In essence, a double hose regulator that displays the classic lines of a vintage model with the performance of a 21stcentury design.”

Reference

• www.vintagedoublehose.com

Cerakote is a ceramic based finish that can be applied to metals, plastics, polymers and wood. The unique formulation used for Cerakote ceramic coating enhances a number of physical performance properties including abrasion/wear resistance, corrosion resistance, chemical resistance, impact strenght, and hardness. Each of these properties is rigorously tested to guarantee that Cerakote products remain at the forefront of the ceramic coating market.

Cerakote ceramic coatings utilize state-of-the-art technology to out-perfom any competitive coating in both laboratory settings and real world apllications.

http://www.cerakoteguncoatings.com/resource/faq/

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Cerakote is a ceramic based finish that can be applied to metals, plastics, polymers and wood. The unique formulation used for Cerakote ceramic coating enhances a number of physical performance properties including abrasion/wear resistance, corrosion resistance, chemical resistance, impact strenght, and hardness.

Each of these properties is rigorously tested to guarantee that Cerakote products remain at the forefront of the ceramic coating market. Cerakote ceramic coatings utilize state-of-the-art technology to out-perfom any competitive coating in both laboratory settings and real world apllications.

http://www.cerakoteguncoatings.com/resource/faq/

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In 2012 it was time to take all the good ideas about the then unnamed regulator and actually build a few. In the summer of 2012 , Bryan and Luis made plans to try and have several prototypes ready for their November Cozumel trip. The first four prototypes were bought by Bryan, Rob Studnicka (www.thescubamuseum.com), Jim Louvau, and Luis. For the first four prototypes they just used vintage metal cans, but they knew that the first step was to test the main body.

They just needed to test the new integrated design.

With some adjustments they were able to salvage the first four prototypes and they dove them in Cozumel. They took some of them to 155 feet.

The first four machined prototypes came in with lots of machining errors (and one drawing error). With help from Herman Mowrey (www.scubatools.com) they were able to correct most of the machining error.

After that a second prototype serie of seven regulators was produced in june of 2013 from a different machine shop than the previous years. CG-45.com Collection has the prototypes 3S1 and the 3S7.

After all tests, the production of Kraken Argonaut can be started.

Needless to say that cost a lot of cash. Bryan approached 12 people asking for cold hard cash to get the prototypes made. In exchange they would get the 1st production regulators. At the time all they had were good ideas and Luis drawings for the main body and 2nd stage volcano orifice.

Bryan stated calling those 12 divers The Dirty Dozen and the serial numbers on the 1st 12 regulators are DD-1 to D-12 especially for them.

The funding from the Dirty Dozen let Bryan starts the production trials and gave them the prototypes that the test divers were using in various places on the globe.

The first machine shop never delivered on what they promised. To continue the project Bryan needed more capital and that is where the “Dirty Dozen” came in. Without their funding it would have been a lot more difficult to move forward.

They had a design (no project name yet), but without the funding it wouldn’t be possible to make more parts. The parts they had worked, but were not good enough for a final product.

After that the story kept on getting complicated with two more machine shops bidding on the project, but both of them delivered at some point defective parts. There were no design changes since the beginning, but Luis made several drawing changes to clarify details that the machine shops messed up in the samples.

http://vintagedoublehose.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=7724&sid=87088830dd6843f02d574a998dcf91f9

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Bryan Pennington (Vintage Double Hose) and Luis Heros have plenty of experience with a first stage in the form of a Phoenix and a second stage in the form of the HPR (a descendant of the second stage in the Pegasus project).

In 2012 it was time to take all the good ideas about the then unnamed regulator and actually build a few. In the summer of 2012 , Bryan and Luis made plans to try and have several prototypes ready for their November Cozumel trip. The first four prototypes were bought by Bryan, Rob Studnicka (www.thescubamuseum.com), Jim Louvau, and Luis. For the first four prototypes they just used vintage metal cans, but they knew that the first step was to test the main body.

They just needed to test the new integrated design.

With some adjustments they were able to salvage the first four prototypes and they dove them in Cozumel. They took some of them to 155 feet.

The first four machined prototypes came in with lots of machining errors (and one drawing error). With help from Herman Mowrey (www.scubatools.com) they were able to correct most of the machining error.

After that a second prototype serie of seven regulators was produced in june of 2013 from a different machine shop than the previous years. CG-45.com Collection has the prototypes 3S1 and the 3S7.

After all tests, the production of Kraken Argonaut can be started.

Needless to say that cost a lot of cash. Bryan approached 12 people asking for cold hard cash to get the prototypes made. In exchange they would get the 1st production regulators. At the time all they had were good ideas and Luis drawings for the main body and 2nd stage volcano orifice.

