Abstract: A combined snow plow/winch device is provided which includes a mouldboard for plowing snow and a winch for moving loads, both simultaneously mounted to a front of a vehicle. The mouldboard is pivotally mounted to the vehicle for limited movement about a horizontal axis against a biasing member. The winch includes a cable receiving drum, a cable wound about the drum by rotation of the drum, and drive structure for rotating the drum. The winch is mounted to the vehicle above the horizontal rotation axis of the mouldboard. A fairlead is affixed to the mouldboard above and forward of the horizontal rotation axis. During operation of the winch to move objects, the winch cable passes through the fairlead and exerts a force on the mouldboard such that the mouldboard pivots forward against the biasing member, allowing the cable to be straightened between the drum and the object to be moved.

Abstract: A mooring system comprising a multiple degree of freedom coupler interconnecting a floatation section and an anchoring section of a dock system. The system also comprises a drawbridge section, a gangway section and a shoreline mooring section. The multiple degree of freedom coupler prevents hanging-up of the floatation sections which is an expensive, frequently occurring problem experienced by virtually every free floating anchor/sleeve dock system currently in existence.

Abstract: A flexible flow through saddle for ship-to-ship refueling systems. The flble flow through saddle includes a tubular structure having a pair of ribs located on the top and bottom of the tubular structure, each rib having an aperture therein. Extending from each end of the tubular structure and having an end portion thereof connected to the tubular structure is a helical shaped wire. The opposite end portion of each helical shaped wire is connected to a coupling member. That portion of each helical shaped wire between the coupling member and the tubular structure is encased in an elastomeric material which provides for flexibility and prevents premature fatigue and rupture of a hose element connected by the coupling member to the tubular structure through the encased helical shaped wire.

Abstract: A system for removably mounting a trenching attachment to hook and eye mounts on an end of a power unit. The trenching attachment includes a mounting frame having hook-engaging shafts and eye-engaging pins, a head drive assembly, a trenching boom assembly pivotally mounted to the head drive assembly, and a hydraulic boom cylinder for raising and lowering the boom assembly with respect to the mounting frame. With the boom assembly supported in a three-point stance adjacent the power unit, the cylinder is actuated in a first direction to rotate the mounting frame with respect to the boom assembly, and engage the shafts with the mounting frame hooks. Further actuation of the cylinder in the first direction rotates the mounting frame with respect to the boom assembly and power unit until the mounting frame pins are adjacent the mount eyes. A grease cylinder on the mounting frame is actuated to extend the pins and engage the mount eyes.

Abstract: An extruded node is disclosed comprising a longitudinally extending substantially hollow core and at least one longitudinally extending, hollow flange, extending outwardly of and integral with a longitudinally extending side portion of the core. This invention also provides a joined structure wherein at least one longitudinally extending lineal member has a hollow peripheral portion defined by walls having inside surfaces adapted to mate with outside surfaces of a mating hollow flange of the extruded node. In this joined structure the peripheral portion of the lineal member is inserted over the hollow flange of the node to an extent that the outer peripheral surface of the lineal member surrounds the integral wall of the node and the outside surfaces of the sidewalls of the hollow flange and the inside surfaces of the lineal member mate along substantially the entire length and around substantially the entire perimeter of the flange.

Abstract: A ball and socket joint for a vehicle steering control system, which includes an inner ball head received in a ball socket which simultaneously serves as an outer ball head and is received in a casing which has a shank connected to a drag link of a vehicle steering control system. The ball socket has a unitary connecting rod connected to a wheel steering knuckle arm. A holder plate and a spring are respectively set in the casing to support the inner and outer ball heads for free positioning of the inner ball head in the outer ball head so that steering control operation can be more smoothly performed.

Abstract: A breakaway system is disclosed for timber utility poles. The breakaway system limits the amount of force and energy imparted to an impacting vehicle and its occupants by incorporating an arrangement of slip plates and bolts to form a shear plane on the utility pole at or near ground level, and by providing a hinge mechanism on an upper section of the utility pole below conducting lines and the like. The material and configuration of the lower shear plates are selected to permit activation for any direction of collision loading. The material and configuration of the upper connection or hinge are selected to allow for adequate resistance to environmental loads while at the same time allowing for precise determination of the magnitude of failure load. In addition, the combination of upper connectors prevents the lower portion of the utility pole from rotating upward into the conducting wires after a vehicle impact.

