Abstract: An amphibious aircraft capable of V-STOL operations, the aircraft comprised of a pair of buoyant, coterminus, and elongated body members having an axially converging and diverging profile, joined together at the forward end thereof by a forward fuselage having at least one cambered surface, the entire structure thereof functioning as a lifting body, the forward fuselage having a pair of wings rigidly attachable thereto, and at least one propulsion unit attachable thereto proximal to the aircraft's longitudinal centerline, whereby the transition between vertical and conventional flight modes may be accomplished, the aircraft further having a stabilizer for pitch and yaw control which are pivotally and hingedly attachable to the rear of said elongated body members.

Abstract: A controllable hook assembly and method for retrieving a barge's towing bridle or broken tow cable while maintaining a safe standoff distance between the drifting vessel and the recovery vessel. It may also be used for emergency towing of a vessel adrift or otherwise in distress. The disclosed assembly consists of a bidirectional side-planing otterboard integrated with a retrieval/towing hook which is shackled to a recovery towline. The depth and lateral position of the towed assembly are controlled by the length of recovery towline and the speed of the recovery towing vessel, respectively.

Abstract: A fin for water sports boards having a urethane leading edge cover molded in place onto an anchor flange having holes therethrough on the leading edge of the fin. The fin is of glass fiber reinforced resin.

Abstract: An acrobatic airship capable of making a perfect somersault, and a 360 degree roll in a limited small air space, without utilizing high-powered thrusters or sophisticated automatic control mechanisms. The airship has a rather thick and round axi-symmetrically shaped hull equipped with a pair of reversible thrusters on each side of the hull's nose area. Each thruster is also equipped with a tilting mechanism, which enables the thrust vector orientation to be changed independently. The airship has a set of tail fins as attitude stabilizers which do not have movable control surfaces. This acrobatic airship can be designed as a manned or unmanned craft, and is ideal for use in advertising and also as a camera platform, an observation vehicle for hazardous environments, and in various other industrial applications.

Abstract: A traveling crane incorporates a self-retracting/erecting live mast or the like, pivotally mounted on the base unit and capable of moving to and from a flipped, stowed position on the opposite side of vertical from the positions of the normal operating mode. A cable and winch is provided to raise and lower the mast during the normal operating mode and to move the mast toward the stowed position. A power cylinder operates to control the mast during retraction and to erect the mast from the stowed position. A control system operates the power cylinder to controllably move the mast during retraction/erection. Flexible pendants and telescopic guide links interconnect the cylinder with the mast and the base unit. Optimum operating angles are provided. The control system includes an electrical circuit and a hydraulic circuit, the hydraulic circuit having a restricted orifice to resist movement of the mast by gravity during retraction.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved outer surface for an upper region of an encasing arrangement for the outboard unit of a watercraft inboard-outboard propulsion system. Particularly, an independent casing is disclosed which has a relatively smooth, even and continuous outer surface and which is mountable upon a portion of such an outboard unit. The casing mounts in such a manner that its outer surface locates so that it is substantially flush with the outer surface portions of the outboard unit encasement which lie adjacent to the mounted casing. The lack of uneven surfaces, according to the arrangement of the present invention, makes the unit particularly useful in connection with activities which employ a line which is utilized to tow someone or something behind the watercraft, as the line will not snag upon the upper region encasing arrangement.

Abstract: A helicopter flight control system (21) includes a model following control system architecture which automatically provides a coordinating yaw command signal to the helicopter tail rotor to coordinate helicopter flight during a banked turn. The control system processes information from a variety of helicopter sensors (31) in order to provide the coordinating yaw command signal on an output line (72) to the tail rotor (20) of the helicopter.

Abstract: The rear hanging structure by which a turbojet engine is suspended from a mast under the wing of an aircraft includes a brace which is fixed to the mast and to which the engine is attached by at least three suspension links, the brace includes two parts which are fitted one within the other and are dimensioned in such a way as to ensure that each is able to take all of the suspension stresses independently of the other, the pins by which the brace is connected to the mast and to the suspension links passing through both parts of the brace. The redundancy thus achieved increases considerably the reliability of the suspension.

Abstract: A marine drive unit impact avoidance system for boats having both outboard type drives and inboard/outboard type stern drives provides a structure by which the lower, propeller-mounting drive unit on a boat is mounted for vertical movement relative to the supporting transom of a boat, and an impact/activating arm assembly is pivotally mounted at one of its ends to the lowermost forward portion of the lower unit for upwardly angled, forward extension therefrom to a pivotal mount at its other end to the boat, whereby any underwater obstruction encountered during forward movement of the boat will contact only the impact arm which operates under the impact to effect a cam action to lift the drive unit vertically to clear the obstruction without any contact of the drive unit and the underwater obstruction.

Abstract: In a mounting structure for mounting a propulsion unit in a fuselage of a model airplane, the propulsion unit having a motor with a fan which motor is fixed to a generally cylindrical cowl by support columns, the cowl at the opening facing the motor has a radial flange extending to the outside of the cowl, a cylindrical sleeve is provided which is inserted in the opening of the cowl, the sleeve also having a radial flange directed to the outside, and wherein between the flange of the cowl and the flange of the sleeve a gap is formed for receiving a round-frame rib of the airplane body for connecting the propulsion unit and the airplane body.

