Abstract: A controllable stiffness duct having a spirally wound metallic strip with a spiral turns interlock to define a flexible product carrying or delivering conduit. Disposed in the spiral turns interlock is a pressure line inflatable to stiffen the conduit and resist collapse. The pressure line may be used to convey fluid through the duct to power a device at a remote end of the duct. The pressure line may include imbedded electrically conductive materials to provide electrical power to the remote end of the duct. An insulating layer and a protective wire rope sheath cover the conduit to form the controllable stiffness duct.

Abstract: A mechanism, useful in rough terrain for lifting and moving heavy loads short distances, resembles a tripod. The mechanism has three leg assemblies which are variable in length under control of an operator while subjected to axial loading. The legs are pivotally connected at their upper ends to a common crown block assembly and at each of their lower ends to a self-propelled base unit. A power source is associated with each leg assembly for varying the length of the associated leg assembly under axial loading. A winch is associated with one of the legs for reeling in and out a cable extending from the winch and via the crown block to a load. The mechanism is disassemblable for transport to a site of use. In its assembled state, the base units are disposed in spaced relation about a load and the legs are adjusted so that the crown block assembly is disposed over the load.

Abstract: A wire matrix for a construction panel has a plurality of parallel longitudinal trusses, each truss having a pair of parallel longitudinal wire runners and a plurality of transverse wire struts in which the struts associated with one truss are all parallel to each other and extend diagonally between the parallel runners, with the struts in alternate ones of the trusses being parallel and the struts in adjacent trusses being skewed. The trusses are formed by making a grid of parallel longitudinal runners joined by diagonal cross wires which are then cut between adjacent pairs of runners to form separate trusses. The trusses are then joined by transverse wire runners forming a three-dimensional matrix.