Dreager Hand Oxygen Transfer Pump

The need to boost gas from medium pressure to high pressure is not only a problem for technical divers. In military applications, rebreathers are serviced exactly as in sport diving: by transferring gas from storage cylinders to the rebreather cylinder. The German firm Dreager made what may well be the prototypical manual transfer pump, allowing combat divers to easily transfer gas into their rebreather cylinders. The "Frau Draeger" pump (Lady Dreager) is the manual-only pump. The "Herr Draeger" is the same pump mechanism driven by an electric motor. I've never seen a "Herr Draeger", but the Russian KN-4 pump is a close copy. Similarly, the Russian KN-3 is an almost identical mechanical copy of the Frau Draeger. These pumps have an excellent reputation, only their scarcity preventing their common use among technical divers.

The Lady Draeger is provided in a wooden transit chest, which weighs about 100 pounds. This box is ruggedly manufactured, and would allow rough handling of the pump in military transportation.

Opening the box shows that the pump, water drier, hoses, tool kit, instructions, spare parts set, and water/glycerin bottle are all stored in special compartments.

Once opened, the sides of the box lock in the open position, making a convenient platform to stand on to keep the pump from sliding as it is manually pumped. Here the pump handle has been installed, and the hoses attached.

A detail view of the pump shows the double cylinders, moisture trap, and lubrication bottle in it's bracket. Inlet and outlet gauges and valves are provided.

The original instruction manual is in German, with detailed photographs of the operation of the pump.

In typically German manner, a complete set of good quality tools is provided, as is a spare parts set.

The spare parts kit contains replacement one-way valves, as well as the seals and gaskets required to keep the pump running indefinitely.

"Short Instructions" are provided on an engraved placard on the inside of the lid.

The caution that it only be used for oxygen is a warning not to contaminate it with oil or gas that contains oil. In actuality, the pump is effective for pumping 02, He, He02, Trimix, Nitrox, or any other clean gas.

That's it for this rare piece of diving kit. For remote area operations, where no electricity is available, and where the high volume of air needed to drive a Haskel might pose difficulties, the manual pump reigns supreme. That works in a garage too! A typical rebreather cylinder may take 10 minutes boost from 100 to 200 BAR, using a 100 BAR source. Maximum boost ratio is about 1:3, making it an efficient scavenger of medium pressure gas that might otherwise be wasted.

		The Lady Draeger is provided in a wooden transit chest, which weighs about 100 pounds. This box is ruggedly manufactured, and would allow rough handling of the pump in military transportation.
		Opening the box shows that the pump, water drier, hoses, tool kit, instructions, spare parts set, and water/glycerin bottle are all stored in special compartments.
		Once opened, the sides of the box lock in the open position, making a convenient platform to stand on to keep the pump from sliding as it is manually pumped. Here the pump handle has been installed, and the hoses attached.
		A detail view of the pump shows the double cylinders, moisture trap, and lubrication bottle in it's bracket. Inlet and outlet gauges and valves are provided.
		The original instruction manual is in German, with detailed photographs of the operation of the pump.
		In typically German manner, a complete set of good quality tools is provided, as is a spare parts set.
		The spare parts kit contains replacement one-way valves, as well as the seals and gaskets required to keep the pump running indefinitely.
		"Short Instructions" are provided on an engraved placard on the inside of the lid.
		The caution that it only be used for oxygen is a warning not to contaminate it with oil or gas that contains oil. In actuality, the pump is effective for pumping 02, He, He02, Trimix, Nitrox, or any other clean gas.