Abstract: A valve for controlling purging fluid for marine speedometer lines includes a valve body. The valve body has a bore extending in a longitudinal direction therein, a speedometer port, a pressurized fluid supply port and an impact tube port. The ports are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction and communicate with the bore. A valve spool is slidably received within the bore for reciprocation between first and second positions in the bore. The spool has three spaced apart seals between the bore and the spool. There is a first passageway between the first and second seals and between the spool and the bore. The speedometer port and the impact tube port communicate through the passageway, the pressurized fluid supply port is isolated from the speedometer port and the impact tube port, and the third seal and first seal are on opposite sides of the pressurized fluid supply port, in the first position of the spool.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for lubricating a string of hollow rods connected to a cone penetrometer within a probe hole, as used in geotechnical "in situ" testing. The rods have aligned bores to receive a drilling or lubricating fluid which passes along the rods to a perforated lubricating apparatus extending between an inner end of the string of rods and the cone penetrometer. Preferably a major portion of an outer surface of the lubricating apparatus is within a maximum cross-section of the cone penetrometer. A longitudinal bore within the lubricating apparatus communicates with a plurality of lubricating openings in the outer surface of the lubricating apparatus body. Thus lubricating fluid within the string of rods passes in to the longitudinal bore of the body and is dispersed through the plurality of the lubricating openings to the outer surface of the body, so as to stabilize side wall of the probe hole and to lubricate the string of drill rods within the probe hole.

Abstract: A clamping device comprises a first jaw member and a second jaw member. A screw has a screw spindle rotatably mounted on the first jaw member. A half nut is mounted on the second jaw member. A cam operatively connects the screw to the half nut so that the half nut is engaged with the screw or disengaged from the screw by rotation of the screw.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for coupling together a plurality of fluid actuated components utilizing a pressurized fluid which provides a versatile structure to enable easy customizing of control systems. Each component has ports to receive and to discharge fluid when secured to the mounting assembly. The assembly has a main face with at least a first face recess separated from an adjacent second face recess by a partition, a portion of the partition being adapted to be removed to provide communication between the first and second face recesses. The assembly also has input and output connecting recesses adapted to receive and to discharge fluid and to communicate with the face recesses. The assembly includes an intermediate plate fitted and sealed between the components and the mounting plate to seal portions of the recesses to form passages through the mounting assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for harvesting seed cones from a tree has a lower guide portion with an opening for freely embracing the trunk of the tree while permitting vertical movement of the apparatus with respect to the tree. There is an upper cone receiving portion having a rotatable cone remover with a plurality of outwardly extending members for separating cones from the tree. Preferably, the cone remover has a roll portion. The outwardly extending members extend generally radially from the roll portion and are resilient and wire-like.

Abstract: An exercising apparatus has a hollow housing with an aperture extending therethrough and a cavity on one side. The cavity has a cylindrical portion and at least one slot portion extending outwardly at the edge of the cylindrical portion. A first handle is connected to the housing. An axle, with a round portion and a square portion, extends rotatably through the aperture. A bolt extends through a longitudinal aperture through the axle. The round portion of the axle extends through a pulley wheel in the hollow housing. There is a one way clutch between the pulley wheel and the round portion of the axle. A strap, normally wound about the pulley, wheel extends from an opening in the housing. A spiral spring within the housing biases the pulley wheel to wind the strap. There is a set of at least three friction discs proportioned to fit freely and removably within the cavity of the housing. A rotatable metal disc has a square central aperture for rotation with the square portion of the axle.

Abstract: A twin lever control assembly for controlling two inter-related functions, such as a clutch/gearbox unit and a throttle of a marine power unit, has an interlock to permit movement of one lever only if the remaining lever is in a particular position. The assembly has an interlocking shaft fitted for movement between two connecting members which rotate with rotation of the respective lever. The shaft has a length greater than spacing between opposed faces of the connecting members, and is spring-urged towards the first connecting member. The connecting members have sockets to receive adjacent ends of the interlocking shaft to prevent movement of the receiving connecting member, the shaft being forced into the socket by either the spring force, or by a camming effect between the first member and the shaft.

Abstract: Collapsible fire fighting bucket is suspended from helicopter and filled from a lake. The bucket has a tubular extension with a discharge port extending from its bottom for dumping water onto the fire. The extension can be released from and withdrawn into the bucket by remote control, and a lip seal around the discharge port closes automatically to minimize leakage from the full bucket. Stiffeners in the side wall of the bucket adapt the bucket to the desired capacity without the use of conventional spill ports.

