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DESCO Air Hat
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Product Features
Air Hat for Commercial Diving
The DESCO Air Hat was designed in 1968, and has continually evolved to meet the requirements of the commercial diving industry. Major upgrades to the design of the Air Hat over the years were made so they could be retrofitted to older helmets thus increasing their service life. The design of the Air Hat maximizes safety, durability, and reliability, while requiring simple routine maintenance and care.
The DESCO Air Hat conforms to all current regulations of the ADC Consensus Standards, and U.S. Federal Regulations administered by OSHA and the U.S. Coast Guard.
The DESCO Air Hat is a "free flow" helmet of contemporary design, using time proven techniques and materials in its construction, similar to the heavy gear helmets of the past. Brass castings are deep soldered to a 1/16" thick spun copper shell. The Air Hat is remarkable both for its ruggedness and its simplicity of design. It can be disassembled and reassembled using only a screwdriver and wrench. It can easily be donned or removed by the diver without assistance from the tender. Using the adjustable exhaust valve the Air Hat can be adjusted to either side of neutral buoyancy underwater with ease. With its low center of gravity and excellent fore and aft balance it rest comfortably on the divers head. The interior headliner is adjustable for size and the foam pads are covered in leather for comfort.
The DESCO Air Hat is the preferred helmet for working in hazardous environments where contamination of the diver is a concern. The "free flow" or "overpressure" design allows for a constant positive pressure to be maintained in the Air Hat. The standard double exhaust incorporates two separate successive seals to restrict the possibility of leak back.
The DESCO Air Hat comes standard with a neck dam for sealing at the neck. Leading dry suit manufacturers offer a DESCO yoke to directly mate the helmet to the dress in place of the neck dam. Installation of the insert ring to the dry suit is quick and easy, and does not require tools. Sealing of the Air Hat at the neck is achieved with two independent but complementary seals which are air and watertight. The Air Hat is shipped with the neck ring insert, a size 15 neck dam (unless another size is requested at time of ordering), and a adjustable jock strap.
The DESCO Air Hat now comes equipped with a side communications cup with integrated binding posts. The new configuration moves the transceiver out of the airflow path and closer to the divers ear. The standard configuration is two wire communications through the binding posts. The Air Hat can also be fitted to use 4 wire communications (assembly #61228) from the factory or the customer can install it later in the port provided. Standard two wire configuration, Optional four wire configuration
Also standard, is a double air inlet elbow equipped with two non return valves. The lower inlet is for the surface air supply line, while the upper inlet is for a bail out bottle whip. The upper inlet is supplied with a dust cap to protect the threads and prevent dirt entry while not in use. On top of the snout are two blocks for mounting of lights or video cameras. The air control valve handle has been redesigned to reduce the possibility of snagging. Threading on the non-return accepts a standard 9/16"-18 Oxygen fitting.
Standard Features of the DESCO Air Hat
- Double air inlet valve with non returns (bail out non return threaded for SCUBA whip).
- Adjustable double exhaust valve
- Stainless steel air control valve rated at 6000 psig
- Two video/light blocks
- Communications housing fitted with two binding posts, with a four wire communication plug connection option
- Two wire communications mike/speaker with binding posts
- Tin plated finish
- Brass parts have high polish finish
- Size 15 neck dam (other sizes can be substituted by request)
- Adjustable safety jock strap
Optional Features for the DESCO Air Hat
- Painted finish - Available standard DuPont Imron® colors Black - 99U, Metallic Blue - 44427, Orange - 5080, Metallic Red - 7994, Yellow - 6561. Other DuPont Imron® colors can be ordered at additional cost.
- Four-wire Marsh Marine type communications plug assembly
- Welding Shield
Air Hat Upgrades
Older DESCO Air Hats can be retrofitted with many of the current standard features to extend the service life. The features described above, together with its reasonable cost make it the hat of choice for divers working at depths where the diver can be supplied with air. When used with a dry suit it provides the diver with maximum protection in contaminated water.
Need proof of the economy of using a DESCO Air Hat? Scott Diving looked at their maintenance costs over a 5 year period and compared the costs in this graph.
As you can see in the real world environment the DESCO Air Hat is by far the most cost effective low volume helmet you can use on the job.
Safety Notice - CAUTION - DIVING IN COLD WATER CONDITIONS.
Any air (pneumatic) system given the right combination of temperature and/or airflow has a propensity to freeze up. It is prudent therefore to check for moisture regularly and install a secondary in-line dryer system if necessary. If moisture freeze up problems persist contact your compressor dealer for recommendations to suit your particular need.
