Abstract: A traveling crane incorporates a self-retracting/erecting live mast or the like, pivotally mounted on the base unit and capable of moving to and from a flipped, stowed position on the opposite side of vertical from the positions of the normal operating mode. A cable and winch is provided to raise and lower the mast during the normal operating mode and to move the mast toward the stowed position. A power cylinder operates to control the mast during retraction and to erect the mast from the stowed position. A control system operates the power cylinder to controllably move the mast during retraction/erection. Flexible pendants and telescopic guide links interconnect the cylinder with the mast and the base unit. Optimum operating angles are provided. The control system includes an electrical circuit and a hydraulic circuit, the hydraulic circuit having a restricted orifice to resist movement of the mast by gravity during retraction.

Abstract: A drive for a boat has a propeller hub rotatable about a main axis extending in a normal travel direction, a plurality of blades projecting generally radially of the main axis from the hub and each pivotal so as to be of variable pitch, and respective blade rods extending axially and displaceable axially relative to the hub to vary the pitch of the blades. A stator carried on the boat downstream in the direction from the hub and nonrotatable about the axis rotatably supports a cylinder housing that is releasably connected to the rods for joint axial movement therewith. A piston displaceable along the axis in the cylinder is releasably connected to the hub for joint axial movement therewith. Pressurizable lines extending through the stator are connected to the cylinder for alternately pressurizing the piston and thereby relatively axially shifting the rods and hub.

Abstract: A device to protect the propellor of a boat from damage caused by striking underwater obstacles, when the boat is moving in any direction relative to the obstacles, and to improve the movement of the boat along the water.

Abstract: A windsurfer board is formed, towards the tail end thereof, with a slot in which a box is fitted. The box provides a mounting for a fin which is movable, while in use, relative to the board in such manner as to permit simultaneous adjustment of the inclination of the fin relative to the board and of the extent by which the fin projects downwardly beneath the board. The mounting for the fin includes a bracket pivotally connected to the box and to the fin.

Abstract: A hull extension is attached at an appropriate distance above the hull bottom surface to the stern of a planing water craft so as to be at least partially submerged at subplaning speeds and totally unsubmerged at planing speeds, effectively increasing hull length at subplaning speeds while not affecting hull length at planing speeds. A "step" effect is thus featured whereby the hull extension is not in contact with the water once planing commences. Hydrodynamic and buoyant efficiency is increased by the hull extension at subplaning speeds and unaffected thereby at planing speeds. The hull extension also offers practical utility in terms of providing additional protection, deck space and mounting area.

Abstract: A pivotally-mounted reeved counterweight system for a counterbalance-type crane which includes a wheeled counterweight carriage supporting a counterweight. A yoke provides the coupling means pivotally connecting the carriage and the rearward end of the platform or deck also known as the counterweight arm. A sheave is mounted on the yoke. The rope, which manipulates the boom upwardly and downwardly, retractably and extensibly extends from a hoist drum on the platform upwardly and is reeved about a mast sheave and extends downwardly, rearwardly and upwardly between the yoke sheave and a plurality of platform sheaves and mast sheaves.

Abstract: A mobile crane comprising a chassis, which has at least two axles and on which a revolving superstructure is movably mounted by means of a slewing bearing consisting of an outer ring and an inner ring, a preferably telescopic boom, which is pivoted to the revolving superstructure and which is adapted to be supported on a supporting bracket of the crane in position for road travel, and a cabin for use during crane and road travel operations. A carrying ring is rotatably mounted on that ring of the slewing bearing which is connected to the revolving superstructure, the cabin is secured to said carrying ring, and the cabin or the carrying ring can selectively be connected either to the chassis or to the revolving superstructure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pallet changing mechanism for a machine tool wherein when pallets loaded with works through an attachment are successively changed, an input and output cable or the like for connecting a control device of a machine tool and an attachment is automatically re-connected to an attachment next to be carried in from an attachment carried out of a machining table of the machine tool. The connector device comprises a movable portion provided on the machining table of the machine tool and a fixed portion provided on the pallet. Mounting and dismounting of the input and output cable or the like every time a pallet is changed is carried out simply and positively. A shield member is disposed on the connector device to thereby completely separate and shield a plurality of connector blocks from each other, and positive operation, detection and the like for the attachment are carried out.

Abstract: A method and template to facilitate cleaning or painting of a gimbal housing which is mounted to a boat transom. This method comprises attaching a template to the transom around a gimbal housing perimeter which is intricately and arcuately shaped. The template is configured and dimensioned to correspond to the gimbal housing perimeter and to shield the transom from damage while cleaning or painting the gimbal housing. Thus, the amount of time required to clean and paint the gimbal housing and the amount of time required for clean-up is reduced by utilizing the method and template of the invention.

Abstract: A winch construction for a boat lift. The winch includes a pair of spaced side plates, and a shaft is journaled in aligned openings in the side plates. The ends of the shaft project beyond the side plates and a drum is located between the side plates and is journaled on the shaft. A chain drive connects one projecting end of the shaft to a second shaft which is journaled in the side plates, and a second speed reduction chain drive connects the second shaft with the drum which carries a cable which is attached to the boat lift. A hand wheel is connected to a hub that is threaded on the opposite projecting end of the shaft, and an annular ratchet is located between the hub and a backing plate attached to the respective side plate. The ratchet is composed of a brake material and has a brake surface facing the backing plate. To elevate the boat lift, the hand wheel is rotated causing the hub to move axially on the shaft and effecting engagement of the brake surface with the backing plate.

