Mk 15.X case for normal cylinders???

S. Marc · 14th March 2009, 19:33

A while back there was a posting by someone in Australia who was planning to make some modified MK15.x cases (I think his name was Bruce???). I can't find the thread on RBW.

Any news on that project?

I tried my hand at making a modified BMR 500 case from scratch from carbon fibre to use normal cylinders down the sides (just made the lower part that sits against your back), and as a first attempt it doesn't look bad, but it is awefully wide when I stand the cylinders up next to it. It is not 100 %complete but almost.

Anyone planning on making a mk 15.x case similar to the Boris that tucks the cylinders in a bit to reduce width? I think this is beyond my abilities.

Marc

Dave Sutton · 15th March 2009, 01:53

I sent him a blank shell as a mold blank and before it was realized he ended up in a nasty divorce and the project went ?. He made contact a little less than a year ago and said he was sending back a prototype shell but no-dice so far.

BUT: He was going to make them for spheres. The changes were for additional height with a contour to strap a small bottle to the bottom.

This is still a VERY viable idea, a shell for use with standard bottles. Someone ought to run with it.

Dave

.

DanFountain · 17th March 2009, 16:38

Here's what I have in mind, using 5.25 x 10 inch 14 cf airpack bottles:

I've found these bottles with .625-18, .750-16, and .875-14 threads, but not in 3/4 NPT, so valves would have to re-threaded to fit them. T-valves without balls / posts would be the most compact, needing only about 2 or 3 inches extension on the bottom of the case. The old "Genesis" high pressure DIN valves will fit, but they're rather tall and offset toward the front of the cylinder.

One thing about this setup is that there isn't room for the manual diluent and oxygen addition valves in their usual positions.

I'm thinking about pulling a mold off this old CCR-1000 case and working from there to come up with an extended case - the CCR-1000 itself I think is old enough and original enough to be a collectors item and doesn't deserve to be cut up.

McKenney · 18th March 2009, 02:18

Great idea!

I've found these bottles with .625-18, .750-16, and .875-14 threads, but not in 3/4 NPT, so valves would have to re-threaded to fit them. T-valves without balls / posts would be the most compact, needing only about 2 or 3 inches extension on the bottom of the case. The old "Genesis" high pressure DIN valves will fit, but they're rather tall and offset toward the front of the cylinder.

One thing about this setup is that there isn't room for the manual diluent and oxygen addition valves in their usual positions.

I'm thinking about pulling a mold off this old CCR-1000 case and working from there to come up with an extended case - the CCR-1000 itself I think is old enough and original enough to be a collectors item and doesn't deserve to be cut up.[/quote]

**Chris at Silent World** · 18th March 2009, 02:37

I thought the whole point of owning a mk15 was to have those extremely cool spheres? :)

Dave Sutton · 18th March 2009, 12:48

Quote: (Originally Posted by DanFountain)

Here's what I have in mind, using 5.25 x 10 inch 14 cf airpack bottles:

I'd do it differently: I'd lay the bottles horizontally, one valve sticking out of each side of the case. Size it for the standard alum 13's. I'd laid a mockup out a few years ago and it all seemed to fit. Try it.

Dave

.

DanFountain · 18th March 2009, 13:55

Quote: (Originally Posted by Dave Sutton)

I'd do it differently: I'd lay the bottles horizontally, one valve sticking out of each side of the case. Size it for the standard alum 13's. I'd laid a mockup out a few years ago and it all seemed to fit. Try it.

Dave

.

The reason I don't plan on doing it that way is that it's damned hard to reach the upper tank valve (diluent on the BMR500 and my BP240 conversion). Would like to be able to easily turn off either bottle.

I'll drop a 13 into the case and take a picture tonight - I suspect it will be a little long with valve installed, judging from my experience with the BP240 case.

-Dan

Skipbreather · 19th March 2009, 03:22

Quote: (Originally Posted by DanFountain)

I'll drop a 13 into the case and take a picture tonight - I suspect it will be a little long with valve installed, judging from my experience with the BP240 case.

-Dan

Been there, done that, your suspicions are correct. Several years ago I laid up a Kevlar- carbon fiber base plate for a friend to use 13's and it was WAY long. ;)

A tall guy could use it, but just didn't look natural.

