Abstract: A marine drive for a boat (3) includes a longitudianlly extending propeller shaft (17, 37, 38) which effectively carries the propeller hub (18, 41, 42) between a pair of fore and aft conical surfaces (26-29; 44-47; 51-54) which mate with similar conical surfaces associated with the hub. These mating surfaces prevent orbiting movement of the propeller. The mating surfaces also center the hub on its axis and provide for high torque retention. The construction is such that water is kept out of the joint between the hub and propeller shaft, with pre-applied lubricant being retained therein. The inventive concepts may be utilized with a single propeller system (FIG. 2), or dual propeller installation (FIG. 4).

Abstract: A boat mooring device, and a method of using it, includes a first shank member, having an axial protuberance thereon and three integrally connected cross arm members, and a second shank member having an axial protuberance thereon, a pair of parallel spaced apart cross arms, one at the end of said second shank member, and a U-shaped yoke disposed at the opposite end of said second shank member for releasably receiving the first shank member, and a mooring line attached to a boat.

Abstract: A system and apparatus are provided for delaying ignition or extinguishing an oil well rig fire through the injection of pressurized carbon dioxide, nitrogen, monoammonia phosphate, or Monnex into the flow of hydrocarbons from the drill pipe and casing through a spool apparatus located above the "Hydril" and blow-out preventers and above the casing but preferably below the mud return line, with untreated water being used as a back-up fluid after the chemicals have been dissipated. Such untreated water is inexpensive, readily available in most instances, and abundant in quantity. Such spool apparatus is equipped with a plurality of novel check valves which allow flow of chemicals upon actuation of the system while shutting off the flow of untreated water. After the chemicals have been dissipated, the novel check valves allow untreated water to flow into the system. The entire system may be activated by a mechanism at the control head of the well.

Abstract: A catalytic exhaust system for a marine outboard drive wherein the catalyzer material is supported by a heat conductive bracket and the bracket is cooled by a cooling jacket that is supplied with coolant from the engine cooling jacket. In one embodiment, the water jacket is cooled both internally and externally by delivering water from the cooling jacket into the exhaust system to impinge upon a wall of the cooling jacket.

Abstract: A ground-air-water craft comprises a fuselage body with a passenger compartment mounted thereon, a box-type main wing connected to the fuselage and extending outwardly on both sides thereof, the main wing comprising an upper wing and a lower wing which are substantially horizontal and which have a total wing span in the range of 5 to 10 feet, as well as a right side member and a left side member, each side member extending substantially vertically and connected between the lateral ends of the upper and lower wings on the respective right and left sides of the craft. The craft also comprises a control or canard wing connected to the fuselage and extending outwardly on both sides of the fuselage with a wing span no greater than 10 feet.

Abstract: A system which automatically moves a drivers seat between one of a plurality of preselected driving positions and a position wherein ingress and egress is facilitated is inhibited when a passenger is seated on the seat behind the drivers one.

Abstract: A system for feeding powder into high backpressure includes a carrier gas conduit with an orifice for entraining powder from a hopper, and a line for discharging feed gas at regulated pressure into the hopper to effect entrainment. A gas bleeder line has an outlet connection to the output carrier conduit, with a line pressure representative of carrier pressure. A differential pressure regulator equal to carrier pressure plus an increment. A regulated relief valve in the input carrier gas conduit provides a bleed gas supply to the bleeder line at a pressure equal to carrier pressure plus an increment. Pinch valves in the carrier conduit allow or prevent powder entrainment; alternatively, a rotatable sleeve is on the carrier conduit with a side opening alignable with the entrainment orifice. A carrier bypass conduit may be connected between the input conduit and the output conduit and hopper pressurization line may be connected between the output conduit and the hopper.

Abstract: A keel structure connected to the hull of a nautical vessel, such as a sailboat, is provided at least at the junction of the vessel hull and the keel with at least one channel extending substantially lengthwise of the keel for guiding the water displaced by the keel at least partially past a zone, which extends longitudinally of the hull and is aligned with the keel, without lifting it to the surface of water.

Abstract: A cargo ship construction comprises a ship which has a hull structure with at least one cargo storage space opening to at least one side both above and below the water line. A cargo storage container or warehouse of substantially the size of the cargo storage space of the vessel is insertable through the opening into the space. The container is associated with a flotation arrangement such as a separate propelled vehicle which may operate on either land or water and which is provided with a lifting section for lifting cargo storage container into the section. The device may travel on land and then float out to sea and load the cargo onto the vessel either by floating it in when the vessel is ballasted so that the opening is below the water line or the device may raise the cargo above the water level and permit it to slide into the receiving space of the vessel.

Abstract: A marine drive (2) includes a lower drive unit (4) having a strut portion (6) and a torpedo portion (10) which are blended along a blended portion (30) such that all horizontal cross-sections through the blended portion and the strut portion have outer profiles defining smooth continuous non-concave surface elements continuously curved convex along the entire front to back length thereof, and such that all vertical cross-sections through the strut portion, blended portion and torpedo portion have outer profiles defining a central zone (62) of concave outer surface elements wherein the degree of concave curvature continually increases front to back.

Abstract: A thin wall sleeve is provided including an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the rear terminal end of a marine outdrive lower unit propeller drive housing portion and the adjacent front terminal end of an associated marine propeller hub. The sleeve is mounted in position with its opposite ends telescoped over the housing portion and hub terminal ends and the longitudinal mid-portion of the sleeve bridging the axial spacing therebetween. The sleeve is mounted from the housing portion terminal end, for example, by an adhesive band layer, maintaining the inside diameter surfaces of the sleeve radially spaced outward of the outer surfaces of the housing portion rear terminal end and the hub front terminal end loosely rotatably received within the sleeve.

