Abstract: A self-balancing, no-spin magnetic compass. A described embodiment includes a compass card assembly, a retainer assembly, a pivot assembly, a gimbal assembly, a cup, and a dome. The compass card assembly includes an air chamber which provides buoyancy. The retainer assembly functions with the compass card assembly to retain magnets. The pivot assembly snap-fits into the retaining assembly and contacts the compass card assembly to allow the compass card assembly to pivot about the pivot assembly. The pivot assembly also snap-fits into the gimbal assembly. The base of the pivot assembly is positioned into the cup and the entire compass is secured into the dome, that is filled with a fluid.

Abstract: A self-balancing marine compass. A described embodiment includes a pivot assembly, a buoyant-magnetic chamber assembly, a reading card assembly, and a dome. The pivot assembly includes fulcrums, each of which fit within fulcrum holders located on an inner surface of the reading card assembly. The buoyant-magnetic chamber assembly is positively buoyant within the dome and includes pivots meeting with pivot axes of the fulcrum holders. This embodiment is also a no spin compass.

Abstract: A marine in line bilge blower and a method of manufacturing same are described. The blower, or fan, includes a housing in which a motor, airfoils, a fan wheel hub, and straightening vanes are positioned. Specifically, numerous airfoils are positioned on a fan wheel hub, which is in connection with a motor. The motor is mounted on one of several straightening vanes. The housing includes a base with a pair of feet. To protect the circumference of the housing from physical and thermal stress, strengthening rings are positioned on the circumference.

Abstract: A liquid pump and controller with separate pump activation and deactivation mechanisms that are both closed detector devices is provided. The pump activation mechanism includes a float device that activates a pump motor when water within a housing of the pump reaches a high water level. The pump deactivation mechanism includes a sensor that detects the load on the pump motor and deactivates it when the sensed load indicates that the water within the pump housing has reached a low water level.

Abstract: A pump for use in marine environments including a pump housing having a cap portion and a main portion, a pump intake pipe attached to the main portion, a pump assembly attached to the cap portion is described. A pair of clips extending from said cap portion extend over a pair of raised surfaces on said main portion. Rotation of the cap portion moves said clips from a low end of the raised surfaces to a high end, thereby locking the cap portion to the main portion. In another embodiment, a locking ring fits over the junction between the cap portion and the main portion. The ring includes an inwardly directed upper flange and a plurality of inwardly directed protrusions on a lower extent. The ring fits over the cap portion such that a flange from the motor housing and one or more flanges from the main portion are caught between the upper flanges and the protrusions of the locking ring. The pump may be a removable live well pump or a bilge pump.

Abstract: A removable live well pump including a pump housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion, a pump intake pipe attached to the second housing portion, a pump assembly attached to the first portion, and a snap fit locking mechanism including a pair of first locking portions located on the first housing portion and a second locking portion located on the second housing portion. The first locking portions are located diametrically opposite each other. The first locking portions are movable between a first locked position, in which the first locking portions engage the second locking portion, and a second unlocked position, in which the first locking portions disengage from the second locking portion. Moving a top portion of each of the first locking portions radially inwardly moves the first locking portions from the first locked position to the second unlocked position.

Abstract: A float switch having a housing, a pivoting float body and a tube containing mercury. The wires extend from the tube, into pivot arms of the float body, out of apertures within the arms and upwardly out an orifice in the top surface of the housing. The pivot arms include a pivot arm stop to center the float body within the housing. The pivot arms are sealed to prevent ingress of water into the tube. The housing includes dual rows of apertures to lessen the effects of clogging.

Abstract: A pump control system for adjusting the frequency of operation of a pump motor in accordance with the demand on the pump includes means for periodically actuating the pump motor to initiate operation of the pump at periodic intervals; sensor means for sensing the condition of the operating pump motor; and means responsive to the sensor means for adjusting the periodic interval to conform the operation of the pump motor to demand on the pump.

Abstract: A soft-start pump controller system for controlling a pump motor includes a switching device for supplying power to the pump motor; a periodic duty cycle generator for periodically actuating the switching device at a fraction of the full duty cycle to operate the pump at a reduced, quieter level; a sensor for sensing the current drawn by the pump motor; a reference circuit; and a liquid detector for detecting the presence of the liquid to be pumped, responsive to the sensor and the reference circuit, for overriding the periodic duty cycle generator and actuating the switching device to operate the pump motor continuously at full power when the motor current exceeds a predetermined level indicating liquid is present.

