Abstract: A diver surfacing signal that can be conveniently carried underwater in a launching tube that is strapped to a diver's tanks and released by the diver prior to surfacing in order to alert marine vehicles to the diver's presence. Prior to surfacing, the diver releases the surfacing signal from the launching tube by the depression of a button, and the surfacing signal remains linked to the diver by a flexible line. The flexible line functions to keep the surfacing signal in the vicinity of the diver, and can be used to retrieve the surfacing signal after the diver has come to the water surface and has moved to a safe location.

Abstract: An underwater sound source with a remote controlled actuator comprising a oy having a buoyant portion, a plurality of launch tubes storing acoustic charges, a radio transceiver, control circuitry, hinged doors at the bottom of the tubes, and a safety release circuit. The hinged doors are secured by pneumatic actuators to allow a selected door to open on a radio signal from a remote location. The charges are pressure sensitive and will explode at a preselected depth. A launch platform can deploy the device and remove itself from the general vicinity of the test site. The device releases the charges on command from a transmitter aboard a vessel and reports on the status of the launch tube doors to a receiver aboard a vessel. A safety valve can be opened automatically or on power failure to insure that all acoustic charges have been discharged.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for interconnecting an unmanned underwater vehicle V) and a free-floating pod, the apparatus comprising a communications cable extending between the pod and a less buoyant buoy, the buoy being in communication with a distal station, a mobile UUV in communication with a control vessel, connector structure on the UUV adapted to intercept the cable and adapted to slide along the cable toward the pod, and complementary engagement structure on the UUV and the pod adapted to cause the UUV to engage the pod in a preselected orientation and azimuth, to place the control vessel in communication with the distal station.

Abstract: A marker buoy for temporary indication of various fishing positioning is provided to include buoyant structure to rotatably accommodate a spool therebetween, with the spool rotatably operative through a rotary tool to effect selective winding and unwinding of a support tether line mounting an anchor to the support tether line. A modification of the invention includes various marker flag structure and scent dispensing arrangements in association with the organization.

Abstract: A marker device for marking an underwater location is provided and comprises a heavier-than-water weight member including a reel thereon, an elongated connector line attached to the weight member and wrapped on the reel when the marker device is not in use and unwrapped from the reel when a location is to be marked, an inflatable/deflatable marker balloon on the connector line and stored on the weight member in the deflated condition when the marker device is not in use and removed from the weight member for inflation when a location is to be marked, and valve means communicated to the marker balloon for permitting introduction of gas therein to inflate the balloon and release of gas therefrom for deflating the balloon.

Abstract: An emergency position indicating radio beacon ("EPIRB") includes a watertight housing with an ON-OFF switch on the outside of the housing which does not require holes through the housing wall. A floatation collar on the housing maintains the EPIRB in an upright position in the water and provides a storage cavity for a lanyard. Conductive grids on the interior of the housing either shield the EPIRB electronics from antenna radiation and form the lower half of the antenna, or couple the antenna to the water which acts as a ground plane, depending on whether the EPIRB is floating in the water or is surrounded by air.

Abstract: A marker device for fishermen including a body or flotation portion made from a transparent, plastic bottle. A sheet of brightly colored fluorescent or retroreflective paper lines the inside of the bottle, making the marker highly visible. A threaded cap is secured to the core or bottom end of a spool, about which an anchor line is wound. The spool has upper and lower flanges, and the anchor line is secured to the upper flange. An anchor weight is secured to the free end of the anchor line, the anchor weight being a strip of malleable lead that may be formed to bend around the anchor line wound on the spool when not in use. Further, a counterweight is contained within the bottom portion of the spool opposite the bottle, causing the marker to stand upright in the water.

Abstract: A flag and buoy apparatus includes a body having a plurality of receptacles therein. The flag and buoy apparatus also includes a plurality of buoyant arms, each arm being receivable in one of the receptacles and extending radially from the body. Each arm is also tethered to the body. A pole assembly extends axially from the body to support the flag, the pole assembly being attachable to the body. The arms and the pole assembly may be detached from the body for storage of the apparatus.

Abstract: A buoy member includes a central cavity with a weighted bottom portion to maintain alignment of the buoy apparatus, and the buoy apparatus includes a transmitter operative upon the buoy being projected from an associated boat. The buoy apparatus is further arranged to include a visible signal member inflated upon actuation of switching interiorly of the buoy, as well as a signal light. A spool brake is arranged to provide for controlled descent of the control tether mounted to the associated boat or individual.

