Abstract: A jet drive cavitation control system briefly limits engine output power to prevent the onset of impeller cavitation when pressure upstream of the impeller indicates the likelihood of imminent impeller cavitation. The system uses a pressure sensor to sense water pressure, preferably immediately upstream of the impeller. The pressure sensor generates a signal that is transmitted to an electronic controller which controls the operation of the internal combustion engine that powers the jet drive. A threshold cavitation water pressure value is preselected at a point before the onset of impeller cavitation is likely. When the measured water pressure drops to or below the threshold cavitation water pressure value, the electronic controller immediately limits engine output to prevent impeller cavitation.

Abstract: An impeller mounting system for a jet propelled watercraft uses an impeller shaft having a tapered portion and an impeller hub having a coaxial opening with a corresponding tapered seat. The impeller hub is tightened onto the impeller shaft so that the tapered portion of the impeller shaft presses against the tapered seat of the coaxial opening in the impeller hub with sufficient force to prevent the impeller hub from slipping with respect to the impeller shaft when the impeller shaft rotates to drive the impeller hub. Static frictional forces between the tapered surfaces bear the entire rotational load for the jet drive, therefore reducing chatter noise and wear which can be caused by load bearing splines or the like. The tapered seat configuration virtually assures proper concentric alignment of the impeller within the wear ring. The impeller shaft also preferably includes a bearing support portion extending rearward from the coaxial opening in the hub.

Abstract: A jet propelled watercraft has a brake which the driver of the watercraft can use to decelerate forward motion of the watercraft. The brake mechanism preferably includes a reverse gate that allows watercraft steering to be consistent when the watercraft is accelerating or cruising with the reverse gate in a fill-up position as when the watercraft is decelerating with the reverse gate in a full-down or partial-down position. The positioning of the reverse gate during operation of the watercraft is adjusted in accordance with the state of hand operated actuators for a forward throttle control mechanism and a brake control mechanism. Preferably, an electronic controller receives a signal from the control mechanisms and outputs a control signal that directs a servomotor to move a reverse gate control cable or linkage to position the reverse gate. Forward thrust can be increased by proportionally closing the actuator for the forward thrust control mechanism.

Abstract: A reverse mechanism for a jet propelled watercraft includes a reverse gate that provides low restriction to the flow of water through the jet pump, and also provides significant steering characteristics. The reverse gate has a deflector surface with a vertical jet divide that divides the deflector surface. Both sides of the deflector surface are in the form of a simple curve. In the preferred embodiment, the simply-curved deflector surfaces slant inward towards a central apex which serves as the vertical jet divide. The deflector surface spans between a starboard side support structure and a port side support structure which are pivotally mounted along a horizontal axis so that the reverse gate can be moved between a full-up position and a full-down position rearward of the jet pump. Both the starboard side support structure and the port side support structure include apertures therethrough which allow a portion of the jet flow to exit laterally from the reverse gate.

Abstract: A jet propulsion system for a personal watercraft provides a converging stator that can be manufactured using die-cast manufacturing techniques. The stator preferably has a stator housing having a substantially cylindrical inner surface, a stator hub, and seven equally spaced stator vanes supporting the hub coaxially in the stator housing. The cylindrical inside surface of the stator housing does not extend rearward as far as a conventional housing for a converging stator. The coaxial hub has a converging diameter portion that is located at least in part downstream or rearward of the stator housing. Rearward of the stator housing, the stator vanes extend from the stator hub to an outer free edge. With this configuration, a converging stator can be manufactured using aluminum die-cast manufacturing techniques.

Abstract: A personal watercraft jet propulsion system has a hull design and an intake housing to optimize the structural integrity of the hull, and facilitate efficient installation of the jet propulsion system without sacrificing proper alignment of the components of the jet propulsion system. The watercraft hull includes a recess defined by an inclined bulkhead spanning between two substantially vertical sidewalls. The inclined bulkhead contains an opening between the engine compartment within the hull and the components of the jet propulsion system. The intake housing mounts to the inclined bulkhead to cover the opening. The intake housing has coplanar mounting surfaces surrounding the opening in the bulkhead. Proper alignment of the pump components requires only that the intake housing be mounted properly to the inclined bulkhead.

Abstract: An inlet adapter for a personal watercraft jet propulsion system is hydrodynamically designed to achieve optimum performance at both low and high watercraft speeds. The inlet adapter provides an inlet opening having a fixed geometry. A plurality of tines extend from the inlet adapter rearward to cover an inlet opening through which water is pumped to a jet propulsion system. The aft portion of each tine has an exposed face that is blunt, preferably flat. The blunt face restricts water flow through the inlet opening at relatively high speeds, thereby improving high speed performance. The tines are also designed to facilitate laminar flow as the flow of water passes the tines en route to the jet propulsion system. In another aspect, the invention provides a hydrodynamic bulge downstream of the downstream edge of the inlet opening.

