Abstract: The present invention relates to an instrumentation apparatus for receiving and recording acoustic signals in a range of depths of approximately 5–100 m beneath the ocean surface and for providing a set of data outputs from which wind velocity and rainfall rate at the surface may be derived. The apparatus includes an omnidirectional hydrophone for substantially isotropical reception of acoustic energy from its upper hemisphere and for producing an output signal representative of the wind velocity and the rainfall rate at the surface. The apparatus further includes a preamplifier connected to the output of the hydrophone and a circuit for processing the amplified signal and recording data derived therefrom. This circuit includes a microprocessor and a data storage device.

Abstract: An electrical outlet receptacle adapted to be plugged into a conventional wall socket includes a circuit interrupting switch in the form of a bar or rod axially extending from the receptacle housing and being movable between first and second positions. The receptacle includes a pair of blade contacts engageable with the receptacle of a wall socket which blade contacts have a gap situated therein in such a manner as to orthogonally engage in a slidable fashion the axially movable bar. The latter, in turn, carries a pair of contacts adapted to bridge the gap in the switch blades depending upon the axial position of the bar. Thus, in the first position of the bar, the contacts do not bridge the gaps in the blade contacts whereas in the second position of the bar the contacts do bridge the gaps in the blade contacts thereby permitting an appliance plugged into the safety receptacle to draw electrical power from the wall socket.