Abstract: A readily alterable arrangement, to suit the need at sea and in coastal inlet passages for control and disposition of vessels, comprises: pulled barges outfitted with a condition responsive linkage mechanism for implementing a rudder, towlines conveying propulsive force to barges, and tugs continually employed in tow or exchange of barges being loaded/unloaded in the interim of tug port calls. The linkage mechanism, dependent upon a pivotal beam mounted forwardly of the barge mass center, imparts propulsive force on the longitudinal centerline or at either barge side as transmitted to the pivotal beam ends by a bridle leg arranged towline terminal.

Abstract: A bottom exhaust type high speed boat has a hull including a grooved bottom. The engine exhaust pipe extends into a midportion of the grooved bottom. A duct fixed to the surface of the hull extends between the opening of the exhaust pipe and the front of the grooved bottom for transporting exhaust gases to the front of the grooved bottom. The grooved bottom is separated into a forward part and a rearward part, having different depths, by a stepped surface. The exhaust opening is on the rearward part whereas the duct is on the forward part. Gas leakage prevention grooves surround the grooved bottom. A triangular projection having dovetail sides extends from the grooved bottom and the engine propeller is positioned on the projection.

Abstract: A board for aquatic sports is disclosed. The board, during displacement across water, directs a jet or shower of water at the abdominal region of a person lying on the board.

Abstract: A device for rolling and storing a sail associated with a rolling boom, including a sheath of deformable material encircling the boom and provided with rigid edges defining a slit for passing the sail therethrough, wherein the sheath is carried by the boom for free pivotal movement and includes a transverse cross-sectional area at least equal to that of the boom and the sail completely rolled thereon.

Abstract: A traveler assembly for a boat includes a rigid track defining a pair of spaced-apart channels on opposite sides of the track. A car with side wheels rides on the track with its wheels engaging in the channels. The car wheels have rounded peripheral cross sections which ride on conforming upper and lower rails formed by the channels to provide maximum surface engagement and minimum parts wear as the car rolls back and forth along the track. Resultantly, the car travels readily and quietly even when subjected to high vertical and lateral loads.

Abstract: A safety diving backpack, specifically a one-piece, detachable diving backpack, that may serve to dispose water-resistant handlights, life buoys, kettles and spin reel, complete with wires or ropes in the hollow cylinder and in the spaces as provided on both sides and on the underside thereof respectively. The linkage as provided by such wire-ropes to fellow divers allows divers to ask for help from such fellow divers in case of an emergency that befalls a diver equipped accordingly. In addition, by virtue of the striking marks and alarm signals of the headlights and life buoys released at the outbreak of fatal tides or other dangerous situations to the diver, the rescue teams can detect them in time so as to give necessary help to the endangered diver.

Abstract: A device, a method, and a system for reducing the draft of large vessels to allow the successful navigation of shallow waterways which could not otherwise be traversed due to the depth of the draft of the vessel. The implementation of this system will eliminate unnecessary dredging and facilitate full utilization of the ships' cargo capacity. The system is comprised of several buoyancy modules, control tender vessels, base point grids, appropriate computers, air compressors, and all other necessary equipment. Each buoyancy module of the system consist of two inflatable/deflatable pneumatic lift cells contained by sleeves positioned one at each end, with a base webbing connecting the two ends and forming the middle supportive portion of each module. The base webbing is positioned beneath the vessel oriented so as to position one pneumatic lift cell on each side of the vessel.

Abstract: A boat steering mechanism for permitting a remotely mounted rudder control by means of a push-pull control cable, comprising a rack engaging with a pinion and being formed with a groove for inserting an inner cable, a projection projecting from the center or its vicinity of a rack casing into which the rack is slidably inserted, an inclined hole for slidably inserting the inner cable, perforated through the projection into the groove and a fitting member for fastening one end of the inner cable, to the rack at one end of the groove, whereby the push-pull control cable can be provided with a large curvature and the sliding resistance of the whole mechanism can be decreased.

Abstract: A mobile crane of the type having an upper revolvably mounted on an elongated main frame. The main frame has a central tub for mounting the upper and also has a series of ground-engaging wheels along the main frame and at either side thereof. Power-operated outrigger assemblies are provided for being swingable on the main frame and between the radially outward stabilizing position and a transport, storage position along side the main frame. The outrigger assemblies are elongated and have a rectangular in cross-section shape, one of the axes of the cross-section being greater than the other so as to provide a generally flat in cross-section outrigger. The outriggers can be rotated about their longitudinal axes for about 90.degree.

Abstract: There is disclosed a surface effect ship stern seal system comprising a plurality of side-by-side vertically standing inflatable fingers of open top form, the leading end portions of the fingers being attached to the hull by resilient means and the bottom edges of the sidewalls of the fingers being closed by water planing plate means. The upper edges of the sidewall portions of the fingers are carried by tension ropes connecting at their leading ends to said resilient means and at their aft ends to the ship hull, reclining therebetween in catenary fashion.

