Abstract: A water ski tow handle having a unique core bar construction is provided and comprises an elongated tubular and cylindrical core bar constructed of a rigid material. A pair of cylindrical plugs having an outside diameter slightly greater than the inside diameter of the core bar are press fit into each end of the core bar so that one end of each plug is flush with its associated end of the core bar. The plugs sealingly engage the inner bore of the core bar and form a flotation chamber within the core bar between the plugs. A transverse hole is formed, preferably by drilling, through each end of the core bar and also through the plug and each transverse bar is dimensioned to receive one prong of a tree bar therethrough. The core bar is then encased with a resilient material, preferably by transfer or injection molding, during which time the tree bar prevents longitudinal displacement of the plugs relative to the core bar.

Abstract: A motor securing device for watercraft such as inflatable boats and rafts and the like including generally downwardly open securing portion which may be defined by a pair of parallel walls and a connecting wall. A motor attachment portion projects generally upwardly from a rear portion of the securing section. A battery-securing shelf extends forwardly from the securing portion. Securing a motor to the upwardly projecting wall and a battery positioned on the supporting shelf provide a counterbalancing action. Retaining structures may be provided to resist undesired displacement of the battery or motor securing clamp.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved system for propulsion of boats by winds and streams and for recovery of disposable energy from floating stations neither moored nor anchored, the improved system comprising:at least one aerial feathered propeller with its shaft, the propeller being mounted orientable in any azimuth direction contained in a substantially horizontal plane and adapted to function as an aerogenerator as well as a propulsive screw;a superstructure supporting device on the floating unit adapted to permit orientation as desired of the aerial propeller in the direction of the wind;at least one nautic propeller screw with its shaft, mounted under the bottom of the floating unit and adapted to be capable of functioning as energy collecting turbine as well as propeller;a transmission system connecting the aerial propeller shaft to the nautic propeller shaft, the transmission being reversible and capable of including a torque conversion device to select during operations the direction of transmission

Abstract: A sailboat mast is composed of two portions, a forward portion supported on the hull by standing rigging and having a concave aft side, and an aft portion, which may be of circular cross-section, supported close to and in line with the forward portion at both ends, the top support, however permitting the top of the aft portion of the mast to be bent away from the forward portion in order to affect the shape of the sail. The main sail is carried by the aft portion of the mast in such a way that when working in any kind of a crosswind, it extends away from the mast in a substantially tangential direction, on the lee side.

Abstract: A propulsion and drive system for a ship includes an engine, a drive train with transmission gear and main clutch, and a propeller shaft. An auxiliary equipment shaft is connected to that drive train via two branches, geared to the drive on opposite sides from the main clutch; and each branch has its own clutch so that only one branch at a time is effective. The branch on the propeller shaft side from the main clutch is effective during high-speed cruising, the other branch during slow speeds, or even during stopping. The auxiliary equipment is to be run at constant speed throughout. Two different examples are the relative location of parts and the coaxial relation among the three clutches involved.

Abstract: A support arm is pivotally supported on the side of a boat for movement from a horizontal to an alternate stowed side position, this arm in its horizontal position extending transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the boat across the steering device which may comprise a tiller or wheel in the close proximity thereto. Supported on the arm for movement along the longitudinal axis thereof is a coupler member having drive cable connected thereto, the drive cable being wound about suitable blocks so as to enable positioning of the coupler along the axis of the support arm in response to movement of the cable. The coupler member has a plurality of apertures spaced longitudinally therealong which enables the selective connection of the coupler member at any one of its apertures to a mating attachment member on the tiller. Thus, the coupler is driven laterally in either direction in response to movement of the cable, thereby actuating the steering control accordingly.

Abstract: A device for attachment to the three point hitch of a tractor to handle large cylindrical hay bales. The device includes a pair of tines for piercing one side of the bale and an elevated pivot arm which extends over the bale and has a hook on one end for piercing the opposite side of the bale. A tension spring urges the arm in a direction to pinch the bale between the tines and the hooked end of the arm. The bale is raised for transport when the lift arms of the three point tractor hitch are raised.

Abstract: Improved apparatus is disclosed for supporting the cutting teeth on the periphery of a rotating cylindrical drum ice cutter affixed to a floating arctic structure. The cutting teeth are individually removably affixed to brackets which extend spirally (either continuously or in segments) around the drum periphery and are supported in spaced relationship radially outwardly therefrom by very sturdy struts. Several benefits are obtained with this configuration: (1) hydrodynamic drag is minimized; (2) the teeth-support structure can be made more rugged than individual ones for each tooth; (3) the teeth can be configured for a minimum of replaceable material at the cutting tips; (4) more free volume is available around the drum periphery for disposal flow of disaggregated material and (5) tooth spacing can be readily adjusted for optimum performance according to requirements.

Abstract: A one-piece fairing is provided which is a finite length monolithic one-piece, snap-on, foil-shaped, low drag fairing element of streamlined hydrodynamic shape, having an outer wall formed of high strength material, the fairing element being symmetrical about its central longitudinal axis, and adapted to be associated with a plurality of similar such fairing elements in end-to-end abutting relation on a cable.

Abstract: A strut release mechanism for the forward strut of a hydrofoil craft will predictably fail when the strut experiences a predetermined impact. The failure occurs about a horizontal axis so that the strut follows a predetermined path while separating from the craft and thereby avoids impact damage to the strut or to the craft. Shear failure and tension failure structures are disclosed.

