Anyone seen one of these B4?

zepp · 12th September 2005, 17:24

I have had this lying around for a while, and intend to convert it to a mixed gas CCR to use when travelling. It is basically an o3 unit (chest-monted) used for mine and fire rescues. The f/f mask I will no doubt ditch, but the rest is well engineered.

GKAM · 12th September 2005, 17:56

Yeap. I have seen this during my time in the Greek Navy. These are OBAs (oxygen breathing apparatii) used for firefighting onboard ships - or at least that's what we had them for.

Very old design with disposable canister in the center containing a mixture of potassium peroxide and superoxide. Trust me, you do not want to get this stuff wet!

There are 2 chest CLs - one on eather side of the canister. You *could* try and toy with it to convert to a CCR but it would take a lot of fiddling.

I doubt one could make something practically diveable, but it is always fun to try!

GKAM

Northern Monkey · 13th September 2005, 22:08

Greetings Zepp,

It looks like it might be Ex Mines Rescue rebreather, not too many around now (mines and rescue kit). Did you get it from that tight scrapman cum diver Hampton

Try a shallow puddle first, not that deep one in North Wales

.

**wedivebc** · 13th September 2005, 22:32

Quote: (Originally Posted by zepp)

I have had this lying around for a while, and intend to convert it to a mixed gas CCR to use when travelling. It is basically an o3 unit (chest-monted) used for mine and fire rescues. The f/f mask I will no doubt ditch, but the rest is well engineered.

Do you mean like one of these? I teach firefighting for the Canadian Navy, We have about 100 such units at the fire school, actually a later model, the A4 but they are made by MSA under the brand name chemox. I can't see how the unit could be used underwater as the oxygen is produced chemically using pottasium superoxide and no loop volume increase occurs during this chemical reaction. The hoses are very flimsy and will probably collapse underwater with any kind of pressure. The breathing hoses are very small diameter and WOB might be rather high (even if the hoses didn't collapse)
If you do modify one please let me know as we are phasing them out and several thousand will soon be on the surplus market.

zepp · 2nd October 2005, 21:24

I know I would have to ditch the canister. I was thinking of making a more othordox scrubber, Use two 1.5 litre cylinders for dil and o2, and a basic o2 monitoring system. Will be more for fun than anything else.

12th September 2005, 17:24	#1 (permalink)
zepp "Dyson with Death" daddy Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other CCR Home Build Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: midlands Posts: 275	Anyone seen one of these B4? I have had this lying around for a while, and intend to convert it to a mixed gas CCR to use when travelling. It is basically an o3 unit (chest-monted) used for mine and fire rescues. The f/f mask I will no doubt ditch, but the rest is well engineered.
(Offline)

12th September 2005, 17:56	#2 (permalink)
GKAM digital nomad Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: May 2005 Location: Greece Posts: 252	Yeap. I have seen this during my time in the Greek Navy. These are OBAs (oxygen breathing apparatii) used for firefighting onboard ships - or at least that's what we had them for. Very old design with disposable canister in the center containing a mixture of potassium peroxide and superoxide. Trust me, you do not want to get this stuff wet! There are 2 chest CLs - one on eather side of the canister. You could try and toy with it to convert to a CCR but it would take a lot of fiddling. I doubt one could make something practically diveable, but it is always fun to try! GKAM
(Offline)

13th September 2005, 22:08	#3 (permalink)
Northern Monkey New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Ouroboros Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: England Posts: 25	Greetings Zepp, It looks like it might be Ex Mines Rescue rebreather, not too many around now (mines and rescue kit). Did you get it from that tight scrapman cum diver Hampton Try a shallow puddle first, not that deep one in North Wales . __________________ Death is not an option!
(Offline)

2nd October 2005, 21:24	#5 (permalink)
zepp "Dyson with Death" daddy Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other CCR Home Build Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: midlands Posts: 275	I know I would have to ditch the canister. I was thinking of making a more othordox scrubber, Use two 1.5 litre cylinders for dil and o2, and a basic o2 monitoring system. Will be more for fun than anything else.
(Offline)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode