Abstract: A rope severing device for cutting a rope after a continued compressive force is disclosed. The rope severing device includes a housing having a base and a top and the top is movably mounted to the base such that the top can move axially with respect to the base. A blade is positioned at least partially within the housing and fixedly mounted with respect to the base. In some embodiments, an elastic member is positioned inside the housing in contact with the base and a damper is attached to the base to dampen relative movement of the top and the base. Upon application of a compressive force to the housing, the top moves toward the base and the blade is at least partially exposed through an opening in the top to sever a rope attached to the rope severing device.

Abstract: A rope severing device for cutting a rope after a continued compressive force is disclosed. The rope severing device includes a housing having a base and a top and the top is movably mounted to the base such that the top can move axially with respect to the base. A blade is positioned at least partially within the housing and fixedly mounted with respect to the base. In some embodiments, an elastic member is positioned inside the housing in contact with the base and a damper is attached to the base to dampen relative movement of the top and the base. Upon application of a compressive force to the housing, the top moves toward the base and the blade is at least partially exposed through an opening in the top to sever a rope attached to the rope severing device.

Abstract: A fluid turbine apparatus contains a set of radially arranged magnets and a set of radially arranged coils axially aligned with the set of radially arranged magnets. A turbine base supports a first of the sets. A plurality of vanes having a rotatable connection to the turbine base is coupled to a second of the sets. A linear actuator supported on the turbine base influences the axial proximity of the set of radially arranged magnets to the set of radially arranged coils.

Abstract: A fluid turbine apparatus contains a set of radially arranged magnets and a set of radially arranged coils axially aligned with the set of radially arranged magnets. A turbine base supports a first of the sets. A plurality of vanes having a rotatable connection to the turbine base is coupled to a second of the sets. A linear actuator supported on the turbine base influences the axial proximity of the set of radially arranged magnets to the set of radially arranged coils.

Abstract: This fishing invention applies a kinetic energy-storing device along a fishing line to provide additional resistance to short-term stress applied to the line when the fish is tugging. The kinetic energy-storing device reduces occurrences of fishing line breakage, allows fishermen to use a lighter fishing line, and creates a means for fishing lures to snap themselves off of undersea objects. This invention, when secured between the fishing line and lure, allows fishermen to change lures without the need to retie the lure. Ultimately, this invention makes it more difficult for a fish to escape once hooked.

Abstract: A non-visual identification apparatus includes aquatic gear. At least one water-resistant device is joined with the aquatic gear. The water-resistant device stores information. A reader is provided that is capable of non-visually reading the information stored by the device. The water-resistant device may be joined mechanically and/or adhesively with the aquatic gear. The reader may be capable of wirelessly reading the information stored by the device.

Abstract: This fishing invention applies a kinetic energy-storing device along a fishing line to provide additional resistance to short-term stress applied to the line when the fish is tugging. The kinetic energy-storing device reduces occurrences of fishing line breakage, allows fishermen to use a lighter fishing line, and creates a means for fishing lures to snap themselves off of undersea objects. This invention, when secured between the fishing line and lure, allows fishermen to change lures without the need to retie the lure. Ultimately, this invention makes it more difficult for a fish to escape once hooked.

Abstract: A mateable shuttle plate connector used for hostile environment electrical connections. The shuttle plate connector has a female connector, filled with a pressure-equalizing medium and has a sealed end and a receiving end. The shuttle plate connector also has a male connector, also filled with a pressure-equalizing medium, and has a sealed end and a mating end. A sliding seal plate is located in the female connector to seal the receiving end of the connector. The seal plate is spring-loaded to allow it to slide out of position when forced and return to the original position when the force is removed. The female connector has contains electrical contacts on its inner walls. The male connector has a conduit plate containing electrical contacts. When the conduit plate within the male connector slides into the female connector, the seal plate is slid out of position and the female and male electrical contacts meet to close a circuit.

Abstract: A pressure compensatable mateable connector for use in hostile environments, or environments where the contacts to be connected must be protected from the environment, comprising a plug connector half and a receptacle connector half which are mateable and de-mateable multiple times. The connector may be used for electrical, fiber optic, hybrid electro-optic, hydraulic and gas or vapor connections. The plug connector half comprises at least one isolated mating probe contact immersed in a pressure transfer medium, and contained in an isolation envelop which partially comprises a free-sliding flexible rubber-like tube which is sealed at both the rear and mating ends and wherein the mating probe contact enters the flexible tube through a hermetic fitting snugly fitted to the rear end of the flexible tube. The flexible tube may have one or more axial slits.

Abstract: A fiber optic transmission line is passed uninterrupted through a hermetically sealed dielectric pressure barrier. This is accomplished by fusing glass or casting a resin about hollow upstanding sleeves within the bore of a connector housing. The glass forms a strong hermetically sealed barrier caused by strong compressive forces resulting from the different coefficients of thermal expansion between the metal bore walls and glass matrix. A fiber optic core is passed through a hollow sleeve and sealed to an aperture in a contact pin which is hermetically sealed to the end of the sleeve. The end of the pin is polished to provide an abutment joint with a corresponding contact surface on an associated connector. In the case of a resin matrix, the resin may be cast about the sleeves within the housing bore. During hardening, the resin will bond to the sleeves and walls of the bore to form a strong hermetically sealed pressure barrier.