Abstract: A boat or vessel particularly designed and adapted for treating bodies of water such as lakes to correct chemical, biological or other imbalances in the aquatic envoronment by accurately dispensing a treatment agent into the water in an amount based upon the volume of water being passed over and continuously determined by detection means for the speed of the boat or vessel carrying the dispensing means and the depth of the water being passed over. The boat includes a main or central hull supported or floated by the water and also stabilized by lateral inwardly and outwardly adjustable pontoons when loaded. The boat includes sparging, or mixing, and above or below water dispensing means to dispense the treatment agent. The pontoons may include tank means particularly in the upper portions and are adjustable inwardly and outwardly as well as fore and aft to both stabilize and trim the vessel.

Abstract: A stabilizing device for an underwater towed body includes a keel attached o the bottom surface of the towed body to provide for any major correction for its rolling motion. Any finer correction of the rolling motion of the towed body is accomplished by moving horizontally a trim weight housed inside the towed body. The horizontal movement of the trim weight is controlled by the power applied to the electric motor which is determined by the rolling motion sensor.

Abstract: A light sailboat is provided with a transversely disposed sliding rail which extends from one side of the boat to the other. The sailboat is also provided with a seat which slides freely along this sliding rail.

Abstract: A stabilizing device for an underwater towed body includes a vertically mble keel inside the towed body using an electric motor. Major part of the imbalanced torque of the tow cable provides rotation of the towed body. A final correction of the rolling motion of the towed body is accomplished by moving a keel weight housed inside the towed body. The extension of the keel weight is controlled by the power applied to the electric motor which is controlled from the surface ship. A sensor sends rolling motion information to the surface ship via the tow cable.

Abstract: A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) provided with not less than three thrusters arranged in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle body. The center of gravity G of the vehicle body excluding a pendulum and the center of buoyancy B of the vehicle body including the pendulum are set in agreement with each other, and the pendulum is provided so that it can be turned around a Y-axis extending in the lateral direction of the vehicle body and passing the center of gravity G thereof.

Abstract: A system for automated controlling of the trim and stability of a vessel includes sensors for monitoring the value of the draft of the vessel, a sensor of the heel angle of the vessel and a heeling subsystem connected to a signal conditioner connected, in its turn, through an interface to a computer, a heel angle transducer connected with a comparator also connected with a unit for presetting the value of heeling of the vessel and with a switching unit connected with the heeling subsystem.

Abstract: There is described a vessel such as a semi-submersible drilling unit having a drilling deck structure with a plurality of columns depending from the deck. Pontoons are provided at the ends of the columns and a buoyant configuration modifying sleeve-like element is mounted around the columns. The sleeves are annular in cross-section and of generally cylindrical form and terminate at their lower ends in cuffs of reducing outer diameter. This provides an inwardly tapered or curved end to the sleeve. A cable and pulley arrangement is provided for vertically moving the sleeves along the columns and for locating them on the columns close to the unit transit waterplane and at a survival waterplane position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a structural system with which the mast of a sailboat can be forced against the wind and inclined to windward. This is accomplished with a new sailing element, a so-called "dolphin". The invention makes it possible to sail a sailboat using the same technique employed in windsurfing with a sailboard.

Abstract: A vessel such as a ship, a boat and the like, comprises a main part having a hull with an inner hollow and a substantially vertical fixed support fixedly connected with the hull, and a stabilizing element located in the inner hollow and cooperating with the fixed support so that when the main part turns about a horizontal axis in a first direction under the action of waves, wind and the like, the stabilizing element urges to turn the main part back about the same horizontal axis in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction so as to stabilize the ship.

Abstract: An elongated floating device connected via flexible means to the bottom of the water in such a manner that the floating device can undergo displacements through the action of wave forces while a structure is provided for redressing such displacements. At least one heavy plate extends in a vertical plane transversely to the length of the floating device, and is situated at a level below water level at least as low as the bottom of the floating device, and is suspended from the floating device so as to be freely pivotable about a horizontal axis which extends transversely to the length of the floating device. The plate has flat vertical opposite surfaces that are unconfined and are freely exposed in all horizontal directions to the ambient water.

Abstract: A vessel, such as a ship, a boat and the like, comprises an inner hull having a longitudinal horizontal axis and a transverse horizontal axis, an outer hull surrounding the inner hull and arranged movable relative to the latter about at least one of the horizontal axes, and a plurality of ball bodies arranged between the inner hull and the outer hull so as to allow the movement of the outer hull relative to the inner hull about the at least one horizontal axis.

