Abstract: A vehicle has a rear deck for covering a luggage boot. The deck is formed by a removable shelf adjacent the back of the rear seat and which covers a part of the boot and a roller curtain which can be extended to cover the remainder of the boot. The shelf also carries at least one roller blind, in the form of a sun blind, which can be extended to lie in front of the rear window.

Abstract: The dynamic response of single span simply supported bridge decks subjected to the passage of vehicles is examined. A modal analysis approach is adopted that is based upon a finite strip idealization of the deck. The vehicle is modelled as a rigid body supported at two points by a suspension idealization that accounts for the effect of tyre stiffness and the frictional nature of real suspension systems. Results are presented for an orthotropic slab deck and a box girder deck that illustrate the effects of (i) the initial precompression of the suspension system as the vehicle enters the span, (ii) the ratio of the vehicle's natural frequency to that of the bridge deck and (iii) a bridge deck surface profile that is not perfectly horizontal.

Abstract: A deck ramp is pivotally affixed to the bow of a boat allowing the deck ramp to serve either as a portion of the deck or as a ramp. When the deck ramp is in the closed position the deck ramp serves as a portion of the deck, which when in the open position, the deck ramp serves as a ramp for disembarkation.

Abstract: A poured concrete deck structure which extends to the external building line or to a designated line of an internal opening of a building has a form deck which is supported by metal structural girders, including edge girders which are spaced from the building line or designated line, and an edge construction which retains the concrete according the building specifications. The edge construction is improved by terminating the form deck at the edge girders, providing a plurality of spaced support means secured to the top of the edge girders and extending towards the building line or designated line and providing a plurality of adjacent pans for retaining the poured concrete. The pans are supported by at least two supports, and are in communication with an edge girder. The pans may be secured to the edge girder, to the support means, or to both, after proper alignment with the building line or designated line. The edge construction may be installed without sub-deck support or scaffolding beneath the deck during construction.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for offshore operations including individually significant aspects comprising: 1. Methods and apparatus for providing lateral force transmitting arch means extending across a vessel passageway which is laterally bounded by upwardly projecting portions of a substructure and bounded on the top by an integrated deck: 2. Methods and apparatus for assembling an integrated deck with a substructure wherein there are effected horizontal and vertical shock absorbing action, motion dampening, and desired alignment; and 3. Methods and apparatus for assemblying an integrated deck with a substructure wherein, at a relatively slower rate, an integrated deck is lowered into engagement with a substructure and, at a subsequent more rapid rate, a vessel initially supporting the integrated deck is vertically separated therefrom.

Abstract: A threaded access cover plate construction for boat decks, comprising a threaded fitting which is adapted to be secured to the deck, and a screw closure receivable in the fitting. Both the fitting and the closure have cooperable buttress-type threads which are dimensioned such that there is a relatively loose fit between the two parts. The rim of the fitting is in the form of a resilient upstanding skirt constituted of deformable material, the skirt being capable of yielding at selected points, due to its engagement by a centering shoulder of the closure. The yielding of the skirt permits improved seating of the closure, by minimizing the effect of interference between high points at the regions of contact of the two parts. Accordingly, a highly leak-resistant seal is established, even when the fitting or the closure has become slightly warped, or the fitting has been stressed to some extent by virtue of its being secured to the deck.

Abstract: A method and a plant for recovery of oil spilled on a water surface. A marine vessel including a fore body and aft body and a bulwark is provided with a longitudinally extending edge at the deck from which the deck slopes downwards towards a substantially low bulwark which in operating position is below the water surface, thus leaving one side of the deck open to the sea. The sloping deck, the fore body, aft body and bulwark together form an artificial calm bay into which the oil slick can flow. The waves entering the calm bay break against the sloping deck and force the oil at the top of the waves over the edge and then into the interior of the vessel body, where the oil is settled and separated from the body of the water.