Abstract: An irreversible continuous pivotal connection between a fixed part and a movable part includes a fixed side plate fixed with respect to the fixed part and having an arcuate array of teeth, as well as a movable side plate fixed with respect to the movable part and having an arcuate array of teeth. The movable side plate is mounted parallel to the fixed side plate for rotation about a fixed common axis. A planet gear is positioned between the fixed and movable side plates, and has two external arcuate arrays of teeth with different diameters and locally meshing with the arcuate arrays of teeth of the fixed and movable side plates. An eccentric member is mounted for rotation about the fixed axis and presses on the planet gear so that rotation of the eccentric member in one direction causes epicyclic rotation of the planet gear in another direction.

Abstract: A connector assembly adapted to quickly connect and disconnect tools and stem sections in wireline tool strings. Connector assembly (10) comprises box end (12) and pin end (14) adapted to be slidably engaged and locked by rotating either end 90.degree. relative to the other in either direction. Connector assembly (10) is released by the direct application of manual force to ears (48, 50) of locking plate (38) accessible in flutes (26, 27) of box end (12). Once the locking plate is retracted, pin end (14) is rotated 90.degree. in either direction relative to box end (12) and then withdrawn axially from box end (12). Flats (130, 131) are provided on box end (126) and pin end (128) to indicate relative rotational alignment. Disclosed also are provisions for limiting the rotation of axially spaced lugs (138, 140) before the lugs are axially aligned with annular channels (142, 144).

Abstract: A fence clip assembly for securing strands of fencing wire and the like to wood and metal fence posts and including a pair of ears with holes therethrough and a main body with a wire holder that may comprise a pin to lock strands of wire to a clip by insertion through aligned holes in flanges and that is removable to allow the wire to be readily released and that further includes an insulator connector to insulate supported electrical wires at the fence poles.

Abstract: A water inflatable structural module for constructing temporary dikes and related structures includes two identical elongated flattened cylinders sealed at opposite lateral ends to form a sealed, water-tight chamber within a cylinder. The cylinders are joined along a horizontal mid-plane to opposite longitudinal edges of a thin, flexible, elongated, rectangular web. A sealable inlet port in each of the two cylinders permits the cylinders to be inflated with water to form two relatively stiff, parallel, elongated cylinders attached at facing inner mid section lines to the flexible web. In a preferred version of the module the width of the web, and therefore the minimum spacing between the two cylinders with the web flat, is of the proper dimension to make the ratio of minimum spacing to inflated cylinder diameter lie in the approximate range of 1.75 to 1 to 2 to 1.

Abstract: Dredging apparatus comprises a modular, submersible, vertically positionable crater sink mechanism operable to form a crater in a bed of material beneath a body of water. The crater sink mechanism comprises an elongated tubular housing closed at its upper end and having a dredged material intake opening at its lower end. An auger mounted within the housing is rotatable by a reversible hydraulic drive motor and is axially positionable by a linear hydraulic motor. The inner end of the auger cooperates with the closed end of the tubular housing to define a mixing chamber. A clear water inlet port and a mixture outlet port on opposite sides of the tubular housing each communicate with the mixing chamber. The auger is rotatable in one direction to dig into and ingest material (fluidized by ambient water) through the material intake opening and transport it into the mixing chamber.

Abstract: A triangular frame assembly is disclosed for supporting a safety barrier of boards above the edge of a roof during construction. The triangular assembly employs pivotal connections between a base and a lower stanchion member, between the base and a diagonal brace, and between the diagonal brace and an upper stanchion member telescopically connected to the lower stanchion member. The angle between the stanchion and the base can be adjusted to accommodate a wide range of roof pitches by varying the telescopic engagement of the upper and lower stanchion members. The range of roof pitch angles for which the frame assembly can be used is increased by making the upper stanchion member invertable, adapting both ends thereof to alternatively telescopically engage the lower stanchion member, and by providing for an off-center brace connection to the upper stanchion member.

