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From: Deep Diving and
Submarine operations:
To the late H.A. Fleuss in
association with Siebe, Gorman and Co, therefore, belongs the credit for
being the first design (in 1878) the first really practicable
selfcontaining breathing apparatus, embodying air regeneration devices,
for work underwater or in poisonous atmosphere. R.H. Davis, who entered
Siebe, Gorman and Co’s service in January, 1882, worked fors ome years
in collaboration with Fleuss until the latter’s retirement. Notable
early operations in wich the self-contained diving-dress at the flooded
Severn Tunnel in 1882. The story of how the tunnel was saved by Siebe,
Gorman and Co’s diver, Alexander Lambert is written elsewhere on this
web. For some years prior to 1902 interest in apparatus of this type had
waned; there was practically no demand for it, and during that period
little research was carried out. Davis, however, having faith in its
possibilities, resuscitated it, and invited Fleuss, who had in the
meantime given up work in this field, to collaborate with him in
improving and developing it, with the result that, for some years before
the outbreak of war, Siebe, Gorman and Co. Ltd possessed the only
British apparatus of the kind – thoroughly reliable, efficient and
well-tried apparatus- the PROTO and SALVUS wich were adopted by the
British, American and other of the Allied armies for mining, tunnelling
and other military operations in poisonous air, and wich did much work
of vital importance. Similary, R.H. Davis designed oxygen breathing
apparatus for airmen flying at great altitudes. This also was adopted by
the Air Ministry.
Thus, Siebe, Gorman and Co. Ltd. Were responsible for producing the
whole of the self-contained breathing apparatus for the Brittish and
other armies mentioned, diving apparatus for the British Navy and Army,
and oxygen breathing apparatus for the Royal Air Force, besides a
variety of special work for all the services.
Fleuss first apparatus made by
Siebe, Gorman and Co. Ltd in 1878 consisted mainly of a mask of rubber
proofed fabric covering the whole face; a breathing bag and a copper
cylinder, charged with oxygen compressed to 30 atmospheres, both carried
on the back behind the breathing bag. Later the breathing bag was
arranged in front of the wearer. The oxygen cylinder and CO2 absorbent
chamber remaining on the back. |
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