Abstract: According to exemplary inventive practice, an ADCP system (including one or more acoustic Doppler current profilers) and a magnetometer system (including one or more magnetometers) are placed underwater. The ADCP system is used to obtain ADCP time series data. The magnetometer system is used to obtain magnetometer time series data. A computer performs computations with respect to input from the ADCP system and input from the magnetometer system. The computations include formulation of a least squares matrix to minimize a least squared error between the ADCP time series data and the magnetometer time series data. The present invention may be practiced, for instance, whereby a magnetometer is centrally located in relation to a triangular arrangement of three ADCPs, or whereby the ADCP system and the magnetometer system are co-located.

Abstract: According to exemplary inventive practice, a deployment line connects a vessel to an anchor, and a tether connects a buoyant electronic unit to the same anchor. The buoyant electronic unit includes a syntactic foam sphere, and a computer and sensors that are housed in the sphere. The anchor and the buoyant electronic unit are discharged from the vessel and sink in the water. The deployment line mechanically detaches from the anchor when the anchor reaches bottom. The buoyant electronic unit stabilizes into an equilibrium position, tethered vertically and tautly to the anchor. Measurements pertaining to phenomena such as underwater electric potential, pressure, magnetic field, and acceleration are taken by the corresponding sensors and are processed by the computer. An electrical (e.g., acoustical) signal is transmitted to detach the tether from the anchor, whereupon the buoyant electronic unit rises to a retrievable position on the surface of the water.

Abstract: A self-mooring module. In particular, a self-mooring module that may be deployed by air, surface or underwater. The module includes a combination anchor/air brake, a buoy, and a mooring line. The module may also include a sensor module. The anchor, combination anchor/air brake and buoy may be used in combination as part of the module or may be used alone in different aspects. The anchor and combination anchor/air brake are foldable to conserve space. The buoy has reduced drag and increased stability versus regular buoys. The self-mooring module may also include an intelligent mooring line module that determines the amount of mooring line to be released for a particular mooring depth and does not release a substantive amount of extra or insufficient mooring line, thereby helping ensure proper placement of an sensor module. Other features include a release mechanism for releasing the anchor from the module and a mechanism for inflating the buoy.

Abstract: A self-mooring module. In particular, a self-mooring module that may be deployed by air, surface or underwater. The module includes a combination anchor/air brake, a buoy, and a mooring line. The module may also include a sensor module. The anchor, combination anchor/air brake and buoy may be used in combination as part of the module or may be used alone in different aspects. The anchor and combination anchor/air brake are foldable to conserve space. The buoy has reduced drag and increased stability versus regular buoys. The self-mooring module may also include an intelligent mooring line module that determines the amount of mooring line to be released for a particular mooring depth and does not release a substantive amount of extra or insufficient mooring line, thereby helping ensure proper placement of an sensor module. Other features include a release mechanism for releasing the anchor from the module and a mechanism for inflating the buoy.

Abstract: A device that spaces fingers away from lids of the type having sharp metallic edges when such lids are removed from cans of the pull-top lid type. The device further prevents movement of the can during the lid-removing process. The device includes a flat base having at least one opening configured and sized to receive the rim of a can. The opening is lined with a liner having a vertical surface that is gripped by the fingers during the can-opening process. Thus, the fingers are spaced apart from the edges of the lid when the lid is removed from the can. The palm of one hand rests atop the base and prevents it and hence the can from lifting during the opening process. In a preferred embodiment, a pair of openings of differing sizes are formed in the base, with the openings overlapping to reduce the length of the device. The shape of the opening can be any shape to accommodate differing shapes of cans.

Abstract: A set screw bus connector comprising a bus with a secondary outlet and a service outlet extending from the bus. The service outlet comprises a terminal having a first borehole extending from its distal end to the bus, a first set screw in the terminal for securing a service cable in the first borehole, a second smaller borehole extending from the distal end of the terminal substantially parallel to but displaced from the first borehole, with the second borehole terminating short of the first set screw, and a second set screw in the terminal for securing a streetlight cable within the second borehole.

Abstract: A splice cover adapted for use with a submersible splice and interconnecting insulated cables comprising a resilient substantially cylindrical center section and resilient corrugated end sections. The corrugations provide interior and exterior grooves and ridges which permit expansion and extension of the end section so as to accept different size insulated cables while maintaining a watertight fit between the cover and the insulated cable and an interference fit between the splice and the splice cover.

Abstract: A sealing element is provided for use on insulated flat cables of the type having opposed rounded minor surfaces and opposed substantially flat parallel major surfaces which comprises an elongated body of resilient material having an orifice extending longitudinally within said body. The orifice has a width greater than its height. Opposed involute walls extend within said orifice substantially along the width of the orifice whereby the involute walls stretch and conform to the opposed substantially flat parallel major surfaces of the flat cable when placed thereon, thus providing a secure, watertight interference fit. Depending upon usage, the orifice may extend through the body or terminate within the body. Additionally, it is preferred that sealing rings be formed in the inner wall of the orifice.

Abstract: A sealing element is provided for use on insulated flat cables which comprises an elongated body of resilient material having an orifice extending longitudinally within said body. The orifice has a width greater than its height. Opposed involute walls extend within said orifice substantially along the width of the orifice whereby the involute walls stretch and conform to the opposed substantially flat parallel major surfaces of the flat cable when placed thereon, thus providing a secure, watertight interference fit. Depending upon usage, the orifice may extend through the body or terminate within the body. Additionally, it is preferred that sealing rings be formed in the inner wall of the orifice.

Abstract: A splice connector having component parts capable of assembly in the field for providing a splice connection between a pair of high voltage shielded electrical cables, the component parts including an electrical connector element to be crimped onto the conductors of the cables, a housing including a pair of elastomeric housing members to be slipped over the cables and assembled over the connector element, a pair of elastomeric sleeves to be placed between the housing and the cables, a retainer ring for retaining each sleeve in place during assembly of the housing over the sleeves, and a heat conductive member for making contact between the electrical connector element and the housing for dissipating heat from the connector element to the housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector in which a sleeve-like insert of conductive elastomeric material serves as an internal shield, the insert terminating at a rounded end made by folding the wall of the insert upon itself at that end to establish the desired rounded profile contour and to space the terminal edge of the wall away from the rounded end in the direction along the insert toward the other end thereof.