Abstract: Method and apparatus which provides a retrievable anchor for a floating vessel. The apparatus includes a ballast chain secured to a winch located on the vessel. The chain is lowered into a submergible anchor shell which together with the chain forms the anchor. A conduit can be provided for conveying to the shell a fluid for preventing corrosion and marine life growth on the chain.The method includes connecting a ballast chain to an anchor shell and lowering it to the water bottom using the chain as a supporting link between the floating vessel and the shell. Once the shell is on the bottom, more ballast chain is placed into it so that the chain and the shell provide the necessary fixity for mooring the vessel. Subsequently, the upper end of the chain is connected to a pendant (a suspended rope secured to a locking means on the vessel) which may be used to lower the remaining portion of the chain.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating fluids includes a pipe through which the fluid to be heated flows having a ferromagnetic pipe attached in heat-transmitting relationship thereto. An insulated wire extends longitudinally through the ferromagnetic pipe and is electrically connected in series therewith. The secondary windings of a pair of transformers are connected in series with each other and the ferromagnetic pipe by the insulated wire and the primary windings of the transformers are connected to a source of alternating current. A control responsive to the temperature of the fluid in the fluid conveying pipe is provided for regulating the power output to the series connected ferromagnetic pipe and insulated wire by, in alternative embodiments, disconnecting the transformers from the circuit, reversing the polarity of one transformer secondary with respect to the secondary of the other or bypassing one of the transformers.

Abstract: The apparatus gives a simultaneous readout of the semi-instantaneous rate of fuel consumption, expressed in terms of miles per gallon; the distance traveled; and the total amount of gallons consumed since the apparatus was last reset for a moving vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine. The fuel is metered by a flow transducer which emits a pulse rate representative of fuel flow rate while at the same time the miles traveled by the moving vehicle are measured by a distance transducer also emitting a pulse rate. Both pulse rates are fed to digital integrated circuitry that provides readouts for miles traveled, total fuel consumed and for the semi-instantaneous miles per gallon.The apparatus also includes a reset switch, a hold switch to maintain the indicator readings while not inhibiting the accumulation of further counts, and internal switches to accommodate vehicle-to-vehicle variations in rear end ratios and tire sizes.

Abstract: A skimmer for removal of liquid and debris, such as skimming oil spills from water, comprising three pontoons, one located in each of the corners of a triangle made up of interconnecting structural members floating on a body of water. The corner pontoons are adjustably buoyant permitting the skimmer to move vertically up or down as a unit in the water so as to adapt to the wave height of the body of water. At the base of the triangle is the skimmer mouth sloping upward towards a sump. The two pontoons on each side of the sloped mouth have a clamp easily attachable to an oil boom which guides an oil slick into the skimmer. The function of the mouth is to skim off approximately two inches of the water surface. The sloped mouth terminates at an impregnable deflector centrally located between two screens that serve as a wave quieting assembly as well as a separator of debris floating on the water. The skimmed water is then directed through the debris screens into a quieting area.

Abstract: A heat-generating pipe is made up of a ferromagnetic pipe having an electrically insulated wire extending through the pipe to a given point so that the pipe and first wire may be electrically connected in series with an alternating current supply to generate heat in the pipe. A second electrically insulated wire is provided parallel to the first wire in that portion of the pipe wherein increased heat output is desired. The second wire is connected to the alternating current supply and the first and second insulated wires are simultaneously energized. The power supply may comprise separate alternating current sources for energizing each of the first and second wires. Alternatively the second wire can be energized from the secondary of a transformer having its primary in series with the first wire. The first and second insulated wires can comprise a single wire looped back along the heat-increase section to provide two series connected wire segments.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for transporting a natural gas in the form of a hydrate. The method utilizes the pressure and temperature conditions of a submerged vessel to facilitate the formation and maintenance of natural gas as a hydrate during the subsea voyage and the subsequent reconversion of the hydrate to a natural gas when the destination of the vessel is reached.The submarine vessel can have: supplementary refrigeration, a hold or void in which a natural gas is hydrated, and a membrane pervious to gas and water within the hold. In the vicinity of the hold bottom are situated gas conductors with spargers through which the natural gas is pumped into the hold. Adjacent to them are cold-water distributor pipes through which water is pumped into the hold for forming a gas hydrate and for removing the heat of formation.The membrane is spaced from the interior wall of the hold so that a gap around and within the hold is formed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing ice forces on a marine structure erected in a body of water which becomes frozen through natural weather conditions. The structure has a low-ice-adhesional wall forming its perimetrical surface in the zone where natural ice will freeze onto or impinge against the structure. Enclosed chambers are built within the structure and may be in heat-transmitting relationship with the outer wall. Heat is applied to the chambers to heat and maintain the outer wall at a temperature above the melting point of the natural ice occurring in the water around it. In a preferred embodiment, the marine structure is formed with a heated wall which slopes upwardly and inwardly in the area of ice contact to provide a ramp-like surface upon which a sheet of ice will be forced with reduced friction as it moves against the structure. Thus, an edge of the sheet of ice will be prevented from strongly adhering to the structure either initially or subsequently.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for changing the inert gaseous content of a volume including hydrocarbon vapors to air without producing an explosive mixture. First a sample is obtained from the volume and then mixed with air to form a gas mixture. During the mixing, the mixture is monitored for values including percentage in tenths of lower explosive limit and percentage of oxygen. Then the values are evaluated to see if the mixture forms an explosive mixture; and, if so, the volume is purged with an inert gas prior to ventilating the volume with air to remove the inert gaseous content including hydrocarbon vapors from the volume without producing an explosive mixture of the hydrocarbon vapors and air.Apparatus is also disclosed for use with the method. A sampling hose is located in a gaseous sample volume of inert gas and hydrocarbon vapors. It is connected to a valve to regulate the flow of gas through it. A second valve is connected to a source of air.