Abstract: A pneumatic seacock retrofit is provided for convenient closing of all or a portion of the seacocks, whether as a matter of every day convenience or for use in an emergency, in which all of the vessel's seacocks can be pneumatically closed at the same time, leaving the possibility of selectively overriding seacock closure, with all control valves operating to provide a momentary pulse of air to the rotary actuators and then return to a neutral position, leaving the actuators free for further control. Moreover, an operator is free to manually close a valve in the event that the pneumatic system fails.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a scuttle assembly including an end member having a port to enable fluid flow, a valve member having a closed position to prevent fluid from flowing into a channel and an open position to allow fluid flowing into the channel, a bias member to bias the valve member to the open position, and a scuttle washer sandwiched between the end member and the valve member, the scuttle washer comprising a material that dissolves due to exposure to sea water without generating toxic gas or hydrogen.

Abstract: A water uptake device for directing water flow into a moving boat that allows the volume and pressure of the water flow entering the device to be adjusted from full force to no flow at all by simple adjustment of how much of its scooping member protrudes beyond its through-hull fitting into the water stream. Water enters the device through an opening in its deployable scooping member, and operator positioning of the scooping member relative to the through-hull fitting, including complete withdrawal of the scoop into the distal end of the through-hull fitting, is remotely accomplished so that the operator can remain at the helm. Multiple devices can be used on the same marine vessel, with all devices mounted on the bottom of its hull, in a standard fashion for through-hull fittings mounted below the waterline. Applications may include the filling of ballast bags for the sport of wakeboarding.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a scuttle assembly including an end member having a port to enable fluid flow, a valve member having a closed position to prevent fluid from flowing into a channel and an open position to allow fluid flowing into the channel, a bias member to bias the valve member to the open position, and a scuttle washer sandwiched between the end member and the valve member, the scuttle washer comprising a material that dissolves due to exposure to sea water without generating toxic gas or hydrogen.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an adapter used in a marine fluid handling system to prevent thread mismatch between a thru-hull fitting and in-line valve. The adapter includes a head with a male NPT thread and a bore with a female NPS thread. The adapter is threaded to a thru-hull fitting with a male NPS thread that extends through a hole in a boat hull. The adapter is also attached to an in-line valve having a female NPT thread. The valve may be mechanically fastened to the adapter to prevent thread disengagement. When the valve fails, the valve is easily removed from the adapter that remains attached to the boat hull, and a replacement valve is attached to the adapter.

Abstract: A water intake riser that can be suspended from a vessel having a riser connected to a riser hanger, which riser hanger includes a first tubular element, a second tubular element to which the riser is connected, a flexible load transfer element joining the tubular elements, and a hose of which the ends are secured to the adjacent ends of the tubular elements.

Abstract: A dump-valve device for a craft, characterized in that it comprises: a plug valve (13) movable approximately rectilinearly relative to a fixed seat (17) supported by a craft transom plate (3), drive means (9, 10) mobile in rotation along a rotary stroke of limited angular amplitude and able to be activated from inside the craft, and coupling means (11, 19) interposed between the valve (13) and the drive means (9, 10) to convert the rotary stroke of limited angular amplitude of the drive means into a rectilinear stroke of limited linear amplitude of the valve.

Abstract: A manifold system for supplying water to two or more consumer devices on a marine vessel having a primary consumer and one or more secondary consumers has a primary conduit connectable to the primary consumer, the conduit having an interior cross-sectional area determined by water requirements of the primary consumer. A manifold has a threaded inlet fitting, a primary outlet fitting dimensioned to be connectable to the conduit, and a plurality of secondary outlet fittings connectable to secondary conduits for secondary consumers. The inlet and secondary outlet fittings of the manifold have cross-sectional areas determined by dimensions of the primary outlet fitting. A strainer has an inlet connected to a through-hull fitting for receiving and straining incoming raw water and an outlet having a threaded connector for attachment to the manifold inlet fitting, the strainer having a flow capacity determined by the diameter of the strainer outlet.

Abstract: A submerged, valve assembly for controlling flow of fluid (e.g. ballast water) to and from a reservoir (e.g. a ballast tank of a ship. The valve assembly is comprised of a valve which is controlled by a hydraulic valve actuator. A fluid-tight housing encloses the actuator so that any leaking hydraulic fluid will be contained within the housing and will not pollute the surrounding fluid in the tank. The assembly includes a means for detecting any hydraulic fluid which may leak into the housing.

Abstract: A scoop strainer has a rim to attach the strainer to an outer surface of a hull of a marine vessel over a through-hull fitting intended to admit water to the interior of the hull. The strainer has small openings therethrough to pass water but not large undesired objects or marine life, and a larger opening to permit access to the interior of the strainer and to the through-hull fitting to clean out marine growth and the like. A cover is hinged to the strainer and is movable between an open, access position and a closed position. A threaded fastener passing through the cover threads into the rim to selectively hold the access cover closed.

