Abstract: A sea-bed anchor of the plug-and-socket type, in which the depth of the socket (2) needed to keep the plug in the socket against tidal force is reduced by the downwards force from a hydrofoil (5). The same force is used to lock the plug and socket positively together. The effective area of hydrofoils (5) can be increased when the tide is flowing and reduced when it is not. Downwards force from the hydrofoils is also used to enable submersible vessels to drill sockets in rock or to embed suction anchors in sediment.

Abstract: A sea-bed anchor of the plug-and-socket type, in which the depth of the socket (2) needed to keep the plug in the socket against tidal force is reduced by the downwards force from a hydrofoil (5). The same force is used to lock the plug and socket positively together. The effective area of hydrofoils (5) can be increased when the tide is flowing and reduced when it is not. Downwards force from the hydrofoils is also used to enable submersible vessels to drill sockets in rock or to embed suction anchors in sediment.

Abstract: A tidal energy capture means connects a turbine to its anchor by telescopic members which pivot about the anchor as axis in the plane of the tidal flow and whose combined length depends upon the force of this flow. These members can be locked at prescribed lengths by a remote signal, to control the level of the turbine during this movement. The anchor consists of a plug and socket, with buoyancy means for positioning the plug in the socket, and the telescopic members can be a rotatable shaft which drives equipment in the plug.

Abstract: A sea bed anchor of the plug-and-socket type, in which the depth of the socket (2) needed to keep the plug in the socket against tidal force is reduced by downwards force from a hydrofoil (5). The same force is used to lock the plug and socket positively together. The effective area of hydrofoils (5) can be increased when the tide is flowing, and reduced when it is not. Downwards force from hydrofoils is also used to enable submersible vessels to drill sockets in rock or to embed suction anchors in sediment.

Abstract: A tidal energy capture means connects a turbine to its anchor by telescopic members which pivot about the anchor as axis in the plane of the tidal flow and whose combined length depends upon the force of this flow. These members can be locked at prescribed lengths by a remote signal, to control the level of the turbine during this movement. The anchor consists of a plug and socket, with buoyancy means for positioning the plug in the socket, and the telescopic members can be a rotatable shaft which drives equipment in the plug.

Abstract: A sea bed anchor of the plug-and-socket type, in which the depth of the socket (2) needed to keep the plug in the socket against tidal force is reduced by downwards force from a hydrofoil (5). The same force is used to lock the plug and socket positively together. The effective area of hydrofoils (5) can be increased when the tide is flowing, and reduced when it is not. Downwards force from hydrofoils is also used to enable submersible vessels to drill sockets in rock or to embed suction anchors in sediment.

Abstract: An anchor for use in a tideway, in which one of a pair of mating components is fixed to the sea bed and the other is held in contact with it by means actuated by reciprocal movement in the plane of the tide of a member which offers resistance to the flow. This allows the components to be separated at the tidal null points. The components may also be sealed together by the reciprocal movement.

Abstract: A completely submersed means of extracting energy from a tidal flow is particularly adapted to pump water to be stored and used around tidal change periods or to stabilize the output of offshore windmills. It can be retrieved and brought to the surface for maintenance and also repositioned on the sea bed, by remote control. Operation of its reaction means is automatically limited to prescribed water depths.

Abstract: A method of delivering messages between application programs is provided which ensures that no messages are lost and none are delivered more than once. The method uses asynchronous message queuing. One or more queue manager programs (100) is located at each computer of a network for controlling the transmission of messages to and from that computer. Messages to be transmitted to a different queue manager are put onto special transmission queues (120). Transmission to an adjacent queue manager comprises a sending process (130) on the local queue manager (100) getting messages from a transmission queue and sending them as a batch of messages within a syncpoint-manager-controlled unit of work. A receiving process (150) on the receiving queue manager receives the messages and puts them within a second syncpoint-manager-controlled unit of work to queues (180) that are under the control of the receiving queue manager.

Abstract: An inflatable float with timer and pressure controls to enable underwater gear to be automatically lifted off the sea bed at intervals and moved to a new location. The gas for inflating the float may be generated by chemical means or galvanic action.

Abstract: In a powered V-sheave hauling system, purposively spaced enlargements on the line permit automatic disengagement of line and sheave when any desired point on the line reaches the sheave. The line is then held from running backwards under its load. The invention is particularly directed towards the avoidance of stresses or damage when a load has been fully pulled in.

Abstract: A power take-off for a motor through a recoil starter mounted axially in relation to the flywheel. Operation of the recoil starter is not interfered with. Provision is also made for axial concentricity of drive and driven shafts when the power take-off is in use.

Abstract: A vacuum package containing a single dose of the material to be dispensed is held in a frame so that it can be cut open by a spring-loaded sliding blade. The blade is held off the package against the force of the spring by a timer, which is an arrangement of a metal shear pin in contact with another metal of lower electrode potential. Immersion of the timer in an electrolyte such as sea water initiates galvanic action which causes the shear pin to corrode to failure close to a predetermined time.