Abstract: A coupling half designed to mate with an identical coupling half to form a coupling for interconnecting sections of hose or the like, has a tubular body having at one end a projecting tooth and a complementary socket arrangement constituted by a plurality of uniformly spaced arcuate connector teeth axially outstanding from the tubular body and terminating in a radially inwardly directed arcuate protrusion, a plurality of radially outwardly directed arcuate ribs circumferentially aligned with the teeth, and a plurality of tooth entrance ways located circumferentially between each of the ribs and each of the teeth, a resiliently biased detent locking device in the body biased towards an advanced position, and an annular detent unlocking ring angularly rotatable on the body and resiliently biased in one direct ion of rotation to an inoperative position and being angularly movable in the opposite direction to an active position wherein it engages the detent locking means to retract it away from the advanced posit

Abstract: There is described a portable water monitor for fire fighting, irrigating or other watering purposes. The water invention is of compact, stable, light-weight configuration. The device has a base unit which may be filled with water to increase the weight of the unit when deployed in the field. Compact plumbing is provided which permits the monitor nozzle to be rotated 360.degree. in the horizontal direction about a vertical axis swivel coupling and to be elevated and depressed in a ball and socket coupling. The ball and socket coupling additionally provides that the monitor nozzle may be offset relative to the swivel action coupling on the ball and socket coupling. This offset, which is actually the ability to point the nozzle away from the unit's vertical axis, creates a rotational force for the nozzle by harnessing a portion of the reaction force which acts through the center of the nozzle. The unit can be manually or remotely controlled.

Abstract: A coupling half designed to mate with an identical coupling half to form a coupling for interconnecting sections of hose or the like, has a tubular body having at one end a projecting tooth and a complementary socket arrangement constituted by a plurality of uniformly spaced arcuate connector teeth axially outstanding from the tubular body and terminating in a radially inwardly directed arcuate protrusion, a plurality of radially outwardly directed arcuate ribs circumferentially aligned with the teeth, and a plurality of tooth entrance ways located circumferentially between each of the ribs and each of the teeth, a resiliently biased detent locking device in the body biased towards an advanced position, and an annular detent unlocking ring angularly rotatable on the body and resiliently biased in one direction of rotation to an inoperative position and being angularly movable in the opposite direction to an active position wherein it engages the detent locking means to retract it away from the advanced positi

Abstract: Cargo loads are frequently carried by being slung under a helicopter and carried by its cargo hook. One of the problems arising from this type of transportation is that the load is reasonably unstable relative to the helicopter, and its instability precludes certain operations which would otherwise be possible. The invention provides a device that creates the desired stability. There is described a load frame for external attachment to a helicopter by its cargo hook. The frame has a base from the upper face of which radiates a plurality of arms which engage the underside of the skids of the helicopter. By means of a winch mounted on the base, the load frame can be snugged up into a stable flight position beneath the helicopter with the arms firmly engaging the underside of the helicopter skids. There is also disclosed a reel for attachment to the load frame which conveniently can be used to pay out a fire hose or the like from the helicopter in flight.