Abstract: A device to protect the propellor of a boat from damage caused by striking underwater obstacles, when the boat is moving in any direction relative to the obstacles, and to improve the movement of the boat along the water.

Abstract: A launch-chute extender is disclosed that snap-fits onto the end of a buoy ontainer in an aircraft that carries stores internally. This extender, by adding its tubular configuration to the end of the buoy container, provides guiding clearance to selected stores to enable them to exit from the underside of the aircraft without becoming jammed.

Abstract: An aircraft having magnetic suspension systems adapted to be used as a winged surface effect aircraft, as a conventional type aircraft and as an aircraft of vertical take-off. A winged surface effect aircraft is provided with a magnetic suspension system having electromagnets adapted for magnetic interaction with a composite run-way utilizing an eddy current to support the rear portion of winged surface effect aircraft laterally in relation to the run-way while the front portion is supported by and rides on an air cushion developed by forward thrust between the wing and ground. The propelling units of the surface effect aircraft are adapted to hover the front portion and to propel the aircraft along the run-way while the rear portion of aircraft is magnetically supported by the magnetic suspension system. The winged surface effect aircraft can be adapted to be propelled over the ground surface as a conventional type aircraft when the electromagnets are disengaged.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a support mechanism for supporting the cleaning apparatus in the body of water, a hull cleaning assembly including a plurality of brush assemblies, and a mechanism for moving the brush assemblies between hull cleaning positions and hull clearing positions. The brush assemblies each have a buoyancy element, a motor supported by the buoyancy element, and a cleaning brush coupled to a drive shaft of the motor. The buoyancy elements of the brush assemblies are hinged together to constitute a unified hull cleaning assembly. The moving mechanism includes a control device for controlling the movement of the brush assemblies. In addition, the moving mechanism includes a plurality of control lines movably engaging the support mechanism. The control lines are connected to the brush assemblies respectively at one end and to the control device at the other end. The support mechanism includes a pulley arrangement rotatably secured therein.

Abstract: A pivotally-mounted reeved counterweight system for a counterbalance-type crane which includes a wheeled counterweight carriage supporting a counterweight. A yoke provides the coupling means pivotally connecting the carriage and the rearward end of the platform or deck also known as the counterweight arm. A sheave is mounted on the yoke. The rope, which manipulates the boom upwardly and downwardly, retractably and extensibly extends from a hoist drum on the platform upwardly and is reeved about a mast sheave and extends downwardly, rearwardly and upwardly between the yoke sheave and a plurality of platform sheaves and mast sheaves.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching to a steering column, column or instrument panel, e.g., an aircraft yoke column, having a two-part clamp to so attach, an arm movably connected to the clamp, and an information display movably connected to the arm. In a presently preferred embodiment, any circular column of 3/4" to 7/8" diameter can be attached to. The movement of both the arm and information display is upwardly or downwardly such that the overall effect is that the display can be moved inwardly or outwardly. The connections of the arm to the clamp and/or of the arm to the information display can be a joint or a hinge. The information display can be a video display, e.g., a moving map computer or a display screen for such a computer, or, a clipboard or ring binder; the video display and clipboard are presently preferred.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating relatively more dense particulate matter from a relatively less dense fluid flow comprising a separator member mounted for rotation about an axis, and including the following: one or more fluid inlets; one or more particulate matter outlets communicating with an associated fluid inlet and spaced from the axis by a first radius; and one or more fluid outlets, each communicating with an associated fluid inlet and an associated particulate matter outlet and located downstream thereof, each fluid outlet having an opening considerably larger than that of the particulate matter outlet associated therewith and being spaced from the axis by a second radius smaller than the first radius.

Abstract: A helicopter flight control system includes an automatic turn coordination system which provides a coordinating yaw command signal to the tail rotor of the helicopter. The system stores on command a trim attitude (e.g., signals indicative of bank angle, lateral ground speed, and lateral acceleration) about which automatic turn coordination is provided, thus providing the pilot with automatic turn coordination about attitudes other than wings level.

Abstract: A multi-vehicle transport system for the transportation of bulk material such as trash and the like is disclosed. The multi-vehicle transport system includes a primary load vehicle operable to go to remote areas and discharge the contents of a standard bin into a hopper, and a secondary load vehicle operable using a hydraulically actuated fork lift system to lift and discharge the contents of the hopper from the primary load vehicle into the secondary load vehicle. A method of multi-vehicle transport of bulk materials is also described.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring leaking drums to a salvage drum utilizing a liftgate assembly having a vertical rail for supporting a liftgate and a drive mechanism for raising and lowering the vertical rail, the apparatus including a lift boom assembly having a chain mounted thereon with a drum lifting clamp secured to the chain for engaging the leaking drum and a pair of tubular pocket assemblies mounted in a vertically spaced relation on the vertical rail and a pair of pin assemblies mounted on the lift boom assembly for matingly engaging the pocket assembly whereby the lift boom assembly can be pivoted with respect to the liftgate assembly and removed for storage in the vehicle.

Abstract: A family of modular solid-propellant launch vehicles and a related launch facility for placing a wide range of payloads in earth orbit at greatly reduced costs compared to present day launch systems. The basic family of modular solid-propellant launch vehicles is constructed from only two sizes of modular solid-propellant rocket motors, a large rocket motor and a small rocket motor. The modular rocket motors are clustered and stacked in various configurations to form the family of launch vehicles. The physical and performance characteristics of the two solid-propellant rocket motors, including weight, vacuum specific impulse and action time, were tailored to maximize the payload capabilities of each member of the launch vehicle family without exceeding predetermined maximum and staging dynamic pressure limits and maximum acceleration limits. The universal launch facility utilizes a steel canister that is sized to hold the maximum diameter and length launch vehicle.

