Get your boat underwater!  ZB-1 and ZB 1/2  Watertight Cylinders for Zero Bubble boats.

If you wish to build a Zero Bubble kit for Radio control, you will need a Watertight cylinder. This is where all the electronic systems are kept. Propulsion, Ballast, Direction and trim systems all need to be accommodated, and water kept out.

The ZB Series were developed to give you a "Container" to do just that. They give you the space to place all your electronics and the outputs at either end cap to perform the aforementioned functions. There is a ZB cylinder to match any Zero Bubble boat.

 

"Just took my ZB-1 from the cabinet and it still works great. Zero maintenance in a year. Great product!"

                                                                                                                                                                   Joerg Happrich,   Germany.

 

 

May 2023,

 

The ZB-1/2 mark 2 has gone through testing and is now in production.  This re-design of the twin shaft unit has come about due to customer feedback (thanks Joerg) and through the experience gained in using the ZB-1/2 over the past two years. This unit now features: 

  • Greatly reduced external sealed surface area.
  • Internal gearbox assembly.
  • Motor mounted separate from the End cap inner face eliminating water contact with motor front face.
  • Access to gearbox requires no re-sealing and can be inspected easily from inside.
  • Outer sealing assembly far easier to achieve. 
  • Reduction in parts.  

 

Each cylinder comes with a basic instruction manual for servicing the unit. You can also request an instruction manual that outlines through diagrams and photos, the setting up a complete ZB unit with electronics and systems required to dive. Each unit goes through a series of static and dynamic tests for reliability and integrity before being shipped.

 

ZB-1 (Single shaft) Watertight Cylinder:  76mm /2.99 inch  OD   Lexan tube length: 230 mm / 9.05 inch           Price: $320 AUD.

Compatible with the :

Project 955 Borei class.                SSBN

HMS Resolution class.                  SSBN

Project 685 Mike class                  SSN

  

ZB-1/ 2 (Twin shaft) Watertight Cylinder:  76 mm OD Lexan tube length:  210 mm                                                    Price: $330 AUD

Compatible with the :

Project 661 Papa class                SSGN

 Project 667 BDRM Delta IV        SSBN

SM U-23                                           SSK

 

Building and operating RC Submarines will demand problems solving skills. The Dive cylinder is one piece of technology you have to be confident with, if you wish to make this hobby enjoyable and long lasting.  These cylinders will make you learn the intricacies of this hobby, and hopefully, keep you in it. ( This is one of the reasons why I am not building complete ready to run cylinders, plus the fact that I'm already busy fulfilling other orders.)

 

The front end cap is common to all.

  • The ZB-1 or "Zero Bubble one" is a single shaft end cap.  
  • The ZB-1/2 or "Zero Bubble one/ two" is a twin shaft single motor. Has been completed and thoroughly tested. This is a great twin shaft if you don't need to throttle each shaft.
  • Polycarbonate / Lexan tube of 76 mm OD.
  • Length of Polycarbonate tube can be cut to your specified length at extra cost.  

 

I offer the cylinder in the basic configuration as seen above. This will include the end caps with all associated parts and two acrylic trays that pull out at either end. This basic configuration allows you to arrange all the components in between to your own specification. Each cylinder will feature an instruction manual with all information needed to service the unit. 

 

or

 

This cylinder uses a pressurized pump system with a separate tank. This system forces water into the tank, pressurizing the air above. To surface the pinch is released and the air forces the water out of the tank. It is a reliable and well used system.

 

News: January 2024: New ZB-1 Endcap design. 

I have spent time over the Christmas /Summer holidays developing a New ZB-1 Design endcap. I have wanted to do this for some time.

I have started creating the tooling and the initial parts coming out, look good. 

 

News: November 2023: New Ballast tank Valve.

 

The new Ballast tank valve design is now going into production. I have tested it and am happy with its performance.

 

The new Ballast tank valve is a simplified arrangement that centers around a check Ball valve. This design means that the silicon Ballast line does not enter the forward section of the Cylinder offering two less points of weakness from an integrity point of view. The valve also places less side load on the servo and requires very little movement on the part of the servo. It also takes up much less space.

 

 

I will not be making complete ready to run cylinders. You need to learn every system by building it yourself.

thank you.

 

Please email me if you are interested.