Abstract: A pumpless bilge water draining system combines a valve system and vented air loop apparatus. The vented air loop is bracketed above the load water line for positive control of the system as well as preventing the system from falling below the water line and endangering the vessel. In motion, a vessel travelling at a sufficient speed will produce a vacuum in the system thus draining accumulated water in the bilge area through the system's pick-up; and at rest, a ball valve is utilized, in an engaged position, to close the valve when it is desired to do so.

Abstract: A convertible bank anchor and mooring device with a locking cylinder is shown for use with watercraft. The anchor has an elongated tube, or pole, having a ball and socket coupling at one end joined to the side of the boat and an inverted, downturned hook member at the opposite end of the pole for engagement with a tree bough or trunk on shore. There is a lock and key cylinder associated with the socket of the coupling to prevent the unauthorized disengagement of the coupling when the bank anchor is reversed and used as a mooring device. The hook member has a longitudinal swivel connection to the pole, and the ball and socket coupling comprises a stationary socket mechanism attached to one sidewall of the boat having a housing supporting a fixed clamping jaw and a spring-biased clamping jaw urged toward the fixed jaw to provide a female socket.

Abstract: The invention relates to a yacht. The yacht has a body, and this body comprises at least outer and inner skins formed of a resin material incorporating reinforcement fibers therein, and a formed styrol material as a foamed synthetic resin member filled between the skin layers. Therefore, the body is resistant to compression force, tensile force, and bending force, and well withstands the impact force of waves. By use of these materials, the yacht is inexpensive to construct and is lightweight so that good improvement in speed can be obtained.

Abstract: A storage pocket formed to enclose a portable flexible anchor bag. The storage pocket is of a vinyl material with brass eyelets mounted at its top corners for connecting to a flotation device with a closure flap for holding bag inside. The anchor bag is formed of a flexible vinyl with a draw string rope sewn in at the top folded over portion of the open end of the bag. With brass eyelets mounted adjacent and parallel at the top edge at the open end of the outside portion of the flap. The draw string tether sewn into the top folded over flap will be knotted at one end to prevent the slipping of the draw string.

Abstract: A pneumatic transport system terminal utilizing discs of resilient material to form a terminal chamber in conjunction with an inner cylinder whereby air may be forced into the chamber increasing pressure so the carrier is propelled through the carrier tube, the air flow may be reversed creating a vacuum in the carrier tube whereby the carrier may be retrieved.

Abstract: A silencer (70) which is particularly adapted for use with a pneumatic grain conveyor (10) includes a housing (72) with an arrangement of internal baffles (78, 80 and 82) defining a serpentine flow path of increasing cross-sectional area between an inlet (74) and an outlet (76) which is self-cleaning and effects noise reduction without absorptive material that would otherwise quickly clog the silencer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method in production and laying a pipeline or a cable under water, comprising production of the pipeline/cable in a desired length, winding it onto a drum, transporting the drum and laying ramp on board a vessel and laying from the drum while the vessel is moving. Winding onto drum (9) is carried out with the drum being mounted in and carried by a drum carrier (10) on land. At a desired time the drum with wound pipeline is taken on board the vessel (13) by sliding drum carrier (10) on a pier (12) or the like, which in the horizontal plane has an overlapping positional cooperation with the correctly ballasted vessel (13,14) to a position in which drum carrier (10) can be taken over by the vessel (13) by a vertical relative movement between drum carrier (10) and a supporting structure for it on the vessel. Drum carrier (10) can then, if desired, be slid onto a supporting structure (15) to a desired position on the vessel and be made fast there.

Abstract: A rigging and sail system for a sailboat including a rotatable mast having mounted thereon for rotation therewith, a pair of upper and lower booms extending transversely of the mast. The booms are connected to the mast through upper and lower tension members extending between the mast and the outer ends of the booms respectively and vertical fore and aft tension members extending between outer end portions of the booms on opposite sides of the mast. A pair of sails such as a main and jib are sheeted to and between the booms on opposite sides of the mast to be movable with the booms relative to the hull, and with the jib being movable relative to the booms to allow self-tacking during use merely upon steering the sailboat across the wind.

Abstract: Discussed herein is an arrangement for reducing migration of weeds into an area between the gearcase and the propeller hub of a marine propulsion device. The arrangement is intended to reduce the problem of weed migration when a small hub propeller is used.

Abstract: A linkage lifting apparatus is disclosed in which a linkage means is mounted on a lifting beam and includes link pivotal connections which may be connected and disconnected from load hooks comprising part of an object to be lifted. The linkage lifting apparatus includes a latching means which holds two link pairs in a position in which the link pivotal connections may engage the load hooks. The latching means is releasable from the link pairs in response to downward movement of the lifting beam against the link pairs. The pivotal connections move into a lifting position in engagement with the hooks in response to force provided by the weight of links comprising part of the two link pairs. The two link pairs and the pivotal connections movable out of the lifting position and the link pairs are again latched by the latching mechanism to hold them free of the load hooks also in response to downward movement of the lifting beam against the link pairs.

