Abstract: A device for receiving motive power from a source supported thereon and transmitting the power to the underlying surface thereby imparting motion across such surface to the device and power source supported thereon. The device is particularly adapted for transport over water, but is also suited to move over land, including snow, mud, marshy areas, etc. A continuous belt surrounds a pair of rotatable, buoyant cylinders and receives rotational power from a contacting, second continuous belt surrounding a second pair of cylinders. The power source may comprise one or more individuals, bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles, etc., supported by and transmitting power directly to the second belt.

Abstract: A device mountable to the anticavitation plate of a propeller drive unit for a watercraft. The device includes a mounting member and a pivotable plate member mounted thereto. The mounting and plate members are both located below the water line when in operation, with the plate movable between a first position intersecting the backwash from the propeller driving unit and a second position wherein the plate is held parallel to the anticavitation plate and clear of the backwash. A locking assembly interconnects the plate and mounting member for locking the plate in either position. A control cable is attached to the locking assembly and extends therefrom into the watercraft.

Abstract: A buoyant, cylindrical metal drum, having a plurality of elongate teeth protruding outwardly from the periphery thereof is mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis in a generally U-shaped framework. The frame is pivotally attached to the front of a tug vessel and the drum may be steered, with respect to the boat, by moving the mounting frame about the pivot point. An internal power source and an eccentric counterweight, which may include a fuel storage container for the power source, are stationarily mounted within the drum which is rotated about the counterweight as an inertial reference. When the drum is rotated by its internal power source and moved against the water/ice interface of a floating arctic ice sheet, the moving teeth on the drum cut the ice and clear a path for movement of the drum and the tug boat through the ice covered water.

Abstract: A prolate spheroid shaped buoy is resiliently moored to an anchor by means of a cable wound on a reel in the anchor with the reel latched to power springs coaxially wound upon a shaft extending through the reel. The springs are pretensed on the shaft, prior to deployment, and the shaft is latched against rotation by a pair of spring biased pins engaging a plunger. The reel may thus rotate freely under control of a brake as the anchor falls from the buoy during deployment. The plunger is operated automatically when the anchor falls to the ocean bottom to release the pins in sequence with one pin engaging the cable reel before the other pin releases the shaft to ensure that the springs are latched to the buoy and cable to resiliently moor the same. A plate on the plunger arm closes the bottom wall of the anchor to prevent the ingress of contaminants.

Abstract: An exchangeable anchor assembly, comprising a shank having a free end adapted to be connected to a line, with two parallel plates disposed at an opposite end of the shank sandwiching the shank therebetween. A stock is rotatably disposed between the plates perpendicular to the stem, the cross bar having a non-rounded cross section. Two flukes each have an opening substantially the same as the cross section of the stock and are slidable thereon frm opposite ends thereof. Two stabilizers are disposed nonrotatably on the ends of the stocks and are releasable secured thereto. Cam projections cooperating with the plates limit the rotatable movement of the stock relative to the shank.

Abstract: A fender for boats or the like is disclosed herein having an inner core filled with a resilient foam material of a given density or compressibility and an outer shell having its wall coextensive with the inner core so as to define an outer chamber occupied with a second resilient foam material of a lesser density or compressibility than the material captured within the inner core. The inner core and outer shell are integrally formed to provide a single unitary construction and end swivels are carried on the opposite ends of the fender for evenly distributing of applied loads.

Abstract: Furling gear unit comprising a stay slide and a cooperating stay bushing for attachment to the upper end of a forestay extending between the bow and the mast head of a sailing vessel, said unit being attached to the forestay, sail luff wire and sail halyard in such a manner as to prevent fouling by the twisting of the halyard and sail around a stay. The stay slide may be female or male type with the cooperating stay bushing of the opposite type. Predetermined limited rotation around the forestay is achieved by cooperatingly engageable members of the stay slide and bushing. Other embodiments include a single or multiple rotary bearing clamp or housing for retaining or holding one or more rotary bearing assemblies.

Abstract: In an offshore terminal for loading tankers, a bottom-supported column is surrounded by a floating collar. Standpipes in the column for connection with transfer lines to shore are connected by flexible lines to the collar. A floating station flexibly connected to the collar extends radially from the collar to support rigid pipes. An elongated powered boom having a power unit at each end supports rigid pipes which are connected by flexible hoses to the manifold of a tanker at one end and at the other end to the pipes supported by the floating station. The wide spacing apart of the power units on the powered boom facilitates the powered boom holding the tanker from swinging and picking up momentum that might damage the terminal.

