Abstract: A watercraft propelled by a jet propulsion unit that is positioned within a tunnel in the underside of the watercraft. The jet propulsion unit is supported for pivotal movement about a horizontally extending transverse pivot access and the housing of the jet propulsion unit is divided into separate components so that the water inlet portion may be rotated to an upwardly facing service position without rotation of the discharge nozzle, steering nozzle, or reverse thrust buckets associated therewith. As a result, an extremely rigid support is accomplished which nevertheless permits ease of servicing.

Abstract: Several embodiments of signalling devices for small jet propelled watercraft that generate an upwardly discharged water spray for indicating the presence of the watercraft. In each embodiment, devices are incorporated for precluding the discharge of the signal spray if desired. In some embodiments, this is done by a control valve while in other embodiments this is done by redirecting the discharge portion of the signal generating device. In all embodiments, however, the signalling device is permanently fixed within the discharge nozzle of the jet propulsion unit.

Abstract: A V bottom hull watercraft powered by a pair of jet propulsion units that are supported for pivotal movement about horizontally disposed pivot axes and rotary movement about a longitudinal pivot axis to rotate the water inlet openings and elevate them from a downwardly facing normal operating position and an upwardly facing service position. The water inlet openings are disposed so that they extend parallel to the sides of the V bottom. Steering nozzles are supported for pivotal movement at the discharge ends of the jet propulsion units and pivot about vertically extending axes that are not perpendicular to the water inlet openings so that no vertical thrust will be exerted on the watercraft hull when the steering nozzles are pivoted to effect steering.

Abstract: Apparatus for assisting in boarding or alighting a watercraft having a hull and a deck is disclosed and includes a ladder which is movable between a stowed position, in which it overlies a portion of the deck, and a deployed position in which it extends from the watercraft forwardly and downwardly of the deck to a landing area in order to assist in boarding or alighting the watercraft. The ladder is attached to the watercraft at a forward location thereof. In one embodiment, the ladder is pivotably mounted by means of a pair of spaced brackets to the deck of the watercraft. In another embodiment, the ladder is slidable within a pair of spaced mounting brackets and is adapted to engage a clip, attached to each mounting bracket, to enable the ladder to pivot to its deployed position.

Abstract: Linear motor supporting apparatus are mounted upon the front and rear portions of each bogie of a vehicle so as to maintain the predetermined distance defined between an on-board coil and a ground stator, the on-board coil and the ground stator together constituting the linear-induction motor. The linear motor supporting apparatus incorporates a servo device which regulates the vertical position of the on-board coil in accordance with the contour of the ground stator so as to maintain the on-board-coil-to-ground-stator distance at the predetermined value. The servo device consists of a valve body, a valve box, and a servo device body. The valve body is secured to a sensor member, which runs upon and is maintained in contact with the ground stator. The valve box is secured to the on-board coil. The servo device body is mounted through means of a spring to the bogie. The ground stator may have some laying errors and there may be variations in its height.

Abstract: An air gap controlling system for a linear motor wherein a comparatively small air gap can be assured between a truck-carried element and a ground-mounted element to assure a high efficiency of the linear motor and construction for driving such ground-mounted element is simplified. Driving means is provided on each truck for driving a truck-carried element of a linear motor to be displaced upwardly or downwardly to adjust an air gap between the truck-carried element and an opposing ground-mounted element which also constitutes the linear motor, and an aimed value of the air gap between the two elements is set in response to a running speed of a velocity of the truck and a truck position signal representative of a position of the truck. At the first truck, the driving means is controlled so that the air gap may be equal to the air gap instruction value which is a rather high value.

Abstract: A small jet propelled watercraft having a jet propulsion unit with a steering nozzle and further including a steering ski at the front of the watercraft for providing lift to the hull and also for providing a steering effect. The steering nozzle and steering ski are interconnected so that they are steered in opposite directions so as to provide a crisper steering and steering even at low speeds or when coasting.

Abstract: A small jet propelled watercraft having a partially open rider's area covered at least in part by a roof. The construction and orientation of the roof is such to insure that the watercraft cannot be inverted in the water.

