Abstract: An improved oar horn assembly includes a socket constructed to be fixed to the side of a boat for rotatably mounting an oar horn. The oar horn includes a ring having a substantially ovular through-hole for receiving the oar. The ovular through-hole is constructed so that it contacts the oar at two points on substantially opposite sides of the oar to thereby support the oar within the oar horn. Since the oar is supported by contact on two opposite sides thereof, ratcheting is reduced. Further, due to the oval nature of the new oar horn design, an increased angle of attach to water may be obtained.

Abstract: An inflatable airfoil-shaped kite, which is framed by a front spar extending along the leading edge of the airfoil envelope, a rear spar extending along the envelope trailing edge, and two side spars extending along the side edges of the envelope. Upper and lower control lines are attached to end portions of the front and rear spars. Two control handles are attached to the opposite ends of the control lines, such that a person can manipulate the handles to move the kite through different maneuvers, e.g., reverse flight, power turning or pinwheeling. Each spar has end portions that can flex to generate localized drag forces which cause the kite to execute different maneuvers, as dictated by signals transmitted from the control handles through the control lines to end areas of the individual front, rear, and side spars.

Abstract: An aircraft having a generally circular or disc planform configuration provides the capability of vertical flight through two concentric sets of lifting fans or blades. The two sets may each include a number of individual rings of blades, but both sets are equal in area and rotate oppositely in order to provide nearly equal volumes of airflow, and thus essentially offset any torque reaction due to the rotation of the blade sets. Several engines are provided in the preferred embodiment, with one engine providing power to the lift fan sets and other engines providing thrust for horizontal flight. Other novel features are also disclosed, such as a peripheral aerodynamic control system, power transmission system, and surface vane system. An alternate embodiment includes a peripheral passenger or cargo area, with more conventional rearwardly located aerodynamic controls for horizontal flight.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pallet changing mechanism for a machine tool wherein when pallets loaded with works through an attachment are successively changed, an input and output cable or the like for connecting a control device of a machine tool and an attachment is automatically re-connected to an attachment next to be carried in from an attachment carried out of a machining table of the machine tool. The connector device comprises a movable portion provided on the machining table of the machine tool and a fixed portion provided on the pallet. Mounting and dismounting of the input and output cable or the like every time a pallet is changed is carried out simply and positively. A shield member is disposed on the connector device to thereby completely separate and shield a plurality of connector blocks from each other, and positive operation, detection and the like for the attachment are carried out.

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 low speed 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: A method and template to facilitate cleaning or painting of a gimbal housing which is mounted to a boat transom. This method comprises attaching a template to the transom around a gimbal housing perimeter which is intricately and arcuately shaped. The template is configured and dimensioned to correspond to the gimbal housing perimeter and to shield the transom from damage while cleaning or painting the gimbal housing. Thus, the amount of time required to clean and paint the gimbal housing and the amount of time required for clean-up is reduced by utilizing the method and template of the invention.

Abstract: An aircraft tire and an associated landing gear apparatus which rotate a wheel of a landing aircraft prior to contact between the wheel and a runway. The tire possesses an array of projections which have a forward face for catching air and which are molded into the tire in at least one channel circling the tire tread on at least one sidewall of the tire. The tire preferably possesses one or more belts underneath those projections situated in channels to protect the integrity of the tire's shape. A landing gear apparatus which may be used in conjunction with the aircraft tire comprises a duct mounted adjacent to the tire which receives air, reroutes it, and releases it into at least some of the forward faces of the projections so as to effect a further forward rotational force on the tire and wheel.

Abstract: A fire suppression method and system for use in an enclosed area employs the denser-than-air characteristic of certain fire retardant materials. An enclosed area has an upper region, a middle region, and a lower region. The method and system disperses a fire retardant material in a layer across the top of the upper region while maintaining concentration of the material in the layer which is sufficient to suppress any fire with which the layer comes into contact The method permits the layer to descend from the upper region, through the middle and lower regions, until it settles near the floor of the area. The descent of the layer scours the entire area to locate and suppress fire. Dispersal means includes a conduit extending horizontally in the upper region having a horizontally extending opening for dispersing the fire retardant material into the layer. Dispersal means also includes a conduit with a plurality of downwardly directed nozzles, each nozzle having a baffle means.

Abstract: A goods handling method and apparatus therefor, the method of which comprises the steps of sequentially taking out a desired number of goods from an accumulation of goods formed of a plurality of goods accumulated in the height direction, a plurality of goods accumulated in the depth direction, and one or more goods accumulated in the width direction, and discharging such taken-out goods into a container. The goods handling method and apparatus therefor, the method of which further comprises the steps of arranging the height of a bottom surface of goods to be taken out among the accumulation of goods generally equal to the height of a goods receiving table and thereafter, taking out the goods onto the receiving table, discharging such taken-out goods into the container, moving goods on the second row to the front row after all goods on the front row have been taken out, and then taking out the goods.

Abstract: A winch construction for a boat lift. The winch includes a pair of spaced side plates, and a shaft is journaled in aligned openings in the side plates. The ends of the shaft project beyond the side plates and a drum is located between the side plates and is journaled on the shaft. A chain drive connects one projecting end of the shaft to a second shaft which is journaled in the side plates, and a second speed reduction chain drive connects the second shaft with the drum which carries a cable which is attached to the boat lift. A hand wheel is connected to a hub that is threaded on the opposite projecting end of the shaft, and an annular ratchet is located between the hub and a backing plate attached to the respective side plate. The ratchet is composed of a brake material and has a brake surface facing the backing plate. To elevate the boat lift, the hand wheel is rotated causing the hub to move axially on the shaft and effecting engagement of the brake surface with the backing plate.