Abstract: A semi-submersible crane vessel has a chamber (3) which is open to the sea at the bottom. A piston (4) is movable up and down in the chamber by means of hydraulic jacks (5 and 6) acting on piston rod (7). The part (10) of the chamber above the piston contains air, which may be pressurized via air valve (13) to balance the pressure on both sides of the piston. To stabilize the vessel during movement of a load on the crane (2), the piston is moved in the chamber. This alters the underwater volume of the vessel and therefore its buoyancy.

Abstract: Several embodiments of marine outboard drives including an arrangement for automatically adjusting the trim condition of an outboard drive in response to an acceleration and/or deceleration condition of the watercraft. In the embodiments the acceleration or deceleration condition is sensed by the position of a control element. In some embodiments this control element is a single-lever throttle and transmission control, in other embodiments the element comprises a portion of the throttle linkage and in other embodiments the element comprises a portion of the spark advance mechanism of the engine.

Abstract: A quick disconnect boom mount having integral fluid conduits for use with master part transfer booms having changeable part handling spider booms. The coupling utilizes a rotary locking member, having an eccentric cam disposed thereon, which rigidly clamps the part handling spider to the master boom by engaging guide rods configured in a male/female arrangement and inserted from a first coupling block attached to the spider boom into the second coupling block attached to the master boom.

Abstract: A marine drive (1) for a boat (3) includes a construction wherein a propeller supporting bearing device (29, 40) is disposed in a recess (28, 39) inside the propeller hub (23, 22). A bearing carrier (24, 37) is concentrically associated with a propeller shaft (20, 18). The carrier is provided with a rearwardly extending nose portion (27, 38) which is telescoped within the forwardly facing recess in an adjacent rearward propeller hub. The propeller shaft is journalled in the bearing device which is disposed between the carrier and the shaft and within the recess. In one aspect of the invention, the carrier is prevented from rotating about the shaft axis (17). In another aspect, a sealing device (26) is disposed between the propeller shaft and the rear end portion (8a) of an adjacent supporting gear case (8). In the embodiment disclosed, dual propellers and dual bearing carriers are utilized, with bearing carrier noses disposed in recesses in both propeller hubs.

Abstract: A corrosion resistant coolant pump for placement in the cooling system of a marine drive includes a corrosion resistant member mounted to and rotatable with a drive shaft interconnected with and rotatable in response to the engine crankshaft. The corrosion resistant member is preferably a cup adapted for receiving and enclosing an end of the drive shaft, with a portion of the cup extending into a cavity formed in the coolant pump housing. The cavity is in communication with marine drive cooling system. An impeller is connected to the cup and housed within the cavity for pumping coolant through the system. The cup is interconnected with the drive shaft so as to be rotatable in response thereto, thereby driving the impeller in response to rotation of the drive shaft. A sealing mechanism is provided about the cup for sealing the cavity and preventing contact of coolant with the drive shaft.

Abstract: A swimmer's face mask (1) comprising a visor (3, 4 and 5), a holder (6) for the visor (3, 4 and 5) and a strap (7) for attaching the holder (6) to the face of a swimmer. The visor (3, 4 and 5) is of transparent plastic material and has two laterally extending panels (3, 4 and 5) sealed at their edges to form a hollow water-tight compartment (13). This compartment (13) provides sufficient buoyancy to float the entire face mask (1) when it is detached from the head of a swimmer.

Abstract: A marine propulsion system in which exhaust is routed through an internal exhaust passage which includes a convergent area forming a restricted flow path includes a pressure relief opening formed adjacent the area of restricted exhaust flow for relieving exhaust pressure. One or more closure plates are connected adjacent the one or more openings to selectively control the passage of exhaust therethrough. The plates are biased toward a closed position in which exhaust is prevented from passing through the openings. The bias on the plates is designed so as to yield to a predetermined level of exhaust pressure within the exhaust passage at the area of restricted exhaust flow, to thereby relieve exhaust pressure build-up and improve the performance of the marine propulsion system.

Abstract: A variable pitch propeller is fixed to a guide body pivotable about an axis and can be raised above the water surface by its pivoting about the axis. An adjusting device jointly rotating with the hub of variable pitch propeller and positioned on that hub can be set or adjusted without difficulty by a rotatable handle to adjust the pitch of the propeller blades in accordance with the intended travel mode, whereby a detectable fuel saving can be achieved.

Abstract: A marine propulsion device is provided wherein a flexible bellows (33) surrounding the universal joint (20) disposed between a marine engine (5) and a stern drive unit (2) is mounted to rotate with the universal joint itself. The universal joint is disposed within a chamber (61) delineated by the bellows itself and by end caps (34,43) mounted to the universal joint shafts (25,30). Supports (53,56) for the universal joint bearings (54) are constructed to permit free flow of fluid around the bearings. A quantity of lubricating oil is supplied to the chamber and at least partially fills the chamber when the latter is at rest. Upon driving rotation of the device, the bellows and universal joint and lubricating oil all rotate together. The resultant centrifugal force causes the oil to flow radially outwardly through the bearing supports to lubricate the bearings, with the oil forming a rotating mass engaging the inner bellows face.