Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve body with an access opening in which a linearly installed but pivotally operated gate-like valve-stopping mechanism is disposed, said mechanism including a support structure or cartridge with a pivotally moveable valve-stopping element or isolator (e.g., a butterfly element). A method for hot tapping a pipeline with a valve assembly as described above proceeds by (i) connecting the valve body to a line to be tapped, (iii) connecting a hot-tapping machine to the valve body, (iv) connecting a bonnet holding the valve-stopping mechanism to the valve body over the access opening, (v) hot tapping the line, (vi) advancing the valve-stopping mechanism into the valve body interior, and (vii) disconnecting the hot-tapping machine from the valve body with the valve-stopping element pivoted to the first position where it stops fluid communications. The gate-like valve-stopping mechanism can replace a gate in an insert valve (IV) or a repair-under-pressure (RUP) valve.

Abstract: A multi point contactor (MPC) on a component testing system for electrically contacting a terminal on a device under test (DUT) includes at least three independently moveable contacts to help insure at least two of them contact the DUT terminal. At least one of the contacts includes an integral spring, preferably in the form of a blade laser machined from a sheet of electrically conductive material to include a first portion for bearing against the contact-holding structure, a second portion for bearing against the terminal on the DUT, and a third portion interconnecting the first and second portions that functions as an integral spring bias for spring biasing the second portion from the first portion toward the terminal on the DUT. Preferably, the third portion of the blade has a serpentine shape that consistently results in desired constant-force spring characteristics over a nominal range of blade travel.

Abstract: A circular parachute includes a circularly shaped canopy having a skirt band and a plurality of cascaded, Y-shaped main suspension lines connected to the skirt band that converge downwardly to a suspension line junction. Each main suspension line includes a lower segment that branches into at least two upper segments. One embodiment includes a canopy with a vent band and Y-shaped vent suspension lines that converge downwardly to a vent centerline. A generally planar reefing device for slowing the opening of the canopy defines a plurality of openings through which the main suspension lines extend. In one reefing device embodiment, a strip of material (e.g., a nylon strap) is folded into multiple strip segments arranged in a five-point star configuration. Eyelets in the form of brass grommets extending through the strip segment junctions form suspension-line-receiving openings.

Abstract: A valve includes a valve body with a hollow valve body interior and an opening-defining portion that defines an access opening. The opening-defining portion is arranged as a connection-facilitating structure for facilitating the fluid-tight connection of a separate isolation valve assembly to the opening-defining portion in a position over the access opening that enables removal and replacement of a valve-stopping mechanism from the valve through the isolation valve assembly. It may include a flange, exterior thread, one or more annular grooves or rings, and/or a segmented cam lock arrangement.

Abstract: A watercraft with a propulsion engine includes at least one hull having an underside. A dual exhaust system includes a first exhaust conduit defining a first exhaust flow path leading to the underside (e.g., a step in a planing surface on the underside) and a second exhaust conduit defining a second exhaust flow path to atmosphere. One embodiment is self proportioning. In another embodiment, an onboard proportioning system varies first and second proportions of the exhaust flowing through respective ones of the first and second exhaust conduits according to exhaust back pressure. First and second valve mechanisms selectively restrict the first and second exhaust flow paths under computer or manual control according to pressure sensed by a back-pressure-sensing component in order to thereby direct the exhaust in desired proportions for enhanced operating characteristics and reduced thermal signature.

Abstract: A contactor assembly useable on a component testing system for electrically contacting a terminal on a device under test (DUT) for parametric testing and eventual sorting as part of component batch processing includes a holder subassembly and a tip subassembly. The holder subassembly includes a housing and spring-biasing components within the housing. The housing has a proximal end portion for mounting on the component testing system and a distal end portion for holding the tip subassembly proximate the terminal of the device under test. The tip subassembly includes a blade-holding structure and at least one blade held by the blade-holding structure, and the contactor assembly includes components (i.e., a quick-release mechanism) for removably mounting the tip subassembly on the distal end portion of the housing with the spring-biasing components spring biasing the blade toward the terminal of the device under test.