Abstract: A method of preventing air bubbles in a compass equipped with fluid expansion capability, wherein a compass unit is assembled with a fluid expansion diaphragm; the compass unit is filled with fluid expanding the diaphragm, and sealed while maintaining the diaphragm in its expanded state for preventing air bubbles in reduced pressure and/or reduced temperature conditions, without significantly changing the basic structure of the compass.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for controlling electrically powered liquid-moving pumps, particularly bilge and sump pumps. The apparatus is characterized by the fact that no portion thereof need be located in the hostile environment of the bilge or sump served by the pump controlled thereby.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for controlling electrically powered liquid-moving pumps, particularly bilge and sump pumps. The apparatus is characterized by the fact that no portion thereof need be located in the hostile environment of the bilge or sump served by the pump controlled thereby.

Abstract: A one piece hole saw assembly with mandrel permanently affixed to the hole saw cup. The mandrel contains a hollow shaft, a locking flange and reinforcing flange which are integrally formed as by machining. The locking flange of the mandrel mates with a locking hole or slot in the top surface of the hole saw cup. The reinforcing flange on the mandrel is welded during manufacture to the top surface of the hole saw cup. A pilot drill bit is inserted into the shaft core and welded to the shaft. The resulting product is a one piece hole saw assembly intended for use by simple insertion of the mandrel or shaft end of the pilot drill into the chuck of a conventional electric drill.

Abstract: A twin-fluke anchor has a shank, a stock, fluke elements mounted upon the stock to pivot as a unit at the inner end of the shank, each element including a fluke surface in a first plane and a rib generally perpendicular to the first plane, the shank disposed between ribs, and a crown including a pair of flat plates having opposed inner surfaces, each plate supported centrally of the flukes and spaced from the flukes plane and sloping upwardly and rearwardly away from the plane to permit bottom material to flow freely between the inner surfaces of the plates and the flukes. The shank inner end has opposite end surfaces to engage upon respective opposed inner surfaces of the crown plates to limit the range of pivoting movement of flukes, at least one end surface of the shank engaging an opposed inner surface of a crown plate along a line of contact whereby holding load is transferred from the shank to the flukes by a long coupled reaction.

Abstract: A horn for connection to a pressurized fluid container for sounding multiple tones has a horn body defining a sound chamber and at least one tone altering aperture extending through the horn body into the sound chamber, a sound producing mechanism located within the horn body adjacent the sound chamber, and a trigger assembly for actuating the pressurized fluid container for release of pressurized fluid to flow through the sound producing mechanism into the sound chamber to produce a sound. The horn, when the trigger mechanism is actuated, produces sound having a first tone when the tone altering aperture is unobstructed and a second tone when the aperture is obstructed.

Abstract: An improved magnetic compass unit consists of a compass bowl, a card assembly pivotally supported on a pivot shaft within the bowl, the card assembly consisting of a compass card and a magnet, and at least one active indicator pin adapted for alignment with the lubber line of a supporting vehicle and with an adjacent degree indicia line upon the compass card. The active indicator pin is mounted to pivot apart from the pivotally mounted compass assembly, whereby the indicator pin remains disposed generally in a common plane with the adjacent degree indicia line during conditions of compass roll. The card assembly may be with or without gimbal mounting.

Abstract: An instrument for use on a marine vehicle including a sensor for determining the concentration of carbon monoxide (COC) present on the vehicle, an LED indicator for visually displaying the concentration, a microprocessor using a mathematical formula for calculating the health hazard to a person on the vehicle occasioned by the level of carbon monoxhemoglobin %COHb in the blood of that person resulting from breathing concentrations of carbon monoxide over a period of time. The instrument also determines for determining the health hazard condition in terms of long term exposure to a low COC level, moderate term exposure to a moderate COC level, and short term exposure to a high COC level, and in addition visually and audibly indicates the health hazard conditions. A method for the operating instrument, and a method of testing operativeness of the instrument are also provided.

Abstract: An improved anchor having a shank and, pivotally connected thereto, a head consisting of a generally flat, arcuate body, a pair of flukes attached to the body and extending laterally from a plane of the shank and body, and a bottom penetrating nose portion, has the further features of the body and shank having a narrowed lead edge and the material of the shank and body being disposed in rectangular cross-sections having substantial ratios of height to thickness. The shank and body of the anchor thereby have a thin lead edge profile to facilitate passage of the anchor through a bottom surface to burrow into the bottom, and the shank has broad side surfaces to resist anchor dislodgement under side forces.