Abstract: Vessels and the like require cleaning either periodically or whenever a need arises to remove various living things such as seaweeds and shells or contaminants such as oil for the sake of appearance and proper performance. Divers were conventionally employed to manually remove them one by one using a scraper as one means to remove such substances. Such manual operation is, however, extremely inefficient, involving great amounts of time and labor especially for large ships. According to the present invention, the main body of a cleaning apparatus is pressed against an underwater object to be cleaned by means of impellers which are provided substantially at the center of the main body and driven to rotate, whereby cleaning brushes which are provided at the bottom of the cleaning apparatus concentrically with the impellers are rotated to remove substances adherent to the object while the cleaning apparatus is manipulated to run on the object's surface.

Abstract: A laterally extending hydrofoil wing is supported in pendulum fashion in a cutout section of a planar keel of a sailing vessel. The pendulum support, in combination with the distribution of mass in the swing wing attempts to maintain the plane of the wing, which is under the surface of a body of water in a position parallel to the surface of a body of water regardless of any rolling or heeling of the vessel. The wing is canted or tilted downwardly into the water in the fore direction of the vessel to plane deeper into the water. When the vessel attempts to roll about its fore and aft axis from its original upright position, the flow of water acting on the canted wing develops a large downward force on the wing and on the keel from which the wing is suspended. The downward force attempts to rotate the keel of the vessel about its fore and aft axis to restore the vessel to its upright position.

Abstract: A vessel, such as a ship, a boat and the like, comprises a hull having an inner hollow, a movable body located in the inner hollow of the hull, and device for guiding the movable body in the inner hollow of the hull and formed so that when the hull turns about any horizontal axis in a first direction under the action of waves, wind and the like, the body urges to turn the hull back about the same any horizontal axis in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction so as to stabilize the ship.

Abstract: A marine vessel for amphibious operations carries a land military vehicle which is secured by a cable and winch arrangement to the deck of the vessel and also positioned by means of a torsion bar. The military vehicle can be moved fore and aft to vary the longitudinal center of gravity of the vessel as a function of water speed so as to a transition the hydrodynamic hump of the vessel to obtain maximum speed with minimum power. The movement of the vehicle is controlled by the vehicle operator who manipulates the recovery winch. The vessel is under the control of the vehicle operator by means of a flexible control cable and a control box which is disposed within the vehicle.

Abstract: A ship has a whole hull with an inner hollow and a longitudinal axis, and a body which is arranged in the inner hollow of the hull so that when the wind, waves and the like turn the hull in a first lateral direction, the body urges the hull to move in a second lateral direction which is opposite to the first lateral direction so as to stabilize the ship.

Abstract: This highly engineered recreational catamaran features a unique pivotable mast with a downward extending section that holds an underwater ballast. A hang glider type sail provides lift as well as thrust. Working in combination with the underwater ballast, the sail functions to deliver a high performance sailboat with high stability and ease of control. The ballast also aids in righting a capsized boat. Advanced three tier hydrolift type pontoons raise the boat partially out of the water under full sail thereby minimizing drag and maximizing speed. A convex deck and optional convex cabin facilitate righting an overturned boat. Other advanced features include retractable daggerboards for turning control, telescoping lower mast for shallow water sailing and beaching, underwater battery powered propulsion for movement in a calm wind and power assisted winches for sail lift and turning control.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning underwater surfaces and including at least one rotatable brush, and at least one pump the generating a stream of water passing from the front to the rear of the brush to hold the apparatus against an object to be cleaned. The apparatus can be readily manipulated and held in any desired attitude as a result of the brush being surrounded by an annular tube containing two immiscible materials of different specific gravity, such as a solid and a liquid, or two immiscible liquids.

Abstract: A new and improved sailboat hull for traditionally designed, single hull sailboats having a generally tapered lower hull section, whereby the lower hull section is extended rearward beneath the rudder to a point aft of the visible stern. The lower hull extension contains ballast so that the center of gravity of the sailboat is moved toward the stern. The lower hull extension is telescopically adjustable with a direct, corresponding effect on ballast. Horizontal fins extend laterally from either side of the lower hull extension which also has a trim tab attached to its aft end.

Abstract: An improved computerized moment stability system is provided which will rapidly obtain the solution to operational and post damage stability problems which may be present on an oceangoing vessel. The system includes three functional modules plus an initialization data base module. The data base modules stores the basic stability data concerning all watertight compartments and tanks onboard the vessel. An operational stability module is provided for performing the operational calculations to determine the stability parameters which exist under normal conditions. In addition, the operational module can provide reports concerning the day to day inventory of consumables as well as help in properly performing the loading and unloading of the vessel to maintain a safe, stable, condition at all times.

Abstract: A board-like floating body has a fixed mast, a swingable sail fastened to the mast, and an outrigger which is arranged so as to be swingable about an axis perpendicular to the upper side of the floating body and which has a seat and is intended to carry or support an operator. To compensate for fairly great keeling, the outrigger is connected to one end of a tension spring, the other end of which is fastened to the floating body, so that, in the rest position, the outrigger is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the floating body and behind the mast in the direction of travel. The outrigger is also provided with cable pulls, for manual swinging of the outrigger, and with foot control pedals which are operatively connected by way of a Bowden cable or wire to a rudder blade which is rotatably connected to the floating body.