Abstract: A hollow, elongated tubular member, constructed of flexible resilient material, an inlet-outlet for admitting and discharging air, and including a separate, removable sleeve constructed of material as resilient, or less resilient than the buoy bladder, for its upper portion is adapted for deployment as a portable, large, and versatile marker buoy. The height above the waterline is adjustable by controlling the amount of air therein, the sleeve is removable, interchangable, and is to be printed with the insignia to designate its use. The air pressure in the buoy is used to hold the sleeve and any lightweight device inserted between the two members in position without the use of a fastening device. The method of deploying this marker buoy includes the steps of partial inflation, positioning of the sleeve, attaching ballast weight and or anchor weight, and adjusting to the desired height above the waterline by controlling the volume of air therein.

Abstract: A surface unit for a sonobuoy or similar device is disclosed and includes a variable volume sealed chamber and an arrangement including a pressurized carbon dioxide cartridge within the sealed chamber which, when energized, releases the carbon dioxide and increases the chamber volume from a collapsed volume to an expanded significantly greater volume. Electronic circuitry including radio transmitter circuitry is included within the sealed chamber along with a radio transmitter antenna which is within the sealed chamber and coupled to the radio transmitter circuitry. Expansion of the float sealed chamber functions to erect the antenna preparatory to transmission. The variable volume sealed chamber is formed of a semi-rigid plastic cup having a generally cylindrical corrugated sidewall portion, a closed end describing one of the chamber ends and a rigid base member sealed to the cup sidewall portion remote from the closed end and describing the other of the chamber ends.

Abstract: An improved water flotation release device for locating the submerged position of ships that have sunk. The device comprises an improved release buoy that is self contained and communicating and a releasing system that leads to non-violent and reliable release from the sinking ship.

Abstract: A water safety system to be carried on the person of a water skier. The water safety system occupies a minimal packing envelope and includes a signal flag borne by an extendable flag pole. The flag and flag pole assembly are readily accessible to the skier and permit rapid display of the signal flag when a skier enters the water. Weighted floatation devices maintain the signal flag displayed above the water when the pole is unattended.

Abstract: An emergency position indicating radio beacon is controlled by an annular switch ring which rotates to ON, OFF, SET, and TEST positions. In the SET position, the buoy transmitter automatically turns on in response to removal of the buoy from a mounting bracket. A light and an audible alarm on the buoy are activated during buoy transmission to alert an operator to the transmission in order to avoid false alarms. The mounting bracket automatically releases and ejects the buoy in an emergency situation in response to ambient water pressure, or the buoy may be manually removed from the bracket for deployment.

Abstract: An arrangement for mounting a radio distress beacon (1) comprises a split casing (4) which is bouyant and which is normally held together and to the deck of a vessel by a harness (7). If the vessel should sink the harness is released, the casing rises to the water surface and springs (20) overcome the hydrostatic pressure at shallow depths and force the halves of the casing apart, so releasing the beacon.

Abstract: A high frequency (HF) communications buoy that employs HF surface wave, and sky wave, communication and spread spectrum modulation to suppress multipath fading and to decrease the undesired detectability of transmitted signals. The buoy comprises a water-tight floatable enclosure that may be deployed from a flying vehicle or a submerged vessel. An HF communications transceiver is disposed within the enclosure that is capable of transmitting and receiving signals employing high frequency (HF) band surface wave and sky wave propagation. The transceiver further comprises spread spectrum modulation and demodulation circuitry for modulating transmitted signals utilizing spread spectrum modulation and for demodulating received signals encoded by means of spread spectrum modulation. The spread spectrum modulation and demodulation circuitry is provided to suppress multipath fading and decrease the probability of detection of transmitted signals.

Abstract: The emergency location marker system carried by a vessel for marking a location on the water and signaling, especially for locating and rescuing an individual in the water, comprises a flotation and support structure with an advantageously collapsible self-erecting tower, location-indicating devices at least one of which is mounted on the top portion of the tower, a mechanical deploying and actuating assembly for launching and activating the emergency location marker system and an electrical supply and control system. The location-indicating devices may include audio sounders, a strobe light and a self-erecting passive reflector for light and radar mounted at the top portion of the collapsible self-erecting tower below the strobe light, a low frequency transmitter and an electrical and retracting cable connected to the top portion of the collapsible self-erecting antenna tower.