Abstract: A first fairing element, placed around a tow cable, is truncated along its trailing edge by a bevel which is inclined to the plane of symmetry of the element. Second fairing elements on each side of the first fairing element are also truncated by bevels which are symmetrical to the plane of symmetry of the second fairing element but oppositely inclined. The truncation of the trailing edge of the fairing elements may also be defined by a surface which is symmetrical with respect to the plane of symmetry of the element and has a concavity directed outwards. The truncation may furthermore be defined by a surface perpendicular to axis of symmetry of the fairing element.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically controlling the mooring depth of a submerged yant body secured to an anchor by a mooring line contained within the anchor having a power supply, a first potentiometer preset to a desired mooring depth and variable with the payout of mooring line, a second potentiometer variable with ambient water pressure for sensing the depth of the anchor, and a null detector connected between the slidable taps of the potentiometers and a mooring line payout control system for actuating the payout control system if there is an unbalance therebetween in one, but only one, direction.

Abstract: The method for removing sea-growth from submerged ship-hull surfaces by the utilization of an apparatus which comprises a net with a predetermined mesh design made from an explosive cord with pre-determined charge and manufactured in a specific net pattern for obtaining sequential ignition in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A quick release device for a line to be subjected to tension, and a method for using the device wherein a remotely generated control signal is received by a control signal receiver which acts to detonate an explosive charge thereby to open, remotely, a tension transmitter or link, in the line.

Abstract: An outboard motor has a steering tiller handle assembly attached to the driveshaft housing and pivotally mounted within a swivel mounting bracket assembly. The swivel bracket assembly includes a split tubular element within which a split tubular section of the steering arm assembly is notably mounted and located encircling a tubular portion of the driveshaft housing. Upper and lower annular rubber mounts are located between the upper and lower end of the steering tubular section and the driveshaft housing. Each mount is formed with a first pair of axial slots formed in diametrically opposite sides of the mount and projecting inwardly from one end. A similar pair of slots offset by 90.degree. from the first set of slots extending inwardly from the opposite end of the annular amount. The driveshaft housing and the steering tubular section are provided with correspondingly offset projections adapted to mate with the slots in the annular mounting.

Abstract: In a ship for transporting cold pellets of iron ore a perforated piping is arranged in the holds of the ship and exhaust gas from the boiler or engine of the ship is ejected into the cold pellets loaded in the holds through the perforations of the piping thus drying and hardening the pellets during the voyage.

Abstract: A small dinghy or pram having an elongated mast receiving well or slot is disclosed. The dinghy is intended to be stowed on the deck of a larger sailboat with the larger boat's mast being received in the dinghy's mast well, thus enabling the dinghy, to in effect, surround the mast and thereby effect the stowage of the dinghy on the deck of the sailboat in a manner which takes up a minimum of deck space. The inwardly extending slot may originate at the bow or stern of the dinghy or may alternately extend inwardly from either side. A removable plug is insertable into the dinghy's mast receiving well and is held therein by suitable means so that the dinghy will have its conventional bottom structure when the plug is in place. The plug may be provided with a mast step and dagger board well if desired.

Abstract: A vessel operable by a diver for use in towing himself has an air motor powered by the diver's air tank. All or part of the air used by the diver passes through the motor. Air used by the motor in excess of air needed for breathing is exhausted into the vessel wake to reduce drag. A manifold, connected to the diver's air breathing means and to the tank, provides air connections to the vessel during towing operations and is quickly detachable and provides connection from the tank to the air breathing means when the diver operates away from the vessel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a boat shade comprising a cover and a frame for it formed of three inverted U-shaped components. Two of these inverted U-shaped components, carrying the cover, are arranged so as to flank the third inverted U-shaped component, to which they are hinged, and which is vertically erected and secured by its ends to the sides of a boat. Each of the hinges disposed at each end of each of the inverted U-shaped components, carrying the cover, is formed by an axle arranged at this end of the component and capable or moving in a horizontal direction outwardly in relation to the vertically erected component and a bushing mounted on it. A spring-actuated stop locks the axle in its extreme positions when the cover is either fully unfolded, or when it is partially folded, that is when one of the inverted U-shaped components, carrying the cover, is placed on the other component.

Abstract: A tension leg marine structure in which a buoyant vessel is maintained in a partially submerged condition by a plurality of hold-down cables. Each cable is fastened to the floating portion of the structure by a quick disconnect coupling which is adapted to be rapidly disengaged, thereby to release a hold-down cable at such time as the latter is relieved of tension. The released part of the unit can then be moved out of the way of floating objects which might otherwise cause it damage.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is the combination of a boat hull and a stern drive unit which includes and is supported by an engine and which further includes a marine propulsion lower unit tiltable vertically and swingable horizontally independently of the engine, together with means mounting the stern drive unit on the boat hull including means for selectively vertically displacing or tilting the forward end of the engine relative to the rear of the engine.

Abstract: A paddle to assist in the training of swimmers wherein the base of the paddle is formed of rigid sheet material in a substantially rectangular configuration, the aft edge of the paddle being relieved to unhinder the pivoting of the swimmer's hand about the wrist, the hand of the swimmer being fixedly located upon the paddle by a wrist band and a center finger band.