Diver Check Gas Flow Systems; Communications Check; Diver Ready; Water Entry And Descent - Kirby Morgan KMB-18 A/B Operation And Maintenance Manual

KMB 18 & 28 MANUAL
Fig. 2.18 The umbilical must always be attached to the
diver's harness with some type of clip to prevent a direct
pull on the diver's mask.

2.3.6 Diver Check Gas Flow Systems

The diver must check out the breathing system
himself as the tender finishes dressing him. Oper-
ate the defogger valve, the auxiliary valve, the
demand regulator, and the purge button to assure
yourself of proper operation before entering the
water.

2.3.7 Communications Check

The communications system, sending and re-
ceiving, must be checked again at this point.

2.3.8 DIVER READY

The diver is now ready to enter the water. He must
be assisted to the water if needed. If a welding
lens is being used, make sure it is hinged up all the
way if the diver is making a jump entry to avoid
any damage to the mask. A quick overall inspec-
tion by the tender is done and the diver is given the
O.K.
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© Copyright 1970-2003 Kirby Morgan Dive Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Document # 010518001

2.3.9 Water Entry and Descent

The tender must make sure there is a sufficient
length of umbilical clear if the diver is using a
jump entry. There must be no chance of the um-
bilical hanging up when the diver jumps. Also,
the defogger valve should be turned on to over-
pressure the helmet to prevent the possibility of
water pressure from inverting the helmet exhaust
valve when hitting the water.
The diver must report to the surface immediately
after the entry. It is a good policy to descend 10 or
20 FSW (3-6 MSW), pause and check the regula-
tor adjustment knob to ensure adjustment for the
least breathing resistance. (The purpose of this
adjustment knob is to allow the diver the ability
to compensate for variations in umbilical supply
pressure. This adjustment device operates by
simply increasing or decreasing the amount of
spring bias tension on the demand regulator
inlet valve. The intent of this bias adjustment
device is strictly to allow the diver to make
adjustments for variations in umbilical supply
pressure. This adjustment device is not intended
as a minimum-maximum device. Minimum and
maximum applies to supply pressure only. The
adjustment knob should be adjusted by the diver
to be at the easiest breathing setting at all times.
Diving a KMDSI helmet or band mask with a
bias setting greater than that just necessary to
keep the demand valve from free flowing in-
creases the work of breathing and reduces the
diver's ability to perform heavy work.)
Then the diver checks in with the surface before
descending to the job. If a closed bell is being
used, the diver enters the water from the bell and
pauses for a short time outside the trunk until he
is sure all systems are operating properly.
During the decent the communications must be
checked again and the diver supply pressure
should be adjusted as necessary to maintain the
required over-bottom pressure. It may be neces-
sary for the diver to readjust the demand regulator
by means of the adjustment knob (47) once at the
work site to compensate for the variation in
umbilical supply pressure.