Another new Gizmo, Valve Flusher

[cool_hardware52]

I shore dive in So Cal. That means sand in places it was never intended to be.

I have always made a practice of flushing, or trying to flush fresh water through my power inflator "add" valve and through my drysuit inflate valve.

Usually I just hold the end of the garden hose over the nipple and hope some of the flow actually goes through the valve. This sort of works.

Then I got the idea of taking an old LP hose and via the magic of thread cutting lathes, connect a female garden hose adapter on the "regulator" end of the hose.

Bingo! Very handy. Just click on the nipple of either the power inflator or Drysuit inflator and push nice, clean, salt free water through these potentially finicky valves.

Others might want these I thought, but the cost of a LP hose assembly + special 3/8 x 24 to 1/2 npt adapter + garden hose adapter would make it about $40. Bummer.

What was needed was a device that would accept a male garden hose on one end and fit onto to an inflator QD nipple on the other.

Here it is.

http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/82036/limit/recent

http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/82037/limit/recent

http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/82035/limit/recent

This part is molded out of a fairly stiff durometer elastomer. It has threads in the big hex end to screw onto a garden hose.

On the other end just pushes onto the nipple. There is a "oring" like feature in this end of the hose that engages the groove in the inflator nipple. This "snap fit" makes the Valve Flusher self retaining up to about 100 psi water pressure.

The small ball shut off valve makes the flusher easy to use, and provides a secure attachment to the garden hose. Many garden hose ends are imperfect (beat up) and the shut off valve has a replaceable washer.

I don't yet have final pricing, but I hope to offer the shutoff valve and Valve flusher for about $12.

Tobin

 

[Thalassamania]

Very cool.

 

[TSandM]

Could have used one today . . . Let us know when they're available. I have dibs on one of the first ones.

 

[ronbeau]

I shore dive in So Cal. That means sand in places it was never intended to be.

I have always made a practice of flushing, or trying to flush fresh water through my power inflator "add" valve and through my drysuit inflate valve.

Usually I just hold the end of the garden hose over the nipple and hope some of the flow actually goes through the valve. This sort of works.

Then I got the idea of taking an old LP hose and via the magic of thread cutting lathes, connect a female garden hose adapter on the "regulator" end of the hose.

Bingo! Very handy. Just click on the nipple of either the power inflator or Drysuit inflator and push nice, clean, salt free water through these potentially finicky valves.

Others might want these I thought, but the cost of a LP hose assembly + special 3/8 x 24 to 1/2 npt adapter + garden hose adapter would make it about $40. Bummer.

What was needed was a device that would accept a male garden hose on one end and fit onto to an inflator QD nipple on the other.

Here it is.

http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/82036/limit/recent

http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/82037/limit/recent

http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/82035/limit/recent

This part is molded out of a fairly stiff durometer elastomer. It has threads in the big hex end to screw onto a garden hose.

On the other end just pushes onto the nipple. There is a "oring" like feature in this end of the hose that engages the groove in the inflator nipple. This "snap fit" makes the Valve Flusher self retaining up to about 100 psi water pressure.

The small ball shut off valve makes the flusher easy to use, and provides a secure attachment to the garden hose. Many garden hose ends are imperfect (beat up) and the shut off valve has a replaceable washer.

I don't yet have final pricing, but I hope to offer the shutoff valve and Valve flusher for about $12.

Tobin

Let me know when they are available I will show them to my LDS who might be interested in ordering them from you.

 

[NorthWoodsDiver]

I could use them too, but however I use the Air 2 and would need a different connection (sorry). if you made them in a style that worked with my inflator I would get at least 1 and push the idea on my fellow divers.

 

[robertarak]

OK, just let me know when I can pick mine up!
Tobin, you never cease to amaze! What else do I need that I don't know I need yet?

 

[cool_hardware52]

I could use them too, but however I use the Air 2 and would need a different connection (sorry). if you made them in a style that worked with my inflator I would get at least 1 and push the idea on my fellow divers.

No plans for an AIRII et al compatible model. I don't want to be seen as an enabler.........

Tobin

 

[mwhities]

Tobin,

I want one too. I showed off the valve tool at a dive spot today. Everyone had to try it out. I pointed them to your site, hopefully you will sell some.

Michael

 

[cool_hardware52]

Tobin,

I want one too. I showed off the valve tool at a dive spot today. Everyone had to try it out. I pointed them to your site, hopefully you will sell some.

Michael

Thanks Michael.

Tobin

 

[dpbishop]

Now can you design something so that I can rinse out the inside of my BC without getting soaked?