Bryan stated calling those 12 divers The Dirty Dozen and the serial numbers on the 1st 12 regulators are DD-1 to D-12 especially for them.

The funding from the Dirty Dozen let Bryan starts the production trials and gave them the prototypes that the test divers were using in various places on the globe.

The first machine shop never delivered on what they promised. To continue the project Bryan needed more capital and that is where the “Dirty Dozen” came in. Without their funding it would have been a lot more difficult to move forward.

They had a design (no project name yet), but without the funding it wouldn’t be possible to make more parts. The parts they had worked, but were not good enough for a final product.

After that the story kept on getting complicated with two more machine shops bidding on the project, but both of them delivered at some point defective parts. There were no design changes since the beginning, but Luis made several drawing changes to clarify details that the machine shops messed up in the samples.

http://vintagedoublehose.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=7724&sid=87088830dd6843f02d574a998dcf91f9

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On January 10th – 2014 Bryan launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds necessary to put the Argonaut Kraken into production.

The Fundable campaign had been far more successful than Bryan dared to believe it would be.

The Jury was still out on the Kraken Red hoses. Bryan had been collecting votes on FB and the VDH forum and more than 80% of the responses have been positive (Red Hoses).

Luckily Bryan had a good relationship with the hose manufacture so they agreed to make the samples. Normally they require an order of 300 hoses to start. The shade/color was a personal choice that Bryan liked and thought would be unique. When they arrived Bryan HATED THEM and he was ready to write it off and never even show pictures of them. He put them on a regulator and propped it up in his work area so he had to see it hundreds of times a day and after a while they grew on him.

The Argonaut Kraken is NEW and deserves to break out of the confinements of what double hose regulators have been in the past.

This is the first Argonaut Kraken produced after the Fundable campaign.

http://argonautkraken.blogspot.com.br/2014/01/if-you-are-reading-this-you-most-likely.html

The Argonaut is a completely new double hose regulator which retains an attractive vintage appearance, but incorporates state-of-the-art modern features.

• 1st Stage relies upon a balanced diaphragm featuring high flow capability. This engineering feature effectively limits intermediate pressure change; thus guaranteeing effortless, consistent performance with any tank pressure or any dive depth.
• 1st and 2nd stages are environmentally isolated to insure absolute reliability in all weather and water conditions.
• The regulator contains 3 low pressure ports for optimal hose positioning. This feature allows the diver to use any variety of low pressure accessories. The ports are industry standard 3/8” UNF sized.
• 1st stage also contains a high pressure port allowing the diver to use either a stand-alone submersible pressure gauge, or a transmitter unit. The port is again, the current industry standard 7/16” UNF size.
• Totally modern 2nd stage design that incorporates features such as: adjustable seat, large ultra flexible silicone diaphragm using a lever geometry designed for optimal mechanical advantage with low friction, and adjustable venturi assistance. The replaceable and adjustable hard seat (volcano orifice) permits ultra-fine tuning.
• Internal parts that are chosen for maximum durability and ease of availability. Food grade silicone utilized for items such as hoses, mouthpiece, and low pressure diaphragms for extra-long life and easy maintenance.
• 1st and 2nd stages manufactured from attractively triple-plated brass alloys, with lightweight, corrosion proof materials used for the housing.
• Main body interfacing surfaces sealed with an O-ring rather than a flat gasket.
• Effortless, natural breathing characteristics due to advanced design vacuum assisted venturi action, and a high flow / ultra-low resistance exhaust system.
• In essence, a double hose regulator that displays the classic lines of a vintage model with the performance of a 21st century design.

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On January 10th – 2014 Bryan launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds necessary to put the Argonaut Kraken into production.

The Fundable campaign had been far more successful than Bryan dared to believe it would be.

The Jury was still out on the Kraken Red hoses. Bryan had been collecting votes on FB and the VDH forum and more than 80% of the responses have been positive (Red Hoses).

Luckily Bryan had a good relationship with the hose manufacture so they agreed to make the samples. Normally they require an order of 300 hoses to start. The shade/color was a personal choice that Bryan liked and thought would be unique. When they arrived Bryan HATED THEM and he was ready to write it off and never even show pictures of them. He put them on a regulator and propped it up in his work area so he had to see it hundreds of times a day and after a while they grew on him.

The Argonaut Kraken is NEW and deserves to break out of the confinements of what double hose regulators have been in the past.

This is the first Argonaut Kraken produced after the Fundable campaign.

http://argonautkraken.blogspot.com.br/2014/01/if-you-are-reading-this-you-most-likely.html

The Argonaut is a completely new double hose regulator which retains an attractive vintage appearance, but incorporates state-of-the-art modern features.

