DESCO AIR HAT 

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DESCO AIR HAT  

CAT. NO. 61000        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The DESCO Air Hat was designed in 1968, and has continually evolved to meet the requirements of the commercial diving industry. Major upgrades to the design of the Air Hat over the years were made so they could be retrofitted to older helmets thus increasing their service life. The design of the Air Hat maximizes safety, durability, and reliability, while requiring simple routine maintenance and care. 

 

The DESCO Air Hat  conforms to all current regulations of the ADC Consensus Standards, and U.S. Federal Regulations administered by OSHA and the U.S. Coast Guard. The Air Hat has been awarded certification by the European Community for use in EC member countries and carries the CE # stamped on the tail.

 

The DESCO Air Hat is a "free flow" helmet of contemporary design, using time proven techniques and materials in its construction, similar to the heavy gear helmets of the past. Brass castings are deep soldered to a 1/16" thick spun copper shell. The Air Hat is remarkable both for its ruggedness and its simplicity of design. It can be disassembled and reassembled using only a screwdriver and wrench. It can easily be donned or removed by the diver without assistance from the tender. Using the adjustable exhaust valve the Air Hat can be adjusted to either side of neutral buoyancy underwater with ease. With its low center of gravity and excellent fore and aft balance it rest comfortably on the divers head. The interior headliner is adjustable for size and the foam pads are covered in leather for comfort.

 

The DESCO Air Hat is the preferred helmet for working in hazardous environments where contamination of the diver is a concern. The "free flow" or “overpressure” design allows for a constant positive pressure to be maintained in the Air Hat. The standard double exhaust incorporates two separate successive seals to restrict the possibility of leak back. 

 

The DESCO Air Hat comes standard with a neck dam for sealing at the neck. Leading dry suit manufacturers offer a DESCO yoke to directly mate the helmet to the dress in place of the neck dam. Installation of the insert ring to the dry suit is quick and easy, and does not require tools. Sealing of the Air Hat at the neck is achieved with two independent but complementary seals which are air and watertight. The Air Hat is shipped with the neck ring insert, a size 15 neck dam (unless another size is requested at time of ordering), and a adjustable jock strap.

 

The DESCO Air Hat now comes equipped with a side communications cup with integrated binding posts. The new configuration moves the transceiver out of the airflow path and closer to the divers ear. The standard configuration is two wire communications through the binding posts. The Air hat can also be fitted to use 4 wire communications (assembly #61228)  from the factory or the customer can install it later in the port provided. 

 

                   

Standard two wire configuration                                   Optional four wire configuration

 

 

 

Also standard, is a double air inlet elbow equipped with two non return valves. The lower inlet is for the surface air supply line, while the upper Bail-out Non-Return is machined to accept a SCUBA whip. The upper inlet is supplied with a dust cap to protect the threads and prevent dirt entry while not in use. Threading on the non-return accepts a standard 9/16"-18 Oxygen fitting.

 

 

On top of the snout are two blocks for mounting of lights or video cameras. The air control valve handle has been redesigned to reduce the possibility of snagging. 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard Features of the DESCO Air Hat

Optional Features for the DESCO Air Hat 

 

 

Welding Shield 

for DESCO Air Hat 

Cat. No.61001

The welding shield is made of 3/32" sheet Brass. It comes with a 4 1/2" x  5 1/4" Shade 5 welding lens. The welding shield is attached to the Air Hat with two Stainless Steel screws which replace the two Brass top window screws. The welding shield is hinged with a continuous Brass Piano hinge which allows for flipping the shield up and out of the way when not needed. Shipping weight 1lb 6oz.

 

     

 

 

Air Hat Upgrades

DESCO makes every effort to keep the Air Hat current with industry standards and practices. Whenever possible changes are made which can be applied to older Air Hats bringing them up to current standards, effectively extending the service life. 

The DESCO Air Hat has evolved to meet the changing demands modern diving places upon it. Several upgrades are available for the Air Hat. These upgrades are done in our shop. Turn around time is dependent upon number of repairs/retrofits to the helmet and production schedule. Rush and emergency repairs and retrofits are possible. Shipping and handling in the price refers to shipping the helmet to DESCO and returning it to the customer. Additional costs may be required for disassembly/reassembly, preparation time, and any necessary repairs. A complete evaluation of the helmet will be done before any work commences.  We will make recommendations for additional work based on the evaluation and environment the helmet is used in. All work will be approved by the customer before started. 

The following upgrades must be factory installed as there is soldering involved. DESCO cannot warranty any of these upgrades done outside of our facility.

 

 

 

Double Exhaust Retrofit

Cat. No. 60231 

(specify retrofit)

The Double Exhaust Retrofit replaces the original square single exhaust valve with the round double exhaust valve. The double exhaust is highly recommended for any contaminated diving. The replacement requires the factory removal of the old square base and the installation of a new round base. 

 

 

 

 

 

Double Air Inlet Elbow Retrofit w/Non Return Valves

Cat. No. 60002 (specify retrofit)

The Double Air Intake Elbow allows for a Bail-out Bottle to be attached to the helmet. Both inlets come equipped with Non-Return Valves. The upper Bail-out Non-Return is machined to accept a SCUBA whip. The Bail-out Non-Return also is fitted with a cap to protect the threading when not in use. The replacement requires factory removal of the old elbow and installation of the new elbow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Video/Light Mounting Blocks

Cat. No. 61115

Two blocks are inset and soldered to the top of the snout. The bolt size is 3/8"-16. 

Requires factory installation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four Wire Communications Elbow Retrofit w/Pigtail

Cat. No. 61218

The Four Wire Communications Elbow Retrofit allows the use of a separate speaker and microphone inside the helmet. A low profile elbow is attached to the helmet behind the Binding Post Block and has a four wire Marsh Marine male plug installed. The plug is wired to the existing transceiver in a two wire configuration. Four wire operation can be achieved with a customer installed microphone. Retrofit requires factory installation.

 

 

 

 

 

Noise Canceling Speaker Assembly

Cat. No. 61224

The Noise Canceling Speaker Assembly consists of a round Commercial Helmet speaker cup soldered to the Air Hat shell in front of the binding post block. A self amplifying noise canceling speaker is mounted in the cup and can be wired in tandem with the standard speaker, in place of the standard speaker, or as part of a four wire system. Requires factory installation.

 

                                

 

Note:The new standard communications housing cannot be retrofitted to older Air Hats due to the location of the original Binding Post Block. By installing the Noise Canceling Speaker Assembly and the Four Wire Communications Elbow the same functionality can be achieved. 

 

The features described above, together with its reasonable cost make it the hat of choice for divers working at depths where the diver can be supplied with air. When used with a dry suit it provides the diver with maximum protection in contaminated water.

 

Need proof of the economy of using a DESCO Air Hat? Scott Diving looked at their maintenance costs over a 5 year period and compared the costs in this graph.

 

 

 

 

As you can see in the real world environment the DESCO Air Hat is by far the most cost effective low volume helmet you can use on the job.

 

 

Safety Notice

CAUTION - DIVING IN COLD WATER CONDITIONS.

Any air (pneumatic) system given the right combination of temperature and/or airflow has a propensity to freeze up. It is prudent therefore to check for moisture regularly and install a secondary in-line dryer system if necessary. If moisture freeze up problems persist contact your compressor dealer for recommendations to suit your particular needs.