Abstract: A float tube and a separate power unit floater combination wherein the power unit floater includes a toroidal shaped float tube and a power unit shaped to fit in a central cavity of the float tube. The power unit further includes a battery and electric motor for turning the propeller. A switchbox, used to control both the speed and direction of the propeller is placed forward on the fisherman's float tube at a location convenient for the fisherman to manipulate. The power unit being attached to the float tube behind the fisherman to allow the fisherman to have a clear area in front of him.

Abstract: An exhaust relief outlet is provided in the lower end of a marine propulsion system lower unit for providing exhaust relief to an internal exhaust passage formed in the lower unit. The exhaust relief outlet is provided in the rear end of the lower unit and is disposed adjacent an area of restricted exhaust flow formed by converging walls of the internal exhaust passage. The exhaust relief outlet is located so as to discharge exhaust into the upper half of the path of the propeller as it rotates about a propeller shaft. The exhaust relief outlet both relieves exhaust pressure within the exhaust passage and provides controlled ventilation to the propeller for allowing increased acceleration and planning ability for a marine propulsion system.

Abstract: A multiple hull boat is disclosed including a pair of elongate, generally parallel hull members and a collapsible and expandable apparatus for connecting the hull members. There is a central deck section located generally above and between the hull members and having a pair of side edges that extend generally longitudinally of the respective hull members. First and second deck extension sections are mounted to respective hull members and the central deck section is supported relative to the deck extension sections for transverse movement relative to at least the first deck extension section. The hull members are selectively moveable apart such that the deck extension sections are extended at least partly beyond the respective side edges of the central deck section to expand the boat and are moveable together such that at least the first deck extension section is retracted at least partly within a respective side edge of the central deck section to collapse the boat.

Abstract: A resilient trim plate which, when mounted in cantilever fashion on the bottom of a boat and when adjusted, provides for trimming of the boat when the boat is underway and moves over the water. The trim plate is provided with fasteners for rigidly securing the forward portion of the trim plate to the bottom of the boat at a location forwardly of the transom or aft end of the boat. The trim plate extends rearwardly from the attachment means in cantilever fashion and presents a curved or convex lower surface to the water. The curvature of the lower surface of the trim plate can be increased or decreased to thereby increase or decrease the pressure difference between the upper and lower surfaces of the trim plate when the boat is moving over the water. Such pressure difference generates a downward force on the trim palte and thereby the boat much in the same manner the creation of a lift force as air flows over the wing of an airplane in flight.

Abstract: An auxiliary steering device for outboard motors is disclosed. The auxiliary steering device includes an elongated housing defining a longitudinal axis. A reciprocating moving mechanism is coupled with the elongated housing for movement along a line defined by the longitudinal axis. A motor is coupled with the moving mechanism to reciprocatingly drive the moving mechanism along a line defined by the longitudinal axis. A tie rod is coupled with the moving mechanism and the outboard motor to pivot the outboard motor which, in turn, steers the boat in response to the movement of the moving mechanism along the line defined by the longitudinal axis. A controller is also associated with the motor and a mechanism for limiting movement of the reciprocating moving member along the longitudinal axis is provided to limit movement in both directions along the line defined by the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A semi-submersible platform supported on columns with pontoons extending between and outboard of the columns. Damper plates are provided by flat surfaces either on top of the outboard section of the pontoons or by plates positioned on the columns above the pontoons to provide heave and pitch stabilization and motion phase control in relation to the wave action such that when the platform is in the drilling mode the heave phase of the platform is approximately one hundred eighty degrees out of phase with wave action and in the survival mode heave action of the platform is substantially in phase with wave action, such that the platform will ride with the storm waves allowing the use of shorter columns than the current art.

Abstract: Device and method for aiming a space probe toward a celestial body. It comprises a solar sail (30, 31) having an asymmetry about an axis (Z) and which subjects the probe (S) to a tilting torque of solar pressure. A kinetic wheel (20) turns about a perpendicular axis (X). This results in a rotation of the probe about the axis perpendicular to the two preceding axes (Y). The rotational speed of the wheel (20) is varied by a control system (23, 24) in order to change the rotational speed of the probe.Application of the invention is to space probes that lie in the plane of the ecliptic.

Abstract: A front loading refuse collection apparatus has a body with a rear area for storing refuse, and a front hopper section for receiving refuse. The storage area has a curved roof, a curved floor and curved sidewalls. The hooper has a top opening, a curve floor and curved sidewalls. The curved sidewalls of the hopper have a smaller radius of curvature than the curved sidewalls of the storage area. The curved sidewalls of the hopper also are not symmetrical about a horizontal axis. In this way, the sidewalls of the hopper do not interfere with the operation of the loading arms and do not unnecessarily restrict the opening at the top of the hopper. The curved roof, curved floor and curved sidewalls are made from an aluminum alloy making the front loading refuse collection apparatus lightweight.

Abstract: A marine outboard drive incorporating a power operated tilt and trim arrangement and an arrangement for increasing the speed of the engine when the power operated tilt and trim device is operated so as to avoid speed changes during tilt and trim operation. The speed increasing is achieved by altering the spark advance curve and is only done when the propulsion device is driving the watercraft and when the engine generator is generating a predetermined power output.

Abstract: A small watercraft of the jet propelled type having a pair of removable side containers adapted to be mounted on the sides of the hull so as to provide storage area and increased buoyancy.