Abstract: A flight control apparatus for use in an aircraft includes support structure for suspending a pilot beneath a pair of wings while permitting movement of the pilot relative to the aircraft in the forward, rearward and both lateral directions. A control system is connected between the support structure and the wings for altering the geometries of the wings during flight to vary the drag and lift characteristics of the wings and alter the direction of flight and the speed/performance range of the aircraft in response to movement of the pilot relative to the aircraft in any of the forward, rearward, and lateral directions. The geometries of the wings are altered during flight by moving the leading edges between extended and retracted positions relative to the central longitudinal axis of the aircraft in response to movement of the pilot in the forward, rearward and both lateral directions relative to the aircraft.

Abstract: A landing apparatus for use with helicopters comprises a substantially J-shaped cantilevered landing skid having a cantilevered portion and a mounting portion. The cantilevered portion is attached at one end thereof to the mounting portion and extends substantially perpendicularly away the mounting portion. The mounting portion is mountable on a rear portion of an aircraft so that the cantilevered portion can extend forwardly underneath the aircraft.

Abstract: A retaining wall for intercepting and holding freight pieces in a cargo hold of an aircraft cabin is provided with two parallel wall sections enclosing a space in which there are mounted elastically deforming hollow spring tubes which have an elliptical cross-section and are so arranged that the small axis of the ellipse is oriented in the direction of impact, while the long axis of the ellipse is oriented perpendicularly to the impact direction. The spring tubes may have a layered construction for a controlled spring characteristic. The elastic energy damping of the spring tubes may be combined with a friction energy absorption device.

Abstract: A hypervelocity projectile shield which includes a hollow semi-flexible housing fabricated from a plastic like, or otherwise transparent membrane which is filled with a fluid (gas or liquid). The housing has a inlet valve--similar to that on a tire or basketball, to introduce an ablating fluid into the housing. The housing is attached by a Velcro mount or double-sided adhesive tape to the outside surface of a structure to be protected. The housings are arrayed in a side-by-side relationship and may be in layers and in an over-lapping relationship for complete coverage of the surface to be protected. In use, when a hypervelocity projectile penetrates the outer wall of a housing it is broken up and then the projectile is ablated as it travels through the fluid, much like a meteorite "burns up" as it enters the earth's atmosphere, and the housing is deflated. The deflated housing can be easily spotted for replacement, even from a distance.

Abstract: A device which is a translucent boat or ship cleat constructed of polyurethane. The cleat is molded as one piece and can be either clear or have color added such as international orange. The cleat has a recess in its base in which a light source can be placed. Lighting such as incandescent, neon or LED may be used. The cleat can be powered from an external source either AC or DC. The cleat can also have solar cells placed in its horns which can store energy in storage cells mounted with the cleat at its base for powering LED during non-sunlight hours. The illuminated cleat makes it easy to locate the mooring for a boat in the dark. It also makes the cleat visible for the safety of persons walking on the mooring structure. The polyurethane construction provides for a lighter, more durable, and less abrasive device fo boat moorings.

Abstract: A hydraulically operated tilt and trim system for a marine outboard drive including a reservoir for containing make-up fluid for the hydraulic system. The reservoir communicates with the hydraulic system through a conduit in which a pair of oppositely acting check valves are positioned so that gas over the liquid can not enter the fluid system even if the unit is displaced from its normal operation. In addition, the unit is mounted between the mounting brackets of the outboard drive so as to be protected thereby.

Abstract: The hood of an outboard motor is covered by a protective cover of a transparent plastics material which is self-supporting and resistant to UV degradation. The sheet forming the cover is molded to follow substantially exactly the contours of the hood so as to lie substantially wholly in contact therewith during use. The hood includes openings including a handle and other openings and the cover is molded with the same shape to follow the openings in the hood. The cover is attached underneath a resilient rubber rim at a bottom of the hood and is also attached to the hood by pinching between the hood and a separate handle insert.

Abstract: A helicopter fly-by-wire flight control system (21) includes a model following control system architecture which provides the pilot with maneuvering feel. Maneuvering feel is generated by varying the gain of a rate model (52) in the control system to schedule a constant sidearm controller force per g of load factor currently on the helicopter main rotor. This gain variation works in conjunction with control logic which requires the pilot to apply a nose up pitch command during steep banked turns in order to offset a control system induced downward (pitch) bias of the aircraft nose. The control system induced bias is generated only during steep banked turns, thus allowing the pilot to fly shallow banked coordinated turns without having to apply a nose up pitch command.

Abstract: A mobile crane comprising a chassis, which has at least two axles and on which a revolving superstructure is movably mounted by means of a slewing bearing consisting of an outer ring and an inner ring, a preferably telescopic boom, which is pivoted to the revolving superstructure and which is adapted to be supported on a supporting bracket of the crane in position for road travel, and a cabin for use during crane and road travel operations. A carrying ring is rotatably mounted on that ring of the slewing bearing which is connected to the revolving superstructure, the cabin is secured to said carrying ring, and the cabin or the carrying ring can selectively be connected either to the chassis or to the revolving superstructure.