The Scientific and Production Enterprise "Respirator" of "Technodinamika" Holding is one of the main developers and manufacturers of air-breathing equipment in the country. Both divers and professional plungers feel confidently at any depth with aqualungs made by "Respirator".
SPE "Respirator" was founded in 1932. It was there that the first domestic aqualung AVM-1 was developed; it was put into serial production in 1957. Today this aqualung is one of the exhibits of the museum of the enterprise. It has already been discontinued, but still continues to float: some divers still appreciate the reliability of this model.
Nowadays new aqualungs are being developed in the design office of the enterprise. One of the latest models is the air-breathing apparatus AVM-15. This aqualung is designed to provide breathing when performing underwater, technical, rescue and other types of diving in an autonomous and hose version at a depth of 60 meters.
Despite the fact that new technologies and materials are used in the latest generation models, the principles of the aqualung operation have not been changed. Today the main components of the breathing apparatus are still a balloon with air under high pressure and a two-stage reducer.
In the AVM-15 model two cylinders with a capacity of 7 liters are used. In addition to compressed air, an oxygen-enriched respiratory gas mixture is used here, which significantly increases the efficiency of diving operations. Both the air and the mixture in the balloons are under high pressure (about 200 atmospheres), so breathing directly from the balloon is impossible. To solve this problem, a special pressure reducing valve is joined to the balloon.
Thus, the design of the aqualung is very simple and, therefore, reliable. AVM-15, in addition to its simplicity and reliability, has some distinctive characteristics that have made it particularly popular. In particular, the device includes a patented "bubble" type alarm device, signaling the consumption of the main air supply. In addition, the device, when a second pulmonary machine is connected thereto, ensures breathing of two divers simultaneously.
AVM-15 is also equipped with an air path that meets all international standards. Unlike the previous devices (AVM-5, AVM-7), high and medium pressure ports are adapted to the European standard in this model. Now diving lovers can travel light, taking an air path along, and balloons can be rented.
The air path can also be used in sub-zero temperatures. The non-freezing AVM-15 was successfully tested in the Antarctic, and was used among the products for underwater diving in expeditions of the "13 Seas of Russia" project.