Abstract: A wingsail assembly in which the pivoting mounting is situated in line with a strengthened portion of the sail assembly such as a strengthened leading edge of a sail element while still retaining the alignment of the axis of pivoting and the center of pressure. A sail assembly is also described in which a locating mechanism, typically in the form of wire stays, a mechanical linkage or a hydraulic system, is arranged to act on opposite sides of a balancing mass, carried by a boom attached to the wingsail assembly and arranged to locate the mass in an approximately horizontal plane. Where the wing or wing section is constructed from spars and ribs where the latter define the aerofoil section of the wing and lie in the direction of air flow, the ribs are conveniently formed from moulded GRP material and include flanges which in selected regions of the periphery of the rib subtend an angle of greater than 90.degree.

Abstract: A spherical vehicle for operation in a fluid medium utilizes an actuator disk or propeller of approximately half the diameter of the sphere for propulsion. In addition to providing the energy for driving the sphere, the actuator disk acts to draw the flow of fluid smoothly over the after part of the sphere, thus avoiding or minimizing the tendency of the flow to separate from the surface of the sphere and create turbulence. For aircraft launch, a heavy shroud protects the actuator disk propeller and assures that the vehicle will sink rapidly after impact. The shroud is jettisoned at a desired depth. Steering in pitch and yaw planes is effected through the use of a plurality of powered thrusters located at or just behind the circle of maximum diameter (with respect to the direction of motion) and selectively actuated by a guidance or control system. Alternatively a single reversible thruster may be used for steering in yaw combined with a movable internal weight for pitch control.

Abstract: A sailboat carries a pair of opposed keel sections which are angularly positionable about a common hinge axis, either as a keel unit or individually, by means of compressed air biased hydraulic actuators connected via shock absorbers to the keel sections. An additional hydraulic actuator, adjusts the angle of elevation of the hinge axis, enabling the keel unit or sections, when inclined, to provide hydrodynamic lift. The keel sections, which are hollow and contain radially flowable ballast, are configured, when oppositely horizontally positioned to receive the axles of removable wheels, enabling the boat to be self-trailered.

Abstract: A passive near neutral buoyancy platform includes a structure housing a series of gas-filled cells, restrained in their maximum volume regardless of the internal charge pressure, and collapsible in character when external pressure exceeds the charge pressure. With this structure, once a cell having a predetermined initial internal charge pressure reaches a depth where the external pressure exceeds this initial value, that cell contracts, resulting in a net buoyancy change for the structure. Where this series of cells is attached integrally to a single structure, the cells form a pre-loaded compressibility compensation device which is matched to the external environment.

Abstract: A floating vessel having a pair of inclined tracks on which one or more carriages are movably mounted and such vessel has a plurality of compartments or tanks which may be selectively flooded or pumped dry to control the trim of the vessel. When the forward tanks are flooded, the bow portion of the vessel is partially submerged and at least a portion of the carriage may be disposed under water in a position to receive a heavy floating object, after which the tanks may be emptied and the carriages raised along the rails so that the object is removed from the water and moved to a desired height.

Abstract: A sailing craft is provided which has the ability to limit heeling under various headings, and which includes a deck assembly mounted for lateral movement between two outrigger type hulls. The deck assembly may be moved toward the windward side of the craft, and so that its weight and that of the crew serve to counteract heeling resulting from the wind forces. A third hull is mounted adjacent the bow portion of the deck assembly, and the three hulls are disposed in a triangular, highly stable arrangement. Also, apparatus is provided whereby the crew may selectively rotate the third hull about a vertical axis to effect steering of the craft.

Abstract: A catamaran sailboat is provided which has the ability to limit heeling from the wind forces, to thereby maximize the effective sail area and speed. The catamaran includes a deck assembly which may be selectively moved laterally between the hulls by the crew, and whereby the weight of the deck, mast, sail, rigging, and crew may all be moved in the windward direction to effectively counterbalance the wind forces. In one embodiment, the two hulls are each continuous along their full length, and in a second embodiment each hull comprises a pair of longitudinally aligned hull sections, with at least one hull section of each pair being rotatable about a vertical axis to effect steering of the craft.

Abstract: A trimaran sailboat is provided which has the ability to limit heeling under various headings, and which includes a central hull, and a boom assembly mounted laterally across the central hull and having an outrigger hull at each end thereof. The boom assembly has an arcuate curvature along its length, and is mounted so as to permit lateral movement with respect to the central hull, so that the leeward outrigger hull may be moved outwardly from the central hull and downwardly with respect thereto, to thereby increase the leverage and buoyancy of the leeward outrigger hull.

