Abstract: A transducer head for a moving surface dynamometer comprises a casing having connections for attachment to a extremity of a support arm on a sliding carriage of a loading head of the eventual dynamometer. An axle housing in the casing supports an axle of a test subject to be spun in rolling contact with the moving surface. A multiplicity of strain transducer links are connected in load-transmitting relationship between the axle housing and the casing for supplying signals indicating tensile or compressive load therein. There are six such links in a defined pattern. Each link is advantageously threadedly attached to the axle housing and has at its outer end a male tapered threaded region that registers with a straight threaded bore in a cap attached to the casing, a tapered sleeve having external and internal threads of the same pitch being tightenable to connect the outer end of the link to the cap and thence to the housing without correspondingly straining the link.

Abstract: A drum shaft assembly for a drum dynamometer includes at least one annular inertia element on the shaft and releaseably couplable to the shaft and drum to vary the inertia thereof. The assembly carries first interrupted thread means releasably engageable with second interrupted thread means rotatably supported in the inertia element. A manipulator is slideable axially of the drum and shaft assembly between a stand-by position and a working position where it can offer or receive the inertia element to or from the shaft and drum. The manipulator has a support for supporting the inertia element and a rotatable key operable to bring about relative rotation of the first and second interrupted thread means to fasten the inertia element to or to release the inertia element from the shaft and drum.

Abstract: A marine tether anchoring device comprises an anchor body and a segmented spring collet that moves axially relative to the anchor body. As the anchor body moves downwardly relative to the collet the upper end of the collet is expanded by a wedge structure which is attached to the anchor body and lockingly engages the wall of an anchoring chamber. The lower end of the tether line is attached to the wedge structure and cannot escape from the anchoring chamber. Release is effected by slackening the tension on the tether line and supplying fluid to a piston supported in the anchor body so that the piston forces the collet downwardly and releases the segments of the spring collet from the face of the wedge structure. Retraction of the collet is completed by a cam ring that engages faces on the collet as final downward travel of the collet takes place.

Abstract: A releasable marine tether connection comprises a tether having a segmented spring collet which can be expanded to become trapped in an anchor chamber. A spigot is provided in the base of the chamber which urges the plug upwards relative to the collet when the tether is pushed into the chamber to make the connection. To release the connection tension is removed from the tether and the plug moved down to allow the spring collet to close and move out of the chamber.

Abstract: A marine tether anchoring device comprises an anchor body and a segmented spring collet that moves axially relative to the anchor body. As the anchor body moves downwardly relative to the collet the upper end of the collet is expanded by a wedge structure which is attached to the anchor body and lockingly engages the wall of an anchoring chamber. The lower end of the tether line is attached to the wedge structure and cannot escape from the anchoring chamber. Release is effected by slackening the tension on the tether line and supplying fluid to a piston supported in the anchor body so that the piston forces the collet downwardly and releases the segments of the spring collet from the face of the wedge structure. Retraction of the collet is completed by a cam ring that engages faces on the collet as final downward travel of the collet takes place.

Abstract: A releasable marine tether connection comprises a tether having a segmented spring collet which can be expanded to become trapped in an anchor chamber. A spigot is provided in the base of the chamber which urges the plug upwards relative to the collet when the tether is pushed into the chamber to make the connection. To release the connection tension is removed from the tether and the plug moved down to allow the spring collet to close and move out of the chamber.