Desco 61000, Manual

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Equipment Usable with the Air Hat:
When attachment to a dry suit is not desired, the Air Hat can be used with the special DESCO neck dam, which
provides a seal at the diver’s neck. The Air Hat can also be mated to a conventional commercial collar dress by
means of the DESCO Neoprene Breastplate. This attaches to the dress in the same manner as a copper
commercial breastplate but incorporates a stretchable cylindrical collar, which is attached to the neck ring insert
so as to make a seal with the Air Hat. Similar use can be made of any dry suit, which comes equipped with such
a collar.
Assembly of Neck Dam or Dry Suit Collar to Air Hat:
To attach the DESCO neck dam to the Air Hat hold the brass neck ring insert with its smaller diameter up.
Bring the neck dam up through this ring with the taped edge outside and the nylon inside. Fold the top edge of
the neck dam at the point nearest your body out over the top of the insert ring so that the taped edge fits into the
channel. Holding this point against your body do the same with the opposite side of the neck dam. Then using
your free hand fold the rest of the top edge of the neck dam outward and over the channel. The large O-ring is
then placed in the insert ring channel on top of the neck dam material. If because of the thinness of this material
the O-ring fits too loosely one or more rubber shims can be placed in the channel on top or below the neck dam
material, beneath the O-ring. When properly fitted the O-ring should rest firmly against the neck dam material
without being stretched.
The collar of the Neoprene Breastplate or dry suit can be assembled to the neck ring insert in the same fashion,
except that with the thinner collar material it will nearly always be necessary to use one or more rubber shims in
order to properly fit the O-ring. To insure a completely watertight seal care must be taken to see that the large
O-ring is correctly fitted so its outer circumference contacts completely around the inside surface of the Air Hat
neck ring when it is clamped in place.
Both the large O-ring and the mating sealing surface in the Air Hat have been given a light coat of lubricant at
the factory. It will be found that keeping these parts clean and lubricated will ease installing the neck ring insert
assembly into the Air Hat, and will prolong the life of the O-ring. Use a lubricant suitable for rubber O-rings
(petroleum free).
To Remove or Replace the Flat Neck Ring Gasket:
This gasket, as supplied with the Air Hat, is attached to the neck ring using a pressure sensitive, wet-back,
adhesive, or “Glop”. It can be removed by peeling the gasket gently off the neck ring surface. A new gasket is
installed using the same type of adhesive. Care should be taken to see that the gasket’s outer edge is in contact
with and adhered to the wall of the neck ring at all points, otherwise the gaskets effectiveness as a seal is
reduced.
General Maintenance:
The basic materials and construction of the DESCO Air Hat shell are the same as those used in conventional
diving gear, and it should generally be cared for in the same manner. If used in salt water it should be washed
off with fresh water after use, and dried with a clean cloth. The Air Hat shell has a coating of tin-plating on the
copper and brass. After considerable use, and if desired, the Air Hat can be disassembled and the shell can be
retinned. Painted Air Hats are coated with DuPont Imron Polyurethane Enamel Paint. This is a high durability
Automotive and Boat coating. This finish should be treated in the same manner as a cars finish. The window is
Acrylic and care should be taken to prevent scratching the surface. Clean the window with standard glass
cleaner and a soft clean cloth. To remove very fine scratches and some stains use a specially formulated plastic
cleaner like Novus Plastic Polish No.2. This polish will also work on fine abrasions in the paint on the shell.
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