How Long Has CCR Been In Use For?

[Craig]

I'm doing a short presentation at my diving club about my rebreather and as a piece of background info I'd like to say how long they have been in use for.

I've read the info before but I can't find it now.

I seem to remember its slightly longer than OC.

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks,

[Paddy Diver]

I no expert, if fact I know fu*k all about em...or anything for that fact but I seem to remember that armies & navies were using em in or around the first world war era, but this could be complete sh*te Im talking...


Ian

[Ivon]

Do you mean for scuba or when they were first used?

History of Scuba Diving - Jacques Cousteau

They were around before that used in industry in mines I believe.

[colinicky]

I haven't got mine but inside in the first pages is a " History of CCR" which I seem to remember is way back in previous centuries that an O2 rebreather was first used I think by an Italian & something about the 1800's when a Brit used one under the Severn river to close a valve or something .Anybody got the manual & could scan that page in & post it ? I would be interested to see it again myself .
HTH

[PW1664]

IIR Cornelius Drebble in 1620. He heated saltpetre to generate oxygen, although he didn't know it, the slatpetre also genrated potassium hydroxide which absorbed the CO2.... In affect he accidently designed the first rebreather.

Professor T. Schwann from Belgium designed a rebreather in 1853, he exhibited it in Paris in 1878.

The first known closed circuit breathing using stored oxygen and CO2 absorbant (caustic Soda), was invented by Henry Fluess in 1878 to rescue miners following a flooded mine shaft.

In 1900, the Davis Escape Set was designed. This was the first production model on the market

Various industrial rebreathers have been designed including Siebe Gorman Salvus and Proto, Dreager etc in the early 1900's...

Then you're moving into our modern rebreather like the Frogman Unit designed during WW2... the rest you probably know....

[Craig]

Thanks for all the responses, they should give me enough info to finish off the presentation.

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by Craig

Thanks for all the responses, they should give me enough info to finish off the presentation.

Long before this new fangled French OC idea.