Abstract: The invention is a conversion kit for converting a two-wheeled motorcycle into a three-wheeled motorcycle providing for increasing both the lateral and longitudinal stability of a conventional motorcycle while maintaining the conventional positioning of the motorcycle rider. The invention replacing the front wheel with a pair of opposed wheels connected to the conventional front fork by an elongated kit frame. The kit frame is narrow and does not provide for enclosing the driver within the frame. The elongated frame provides for greater longitudinal stability and the opposed front wheels provide for greater lateral stability. The kit frame is directly mounted to the conventional motorcycle front fork, requiring limited modification to the conventional motorcycle and eliminating special connectors required by prior designs.

Abstract: A pair of pivotally attached fins depend into the water below the hull of the boat. When turning maneuvers are executed the tendency of the boat to skid sideward is resisted by the downwardly engaged fin panels. The device provides improved steering control to all boats so equipped, but especially to outboard jet powered boats traveling in shallow water. When underwater objects or the bottom of a body of water are encountered, the leading edge of the fins strike the object(s), causing the fins to pivot upward to clear the obstacle(s) and then return automatically to the water to provide an extra measure of boating safety.

Abstract: An insulative panel is attachable to a structure to thermally protect the structure. The insulative panel includes a piece of a compliant, porous material. A support base is bonded to a first side of the piece of porous material, the support base including means for attaching the support base to the structure that is to be protected. A skin made of a thermally resistant material is bonded to a second side of the piece of porous material. Preferably, the porous material is a piece of porous ceramic foam having an apparent density of less than about 25 percent, the support base is a piece of nonporous ceramic material, and the skin is a ceramic thermal barrier coating that is plasma sprayed onto the porous material.

Abstract: The invention is a Self Propelled Underwater Device With Steerable Fin Stabilizer having a unique hull of generally tubular configuration and having a substantially conical shaped rear portion. The hull comprises a plurality of hollow interlocking tubular sections with one section including the rear portion; adjacent tubular hull sections include peripherally spaced apart threaded portions respectively disposed internally and externally thereof for mating relationship upon relative circumferential motion of the adjacent sections, the adjacent sections are further configured to provide an abutting joint when fully mated with watertight sealing means between the mated sections. The vehicle includes a plurality of steerable stabilization fins mounted on the hull about the rear conical portion at spaced apart locations with hull slots for receiving the respective fins when stowed.

Abstract: A quick setting and releasing system for installing and removing fixtures in a longitudinal track comprises a bottom track having an inverted, T-shaped, longitudinal channel and a fixture track having a T-shaped, longitudinal channel. The actuating and locking mechanisms comprise a pair of wing shaped lugs which float on and pivot around a longitudinal pin to lock the lugs in the fixture channel when upward pressure is applied to the pin and in the bottom track when downward pressure is applied to the pin.

Abstract: A way to make model/experimental planes crash proof by a shock absorbing harness mounted over the body of the plane, which does not significantly affect the flying abilities and qualities of the model/experimental.The harness protects against collision with ground or other objects by strategically placing shock absorbing structures on the body of the aircraft. These structures are protruding from the overall outer dimension of the model/experimental aircraft and are the ones to first hit external objects and the ground. These shock absorbing structures are made of material that is light and provides the resiliency and cushion against the impact to the model/experimental body. The design is such that they add very little weight and drag to the model/experimental aircraft. The structures are made of thin wires and resemble an inverted question mark in its basic configuration.

Abstract: An improvement in an aircraft of the type having a passenger cabin, a wing with a wall defining a leading edge and having a vent/air intake opening therein and a conduit communicating between the vent/air intake opening and the cabin to provide ventilating air from externally of the aircraft to the cabin. The improvement is an air flow blockage plate that is removably fixed to the wing wall so that in its operative position the air flow blockage plate intercepts and deflects the flow of onrushing air directed towards the vent/air intake opening away from the vent/air intake opening as an incident of the aircraft moving forwardly relative to an air mass.

Abstract: A seat belt for a pilot seat or flight attendant seat in an aircraft includes a belt tightener with a reversible energy storage member in the form of a helical compression spring and a rod-shaped energy converter coupled to the energy storage member. The energy converter is at least indirectly connected to a belt member of the seat belt. After the belt member has been tightened and the energy converter has been displaced as a result with an at least partial regeneration of the energy storage member, a cutting chisel penetrates the surface of the energy converter and dampens the movement of the belt member. A renewed activation of the energy storage member after the deceleration phase is prevented by the penetration of a clamping edge of a clamping member in the surface of the energy converter.

Abstract: A self-staging parachute apparatus including a drogue parachute and a main parachute each encapsulated in a respective packing bag with the main parachute packing bag defining a side pocket through which a specialized retention bridle extends from the suspension lines of the drogue chute directly to a load line connected to the load. The load thus utilizes a single point of attachment for both the drogue parachute and the main parachute with the retention bridle of the drogue parachute in movable engagement extending through the pocket of the main parachute deployment bag. The main parachute and drogue parachute when packed are designed to form a generally cylindrical shape which is adapted to be easily placed within cylindrical payloads such as flares or the like to facilitate deployment thereof after the rocket motor has been separated.

Abstract: A helicopter anti-torque control system which relies on engine exhaust. Included is a force generating apparatus and a force directing apparatus. The force generating apparatus is at least partly driven by engine exhaust. The force directing apparatus takes outside air delivered to it by the force generating apparatus and directs it from the helicopter as a right-side or left-side force.