Abstract: A foam generating apparatus can be attached to a water bearing hose and comprises an eductor nozzle to receive water and foam concentrate, and a foam generating nozzle to discharge a foam/water mixture therethrough. A foam concentrate conduit delivers concentrate to a manifold extending peripherally around a suction port of the eductor nozzle, and foam concentrate is drawn into the eductor nozzle to mix with water and to be discharged as a foam/water mixture to the foam generating nozzle. The nozzle has an agitator jet orifice for agitating the mixture, and an air entrainment opening to admit air into the agitated mixture. The agitator jet orifice has inlet and outlet jet openings interconnected in series, the outlet jet opening being larger than the inlet jet opening to provide a diverging passage with at least one step between the inlet and outlet jet openings to agitate the flow.

Abstract: A foam generating apparatus can be attached to a water bearing hose and comprises an eductor nozzle to receive water and foam concentrate, and a foam generating nozzle to discharge a foam/water mixture therethrough. A foam concentrate conduit delivers concentrate to the eductor nozzle and has a concentrate valve to control flow therethrough, e.g. a one-way check valve to prevent water from passing outwardly through the foam concentrate conduit to dilute the concentrate. A delivery manifold communicates the foam concentrate conduit with a suction port of the eductor nozzle and extends peripherally around the suction port to permit foam concentrate to be drawn into the eductor nozzle for discharge therethrough. The foam generating nozzle receives the foam/water mixture and has air entrainment openings to admit air into the mixture and an agitator jet orifice for agitating the mixture located generally adjacent the air entrainment openings.

Abstract: Hose winding apparatus comprises a first portion having a body and a first handle extending therefrom, and a second portion having a reel portion and a second handle cooperating with the reel portion. Each portion has reel journalling structure for journalling the first and second portions for relative rotation about a reel axis. A latching structure releasably latches together the first and second portions to permit the said relative rotation without unintentional separation of the first and second portions. A wound-up hose coil is retained tightly wound-up after the removal from the reel portion by fitting a resilient band to extend across opposite locations of the reel portion, and winding the hose onto the reel portion with a first face of the wound-up hose being adjacent a first length of the band. This is followed by drawing and stretching a second length of the band from the reel, and positioning the second length closely adjacent a second face of the coil.

Abstract: The invention is for controlling electrical potential of a downrigger wire line as used in downrigger fishing. The apparatus has a conducting member with an opening to receive the downrigger wire line to permit the wire line to pass freely therethrough. The conducting member has at least a contact portion which is electrically conducting and which contacts the downrigger wire line to provide electrical contact therewith. The contact portion is electrically connectable to an electrical voltage source to provide an electrical potential to the downrigger wire line. A main electrical conductor connected to the contact portion is also preferably connected to a portion of the downrigger so as to partially locate the conducting member which is also partially supported on the downrigger wire line. Preferably, the conducting member is a sleeve which at least partially encloses the downrigger wire line.

Abstract: A pump apparatus dispenses a liquid and additive mixture and has a pump cylinder with intake and discharge ports with associated valves. An additive supply communicates with the pump cylinder to supply additive with liquid drawn into the pump during an intake stroke prior to a discharge stroke during which a mixture of additive and liquid is discharged from the pump. The additive is mixed in the liquid prior to passing into the intake port and is metered to attain the desired concentration. An aerating nozzle receives mixture discharged from the discharge port to produce foam for various applications, such as fire fighting. The aerating nozzle has a restrictor orifice located adjacent and upstream from air entainment opening in the nozzle. The restrictor orifice can be a simple non-tapered cylindrical passage, but for improved foam generation, the orifice can be a diverging passage with a step between inlet and outlet portions of the passage.

Abstract: A net web is supported by upper and lower float and weight lines by a connecting structure which is connected to the respective line to resist movement along the line. Each connecting structure has an outer portion with a locking opening therein and cooperates with a cord loop. An inner loop end portion of the cord loop cooperates with the line and the connecting structure to resist movement along the line. An outer loop end portion passes through the selvage of the fish net web and cooperates with an adjacent connecting structure and its associated loop. The cord loop of one connecting structure passes through the locking opening in an adjacent connecting structure, and a cord loop of the said adjacent connecting structure passes through the cord loop of the said one structure to interfere therewith to prevent separation of the cord loop of the said one structure from the adjacent connecting structure.

Abstract: The apparatus spools a line carrying a weight for positioning a fishing lure at a desired depth in water for trolling. The apparatus has a motor which rotates a spool carrying the line supporting the weight. A brake automatically brakes the spool when the spool starts to unwind the line, which can occur when the motor is inoperative. Braking force on the spool can be finely adjusted to permit slipping and controlled unwinding, so that the line does not break should the weight become fouled or hung up on the bottom. Preferably, when winding up the weight, a clutch transmits torque between the motor and spool when the torque is below a slipping threshold torque. However, the clutch slips when the slipping threshold torque is exceeded and simultaneously generates an audible warning sound when slipping to protect the motor from overload if the weight becomes "hung up" when winding in. An alternative electrical circuit breaker can be substituted for the clutch to protect the motor.

Abstract: A fluid valve apparatus has a spool mounted for movement within a spool cavity of a body, the body having inlet and outlet ports therein. The spool has a spool closure portion which is adapted for sealing against the outlet port when positioned thereagainst. The spool closure portion is responsive to fluid pressure acting on the spool which cooperates with the spool so as to displace the closure portion against the outlet portion to improve sealing therewith. The apparatus is particularly adapted for manufacturing by plastic injection, which provides a low cost, lightweight, corrosion resistant, easily adaptable valve assembly particularly for use in controlling liquid flows in medium bore pipes as used in forest fire fighting.

Abstract: A device for remotely steering a boat includes a friction drive wheel for frictionally driving the steering wheel of the boat. There is a reversible motor connected to the friction wheel for rotating the friction wheel. Shock cords resiliently bias the friction wheel towards the steering wheel. A remotely locatable motor control selectively rotates the motor in a desired direction of rotation and thereby steers the boat as the friction wheel rotates the steering wheel.

Abstract: Downrigger for trolling having a reel mounted for rotation for winding a line thereonto, and unwinding line therefrom. Downrigger has brake means which permits control of rotation of the reel with one hand only to leave the other hand free for trolling rod. The brake means brakes the reel against rotation when engaged and permits free wheeling of the reel when disengaged. A cam means cooperates with the reel and has a cam surface and a cam follower cooperating with each other so that a particular relative movement between the cam surface and the cam follower actuates the cam means to engage the brake means. Brake means can be cocked so that rotation of the reel in a direction to unwind the line actuates cam means which then engages the brake means to prevent accidental unwinding, but still permits winding in of the line when required.