Abstract: A water toy including a float, which may be in the form of a boat, carrying one or more target members. The target members may be mounted on the boat deck and be rotatable or vibratable with respect to the float. A manually-operable pump means has an open end submersible in the water on which the float floats and a nozzle through which a stream of water is directed at the target members. The pump means may include a squeezable bulb between its submersible end and the nozzle, and one way valves may be included in the submersible end and the nozzle. The pump means is removably mountable on the float when not in use.

Abstract: The side rails of the chassis of a fixed bed truck are cut at the front end of the rear springs and pivotally interconnected using hinges incorporating hinge pins which are positioned below those side rails. A deck is secured to the rear section of the chassis for movement between a rearwardly inclined position and a lowered position in which it extends over the front section of the chassis. An apron is pivotally mounted on the rear end of the deck for movement between an extended ramp position and a retracted position in which it depends downwardly from the deck. Hydraulic apparatus are provided for tilting the deck, extending the apron and latching the deck in its lowered position. The hinges and the latching systems are constructed so that the truck can still be driven safely even after structural failure of both hinge pins.

Abstract: A posttensioned reinforced concrete bridge, slated for demolition, was tested to obtain its dynamic properties. The 10 year old bridge consisted of a continuous flat slab deck of variable thickness having a total width of 103 ft (31.39 m) and spans of 28 ft 6 in. (8.69 m), 71 ft 0 in. (21.64 m), and 42 ft 6 in. (12.95 m). The entire bridge was skewed 10°50′ and the deck was slightly curved in plan.The mode shapes, natural frequencies, and damping ratios for the lowest five natural modes of vibration were determined using sinusoidal forcing functions from an electrohydraulic shaker. These modes, located at 5.7, 6.4, 8.7, 12.0, and 17.4 Hz, were found to be highly dependent on the lateral properties of the bridge deck. Damping ratios were determined from the widths of resonance peaks. The modal properties from the steady state excitation were compared with those obtained from measurements of traffic-induced vibrations and good agreement was found between the two methods.

Abstract: A tiltable trailer is provided with longitudinal beams spaced such as to be located directly beneath the wheels of equipment to be hauled thereby, eliminating the need for heavy cross pieces beneath the deck for the supporting wide loads, thereby contributing toward decreased trailer weight. A lower deck height is accomplished by having the tracks for the rollers of the reciprocable undercarriage and the ramps of such tracks located within the beams, by positioning the undercarriage between the beams and by providing the undercarriage with a low-profile beam support which, in turn, has roller-mounting cross members immediately ahead of and immediately behind the wheel and axle assemblies.

Abstract: A floating cover for a tank is characterized by a pivotal interconnection between confronting ends of longitudinally adjacent flotation pontoons such that one pontoon is pivotally movable with respect to the longitudinal axis of the other pontoon when the deck of the cover flexes in response to turbulence in the liquid on which the cover is disposed or in response to any other non-uniform loading on the deck.

Abstract: Boats are weatherized for temporary storage, as over winter, by enclosing the deck and superstructure with a heat shrunk unitary plastic film. Tie lines terminating in loops are hung from the rub rail or other deck level attachment and extend a portion of the distance between the deck and water line. Bridge straps are run from bow to stern and the boat is draped with a single plastic film of sufficient size to extend below the tie line loops, a tie-down strap is passed through the loops to tightly secure the film about the boat hull and the entire plastic film is subjected to heat sufficient to shrink the film and produce a tight and taut membraneous cover.