Abstract: A sun visor or other accessory for a motor vehicle. The sun visor includes a body made of rigid foam in which various structures (such as a support pin, detent and pivot arm) are insert molded. The foam has a rigidity which is sufficient to support said sun visor without requiring any additional reinforcing structures such as a support frame, support wire or centerboard. The pivot arm and detent are provided within a casing that prevents the foam from affecting the operation of the detent. Also insert molded into the body of the visor are mounts for an illuminated vanity. Terminals from a power supply are mounted in predetermined positions relative to the body so that when the vanity is mounted to the body, contacts coupled to a lamp and mounted to the vanity in predetermined positions, are caused engage the terminals.

Abstract: A sun visor or other accessory for a motor vehicle. The sun visor includes a body made of rigid foam in which various structures (such as a support pin, detent and pivot arm) are insert molded. The foam has a rigidity which is sufficient to support said sun visor without requiring any additional reinforcing structures such as a support frame, support wire or centerboard. The pivot arm and detent are provided within a casing that prevents the foam from affecting the operation of the detent. Also insert molded into the body of the visor are mounts for an illuminated vanity. Terminals from a power supply are mounted in predetermined positions relative to the body so that when the vanity is mounted to the body, contacts coupled to a lamp and mounted to the vanity in predetermined positions, are caused engage the terminals.

Abstract: Radar signature simulator for use in electronic warfare and training intercept operators. Recorded video portions of radar signature as they appear at the point of intercept on a video tape recorder are played back to produce video signals. These signals are used to amplitude modululate an RF signal of the desired frequency. The modulated signal is amplified in a linear amplifier and fed to a broadband tansmitting antenna.

Abstract: A crossflow cooling tower has a number of fill structure sections which are arranged at equally spaced intervals around the entire perimeter of a central plenum that receives generally horizontal currents of air simultaneously from all of the fill structure sections and causes the air to be discharged in an upwardly direction out of the tower. In one embodiment, the tower is provided with four upright fill structure sections disposed in a square arrangement in horizontal view, and a number of the towers may be located adjacent each other in a side-by-side diamond-like arrangement so that each air inlet face of each tower readily communicates with the atmosphere.

Abstract: System and method for producing a pattern of radar radiation encountered by a object in the scan path of a radar, commonly referred to as "radar signature". The basic system has a memory containing at least digital amplitude information for each pulse of the signature, digital pulse width information for each pulse, digital pulse-to-pulse interval information for each pulse, scan time information and scan gap information. A digital to analog converter converts the digital amplitude information to a proportional voltage. Timers convert the pulse width information, the pulse-to-pulse interval information, scan time information and scan gap information to intervals of time in sequential fashion. During pulse width times, the output of the digital to analog converter is enabled. The output is disabled during pulse-to-pulse intervals and scan gap time. A controller controls the transfer of amplitude information from memory to the digital to analog converter and controls operation of the timers.

Abstract: Non-flammable reactive particle compositions useful in forming shaped articles prepared from flammable cellulosic materials and a type of urea/formaldehyde resin. Processes for their preparation and a method of rendering flammable reactive particles substantially inflammable.

Abstract: A portable hand-held herbicide and insecticide applicator is comprised of a hollow tubular frame including a handle section and a pair of extended spaced prong sections, forming a liquid reservoir conduit having spaced discharge ports between which extends an absorptive rope mop in wicking relation with and saturated by liquid in the reservoir conduit.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a metal halide-amide reaction product, useful in the preparation of metal-modified amide-aldehyde polymers, which comprises(1) reacting in a water-immiscible inert liquid medium a metal halide with at least one amide having at least two replaceable hydrogens to obtain a reaction product therebetween;(2) hydrolyzing the reaction product obtained in step (1) above with water to form an aqueous solution of the reaction product;(3) partially neutralizing the aqueous solution of the reaction product obtained in step (2) with a bicarbonate, and(4) recovering the metal halide-amide reaction product obtained.

Abstract: A system for obtaining the range and bearing of the location of any radar transmission with a minimum of received data (one pulse). Three receiving systems spaced apart from each other receive signals from the radiating source. Solving three simultaneous equations for circles using the location of each receiving antenna as the center of three circles. The point of intersection of the three circles is the location of the radiating source.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for controlling the operation of mechanical or other equipment having a plurality of information storage members arranged in preselected positions in an array and an actuatable information retrieval mechanism movable relative to the array wherein selective access to the information of any one of such storage members can be achieved by generating output signal groups representing, respectively, the position of a selected storage member and its number in the array, whereby simplified counting techniques can be used to store such number and thereafter use it for positioning said retrieval mechanism adjacent to the selected member itself for effecting the readout of the information on the member. The unit uses solid state electronic elements to minimize cost and to provide for optimum reliability.