Abstract: A sailing vessel is disclosed in which a mast is pivotally connected to the hull at the lower end thereof and an athwartship structure is provided in the form of a support rigidly mounted to the hull and transverse thereto to guide the mast athwartship. The mast may be held in an upstanding attitute or an angular attitude by mechanical devices of lines or other adjusting means. Bringing the mast and the sail mounted thereon to a vertical attitude reduces the heeling moment that affects the vessel.

Abstract: A sail and mast assembly for a sailboard, includes a main sail section and one or more removable sail sections attachable to the foot of the main sail section, thereby to provide a sail with adjustable sail area to suit varying wind conditions. The assembly also includes an adjustable-height mast, to which the sail is operatively attached, whereby the mast height can be changed, as removable sail sections are added or removed, to maintain a desired proportion between the mast height and the length of the leading edge or luff of the sail. The mast height is adjustable by a telescoping mechanism, which in a second embodiment, the mast height is changed by attaching or removing mast segments to the top of a mast. A single batten can be used for the sail segments in one embodiment. In another embodiment a multi-piece batten is provided for the sail segments.

Abstract: A structural external insulation for hypersonic missiles which reach speeds hat cause surface temperatures on the cylindrical shell structure to reach up to 3000.degree. F. for a period of time. The invention incorporates efficient high temperature insulation as an integral part of the composite shell manufacturing process (tape layup and/or filament winding).

Abstract: A power-driven structure comprises a long grider (I) supported at its both ends by self-propelled carriages (II) which raise and lower the girder, the implement being designed for travel across planted fields or orchards without compacting the soil. Various implements, such as a cotton harvester (34), a potato picker (VIII) or a fruit collecting device may be suspended from, and propelled along, the girder (I). A mechanical conveyor (15) extends along the top of the girder, and a pneumatic conveyor system (13) is arranged underneath the mechanical conveyor. The pneumatic conveyor system is provided with spaced nozzles (40) for connection to flexible suction pipes (34).

Abstract: The front body (2) has holes (3, 4) for receiving the ends of the wishbone boom, and an arched surface (7) intended to be applied against the mast. An arched clamping piece (9) is provided at each end with a metal rod (10, 11), each of which is intended to pass through a hole in the front body (2). The free end of these rods is threaded (13, 16) and projects beyond the body (2). The rod (10) is straight and the rod (11) is bent. A nut (17) is intended to cooperate with the thread (16) on the bent rod so as to ensure that the mast is held, with play, between the two arched parts (7, 9), while another nut (14), cooperating with the thread (13) on the rectilinear rod, enables the windsurfer to lock the device on the mast after having slid it to the height which suits him. This device can be fitted to the mast, with play, before the sailboard is put in the water and enables the height on the mast to be adjusted while sailing.

Abstract: What is proposed in accordance with the invention is a sea anchor so arranged, after having been dropped, as to be capable of gliding obliquely forwards through the water along a flat, inclined plane so as to land on the bottom in a holding position at a considerable horizontal distance from the boat or vessel which dropped the anchor. For this purpose the shank of the anchor is combined with a transverse wing corresponding to the pair of arms of the conventional anchor. The wing has a marked `V` form and is noticeably swept back, causing it to adopt a stable attitude during its glide through the water, in conjunction with which it takes with it an achor rope which further stabilizes its glide. The wing as a whole is preferably pivotally connected to the anchor leg, for example by means of a pivot bolt, in which case the central section of the wing is extended rearwards to a spade-like, tapering structure which ends in a point.

Abstract: A switch track mechanism for selectively directing electronic components from a single trackway to one of a plurality of discharge or accumulator stations comprising a first fixed track sections adjacent the trackway, a second fixed track section adjacent to and downstream of the first fixed track section, movable first and second track members operatively associated with the first and second fixed track sections and each operable between first and second limit positions. The second movable track member has a plurality of track sectors disposed in an array, a plurality of accumulator stations downstream of the second track member corresponding in number to the number of track sectors, a cartridge for electronic components is mounted at each accumulator station. The movable track sections have actuatable between limit positions whereby electronic components may be directed from the single trackway to a select one of the accumulator stations.

Abstract: A pneumatic transportation system for transferring particulate material from a storage container at one pressure level to a receiving unit at another pressure level (e.g. in a feeding system for bed material to a combustion chamber of a PFBC plant). The transportation system incorporates a material feeder comprising a housing having a rotor containing two material chambers. The end walls of the housing and the rotor have cooperating sealing surfaces. The inlet opening of one material chamber is positioned opposite to an inlet opening in the upper end wall of the housing, when the outlet opening of the other material chamber is positioned opposite to an outlet opening in the lower end wall of the housing. After rotation of the rotor the inlet opening of the material chamber will be positioned opposite to the inlet opening and the outlet opening of the chamber will be positioned opposite to the outlet opening. Between the actual material chambers and the outlet openings there are cut-off valves.