Abstract: A shaft connecting device for the outboard drive of a marine engine consisting of a pair of shafts having a splined connection. A seal is fixed to one of these shafts for providing a seal to this shaft and has a portion sealingly engaged with the second shaft for protecting the splined connection from the ingress of foreign material.

Abstract: A pontoon assembly for floating bridges includes four pivotally interconnected articulable floats providing a pontoon assembly having a folded and an unfolded position. Each of the floats is generally rectangularly shaped. In the unfolded position the pontoon assembly has an inner two floats and an outer two floats and the outer two floats are lengthwise connected to an outer edge of the inner two floats. The inner two floats each have an upper surface which provides a vehicular roadway. A rectangular recess is disposed in each of the outer two floats and the recess has a size sufficient to permit a ramp part to be removably positioned in there. The ramp parts have a height corresponding to the depth of the recess in order to provide a flush upper surface with the upper surface of the associated outer float. Each of the ramp parts includes lugs to permit connection with an inner float to thereby provide a closed rampway.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for trimming and tilting an outboard propulsion unit (10) includes both trim piston-cylinder units (22, 23) and a trim-tilt piston-cylinder unit (17). The flow of hydraulic fluid from the reversible pump (49) is controlled by a spool valve (26). A pressure relief valve (71) is mounted in the spool (50) to maintain pressure on one side of the spool (50) when the pump (49) is turned off to rapidly close the return valve (56) and prevent further movement of the piston-cylinder units.

Abstract: A boat propulsion apparatus having a thrust blade mounted for swinging movement about a generally horizontal axis lengthwise of the boat and for turning movement about an upright axis, and a swash plate drive for simultaneously swinging the blade in a direction crosswise of the boat and for angularly oscillating the blade about its upright axis to sinusoidally vary the pitch of the blade as the blade is swung crosswise of the boat. Provision is made for reversing the direction of angular oscillation of the blade about the upright blade axis relative to the direction of the swinging movement of the blade to enable forward and reverse drive. A variable angle swash plate drive is provided to vary the mechanical advantage of the drive.

Abstract: There is described a mooring device for cooperatively engaging a mooring ring, the mooring device including a circular plate, a tubular shaft passing through and fixed to the circular plate, guide rods provided between the periphery of the plate and a point along the shaft towards one end thereof, the guide rods serving to guide the mooring ring over and past the circular plate, and protruding stubs extending from the periphery of the circular plate in the direction towards the opposite end of the shaft, the opposite end of the shaft being adapted for securing to the mooring device in a mooring position.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method of loading cargo-carrying barges into an ocean-going ship having a self-lowering capability and having facility for flooding at least one cargo-carrying space with water up to a Loading Water Line corresponding with the ballasted water line of the ship. The carrying barges are closed against entry of water, and each barge, such as B1, after being floated into the cargo-carrying space, is upended in the water and conveyed into a storage location where it is retained, for example by retaining rails 42,43. In consequence, a relatively large number of barges can be carried in the storage space.

Abstract: An adjustable mooring device suitable for attaching a floating facility to a fixed platform, the said device comprising a system of adjustable tubular members connected to each other by rotatable T couplings, the said lower tubular members being permanently attached by a pair of T couplings rotatably mounted on a shaft which is fixably attached to the said platform, the upper legs of the said mooring device having tubular members extending forwardly, each of the said upper legs extending into at least one Y connection, the said Y connection being suitable for connecting to a floating facility; the lower section of the said Y connection being supported at the water surface by a float; the said Y connection being connected by suitable means to the said floating facility.

Abstract: The present invention is a floating highway unit which has a structure which facilitates both removal from linkage in a series of units forming the highway, provides for simple alignment of the units during assembly, and also allows vertical movement caused by tides and waves. Protection is provided for the highway by use of a partly floating barrier, for damping wave motion, thus substantially reducing the amount of absolute and relative movement of the floating highway units. Each of the floating units of the present invention is comprised of a generally rectangular horizontal pontoon including provisions for floatation of the pontoon, the pontoon having a centrally located horizontal tongue extending outwardly from a short side of the pontoon whereby the top surface of the tongue is an extension of the top surface of the pontoon. A recess is located in the opposite side of the pontoon having a shape for enclosing the tongue which matches the shape of the tongue.

Abstract: A radio receiver in a boat actuates a horn and a rotary strobe light when it receives an appropriate signal from a transmitter recessed in the handle of a ski rope. The actuation of the transmitter is controlled by a trigger on the handle.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing boat parts submerged when in use comprises producing a metallic skeleton structure shaped for easiest production by conventional metal-forming methods, and covering this structure in a mold with an adhering layer or coating of a thermoplastic resin or a rubber-based vulcanizable substance. The inner walls of the mold have high finish and the desired streamlined outer shape of the finished product, such as a lower unit of a propulsion system, or a propeller and the like. The coating functionally neutralizes the technologically conditioned and generally not streamlined shapes of the skeleton structure and provides a protection of the skeleton structure against electroerosive corrosion.