S. Marc · 19th March 2009, 05:25

The way the Boris case is made with the tanks partially tucked in and under the sides of the lower half of the chassis looks like a great solution, but it also appears to be quite complicated to do.

I have tried to figure out how to do this on paper without increasing the distance between the divers back and the case, and without interfering with the function of the counterlung, but this kind of 3 D modelling is beyond me.

Anyone with experience in fibreglass or carbon fibre prototyping that wants to try this? Ken???

Maybe some MK 15.x divers could chip in to cover costs - I would be willing to donate a bit of cash to the cause.

Dave, could you be bribed into lending a center section? Dave????

Marc

Dave Sutton · 19th March 2009, 13:34

Quote: (Originally Posted by S. Marc)

Dave, could you be bribed into lending a center section? Dave????

Uhh..... I have a stripped center section that is from a prototype CCR-1000, it's not exactly the same as a Mark-15 one but it's close enough to mock up from. I've also got all of the guts (pneumatics, dead pods, etc) needed to mock up a chassis. The *chassis* for the rig was sent to a guy who was going to make new shells... and it was the last I ever saw of that shell. The center section is stashed with a load of crap down in my airplane hangar, and I need to go there anyhow soon, so let me drag it out and see what it looks like.

Dave

.

14th March 2009, 19:33	#1 (permalink)
S. Marc RBW Member Classic Kiss # 13 and BMR500 Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 479	Mk 15.X case for normal cylinders??? A while back there was a posting by someone in Australia who was planning to make some modified MK15.x cases (I think his name was Bruce???). I can't find the thread on RBW. Any news on that project? I tried my hand at making a modified BMR 500 case from scratch from carbon fibre to use normal cylinders down the sides (just made the lower part that sits against your back), and as a first attempt it doesn't look bad, but it is awefully wide when I stand the cylinders up next to it. It is not 100 %complete but almost. Anyone planning on making a mk 15.x case similar to the Boris that tucks the cylinders in a bit to reduce width? I think this is beyond my abilities. Marc
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15th March 2009, 01:53	#2 (permalink)
Dave Sutton Temporary Read only mode for site infractions rEvo, Mk-15, CIS-5P, KISS, UT-240, Meg, Apoc, LAR, IDA-71 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Narragansett, RI and Union Beach, NJ Posts: 3,998	Re: Mk 15.X case for normal cylinders??? I sent him a blank shell as a mold blank and before it was realized he ended up in a nasty divorce and the project went ?. He made contact a little less than a year ago and said he was sending back a prototype shell but no-dice so far. BUT: He was going to make them for spheres. The changes were for additional height with a contour to strap a small bottle to the bottom. This is still a VERY viable idea, a shell for use with standard bottles. Someone ought to run with it. Dave .
(Offline)

17th March 2009, 16:38	#3 (permalink)
DanFountain Analog Luddite BP240 conversion Homebuilts Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Lake Superior Posts: 198	Re: Mk 15.X case for normal cylinders??? Here's what I have in mind, using 5.25 x 10 inch 14 cf airpack bottles: I've found these bottles with .625-18, .750-16, and .875-14 threads, but not in 3/4 NPT, so valves would have to re-threaded to fit them. T-valves without balls / posts would be the most compact, needing only about 2 or 3 inches extension on the bottom of the case. The old "Genesis" high pressure DIN valves will fit, but they're rather tall and offset toward the front of the cylinder. One thing about this setup is that there isn't room for the manual diluent and oxygen addition valves in their usual positions. I'm thinking about pulling a mold off this old CCR-1000 case and working from there to come up with an extended case - the CCR-1000 itself I think is old enough and original enough to be a collectors item and doesn't deserve to be cut up.
(Offline)