Abstract: A toy parachute is disclosed for attachment to a kite string and for after travelling up the string and contacting stop means being released from the string for free flight to the ground. The toy includes a carrier which is slidable up and down the kite string coaxially disposed thereabout. The parachute is releasably coupled to the carrier by a novel split sleeve member having a central aperature into which the upper end of the carrier may be inserted. The split sleeve member has a major slot throughout its length which permits the kite string to pass therethrough on uncoupling of the split sleeve from the carrier so as to release the parachute toy from the kite string.

Abstract: A conveyor belt cleaning assembly including at least one generally transversely extending cleaning device, engaging, in an operative position, a conveyor belt surface to be cleaned. The cleaning device includes a plurality of wear resistant scraper elements supported by a flexible tension member and resilient spacer coils coupled between the tension member and scraper elements for compressively engaging and yieldably maintaining the scraper elements at separate scraper positions along the tension member. Cable strand damage caused by pinching engagement of the scraper elements in response to deflection movement is reduced by mechanically decoupling the spacer coil end turns with respect to the cable. The scraper elements are mechanically engaged by oversized compression coils and spacer sleeve combinations, with scraper element deflection forces being reacted by axial compression of the spacer coils.

Abstract: A tobacco discharge unit for the hopper of a continuous-rod cigarette making machine which is arranged to prevent excessive packing of the tobacco at the end opposite the inlet of the unit. This is achieved by means of movable shutters on the filter screen separating the upper and lower compartments of the unit so as to modify the air flow pattern in the unit, or by means of a specially shaped "stepped" screen or by means of deflector baffles in the lower compartment.

Abstract: A silo chute hopper attachment that fits underneath an existing silo chute having a swivel end, and an upper hopper portion that has flanges slidably mounted onto brackets fixed to the silo wall so that the hopper slides in and out like a drawer underneath the silo chute. It can be easily removed for getting into the silo chute. When removed the bottom outlet opening of the silo chute is completely open.

Abstract: An improved structural sail with grid members appropriately positioned to resist aerodynamic loads.

Abstract: A vessel, such as a ship, a boat and the like, comprises an inner hull having a longitudinal horizontal axis and a transverse horizontal axis, an outer hull surrounding the inner hull and arranged movable relative to the latter about at least one of the horizontal axes, and a plurality of ball bodies arranged between the inner hull and the outer hull so as to allow the movement of the outer hull relative to the inner hull about the at least one horizontal axis.

Abstract: An externally mounted fire or explosion suppressing device for aircraft f tanks includes a bottle of pressurized fluid suppressant agent, the bottle having a primary duct ending in a seal disposed against the exterior surface of a tank wall. A secondary duct is disposed at an angle to the primary duct and carries a pyrotechnic charge that is detonated in response to an optically detected flash in the tank and explosively cuts through the seal and tank wall to release suppressant into the tank.

Abstract: In a multiple-hulled marine craft an opening (313) which can be closed in air-tight and water-tight manner by pivotable flaps (314) is located in the transverse deck (312) beneath the connection structure between the two floats (311) (FIG. 2).

Abstract: A handle for attachment to the shaft of a paddle to improve the efficiency and comfort of paddling. The handle having a grip portion and spaced outwardly extending arms on the grip portion. The arms are coupled to the paddle shaft so that the handle is swingable about the paddle shaft and positioned at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

Abstract: A breakaway surfboard fin holder is provided which is used in conjunction with a surfboard having a fin supporting channel mounted in the lower, rear surface of the surfboard. A fin is provided having an anchoring tongue extending rearwardly along the top of the fin. A support pin is carried by the anchoring tongue and slidably engages elongated grooves formed in the channel. A breakaway tab is carried by the forward portion of the fin so that, when the fin strikes an obstruction, the breakaway tab fails at a predetermined level of force so that the fin itself is not damaged, but may be reused by insertion of a replacement tab and remounting of the forward portion of the fin in the fin supporting channel.

Abstract: A system for transferring dry flowable material includes a substantially closed transfer vessel adapted to have particulate material drawn therein by a suction line during a fill cycle and discharge the material upon selective pressurizing of the vessel. A filter containment housing is integral with the pressure vessel and houses a filter element arrangement internally of the vessel to filter particulate material from air drawn to the suction line while optimizing the material capacity of the transfer vessel. Pneumatic pressure is introduced to the upper and lower ends of the transfer vessel to establish a predetermined pressure differential across a lower fluid pressure inlet, and provision is made to effect a dual action cleaning of the filter elements so as to maintain optimum efficiency. A bypass system is operative to maintain a predetermined design pressure within the vessel.

Abstract: A motorized propulsion device for swimmers and scuba divers which is to be attached to the user's forearms. The battery, motor, propeller and propeller shroud are arranged in a compact, linear, hydrodynamic manner. The watertight housing may have one or more integrally shaped nesting protuberances to comfortably accommodate the user's forearm and thereby prevent slippage. The front end surface of the housing has a control panel within reach of the user's fingers.