TM 5-4220-227-14
Section II. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION AND DATA
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Equipment Characteristics, Capabilities and Features ...................................................
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Location and Description of Major Components.............................................................
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Equipment Data ............................................................................................................
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Safety, Care and Handling ............................................................................................
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1-7. Equipment Characteristics, Capabilities, and Features. The RC-100-2, 3-Person Recompression Chamber is a
completely self-contained recompression facility used to provide a maximum pressure of 100 psig, which is equivalent to
the pressure attained at sea water depth of 225 feet. The chamber is mounted on a skid base and has inner and outer
lifting eyes for moving the chamber. An electrical control panel, air flow control console, 02 oxygen supply and
heater/chiller module, allows operators to monitor and supply/exhaust air to the chamber and provide heating/cooling
fluids to a heater/chiller unit inside chamber to heat or cool the chamber interior.
a. The recompression chamber (figure 1-1) is an aluminum pressure vessel with two (2) compartments; a main
inner lock and an (entry chamber) outer lock. Each lock contains air pressure adjusting valves, caisson pressure gauges,
a three outlet and dump oxygen manifold, a primary and secondary communication system. The unit is equipped with
one (1) safety relief valve, set to keep internal pressure from exceeding 105 PSIG. The recompression chamber is
equipped with air supply and air vent valves for admitting or exhausting air from the chamber. Six (6) view ports, four (4)
on inner lock and two (2) on the outer lock. Pressure gauges (caisson type), are supplied inside both locks. Three (3)
pressure gauges are supplied on the outside instrumentation panel, two are piped to the inner lock and one to the outer
lock. These gauges are calibrated for 100 PSIG and 225 feet of sea water (FSW) and are red lined at 165 FSW. The
chamber is also equipped with a medical lock provisioning port, 12 in inside diameter x 18 in. long. This medical lock
port enables those inside the chamber to be supplied with food, medication, and other essentials during recompression.
b. The inner lock contains a fire retardant fold up bunk on one side and an attendant bench on the opposite side,
and a shelf above the inner door of the medical lock.
c. The chamber is equipped with hyperbaric lighting system, controlled from the outside electrical panel. Two
(2) lights are provided in the inner lock and one (1) in the outer lock. Each light consists of a light pipe and adapter which
penetrates the chamber wall and transmits light to the interior, a light source which slips over the light pipe and contains
the bulb, heat absorbing lens in a heat dissipating enclosure, which is wired to the lighting control panel. The control
panel contains all the power supply equipment and on-off switches.
d. All electricity operated equipment on the chamber is supplied with power by plugging in an external source of
110V, 60 Hertz power cable in the bottom of the exterior power panel.
e. The chamber is equipped with two (2) communications system. The primary communication system is an
"AMCON" intercom system. This system is wired to internal speakers located in inner and outer locks. These speakers
act as loud speakers and microphones to complete the communications. The inner lock speaker is provided with a plug
in jack and is also supplied with a communication headset and microphone. The secondary communication system
consists of three (3) sound powered, hand held telephones, one (1) each in each lock and one (1) at the outside control
station.
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