Abstract: A control head assembly which automatically locks a control lever into one of two or more selected positions, thus reducing chances of accidental disengagement. The lever is relatively stiff and is rotatable between at least two selected positions and is also movable along hinge axis. Stops carried on control head mounting and on lever permit rotation of the lever between the two positions when the stops are disengaged and prevent rotation when the stops are engaged. A spring cooperates with the lever and mounting to permit axial movement for engagement and disengagement and to hold in engagement when lever is in one of the selected positions. The stop on the lever has a particular shape which can be accepted in at least two orientations relative to the stop on the mounting.

Abstract: A control assembly particularly for use in marine controls where a single lever thereof actuates a clutch and throttle of a marine power unit. The assembly has a first input shaft rotatable relative to a body thereof, and an extensible and retractable first output structure for controlling a function, e.g. the throttle. The assembly includes a cam mounted on the first input shaft for rotation therewith and a cam follower cooperating with the cam and the first output structure. A lever means cooperates with the body and cam follower so that the first output structure is actuated in an amount dependent on direction and rotation of the input shaft from an initial position thereof. In a preferred embodiment, a second output structure for the clutch is responsive to primary rotation of the input shaft from the initial position thereof and is unresponsive to secondary rotation, and the first output structure is unresponsive to primary rotation of the shaft and is responsive to secondary rotation thereof.

Abstract: An expandable fishing lure comprises a flexible body with an interior cavity. A resiliently biased pair of members within the cavity expands the body when released from a contracted position. A pin secures the members together in the contracted position and releases the members when a fish strikes the lure so the lure expands.

Abstract: A device for remotely steering a boat includes a friction drive wheel for frictionally driving the steering wheel of the boat. There is a reversible motor connected to the friction wheel for rotating the friction wheel. Shock cords resiliently bias the friction wheel towards the steering wheel. A remotely locatable motor control selectively rotates the motor in a desired direction of rotation and thereby steers the boat as the friction wheel rotates the steering wheel.

Abstract: A control lever assembly for actuating a control cable, particularly a cable of the type capable of transmitting compressive forces as well as tensile forces, known as a push-pull cable. The assembly has a lever journalled for rotation relative to a body thereof, and a core anchoring structure adapted to rotate with the lever and to be subjected to relative lateral movement during such rotation. The core anchoring means anchors one end of a core of the control cable, and a sheath retaining means retains a portion of a sheath of the cable to restrict axial movement of the sheath following actuation of the cable. A connecting structure, which is structurally independent of the control cable, cooperates with the sheath retaining structure and the core anchoring structure to swivel the sheath retaining structure in response to rotation of the core anchoring structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for irrigating plants includes a planter having a container for a growing medium. A liquid reservoir is below the container. There are openings between the reservoir and the container, permitting a flow of liquid from the reservoir to the container. A filler conduit communicates with the reservoir. A float chamber is near the top of the reservoir. A float chamber conduit extends from the reservoir to the float chamber. There is a float in the float chamber and a normally closed air valve is operatively connected to the float so the float opens the valve when liquid from the reservoir rises in the float chamber. There may be an air conduit connected to the valve so pressurized air from the air conduit is discharged when the valve opens. There may be a closed liquid container normally positioned below the planter. A liquid conduit communicates with the insides of the container near the bottom thereof and is connected to the filler conduit.

Abstract: Multi-cylinder reverse osmosis pump having at least three cylinders, each feed cylinder having a displacer rod carrying a displacer to divide the cylinder into respective pumping and expansion chambers. Each displacer rod has an expansion chamber valve portion directly associated therewith to control flow of concentrate fluid relative to an expansion chamber of a cylinder other than that directly associated with the respective cylinder rod. Dwell is provided for each cylinder to permit initial travel of the displacer rod at the beginning of each rod stroke while the corresponding valve controlling that cylinder is closed. The displacer rods are phased apart so that when a particular rod of a particular cylinder reaches an end of each stroke, another rod associated directly with the valve controlling that particular cylinder is approaching the mid-stroke position thereof so that the valve directly associated with the other rod is closing.

Abstract: Reverse osmosis pump using a fluid volume exchange structure interconnecting pumping and expansion chambers of feed cylinder externally of feed cylinder. This structure permits exchange of volume between pumping and expansion chambers following initiation of induction or pumping stroke. Volume exchange provides a dwell interval to shift main directional valve across closed center position thereof, thus increasing tolerance to valve actuation, and also tends to equalize pressure differences across ports of the valve prior to opening of such ports, thus reducing erosion and valve gear wear. Also tends to reduce pressure differences across feed displacer, thus reducing sealing problems. Volume exchange structure can be a resilient diaphragm with no intermixing of fluid, mechanically timed valve permitting intermixing of fluid, or cross-over relief valves which are pressure responsive to permit intermixing of fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus pressure treats a moving web by pressing the web against a surface. The apparatus comprises a continuous link chain and a chain support. The chain support supports a moving length of the chain close to the surface so the length of chain has a shape complementary to the shape of the surface. A length of web moving with the chain is pressed between the chain and the surface.