Abstract: A watercraft incorporating improved warning devices for providing a warning signal in response to a abnormal condition. The abnormal condition may be either the condition when a rider is no longer present on the watercraft or when the watercraft assumes a non-normal running condition such as being capsized or inverted. In some instances, the warning is provided by a flag, a light, by a warning jet spray of water and, in others, by an audible signal. The warning may be combined so that more than one type of warning is given in response to an abnormal condition.

Abstract: The portable marine marker buoy having a transparent signal support housing which is carried by a float and is stabilized in the water by a depending weight assembly and which is restrained from drifting by an anchor which is deployed by an automatically locking anchor line dispensing reel assembly.

Abstract: A life buoy equipped with a radar responder adapted to transmit waves in response to radar waves from a searcher, the life buoy comprising a hull member of a rigid plastic hollow construction, the hull member water-tightly accommodating a receiving antenna, a receiver, a transmitting antenna, a transmitter and a battery in a vertical manner such that the center of gravity is located at a distance from and below the center of buoyancy, and the hull member having a downwardly converging shape from under the level of water at least up to the center of buoyancy.

Abstract: A boat propelled by a motorcycle. The boat propelled by a motorcycle has a portable ramp to get the motorcycle on and off. The motorcycle produces rotational energy by its driven wheel and transmits it to a pair of rollers covered by rubber or any nonslippery material. The motorcycle is fastened to the boat by two yokes which support the pedals making them like one piece without movement, except if the whole boat gets moved. Fore roller transmits the driving force to a gear which has a sprocket chain mounted and at the other end of this, has another gear which makes an axis spin that is connected to a gear box. Another shaft extends out of the gear box and makes the propeller spin to move the boat. The gear box has forward propeller direction and reverse propeller direction. The aft roller makes two pulleys spin which make two transmission bands spin and make two more pulleys spin which make two ducted fans spin, one on each side of the engine of the motorcycle and cool it off.

Abstract: In an emergency locator transmitter of a type wherein a standard distress signal is transmitted following a distress incident, the distress signal is encoded with data identifying the absolute time of the incident or the amount of time that has elapsed since the incident occurred. Distress waveform modulation of the carrier is periodically interrupted for insertion of the time signal. In a preferred embodiment, wherein the distress signal includes information burst signals that are periodically transmitted, e.g., every 50 seconds, timing pulses generated synchronously with the burst signals are supplied to a divider circuit for division by a predetermined integer to develop extended time base pulses, e.g., one hour pulse intervals. The extended pulses are accumulated in a binary counter and combined with the information burst signals.

Abstract: A measurement system for collecting data relating to the total, partial or distributed flow of a river or like course is disclosed. A generally planar array of flow velocity sensors is erected transversely with respect to the general direction of flow. The array comprises a number of vertically extending strings of sensors which are anchored at one end of the bed of the course and the free end of the string is supported by a buoyant float. The sensors in a string are attached at fixed intervals along the string so that each always resides at the corresponding fixed proportion of total depth up to the maximum which can be accommodated by the length of the string. Alternative sensor designs are also discussed.

Abstract: A sonobuoy launching system having an electrical connection device for prding a data transmission link between a sonobuoy launch tube and launch container mounted therein. Conductive metal rings are disposed on the end surface of the launch container. A contact-pin device having spring-loaded conductive metal pins is mounted in the breech end of the launch tube. The contact-pin device is oriented such that when the launch container is coupled to the launch tube each of the conductive metal pins will make electrical contact with one of the conductive metal rings.

Abstract: A thermal microstructure measurement system (TMMS) operates autonomously h its own internal power supply and telemeters data to a platform. A thermal array is mounted on a cross-braced frame designed to orient itself normal to existing currents with fixed sensor positioning bars protruding from the cross bars. A plurality of matched thermistors, conductivity probes and inclinometers are mounted on the frame. A compass and pressure transducer are contained in an electronics package suspended below the array. The array is deployed on a taut mooring below a subsurface float. Data are digitized, transmitted via cable to a surface buoy and then telemetered to the platform where the data is processed via a computer, recorded and/or displayed. The platform computer also sends commands to the array via telemetry.

Abstract: A surface floating buoy has an antenna attached to a linkage system which pivots about the floating buoy. The linkage system is attached to a counterweight such that the antenna is maintained at a desired vertical position with respect to the surface of a body of water by pantographic action. The floating buoy contains a hollow cavity of sufficient size to hold the linkage system antenna and counterweight prior to deployment in a body of water. Upon deployment in the water, gravitational forces on the counterweight and linkage system cause the system to be deployed. The invention may also include a servo feedback system for more accurately positioning the antenna at its desired position.