Abstract: A boat has a seacock operatively attached to the hull and movable between open and closed positions. The seacock is operatively connected to a discharge pump, which in turn is connected to a sewage holding tank. An electrical switch is actuated in response to the position of the seacock, and control circuitry is connected to the seacock electrical switch and the discharge pump to prevent operation of the pump if the seacock is closed (or in any position aside from fully open). An indicator, such as one or more light emitting diodes, is also actuated in response to the seacock electrical switch position, and another indicator, such as one or more light emitting diodes, is connected to the discharge pump and indicates when that pump is operating. The electrical switch is waterproof and meets marine vessel ignition prevention and electromagnetic compatibility requirements, and typically is actuated in response to the position of a manually actuable (e.g. rotatable) handle of the seacock.

Abstract: A remote activated boat drain valve to drain the boat's bilge quickly from inside the boat without getting wet. The remote controlled boat drain valve also allows for the operator to drain the bilge quickly and easily while the boat is moving rapidly. The drain valve can also be used for a live well.

Abstract: A hull and backup valve assembly for a submarine includes a valve body made of the same material as the hull; thus, the valve body can be welded directly to the hull. The flow path of the valve is straight and disposed at an angle relative to the surface of the hull, facilitating the removal of the valves' components for inspection and repair. Corrosion resistance is obtained through the extensive use of clad overlays and internal barriers that completely protect the steel surfaces from seawater contact. The valve stem is made of a titanium alloy and mates directly to the rack of a hydraulic actuator, thereby further reducing the parts and volume required for the valve assembly.

Abstract: A flushing device for supplying water to the cooling intake port of an inboard motor boat propulsion unit when the boat is out of the water and which has a suction cup adapted to cover the intake port and supported from the ground by a telescoping handle and provides a hose bib in communication with a garden hose.

Abstract: A scuttle valve is provided for flooding a torpedo. The scuttle valve inces a housing which is fitted through the hull of the torpedo. The housing has a bore which when vacant, serves as a port to enable water to enter the torpedo. A piston is slidably mounted within the bore of the housing and is spring biased towards the interior of the torpedo. An explosive bolt which is threaded into the piston extends through a tapered plate which cams a retainer ring across the interior end of the piston and into an interior annular recess in the housing to restrain the piston within the bore. When the explosive bolt is actuated the bolt breaks and the retainer ring contracts to allow the spring to force the piston into the interior of the torpedo. Thus, water enters through the open bore of the housing and floods the torpedo.

Abstract: A bottom scoop for collecting and admitting water to the propulsive power plant of a water craft includes an outer body portion secured to the outside surface of the hull of such water craft and an inner body portion removably disposed in said outer body portion. The inner body portion has openings in one end that admit water into a cavity in the inner body from which the water flows through a conduit through the hull that carries the water to the conventional cooling system of the power plant.

Abstract: A marine safety system comprising a first switch adapted to be activated by rising water in a ship's hull, and solenoid valves adapted to be operated by the switch and adapted to close sea cocks in the hull of the ship in a preferred sequence.

Abstract: In a suction dredger or the like, intended for use in ice-filled waters, there is an overflow tube with a stationary lower portion and a vertically movable upper portion. At the lower end of the stationary tube portion, there is a closure member partly covering the end opening of the tube. Also at the lower end of the movable tube portion, there is a closure member, which substantially covers that portion of the lower end opening of the movable tube portion, which corresponds to the portion of the bottom opening of the stationary tube portion being left uncovered by the closure member of the stationary tube portion.

Abstract: A valve comprising a hollow cylindrical body with a valve opening at one end and a valve seat around the valve opening. A valve member is movable towards and away from the valve seat on a spindle which passes through a spindle opening opposite the valve opening. A handle is provided on the outer end of the valve spindle and has a screw-threaded counterbore which is engageable with a screw-threaded spigot on the outside of the valve around the spindle opening to hold the valve member in the closed position. In this position the end face of the valve member is flush with the outside of the valve around the valve opening. The upper side of the valve member has a screw-threaded counterbore engageable with a screw-threaded spigot on the inside of the valve around the spindle opening to hold the valve in the open state and form a seal around the spindle.

Abstract: A water inlet cleaning means for Marine Craft and fluid supply systems that will clean out the inlet pipe and inlet fittings of foreign matter, allowing liquids to flow. The water inlet device includes adapters that attach to the inlet pipe and new water inlet devices responsive to signal means, to pressure means that operate manually or automatically indicating a clogging condition in water pipes, outboard and inboard-outboard motors and inboard motors and each of the water inlets are kept free of clogging by the subsequent operation of these safety devices.

Abstract: A vessel for transport of a floating buoyant cargo such as barges, lighters, and pontoons, wherein the cargo is partially supported in the vessel by its own buoyancy. The hull has an imperforate bottom shell with rigid submarine cargo-supporting and hull-reinforcing structure, a bow, a stern, side walls providing a series of buoyancy compartments, and a hollow enclosed interior including a cargo hold. Water can be introduced into or expelled from the buoyancy compartments to adjust the draft, trim, and list of the vessel. The cargo-supporting and hull-reinforcing structure has openings communicating with the hold and providing a bottom chamber that is always flooded during the voyage but can be pumped out for maintenance and repair. A series of water conduits pass to the ocean at intervals along the length of the hold, each conduit being located (when the vessel is level) at all points above the top of the bottom chamber.