Abstract: A canting ballast twin foil (CBTF) sailing yacht constructed according to the invention includes a sailing hull, a ballast, a ballast-supporting structure, and an onboard ballast drive system. The ballast drive system moves the ballast in order to vary the counter-heeling force it produces underway. Twin foils that depend downwardly from the hull in positions fore and aft of the ballast provide leeway and steering control. An onboard main engine drive system provides power, either directly by suitable mechanical coupling or indirectly through charging of the battery/electric system, for one or more of a canting system, a leeway, and/or steering control system. The onboard main engine drive system may also power a yacht-propelling propeller.

Abstract: A vacuum ring on a component testing system includes a metallic base material defining a vacuum-communicating passageway. A ceramic layer on the base material, preferably 20-100 micrometers thick and formed by a micro-arc oxidation process resulting in molecular adhesion, improves abrasion resistance and makes the vacuum ring more arc-over proof. A test plate for holding DUTs includes such a ceramic layer that provides better wear while enabling use of the base as a guard layer during testing. Another aspect of the invention concerns a vacuum ring having an eject hole pattern for discharging compressed gas toward DUTs in order to eject DUTs from a test plate. The eject hole pattern includes a plurality of closely spaced apart holes, each measuring less than the size that would be large enough to receive a DUT having the predetermined minimum cross sectional area.

Abstract: A wheel for a motorcycle, bicycle, or other wheeled vehicle includes first and second wheel sections that are bolted or otherwise assembled together over an independently rotatable spinner component. Each wheel section has a hub portion, a rim portion, and a spoke portion such that the two hub portions form a combined hub portion of the motorcycle wheel, the two rim portions form a combined rim portion of the motorcycle wheel, and the two spoke portions form a combined spoke portion of the motorcycle wheel. The two spoke portions define an interior space between them. The spinner component is mounted rotatably on the combined hub portion of the wheel assembly in the interior space between the first and second spoke portions for freewheel rotation about the rotational axis independent of the rest of the wheel.

Abstract: A cat toy apparatus for occupying a cat or functioning as a hunting decoy includes a support structure, a motor assembly on the support structure that includes a motor and an electronic circuit for powering the motor, an elongated member having a proximal end portion connected to the motor and a distal end portion disposed radially outwardly from the central axis, and an object connected to the distal end portion by a flexible line. The motor assembly is adapted to rotate the elongated member in order to thereby move the object about the central axis of the support structure for purposes of attracting the attention of an animal, preferably with haphazard, unpredictable movement that a cat finds enticing. The electronic circuit may include a sensor for detecting an animal in close proximity to the apparatus in order to automatically turn the electric motor on.

Abstract: A tool for removing a hinge pin from a hinge includes an elongated member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, a handle on the proximal end portion for a user to grasp in a hand of the user, and a forked tip on the distal end portion for the user to wedge between a hinge pin head and a hinge for purposes of facilitating hinge removal. The forked tip includes spaced apart first and second hinge-pin-dislodging tongs that define a channel having a width larger than the hinge pin shaft diameter and smaller than the hinge pin head diameter in order to enable the channel to receive the hinge pin shaft as the user wedges the first and second hinge-pin-dislodging tongs between the hinge pin head and the hinge.

Abstract: A watercraft includes at least one hull having at least one planing surface, at least one vertical step in the planing surface, and an onboard propulsion engine. An exhaust-venting system is provided for venting exhaust from the onboard propulsion engine at the vertical step in the planing surface while under way in order to introduce gas along the planing surface. The hull of one embodiment takes the form of an M-shaped boat hull. The invention also applies to any of various other watercraft hulls, including watercraft with multiple hulls such that each of the multiple hulls includes one or more planing surfaces with one or more vertical steps at which exhaust is vented.

Abstract: A wind chime constructed according to the invention includes a rotating wind bell apparatus having a downwardly opening bell that is adapted to be suspended from a separate support structure. A bell-striking mechanism in the form of a striker is suspended movably from the bell in a position to strike the bell. A striker-moving mechanism in the form of an impeller connected to the striker causes the striker to move in response to a wind moving past the striker-moving mechanism and to strike the bell so that the bell produces a tone. A bell-rotating mechanism in the form of another impeller connected to the bell causes the bell to rotate in response to the wind moving past the bell-rotating mechanism in order to thereby vary the tone and produce tremolo or Doppler-like effects. In one embodiment, the bell-rotating mechanism includes a Savonius type impeller attached to the upwardly facing surface of a circularly shaped impeller base.