Abstract: A crane has a generally horizontally disposed main boom arm centrally pivotally mounted on a turret supported for rotation atop a central column. The main boom arm supports a load at one end and a counterweight at its other end. The main boom arm load support end has a depending vertical arm, linked in parallelogram fashion with the turret, and with a lower rotatable load carrying swing arm movable through a full 360.degree. arc without interference with the column and turret. The column may be mounted on a dolly. A rack and worm pinion arrangement are provided on either the main boom or the counterweight for adjusting the distance of the counterweight from the column and turret, thus to balance the crane in a vertical plane.

Abstract: An outboard motor comprising a propulsion unit adapted to be mounted on a boat for pivotal movement relative thereto about a generally horizontal axis, the propulsion unit including a propeller shaft, and an engine drivingly connected to the propeller shaft, and the outboard motor further comprising structure for pivoting the propulsion unit about the generally horizontal axis, the pivoting structure being adapted to be mounted outside the boat, and the pivoting structure comprising a housing having an interior and an exterior, an electric motor in the interior, and a first quick-disconnect connector portion which is electrically connected to the motor and which is accessible from the exterior of the housing for selective mating with another quick-disconnect connector portion.

Abstract: An air spring has pair of spaced end members for mounting the spring at spaced locations on a structure. A flexible sleeve of elastomeric material is sealingly engaged with the end members and forms a pressurized fluid chamber therebetween. A post is mounted on one of the end members and extends into the fluid chamber. A shock absorbing bumper formed of a high strength plastic is snap-fitted on an enlarged top of the post. A plurality of circumferentially arranged flexible fingers define an opening in a base of the bumper, and are snap-fitted over the enlarged top of the post which extends into the opening and seat into an annular undercut formed in the post beneath the enlarged top. The snap-fitted plastic bumper replaces the heretofore used elastomeric bumper.

Abstract: An improved anchor plug allowing quick release of a leash. The anchor plug is preferably made of plastic and may be mounted on a surfboard, or any other object flush to the top surface of the surfboard. The anchor plug has a leash cavity and a retractable leash pin spanning the leash cavity. Preferably, the leash pin extends into a locking hole when it is in the extended position. A loop can be formed in a leash, the leash pin can be retracted to allow the loop to be inserted in the leash cavity, and the pin can be extended to retain the loop in the leash cavity. Preferably, the leash pin is made of stainless steel and can be locked in the extended position.

Abstract: A quick-connect system is disclosed for sectional boom members for cranes and the like. The sectional boom members comprise chords for carrying compressive loads, each chord terminating in an end configured to abut against an end of a chord of an adjacent sectional boom member. The quick-connect system comprises at least one easily alignable connector secured to the ends of at least one of the chords, the connector comprising a compressive load bearing surface intersected by the intersection of the vertical and horizontal neutral axes of the chord to which the connector is attached.

Abstract: Pleasure boat with a sail or motor comprising a hull and a deck separated by an interface, remarkable insofar along the outlying perimeter of the interface on the hull and/or on the deck, it has one or more shaped indentations which, when the hull and the deck are brought together and assembled, are capable of defining a frame to receive elements forming a subframe and arranged so as to form portholes.

Abstract: An auto-inflated life buoy has a belt-like air bag and an air container. The belt-like air bag defines a hollow bag, and has tongue secured on the inside wall of one end and a groove secured on the inside wall of the other end. The air container secured on the outside wall of one end of the belt-like air bag includes an air inlet, an internal chamber and an inlet nozzle. The air inlet coupled to the belt-like air bag is in open communication with the internal chamber which has a press button on the top and a film on the bottom. The lower part of the press button is combined with a pressure spring.

Abstract: A bypass valve with selective characteristics for controlled and adjustable dashpots. It has pressure-activated check valves that are reversed by means of a slide that can assume two positions and is activated by an electromagnet. Springs can be designed to dictate the characteristic of the dashpot independent of the type of piston employed.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a sensor arrangement of a vibration isolation apparatus has a generally annular sensor plate with a plurality of strain sensing elements mounted on a radially extending portion which is elastically deformable upon application of input load. The sensor plate is elastically deformed upon elastic deformation of the radially extending portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pallet changing mechanism for a machine tool wherein when pallets loaded with works through an attachment are successively changed, an input and output cable or the like for connecting a control device of a machine tool and an attachment is automatically re-connected to an attachment next to be carried in from an attachment carried out of a machining table of the machine tool. The connector device comprises a movable portion provided on the machining table of the machine tool and a fixed portion provided on the pallet. Mounting and dismounting of the input and output cable or the like every time a pallet is changed is carried out simply and positively. A shield member is disposed on the connector device to thereby completely separate and shield a plurality of connector blocks from each other, and positive operation, detection and the like for the attachment are carried out.