Abstract: A spa apparatus includes a chair and a basin supported by a base. The basin is movable in an up/down direction relative to a portion of the base. The chair may include actuators to tilt forward to permit easy entry and exit from the chain. The chair may also move in a fore/aft direction relative to the basin. A pair of foot rests may be located within the basin. A manicure assembly may be located within a cavity in the arm of the chair. The basin may have a narrowed front portion to allow a technician to easily fact the customer. A base may include two support frames that pivot relative to one another proximate an end of the base distal the basin.

Abstract: A spa apparatus and method for cleaning the same are disclosed. The spa apparatus includes a basin for retaining fluid, a removable foot rest plate positioned within the basin, an impeller coupled to the basin, and a motor drivably coupled to the impeller.

Abstract: A technique for forming self-supporting structures with thermoplastic material incorporates a plasma-heated spray of thermoplastic material with glass fiber reinforcement, such as glass fibers. The material is sprayed into a mold which is shaped to create the desired form and configuration of the self-supporting structure. A mixture of thermoplastic powder and reinforcing fibers is carried by a stream of inert gas through a plasma region. The thermoplastic material is melted as it passes through the plasma region and the resulting plasma is sprayed against the surface of a form mold. The thickness of the resulting structure can be varied from region to region by changing the speed of movement of a spray nozzle relative to the form, using a plurality of spray nozzles that can be selectively activated and deactivated, or by providing a plurality of coats of sprayed thermoplastic material, one after another.

Abstract: A marine propulsion system, incorporating a jet pump, provides improved mass flow through the pump by utilizing an inlet opening which initially diverges to a transition point in front of an impeller and then diverges from the transition point past the impeller region to the outlet opening of the pump. Significantly increased flow rates per horsepower are achieved by reducing the normal restrictions caused by the inlet and outlet openings of known pumps. A transmission is provided to connect the output shaft of an engine to the drive shaft of the impeller. Either a V-drive or a torpedo-type gear housing can be employed.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating solid material from cooling water in the cooling system of the engine block of a marine engine. The engine block comprises a plurality of cylinder bores surrounded by a cooling passage through which cooling water is pumped. The bottom portion of the block includes a drain outlet that communicates with the cooling passage and a tubular separating member has a first generally horizontal section that is sealed within the drain outlet. The tubular separator also includes a second section that is located within the cooling passage and extends downwardly from the inner end of the first section and is located between two adjacent cylinder bores. The lower end of the second section is closed and a port is provided in the side of the second section adjacent the closed end and facing toward one of the cylinder bores.

Abstract: A drain valve assembly for automatically draining water from a cooling system of an inboard marine engine when the ambient temperature drops to a preselected value. The drain valve includes a cup-shaped base having a group of inlets connected to portions of a cooling system of the engine to be drained, and the open end of the base is enclosed by a cover. Each inlet defines a valve seat and a sealing piston is mounted for movement in the base and includes a series of valve members that are adapted to engage the valve seats. An outlet is provided in the sidewall of the cup-shaped base. The valve members on the sealing piston are biased to a closed position by a coil spring and a temperature responsive element interconnects the sealing piston with the cover. The temperature responsive element is characterized by the ability to exert a force in excess of the spring force of the coil spring when the ambient temperature is above about 50.degree. F., to thereby maintain the valve members in the closed position.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating solid material from cooling water in the cooling system of a marine engine. The apparatus includes a hollow member or housing having an inlet to receive cooling water and having an outlet. A drain opening is located in the housing above the bottom surface of the housing and is connected through a suitable conduit to a temperature responsive drain valve. A generally J-shaped tubular member is disposed in the housing and has one end connected to the drain outlet while a second end is slightly above the bottom surface of the housing, out of alignment with the inlet. When the drain valve is open, water will drain through the housing to the drain outlet, while solid debris will collect in the bottom of the housing beneath the second end of the tubular member.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having two separate main combustion chambers isolated from the cylinder and from each other by means of a valve throttle mechanism. Combustion occurs first in one chamber, and then in the other, separated by one complete revolution of the crankshaft in the two-cycle embodiment and two complete revolutions of the crankshaft in the four-cycle embodiment. The alternative operation effectively removes the combustion process from the cycle for a sufficient amount of time to enable the combustive reactions to approach chemical equilibrium prior to release in the cylinder.

Abstract: A marine drive which mounts through a hole in the bottom surface of a boat utilizes a driveshaft housing assembly, an engine mounted to the driveshaft assembly and a lower propeller drive unit mounted to the driveshaft housing assembly. The driveshaft housing assembly which mounts the drive within the hole in the boat includes a driveshaft housing, a steering assembly constructed to rotate about a generally vertical axis within said driveshaft housing assembly to provide steering, a trimming assembly connected to the steering assembly to pivotably swing the lower propeller drive unit to provide trimming/tilting, a driveshaft and an exhaust passageway therethrough.

Abstract: An adaptor (27) is provided in the float bowl (11) of a carburetor (10) to force the secondary fuel passage (18) to draw fuel from the center of the float bowl (11). A cap (31) is provided at the top of the adaptor (27) to seal the top of the adaptor (27) while allowing the secondary metering rods (19) to extend through the adaptor (27).

Abstract: A marine propulsion system (2) is provided with an exhaust elbow (10) having an intake exhaust passage (22) extending upwardly from the engine (4) and communicating through a bend (24) with a discharge exhaust passage (26), and a water jacket (27) having pockets around the exhaust passages for cooling the latter. A central channel (44) extends longitudinally along the exterior of the exhaust passages to guide water therealong to the end (42) of the discharge exhaust passage to mix with exhaust thereat. The central channel has a pair of sidewalls (50 and 52) extending longitudinally and laterally tapered away from each other (54 and 56) at the outer end of the discharge exhaust passage to create an outward draw from the central channel to minimize break-up of longitudinally outward water flow and maintain the end tip of the discharge exhaust passage dry and prevent water ingestion and creeping back into the discharge exhaust passage due to pulsations of the engine.