Abstract: A reactor vessel O-ring spring clip designed to hold the tubular O-ring in the groove of a reactor vessel head flange, especially during head lifting. The spring clip is designed such that the weight of the O-ring acts to increase the friction force between the spring clip and the, typically, threaded hole into which it is inserted. The end of the clip adapted to be inserted through a slot in the tubular O-ring for securement thereto has a circular member thereon which prevents the spring clip from becoming disengaged from the O-ring during head lifting.

Abstract: A plurality of oil channels formed in a casing is communicated with a single rotating hydraulic actuator. The casing comprises a transaxle casing on which a valve body is disposed, and a rear cover is fixed to the transaxle casing. The oil channels extend outwardly from a boss section in the casing and are radially arranged in a single plane of the rear cover. Oil from the hydraulic actuator is instantly exhausted through oil holes of an inner drum, an annular indented groove of the boss section, indented portions of sector shape and the oil channels.

Abstract: A wing assembly is mountable to a plow blade driven in a direction of travel by a vehicle, and preferably left and right wing assemblies are respectively mounted on the left and right side edges of the plow blade. A representative wing assembly provides an auxillary plowing surface and has an inboard edge that is proximate the plow blade when the wing plate is mounted thereon. The wing plate is pivotally mounted on a vertical pivot axis so that it may pivot into an attack position at an obtuse angle .theta. to the plow blade with the inboard wing edge proximate the plow blade and an outboard portion projecting forwardly and outwardly from the front plowing surface of the plow blade. A latching structure retains the wing plate in the attack position. The pivotal mounts may be vertically aligned trunnion pins on the plow blade and matable opening on brackets defined by rear horizontal support and mounting webs on the wing plate. Where the plow blade can be canted at an obtuse angle .phi.

Abstract: A spline connection which comprises a spline boss having inward spline teeth; and a spline shaft engaged slidably with the spline boss and having outward spline teeth is disclosed. A header passage for a lubricant is formed along a core of the spline shaft and oil passages are further formed in the spline shaft in such a manner as to pierce therethrough radially from the header passage. At least one of the outward spline teeth of the spline shaft is provided at the top thereof with a groove crossing transversely the outer spline tooth so as to have the open end of the oil passage disposed in the groove.

Abstract: A septic tank is formed from a plurality of tank modules each of which comprises a substantially closed container. Each tank module is bolted to a next adjacent tank module at a flat end wall thereof with the bolts being of large diameter and in some cases including a central longitudinally extending opening so that the bolts act to communicate fluid from one tank module to the next adjacent tank module. Each tank module is shaped with an upper wall part which is of parabolic arch shape and a base wall which is substantially flat. This defines the optimum shape for strength to accommodate the forces when the tank is buried. Tanks can thus be formed in modular parts so that various different size modules can be connected together by the above coupling technique to form a multitude of different sizes of tank.

Abstract: Impact buckets are useful, for example, in fracturing rock and other hard material which is to be excavated. Known systems using vibrating mechanisms which are mechanically coupled to a cutting edge assembly do not produce forces high enough to efficiently fracture the rock or other hard material and send destructive vibration forces to the base vehicle. The subject impact bucket mechanism uses an impact hammer which is impact coupled to a cutting edge assembly to fracture rock and other hard material. This results in a force controlled system in which displacement varies with material resistance. The force levels achieved by the impact coupled system are higher than the vibrating system. Thus, the disclosed impact bucket mechanism can produce higher force levels which can more efficiently fracture the rock or the other hard material without sending destructive vibration to the base machine.

Abstract: This invention teaches that when a section of a tanker is damaged, the ship being far from shore-based help, it is imperative that the liquid cargo be transferred from the ruptured tank to an undamaged tank on the ship as quickly as possible. By doing so, the contents of the damaged tank are less likely to escape in a sufficiently voluminous quantity to seriously befoul the environment. To that end, a normally-empty emergency holding tank is provided on the ship with means to provide for emergency transfer of the liquid cargo from the damaged section into the emergency holding tank. At the same time, the ruptured tank is enshrouded by a flexible barrier curtain to entrap whatever liquid cargo that may have leaked from the damaged tank.