the valves for operating the sub are outside and
> operated via mechanical through-hulls. It's not hard because there's just
> three valves total. In my experience most air leaks happen in those valves
> that are used routinely, as opposed to hull stops that are left alone. Even
> using top quality Swagelok valves, you sometimes have to tighten things up
> because a leak develops with use.
>
> One recent design change is that I'm trying air compensation on the
> thrusters again. I had originally made them oil compensated because the
> thrusters are jettison-able and oil compensation meant one less connection
> between thruster and hull, but I'll give air a try because, with big
> battery banks and freeboard, I expect this sub to rack up many more hours
> of running time than Snoopy did using thrusters just for maneuvering. Air
> compensation should mean less brush maintenance.
>
>
> Best,
>
> Alec
>
> On Wed, Oct 7, 2015 at 6:46 AM, Steve McQueen via Personal_Submersibles <
> personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:
>
> Alec, while I am not 100% sure from the photo I believe these are standard
> ss Ashcroft pressure gauges used in industry.  They are normally oil filled
> to dampen the needle movement.  The oil is added through a rubber plug
> normally that might also act as a compensation diaphragm. Anyway maybe a
> vendor to start having discussion with.
>
> Steve
>
> On Sun, Sep 20, 2015 at 11:03 PM, Alec Smyth via Personal_Submersibles <
> personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:
>
> I have an interesting thing to think about and wondered if any of the
> PSUBS brain trust might have a suggestion.
>
> One of the simplifications on my new sub is that all HP air lines are
> external, aside from the BIBS (which is normally shut off anyway). Thus,
> I'm looking for a 3,000-4,000 psi gauge to mount outside a viewport, like
> in the Pisces photo that I'll paste below. In case my paste doesn't come
> through, it is the one at the top of the following article:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/15/science/piloted-deep-sea-research-is-bottoming-out.html?_r=1
>
> The first thing that came to mind was to use a SCUBA submersible pressure
> gauge, but the problem is these are normally 1 atm dry enclosures of
> limited depth rating. There is generally little information posted about
> how deep they'll go, but what I did find was mentioned 260 feet for the
> plastic ones and 490 feet for the brass variety. This is a 1,000 foot sub.
>
> The second idea was to use oil filled gauges intended for above-water use.
> But these generally have considerable bubbles in the oil, are not very good
> at keeping the oil inside, and have other hardware not intended to live
> long in sea water.
>
> Any suggestions would be most welcome!
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Alec
>
> [image: Inline image 1]
>
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