The NEWTSUIT by R. T. "Phil" Nuytten.
Phil Nuytten poses with his NEWTSUIT.
Jacques Cousteau with a Newtsuit.
Phil Nuytten has been instrumental in the development and current acceptance of Atmospheric Diving System technology. In 1977, he began work on a revolutionary new one-atmosphere diving suit that resulted in a patented break-through in rotary joint design, and formed the basis for the world-famous NEWTSUIT. The NEWTSUIT is a thousand foot-rated hard suit that completely protects the wearer from outside pressure and eliminates the need for decompression while still maintaining mobility and dexterity – a “submarine that you wear”. It is now standard equipment in many of the world’s navies.
In 1974, prior to inventing the Newtsuit, Phil Nuytten bought all rights and patents to the Litton suit (Harris, 1985).
NEWTSUIT/HARDSUIT – 1985 (Canada)
Phil Nuytten developed the NEWTSUIT, after leaving Oceaneering in the 1980's, based on a rotary joint he patented in 1984. The NEWTSUIT, built by Hardsuits International at present a subsidiary of Stolt Offshore, and now called the HARDSUIT, is a truly anthropomorphic suit with articulated arms and legs and just enough room for the operator to pull his arms back into the body of the suit to operate interior controls. The suit is capable of a wide range of motion enabling it to enter some spaces previously accessible only to divers. The original NEWTSUIT, as seen in Figure 21, is now on display at the Vancouver Maritime Museum, B.C.
There are currently three versions of the HARDSUIT available: the original cast aluminum 1000 foot version (HARDSUIT 1000) of which 17 are in service; six versions rated to 1200 feet (HARDSUIT 1200); and a forged aluminum 2000 foot version (HARDSUIT 2000) recently delivered to the U.S. Navy for its submarine rescue program. Additionally, due to the differences in commercial certification and U.S. Navy certification criteria, a commercial version of the HARDSUIT 2000, to be designated the HARDSUIT 2500, will be available to the industry and certified to a depth of 2500 feet.
Source: A SURVEY AND ENGINEERING DESIGN OF ATMOSPHERIC DIVING SUITS – A REPORT by MICHAEL ALBERT THORNTON
Patents:
Rotary joint
Publication number US4549753 A
Publication type Grant
Application number US 06/424,339
Publication date Oct 29, 1985
Filing date Sep 27, 1982
Priority date Sep 27, 1982
Fee status Lapsed
Inventors Rene T. Nuytten
Original Assignee Can-Dive Services Ltd.
Abstract
A rotary joint is provided which is particularly useful in deep-sea diving suits, and which can be constructed in such a way such that resistance to rotational movement or the potential for leakage, does not increase substantially with external pressure on the joint. Preferably, the joint has a sealing member, a retaining member, and a central member disposed axially between the sealing and retaining members. The central member has an annular first end dimensioned and axially slidably mounted on a retaining end of the retaining member so as to define a first variable volume chamber there between. The central member also has a second end with inner and outer extending annular bearing members, each concentric with, and normally rotatably abutting a corresponding sealing surface portion on the sealing member, so as to define annular side walls of a second chamber. The second chamber is interconnected with the first chamber.
Pressure equalizing rotary joint
Publication number US4903941 A
Publication type Grant
Application number US 07/239,117
Publication date Feb 27, 1990
Filing date Aug 30, 1988
Priority date Sep 4, 1987
Fee status Paid
Also published as CA1296032C, DE3869021D1, EP0305989A1, EP0305989B1
Inventors Rene T. Nuytten
Original Assignee International Hard Suits, Inc.
Abstract
This invention pertains to a novel rotary joint which seeks to equalize exterior-interior pressure. This rotary joint is useful in permitting free rotary motion between two components connected by the joint in conditions where unequal pressures exist at the interior and exterior of the joint. It includes a rotary joint comprising: (a) first annular member means adapted to be connected to the end of a first tube-like object; (b) second annular member means adapted to be connected to the end of a second tube-like object; (c) intermediate member means adapted to be positioned between the first annular member means and the second annular member means and being capable of moving independently of the first and second annular member means, said intermediate member means defining a first chamber between said intermediate member and the first annular member and a second chamber between said intermediate member and said second annular member; (d) first sealing means associated with the first annular member means and the intermediate member means and adapted to seal the first chamber from the interior and exterior of the joint; (e) second sealing means associated with the second annular member means and the intermediate member means and adapted to seal the second chamber from the interior and exterior of the joint; and, (f) resilient valve means adapted to enable pressure in the first chamber and pressure in the second chamber to seek to equalize when the respective pressures are unequal.
See other early Underwater Robots here.