Abstract: A dual buoyancy device having two external dimensions, in the smaller of which, one end is closed by an elastic sheet undistended, and in the greater of which the sheet is distended from its normal position thereby increasing the external dimension of the device; the distention of the sheet is accomplished by a thruster member bearing on the sheet which thruster is impelled by a weight and lever system actuated by gravity, which causes the thruster to distend the sheet.

Abstract: Apparatus for roll-stabilizing a vehicle broadly includes a compound physical pendulum operatively arranged to sense the lateral and angular acceleration of the vehicle attributable to an applied disturbance torque, and an inertia wheel arranged to be accelerated in the appropriate angular direction to exert a reaction torque on the vehicle to oppose the disturbance torque. The compound physical pendulum has a rigid dumbbell-shaped member mounted for frictionless pivotal movement between opposing discharge nozzles of a hydraulic amplifier. The hydraulic amplifier produces a differential control pressure in response to the acceleration forces acting on the pendulum, and this control pressure is used to operate a servovalve. The servovalve produces a drive pressure which is supplied to a hydraulic motor to accelerate the inertia wheel in the appropriate angular direction.

Abstract: A stabilizing device for a ship comprising two rotors housed one within the ther for rotation in opposite directions and positioned on each side of the ship. The rotors are axially movable relative one to the other to permit the outer rotors to be alternately put into and out of action. Guide elements disposed downstream of the rotors and covering parts may be provided to reduce resistance to water flow.

Abstract: A buoyant sea rescue chamber for use as lifesaving equipment on lake and sea vessels. The chamber includes a substantially enclosed hull portion provided with an adjustable counterweight shaft member adjacent the central portion of the exterior bottom surface of the hull portion. The counterweight shaft permits effective stabilization of the chamber when it is afloat, and two water-sealed entrance doors permit ready access to the chamber by a substantial group of persons during an emergency situation. The chamber is preferably stored during non-use adjacent the cabin section of the lake or sea vessel to provide ready access to the chamber during an emergency situation.

Abstract: A tube with weights slidably located inside and apparatus to remotely conl their position and thereby change the vehicle's center of gravity. The tube is rigidly attached to the vehicle with its centerline running fore and aft if trim is to be controlled or running athwartships if the system is to be used to control list.

Abstract: Apparatus for stabilizing a platform characterized by a frame carrying a stabilizing gyroscope that includes a substantially horizontal rotor with its shaft fixed with respect to the frame so as to effect a precessing force 90.degree. in the direction of rotation responsive to a torque force on the shaft in any azimuthal direction in a horizontal plane; a shifting carriage for shifting a load carrying compartment to move its center of gravity with respect to the frame to a plurality of successive second locations to offset to a desired degree a torque force and the reactive precessing force; and a control device for detecting a slight change in attitude from a desired attitude and effecting via the shifting carriage a controlled shifting of the load carrying compartment to a new second location to reestablish the desired attitude. The invention is readily applicable to vertical take-off and landing craft or other platforms having a lifting device connected therewith.

Abstract: A sailing craft having a one-piece hull design with a unitary mast, keel and ballast assembly that is mounted on the hull of the craft so that the mast, keel and ballast assembly can rotate independently thereof to permit the hull of the craft to float free of the wind's heeling forces without the adverse effects thereof.

Abstract: A floating platform has a polygonal, submerged floating body constructed from concentric pipe sections whereby the space between each two concentric pipes is compartmentized and serves as storage facility as well as ballast tanks. Columns also constructed as upright concentric pipes extend from the submerged float and carry platform defining and establishing frame which carries e.g. a drilling derrick. The interior spaces of all inner pipes serve as transport path, a closed one being provided in the main float and elevator(s) as well as pump-up paths for liquid loads are provided in the columns.

Abstract: Anti-roll apparatus for a marine vessel. A plurality of fins are carried by the vessel. Each fin is operatively moved by motor mechanism which is connected thereto by means of clutch mechanism. The motor mechanism is in continuous operation. A roll sensor unit is mounted in a position to detect roll motion of the vessel. The roll sensor unit transmits signals to the clutch mechanism in response to roll motion of the vessel. The clutch mechanism joins the motor mechanism to the fins for movement thereof in accordance with operation of the roll sensor unit. The fins are thus operatively moved to reduce and/or eliminate the roll action of the vessel.

Abstract: A passive roll stabilizer for a boat in which a freely movable weight is supported for movement athwartships at a substantial distance above the deck on a mast or other superstructure. The weight is freely movable along an axis substantially parallel to the deck between widely spaced limits. The limits are defined by energy dissipating stops, such as spring-loaded dash pots or self-restoring plastic foam material.