• 1st Stage relies upon a balanced diaphragm featuring high flow capability. This engineering feature effectively limits intermediate pressure change; thus guaranteeing effortless, consistent performance with any tank pressure or any dive depth.
• 1st and 2nd stages are environmentally isolated to insure absolute reliability in all weather and water conditions.
• The regulator contains 3 low pressure ports for optimal hose positioning. This feature allows the diver to use any variety of low pressure accessories. The ports are industry standard 3/8” UNF sized.
• 1st stage also contains a high pressure port allowing the diver to use either a stand-alone submersible pressure gauge, or a transmitter unit. The port is again, the current industry standard 7/16” UNF size.
• Totally modern 2nd stage design that incorporates features such as: adjustable seat, large ultra flexible silicone diaphragm using a lever geometry designed for optimal mechanical advantage with low friction, and adjustable venturi assistance. The replaceable and adjustable hard seat (volcano orifice) permits ultra-fine tuning.
• Internal parts that are chosen for maximum durability and ease of availability. Food grade silicone utilized for items such as hoses, mouthpiece, and low pressure diaphragms for extra-long life and easy maintenance.
• 1st and 2nd stages manufactured from attractively triple-plated brass alloys, with lightweight, corrosion proof materials used for the housing.
• Main body interfacing surfaces sealed with an O-ring rather than a flat gasket.
• Effortless, natural breathing characteristics due to advanced design vacuum assisted venturi action, and a high flow/ ultra-low resistance exhaust system.
• In essence, a double hose regulator that displays the classic lines of a vintage model with the performance of a 21st century design.

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Profile for the HP and LP ports was not correct either and I used a smaller diameter O-ring to make sure they sealed well.

Slot for adjusting the 2nd stage orifice is not aligned with the air passage which caused some confusion when trying to set it up for proper airflow.

HPR 2nd stage has been changed and parts swapped several times. I am not sure what parts were exactly installed in it originally and they could have been modified or trashed for testing.

Cans were 3D printed by me for a friend at an anonymous location in September 2013 They were the first design and the exhaust is slightly different than on the production cans.

Regulator was first dived in Cozumel using the metal cans from my Royal. Dives were from 20′ to 165′ and the regulator performed flawlessly. Used it as my primary regulator in the springs and off the coast here in Tampa till September 2013 when I put on the 3D printed cans.

November 2013 regulator was used in Cozumel again with 3D cans. Various adjustments were made but regulator once again performed perfectly.

After Cozumel the regulator underwent some further stationary testing and finally started to develop a high pressure seat leak.”

By Bryan Pennington – Vintage Double Hose VDH Worldwide

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About 5 of them could be used for testing after additional work was done and two were kept for rough fitting and stationary tests tha did not require a working regulator.

This is the first time the pre-production cans were used with the new Kraken logo on them. Previous cans had no logo and the name Kragen had not been decided upon yet. Cans use a captive nut on the lower side so two tools are not needed to separate the can halves. On these cans, the holes were too tight to easily press the captive nuts in place and that they would cause problems during assembly. So the holes were enlarged slightly and the nuts still fit but Bryan wanted to see how they held up with the can halves being taken apart multiple times during testing. Bryan could keep track of wich lower can had been modified he put a red stripe of paint on the bottom can along the seam.

Regulator also has the Kraken logo mouthpiece insert tha Bryan was testing to see how it held up during use and what the divers response was to it.

This regulator was used in November 2013 during testing in Cozumel. Various adjustments were made but no major issues were found and the regulator performed as expected.

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Slot cut in the 2nd stage volcano orifice is not correctly aligned with the orifice leading to the 2nd stage so the visual reference point it was supposed to reference showing complete flow though the orifice is not correct. Body also shows machine and tooling marks that were not removed before chrome plating.

After some additional machine work 5 of the prototypes were made useable and were put out for underwater testing.

Bryan used this regulator for long term testing of the high pressure seat and volcano orifice and over the course of testing it was cycled on the quick set bench fixture for over 10000 cycles with no failure of the high pressure seat or volcano orifice.

Regulator still has the original nylon tabs to hold the 2nd stage in place and the lever has been tried at various bend angles in an attempt to maximize response.

Regulator cans are on of 6 pre production samples sent for testing. Originally the mold ejector pins on the exhaust side can were placed around the perimeter of the exhaust valve and left small raised circles that needed to be sanded smooth for the valves to seat properly. Pins were relocated on production cans to prevent this problem.

During testing in Cozumel Herman said “Wonder what it would look like with red hoses?” So Bryan asked the hose manufacture to make a few sample hoses in a specific red color to match the Kraken logo color. The sample hoses were a lighter durometer than normally produced and were made more for display and analysis than diving use. This is the first regulator they were seen on and Bryan used it in pictures to solicit feedback from the double hose community.

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