Abstract: A trap capable of harvesting commercial quantities of shrimp in the open ocean or in ponds is a wire mesh cage having shrimp capture gates in the form of truncated prisms, each sized to admit desired shrimp but exclude predatory fish. The inner end of each gate has a transparent hinged flap which swings away to admit a shrimp; to encourage the shrimp's entrance, a gap, sufficient to pass the shrimp's feelers, is left below the flap in the gate. An attractor is provided in the harvester to attract plankton or similar shrimp food organisms. The resulting higher density of plankton at the harvester rapidly attracts shrimp. The mesh construction of the cage permits free flow of water currents, and rapid build up of plankton. The mesh is also opened at least at the bottom of the harvester, to provide size selection, by permitting the ready escape of immature shrimp of small size.

Abstract: Perishable food and like comestibles are preserved and/or rejuvenated by the placement of such products, together with a moisture pod preferably isolated from direct physical contact therewith, into a container constructed of a substantially air-tight moisture impervious but readily cold permeable material, sealing the container, and subjecting the sealed package to conditions of refrigeration.

Abstract: A tide motor energy source includes a tidal piston with a valved chamber. The piston drives a hydraulic ram to generate electrical power through a pressure accumulator and hydraulic motor. The ram can be locked hydraulically to enable the tidal piston to be held fixed at a desired elevation and the valves in the chamber permit it to be filled with water or air. The piston with its chamber filled with air at its low tide position and then released for controlled ascent while submerged acts as a submerged float for driving the ram upwardly while the tide runs in during one phase of its operation. The piston with its chamber filled with water while locked at its highest position as the tide begins to run out, and then released to fall under control, acts as a weight suspended in air after the water level drops below the piston for driving the ram downwardly during the second phase of its operation. The rising and falling motion of the tidal piston is used as the energy source.

Abstract: An hydraulic motor having as an energy source a cyclically controlled rising and falling level of liquid in a working tank in which is provided a piston element having a liquid-tight hollow chamber that is arranged to move vertically with the rising and falling liquid level in response to buoyant and gravitational forces acting thereon. The liquid level in the tank is varied by using a plurality of liquid-tight exchange receptacles located adjacent the tank in vertically spaced relationship between the lower and upper liquid levels in the tank, with each exchange receptacle communicating with the tank through an opening including a normally closed valve. A control means for varying the liquid level in the tank includes a system for sequentially and individually opening and closing each of the valves from the uppermost to the lowermost exchange receptacle, and vice versa.

Abstract: A tide motor useful for converting periodic rising and falling water levels to useful work such as electric power generation includes a primary piston having a large enclosed chamber that can selectively be filled with air for generation of upward thrust when submerged in rising tidal water or filled with water for generating downward gravitational thrust when the piston is suspended in air above a dropping tidal water level. Cyclic filling and emptying of the chamber is programmed to coordinate piston positions and water level positions, and the piston can be locked in either up or down position to achieve maximum flotation and gravitational thrust forces. An auxiliary tidal piston that can be locked in a down position has an upper water chamber provided with flood valves and an air filled, sealed flotation chamber below. The auxiliary piston is located near the primary piston, and is designed to have positive buoyancy when its respective chambers are filled with water and air.

Abstract: Coin controlled article vending apparatus which features a hydraulic system to release a selected article from stacked horizontal position for dispensing.

Abstract: A moisture pod comprised of a flexible, porous water reservoir is enveloped in a water-impervious, flexible sheath. Registrating apertures in each of the reservoir and sheath allow water vapor to emanate from the pod to provide a stagnant, humid environment for a perishable comestible product when the moisture pod is packaged therewith, the apertures formed to preclude direct liquid water contact with the product.