Abstract: A thermal environment sensor has a single temperature detector for detecting temperature and producing an output representative of the detected temperature, the temperature detector having, when heated by a predetermined constant power, a convective heat transfer coefficient giving it a wind velocity dependent temperature drop characteristic in close conformity with the wind velocity dependence of the effective temperature drop felt by a human body. A heater is provided for heating the temperature detector, and an electric power supply is connected to the heater for supplying the heater with a constant electric power corresponding to the predetermined constant power, and a temperature estimating circuit is connected to the temperature detector for correcting the output of the temperature detector by a predetermined constant temperature difference for thereby obtaining the effective temperature felt by a human body.

Abstract: A small watercraft of the jet propulsion type having a cockpit that is adapted to accommodate either one or two riders. When one rider is accommodated he may sit in the center of the seat and operate the watercraft from the center thereof. When two riders are positioned, one may be the operator and may operate the watercraft from one side thereof. To permit this, a steering control is disclosed that is moveable between either a central or side position.

Abstract: Several embodiments of hull configurations for small watercraft wherein the gunnels at the side of the watercraft are raised and provided with sealed storage areas that increase the buoyancy of the hull and which can be flooded for assisting in re-entry.

Abstract: A water vehicle comprised of a tow unit having only an internal combustion engine and a propulsion unit for propelling the watercraft and which cannot accommodate a rider. A towed unit is towed by the tow unit and includes a control device for controlling the tow unit from the towed unit. The towed unit has a kite so that it can operate either on the water or in the air.

Abstract: A railway car bogie has a bearing (11,12) at the center of each of the front and rear axles (2) and a pair of struts (13, 14) arranged in a V connected at one end to each bearing to define an imaginary center of rotation at or adjacent the center of the bearing and at the other end to the bogie frame (5). By mounting the axle boxes (4) for lateral and longitudinal sliding movement relative to the axle springs (9, 10) around the imaginary center of rotation, a railway car (25) mounted on the bogie exhibits greater stability for high speed straight running and easier passage around tight curves.

Abstract: A semi-submerged water vehicle having a small rider's compartment designed to accommodate primarily a single rider that can operate the watercraft in either a standing or a seated position. There is provided both an underwater porthole and an above-the-water porthole both of which can be looked through by the operator when seated within the passenger compartment so as to afford both above-the-water and under-the-water viewing to the rider.

Abstract: A small watercraft having a jet propulsion unit with a flow directing device for creating a rooster tail spray and a reverse thrust bucket that is formed with clearances so as not to interfere with the spray when operating in the forward direction and to permit the reverse thrust bucket to move to its reverse position without interference from the flow directing device.

Abstract: A control arrangement for a small watercraft of the jet propulsion type having a reverse thrust bucket that is operated by a shift control. The shift control is positioned in relationship to the throttle control such that an operator can operate only one of the controls at a given time. In addition, the throttle control is biased to its neutral position so that when an operator releases his hand from the throttle control to effect a shift, the speed of the watercraft will be reduced.

Abstract: A small watercraft of the jet propelled type having a pair of removable side containers adapted to be mounted on the sides of the hull so as to provide storage area and increased buoyancy. The containers may be selectively flooded by a displaced rider to change the buoyancy and facilitate entry from the water.

Abstract: A thermal environment sensor has a single temperature detector for detecting temperature and producing an output representative of the detected temperature, the temperature detector having, when heated by a predetermined constant power, a convective heat transfer coefficient giving it a wind velocity dependent temperature drop characteristic in close conformity with the wind velocity dependence of the effective temperature drop felt by a human body. A heater is provided for heating the temperature detector, and an electric power supply is connected to the heater for supplying the heater with a constant electric power corresponding to the predetermined constant power, and a temperature estimating circuit is connected to the temperature detector for correcting the output of the temperature detector by a predetermined constant temperature difference for thereby obtaining the effective temperature felt by a human body.

Abstract: A small boat embodying an improved hatch cover construction. The hatch cover is made from a thin lightweight material but is reinforced by a sub-frame and this reinforcing sub-frame rotatably journals the steering column.