Abstract: A catamaran design has a third hull positioned between the conventional hulls. The third hull has a length equal to about two-thirds of the length of the conventional hulls, and a recess is formed in the underside of the deck aft of the third hull. The recess has a depth sufficient to accommodate the rooster tail created by the third hull. The third hull enhances the buoyancy of the craft and prevents formation of waves under the leading end of the deck. The recess prevents the rooster tail from impinging against the underside of the deck. The third hull produces a concave wake and it is submerged to a similar extent as the twin hulls when the watercraft is at rest floating in a body of water. In combination, the third hull and recess provide a catamaran that can handle heavy seas, with control and safety, that is not subject to the pounding of waves on the underside of its deck, and which performs in all other respects like a conventional catamaran.

Abstract: There is disclosed a mobile crane having at least one hollow load bearing support member which is rotatable about a base. The load bearing support member is pivotally connected to a hollow boom which telescopically receives a plurality of secondary hollow and interengageable booms. The load bearing support member and boom are pivotally connected by an inwardly collapsible support. The crane cable is connected to a drive source and extends within the hollow booms and load bearing support member and is releasably retained by at least one boom. The crane may be automatically unfolded from a storage position when the boom is substantially parallel to the mast, to an operational position when the boom is angularly inclined to the load bearing support member.

Abstract: Load cells are provided at the fixed end of each cable of a multiple-cable lifting head adapted for use at the free end of a knuckle boom or other aerial crane for lifting and operating "IGLOO" recyclable waste containers and the like. The load cells provided with each selectively controllable cable of the multiple-cable lifting head provide a signal through a J Box to a remote scale indicator at the base of the knuckle boom or crane in order to facilitate weighing the container at the beginning and end of the waste removal process so as to accurately determine the waste weight simultaneously with the removal thereof from the container.

Abstract: A rocket assembly apparatus is disclosed in which a vertical assembly building houses a multi-stage rocket and provides a clear work area around the entire circumference of the rocket. A mobile rocket service tower is moveable on the floor of the vertical assembly building to any desired circumferential location with respect to the rocket and has a plurality of cantilevered access platforms with curved outer edges for conforming to the shape of the rocket at various vertical and circumferential positions.

Abstract: An elevated passenger car having an emergency exit feature. The passenger car is of the type supported such that there are substantially no obstructions between the underside of the car and the ground below it. The car includes a body having a passenger compartment and an opening through the body generally at one end thereof defining an exit from the passenger compartment to outside the body. An end section is pivotally mounted on the body at the one end. Fluid pressure actuated cylinders swing the end section between a closed position in which the end section closes the exit and an open position in which said exit is opened to the outside. An elevator supported by the end section in its open position lowers passengers from the elevated passenger car.

Abstract: A generally elongate fitting has a distal-end region for affixing an external object, a mid-region eye, and a proximal-end region for attaching a rope. In one embodiment, the distal-end and middle regions are configured as an eye hook having an eye at its proximal end, a hook at its distal end, and a connecting shank between the hook and the eye. In another embodiment, the distal-end region is configured as a base member bolt-mounted to the external object, a rotating member rotatably mounted to the base member, and an arm pivotally mounted to the rotating member, forming thereby a swivel joint. In this embodiment the mid-region's eye is integrally within the arm. In both embodiments the distal- and mid-regions are formed integrally with a proximal-end region defining one or more "V" channels. In one embodiment "V" channels are formed as a modified cleat having both (i) a pair of projecting arms and (ii) one or more additional projecting arms.

Abstract: Doors sealing radial flow ports are opened by rotation which slides the doors away from the ports. All doors rotate about a longitudinal centerline of the aircraft. Each flow port has its inlet seal surface with a center of curvature offset from the longitudinal axis. Rotation of the door toward the open position relieves and releases contact between the door and the port inlet seal surface.

Abstract: Two angle brackets secure a severely swept plastic wing-like propeller guard to the sides of the motor housing or skeg. The left and right wing-like projections have a horizontal center wing segment oriented parallel the axis of propeller rotation, and upturned outer wing segments that are provided in the plane of propeller rotation.

Abstract: The locking device of the invention comprises a locking device mounted to pivot relative to a beam and having ends associated with an axle to lock the axle in a first position of the locking device and to release the axle by the locking device pivoting towards a second position, together with a control actuator and a set of two links for controlling the position of the locking device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for stability and maneuver control using rotatable nose strakes to control forebody vortices at medium to high angles of attack are disclosed. In one form, small left and right nose strakes are supported on a member or members forming the forward most contours of the forebody. Supporting of the two strakes on a single member allows rotation of the two in unison, the angular position thereof controlling the asymmetry of the forebody vortices at higher angles of attack, while support of each strake on a separate forebody nose member allows individual strake control for the same purpose. In another embodiment, the strakes may be mounted on a nose boom for rotation about the axis of the nose boom, whereby rotation of the strakes about the nose boom axis affects the development of the forebody vortices and the asymmetry thereof. Various embodiments and methods of operation thereof are disclosed.