Abstract: A microwave oven is described suitable for use on transports where DC power is available. The microwave oven employs a first inverter to generate internal AC power that is then used to operate the microwave components other than the magnetron microwave source. The internal AC power is passed with relatively low current through the oven interlocks to activate and drive a power inverter that, through an additional output transformer winding, delivers high voltage power to the magnetron. In a preferred embodiment a relay, that is connected to sense when external AC power is available, causes an automatic switching that decouples the internal AC power from the power inverter to enable conventional operation from external AC line power. When external AC line power is no longer applied, the microwave oven automatically switches to operate from the available DC power. An efficient cooling fan is provided that is driven by a DC motor.

Abstract: A navigation aid is provided comprising a radar antenna, a position sensor, a compass, map/chart data, a display, and a controller. The controller determines whether the display depicts a chart, a radar sweep or both. Preferably, the visual navigation aid includes a point of interest feature, wherein at least one point of interest is visually selected on the chart or radar sweep by a cursor or the like. The controller also computes the location of the selected point of interest for display on the chart or radar sweep. In another aspect, the invention comprises methods for inputting and displaying a point of interest on a chart or radar sweep.

Abstract: The invention presented in a universal casing for an instrument having a read-out, suitable for flush, surface or bracket mounting. The casing comprises a watertight instrument module which comprises (i) a facepiece having at least one aperture through which the read-out of the instrument can be observed, and (ii) an instrument housing extending rearwardly from the facepiece and mounted to the facepiece in a watertight fashion, the housing comprising a hollow body having an open front end mounted to the facepiece and a closed rear end; and a splash-resistant surface mount having removably mounted to the facepiece, the surface mount housing having the hollow body of the instrument housing disposed therein.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a self-priming alcohol stove comprising a burner cup with a base and side walls for storage of liquid alcohol, a main burner attached to the burner cup, a start-up burner, and a heat transfer unit to transfer heat from the main burner and/or the start-up burner to a quantity of alcohol held by transfer unit within the burner cup at a location distal from the side walls and the base. The vaporized alcohol passes to the main burner and is ignited by flames from the start-up burner. More alcohol is then continuously absorbed from the burner cup by the wick between the concentric, cylindrical walls to maintain the main burner flame. Operation of the main burner substantially deprives the start-up burner of oxygen so that heat from the main burner vaporizes alcohol absorbed between the concentric walls.