Abstract: A passive near neutral buoyancy platform includes a structure housing a series of gas-filled cells, restrained in their maximum volume regardless of the internal charge pressure, and collapsible in character when external pressure exceeds the charge pressure. With this structure, once a cell having a predetermined initial internal charge pressure reaches a depth where the external pressure exceeds this initial value, that cell contracts, resulting in a net buoyancy change for the structure. Where this series of cells is attached integrally to a single structure, the cells form a pre-loaded compressibility compensation device which is matched to the external environment.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a marine propulsion device comprising a transom bracket adapted to be connected to a boat transom, a first pivot connecting a stern bracket to the transom bracket for pivotal movement of the stern bracket relative to the transom bracket about a first pivot axis which is horizontal when the transom bracket is boat mounted, a second pivot connecting a swivel bracket to the stern bracket below the first pivot for pivotal movement of the swivel bracket with the stern bracket and relative to the stern bracket about a second pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis, a king pin pivotally connecting a propulsion unit including a rotatably mounted propeller to the swivel bracket for steering movement of the propulsion unit relative to the swivel bracket about a generally vertical axis and for common pivotal movement with the swivel bracket in a vertical plane about the first and second horizontal axes, a trim cylinder-piston assembly pivotally connected to the stern bracket and to the swivel bra

Abstract: A rig for lining with brick a kiln, tunnel or like surface embodies a frame that is of variable size to suit different surface diameters, and two relatively adjustable jacks support deformable arcuate brick column support members at each opposite sides of the frame. Each arcuate member is a continuous longitudinally deformable trough containing an expansible tube overlaid by a solid rubber or like flexible brick contact element.

Abstract: An anchor hoist comprises a main body member having two side walls. The main body member is pivotally mounted to a pivot-forming boat fixture and has an inner and an outer rotatable sheave for receiving an anchor line or chain. The center-to-center distance between the rotary axes of the sheaves is greater than four times the diameter of the inner sheave, and is in practice about 50 cm. Arranged in the region of the outer end of the main body member is a pivotable support device which, in the in-use position of the hoist, engages a lower, further boat fixture. Pivotally mounted on the axis of the inner sheave is a line holder, e.g. in the form of a clam cleat, so arranged that when the anchor line is jerked said cleat will swing inwardly-outwardly to release the anchor. When using the anchor hoist of this invention, the anchor will be located at a distance from the side of the boat such as to avoid contact between the anchor and the side of the boat when the anchor is lifted or slipped.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the fabrication of boat hulls and other three-dimensional objects of thermoplastic sheet material. The process comprises heating a sheet of the material along a predetermined pattern of lines to a temperature at which the material is softened, placing the sheet in a jig with the material of the sheet still soft along the heated lines and folding it along the softened lines, and retaining the sheet in its folded state in the jig until the material along the said lines is cool and stiffens. The preferred thermoplastic material is polypropylene, and by reversely folding the sheet along selected fold lines an integral hinge can be induced. In making a foldable boat, the pattern of fold lines is such that the sheet in its folded state has the shape of the hull of a boat. A blank when so prepared can be rolled into extremely compact form for transportation and to erect the hull is merely unrolled and with a little manual assistance put into the required shape and secured.

Abstract: The practice device has convexly rounded streamlined sides which flank a flat thinner center portion to provide hollows at each face which generally conform to the insides of the thighs of the user and is held between the thighs during arm stroke practice. During leg kick practice the sides of the device are held by the hands of the swimmer for use as a "kick board". Hand hold recesses can be provided on the sides to facilitate gripping during kick-board use, and the sides of the hollows can diverge to better conform to the configuration of the insides of the thighs.

Abstract: A highly maneuverable water sled device is disclosed which includes a joystick for controlling a rudder and an elevator. The base of the water sled device is provided with upwardly extending, hollow side, front and rear walls which are individually fillable with water to vary the buoyancy of the device. A preferred embodiment of this invention further includes a hydrofoil assembly downwardly extending from a forward section of the device and a flotation mattress attached to an upper surface of the device to provide for user comfort and to further allow the buoyancy of the device to be controlled.

Abstract: Propulsion apparatus for an undersea vehicle comprises a pair of counter-ating low speed impellers driven from a spider shaft rotating at relatively high speed. The reduction is accomplished by a variable speed reducing and torque transmitting device which allows infinite resolution for speed control including a zero speed setting while maintaining a constant high speed at the input spider shaft. Attitude of the vehicle is controlled by a plurality of regulated inlet ports and roll control is regulated by increasing the speed of one impeller and decreasing the speed of the other. The sea water utilized for the attitude is also used for propulsion. Control systems within the vehicle utilize an electro-pneumatic-hydraulic system complex.

Abstract: A kit includes a legless table and a chair having a tubular frame with detachable legs. The table is detachably connectable to the chair. Rigid flotation material encases portions of the tubular frame and buoyantly supports the chair and the table.

Abstract: A warehouse crane comprises an elevationally positionable carriage, a shuttle guidably mounted on the carriage for transverse movement, and apparatus for moving a tote pan out of storage racks alongside either side of the crane and onto the carriage, the crane further being able to replace the tote pan in its original compartment or to place the tote pan in any other compartment in either of the storage racks. The apparatus for moving the tote pan out of a storage rack includes a pair of reversibly driven endless chain mechanisms mounted on the shuttle and a tote pan puller attached to those chain mechanisms. The puller travels in a horizontal and flat orbital path, but changes from a vertical position to a transversely outwardly inclined position as it approaches the ends of that path so that the puller may engage a tote pan handle as it moves upwardly in an inclined position.