Abstract: An elongate, flexible line for providing a linkage between a first structure and a second structure. The line may be a mooring line. It has a braided tubular sheath, the sheath being able to change reversibly and repeatedly in length and its braided structure being such that an increase in sheath length is accompanied by a lateral dimensional decrease. Within the sheath is an impervious flexible bladder. The bladder defines a fluid-containing internal chamber which is acted on by the sheath so that the volume of the chamber varies with the sheath length. A pressure source arranged to pressurise the chamber. A restricted passage communicates with the chamber. The pressurised bladder urges the sheath to expand laterally and to contract. An increase in sheath extension causes fluid to be exhausted from the chamber through the restriction, increasing chamber pressure and providing a damping force opposed to the sheath's extension.

Abstract: A compression chamber is formed by two end walls (10) and a flexible tubular member (11) extending between the end walls (10). The flexible tubular member (11) is formed from an inner tube (12) of air impermeable material and an outer tube (13) of a braided material. The inner tube (12) is unstressed when the chamber is filled with oxygen or air and the outer tube (13) bears the pressure load.

Abstract: A pump comprises a flexible container (11) filled with a fluid and having a fluid inlet (104) and a fluid outlet (105), and a constricting device (12), preferably in the form of a braid tube, conforming the container (11) to a generally circular cross-section and operable cyclically to reduce the diameter of the container (11) to expel fluid from the outlet and then allow the diameter to increase with fluid entering the inlet to refill the container (11). Such a pump can be suspended in the sea between an anchor and means for converting energy from the sea into a force acting on said constricting device, for example, a float, to cause the constricting device to reduce the diameter of the container (11) to expel fluid from the outlet (105), and then passing the expelled fluid to do work such as drive a generator (121).

Abstract: An inflatable tube (10) in a fascine is provided with a cover (11) of a braided material to provide significant strength. An outer cover (12) of KEVLAR™ may also be provided. The braided cover (11) and the inflatable tube (10) are held at the ends of the tube by a clamping mechanism (17, 18, 19) and a cylinder (40) of inflation gas is supported within the tube (10), when the tube (10) is inflated.

Abstract: A compression chamber is formed by two end walls (10) and a flexible tubular member (11) extending between the end walls (10). The flexible tubular member (11) is formed from an inner tube (12) of air impermeable material and an outer tube (13) of a braided material. The inner tube (12) is unstressed when the chamber is filled with oxygen or air and the outer tube (13) bears the pressure load.

Abstract: An inflatable tube (10) in a fascine is provided with a cover (11) of a braided material to provide significant strength. An outer cover (12) of KEVLAR™ may also be provided. The braided cover (11) and the inflatable tube (10) are held at the ends of the tube by a clamping mechanism (17, 18, 19) and a cylinder (40) of inflation gas is supported within the tube (10), when the tube (10) is inflated.

Abstract: An inflation device for a buoyancy body such as a life jacket or life raft having a pressurized gas cylinder mounted within the buoyancy body and including an actuator, preferably in the form of a rotatable shaft, which projects from the interior to the exterior of the body so that it can be used to cause release of gas into the body and is operable from the exterior of the inflation device.