The Spider 'Atmospheric' Diving Suit was produced in the 1970s for exploration and maintenance work in the North Sea. The Spider had a depth rating of 2000 feet and was used in many deep operations mainly from drilling rigs. It had an eclectically insulated GRP body and a Plexiglas hemispherical dome. The diver could operate articulated arms with powered claws capable of various tasks. Six variable direction motors and thrusters provide propulsion . For static operations there are suction pads for gripping smooth surfaces.
Atmospheric Diving Suits
normally work in pairs for safety reasons to help release the trapped
vehicle should this occur. This also enables round the clock operations.
The Spider was easily moveable and could be deployed very quickly. Apart
from work in the Petrochemical industry it could be used for salvage and
rescue work. The diver in the vehicle breathes normal air so could work for
long periods sometimes eight hours a day without costly saturation diving
systems. It was used until 1982 when it was replaced by the Draeger-Newt
suit suit , designed by Dr Phil Nuytten from Canada.
| Technical specification: | |
| Height: | 2,2 Metres |
| Width: | 1.5 Metres |
| Displacement: | 1200kgs |
| Depth rating: | 610 Metres |
| Propulsion: | 6 x 1 hp motors |
| Umbilical: | 12 Tonne breaking strain |
| TV System: | Low light/colour /real time recording |
| Emergency power: | 24 V 8 Ah for emergency communications |
The Spider was completely
self contained with power packs and oxygen supply on board giving up to 72
hours of emergency life support systems.
Interior view
showing the divers seat and some of the controls. A view of the divers depth
gauges etc.
Scrubber units can be seen in the base of the vehicle and the auto pilot can
be seen near the diver's head position.