18th March 2009, 02:18	#4 (permalink)
McKenney RBW Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: California Posts: 14	Re: Mk 15.X case for normal cylinders??? Great idea! I've found these bottles with .625-18, .750-16, and .875-14 threads, but not in 3/4 NPT, so valves would have to re-threaded to fit them. T-valves without balls / posts would be the most compact, needing only about 2 or 3 inches extension on the bottom of the case. The old "Genesis" high pressure DIN valves will fit, but they're rather tall and offset toward the front of the cylinder. One thing about this setup is that there isn't room for the manual diluent and oxygen addition valves in their usual positions. I'm thinking about pulling a mold off this old CCR-1000 case and working from there to come up with an extended case - the CCR-1000 itself I think is old enough and original enough to be a collectors item and doesn't deserve to be cut up.[/quote]
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18th March 2009, 02:37	#5 (permalink)
Chris at Silent World Supporting Member rEvo & MkIV Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Key Largo Posts: 471	Re: Mk 15.X case for normal cylinders??? I thought the whole point of owning a mk15 was to have those extremely cool spheres? :) __________________ Chris Brown Silent World Dive Center The Deco Stop http://www.wreckfest.org
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18th March 2009, 12:48	#6 (permalink)
Dave Sutton Temporary Read only mode for site infractions rEvo, Mk-15, CIS-5P, KISS, UT-240, Meg, Apoc, LAR, IDA-71 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Narragansett, RI and Union Beach, NJ Posts: 3,998	Re: Mk 15.X case for normal cylinders??? Quote: (Originally Posted by DanFountain) Here's what I have in mind, using 5.25 x 10 inch 14 cf airpack bottles: I'd do it differently: I'd lay the bottles horizontally, one valve sticking out of each side of the case. Size it for the standard alum 13's. I'd laid a mockup out a few years ago and it all seemed to fit. Try it. Dave .
(Offline)

18th March 2009, 13:55	#7 (permalink)
DanFountain Analog Luddite BP240 conversion Homebuilts Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Lake Superior Posts: 198	Re: Mk 15.X case for normal cylinders??? Quote: (Originally Posted by Dave Sutton) I'd do it differently: I'd lay the bottles horizontally, one valve sticking out of each side of the case. Size it for the standard alum 13's. I'd laid a mockup out a few years ago and it all seemed to fit. Try it. Dave . The reason I don't plan on doing it that way is that it's damned hard to reach the upper tank valve (diluent on the BMR500 and my BP240 conversion). Would like to be able to easily turn off either bottle. I'll drop a 13 into the case and take a picture tonight - I suspect it will be a little long with valve installed, judging from my experience with the BP240 case. -Dan
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19th March 2009, 03:22	#8 (permalink)
Skipbreather Reads fine print (mostly) MEGALODON Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA Posts: 886	Re: Mk 15.X case for normal cylinders??? Quote: (Originally Posted by DanFountain) I'll drop a 13 into the case and take a picture tonight - I suspect it will be a little long with valve installed, judging from my experience with the BP240 case. -Dan Been there, done that, your suspicions are correct. Several years ago I laid up a Kevlar- carbon fiber base plate for a friend to use 13's and it was WAY long. ;) A tall guy could use it, but just didn't look natural.
(Offline)

19th March 2009, 05:25	#9 (permalink)
S. Marc RBW Member Classic Kiss # 13 and BMR500 Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 479	Re: Mk 15.X case for normal cylinders??? The way the Boris case is made with the tanks partially tucked in and under the sides of the lower half of the chassis looks like a great solution, but it also appears to be quite complicated to do. I have tried to figure out how to do this on paper without increasing the distance between the divers back and the case, and without interfering with the function of the counterlung, but this kind of 3 D modelling is beyond me. Anyone with experience in fibreglass or carbon fibre prototyping that wants to try this? Ken??? Maybe some MK 15.x divers could chip in to cover costs - I would be willing to donate a bit of cash to the cause. Dave, could you be bribed into lending a center section? Dave???? Marc
(Offline)

19th March 2009, 13:34	#10 (permalink)
Dave Sutton Temporary Read only mode for site infractions rEvo, Mk-15, CIS-5P, KISS, UT-240, Meg, Apoc, LAR, IDA-71 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Narragansett, RI and Union Beach, NJ Posts: 3,998	Re: Mk 15.X case for normal cylinders??? Quote: (Originally Posted by S. Marc) Dave, could you be bribed into lending a center section? Dave???? Uhh..... I have a stripped center section that is from a prototype CCR-1000, it's not exactly the same as a Mark-15 one but it's close enough to mock up from. I've also got all of the guts (pneumatics, dead pods, etc) needed to mock up a chassis. The chassis for the rig was sent to a guy who was going to make new shells... and it was the last I ever saw of that shell. The center section is stashed with a load of crap down in my airplane hangar, and I need to go there anyhow soon, so let me drag it out and see what it looks like. Dave .
(Offline)

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