Abstract: An all-steel, all-welded box-girder system for short-span highway bridges designed for HS20-44 loading has been presented. For spans up to 65 ft, the proposed superstructure is light and weighs only about 40-45 psf, as compared with over 100 psf for a conventional slab-stringer bridge system. The system is developed from the viewpoints of segmental assemblage, low initial and maintenance costs, and ease of future expansion. As an alternative to the steel plate deck, a design with precast, prestressed concrete deck that acts compositely with the steel section is also presented. This system weighs about 85 psf. It is lighter than the conventional slab-stringer system, and lends itself better to modular construction. Six different girder sections have been designed with a maximum span capacity of 65 ft. The girders have widths of 6 and 8 ft and depths of 30, 36, and 42 in. A suitable combination of these sections can be used to achieve the required bridge width. By increasing the depth of the girders, the system can be used for long spans. The proposed system has been designed under the constraints of 6 and 8-ft wide girder units, from the viewpoint of modular systems. However, further optimization can be achieved by increasing the flange widths to 10 or 12 ft. This would decrease the unit superstructure weight to about 35 psf. With deeper girders and thicker webs and flanges, the system is adaptable to longer spans. (Author)

Abstract: The report describes a method by which the effective temperature of a concrete bridge may be determined at any time of day from measurement of the shade temperature and observation of the weather. In order to estimate the temperature of a composite (concrete deck slab on steel box or I-Beams) or steel box bridge it is also necessary to measure the movement of the deck during the day. This movement is converted to a change in temperature which is then related to a known datum temperature. The datum temperature is derived from measurement of the shade temperature. If it is not possible to measure the movement of the deck, an alternative, but less accurate, means of estimating the bridge temperature, similar to that used for concrete bridges, is described. Knowledge of this effective temperature enables the bearings or expansion joints to be set at their correct positions within the design temperature range. (TRRL)

Abstract: A pair of pin assemblies located at the stern of a marine vessel for guiding and controlling cables involved in anchor handling procedures, the pins assuming a vertical position when in use and a horizontal position when not in use, the top of the pin assemblies being flush with the vessel's deck when the pins are not in use.

Abstract: An above ground pool has straight side wall extents with deck members attached to the extent upper edges. Tension members anchored in aligned deck members adjacent their outer edges allow prestressing of the deck members to prevent outward bowing of deck and side wall members under the weight of water.

Abstract: Water skis (1) are constructed with a reinforced, foamed-in-place, plastic hull (6) bonded to an aluminum deck (5 l ). The foamed plastic hull (6) is reinforced, usually with a plurality of reinforcing elements (13-17). Preferably, the aluminum deck (5) is directly bonded to foamed plastic hull (6) without the use of any intermediate adhesives. Desirably, the lower surface of aluminum deck (5) is surface activated and primed before use.

Abstract: A fold away deck for the interior of a container is comprised of inner and outer deck portions 13 and 11 which can be pivoted between a vertical position at one side of the container and a horizontal position across the container where they act as a deck. A flap 53 within one deck portion can be pivoted between a position where it forms part of the deck surface and a position where it exposes a buffer 67 on its underside to protect articles within the container against damage.

Abstract: The specification discloses a removable swimming pool comprising a plurality of side wall panels and deck panels, a flexible liner, and a facing member, which is connected between the deck and side wall panels, and extends around the inside marginal edge of the pool The facing member depends from the deck panels to a point disposed normally adjacent to the water line of the pool, and overlies an upper portion of the liner to alleviate deterioration and damage thereto A plurality of braces are provided to support the deck panels thereon and simultaneously anchor the side wall panels in the ground

Abstract: An operating mechanism for a hinged deck portion of a vehicle-carrying auto-rack railway car utilizing a first-class lever to counterbalance the deck end portion. A spring load is provided by a Belleville spring pack of novel, compact construction which has a substantially constant spring-force versus deflection curve such that manual manipulation of the hinged deck by operating personnel is facilitated during loading and unloading of the auto-rack car.

Abstract: A pinball machine incorporates a ball playing field that may be varied, as by the user, for heightened interest in and attraction of the machine. The machine includes multiple deck elements removably carried by a support for the machine. These deck elements may be rearranged and replaced by substitutes. Different obstructions are typically carried by different deck elements so that a player or owner may rearrange the deck or play surface to change the playing field, and thereby alter the challenge of the game, at will.

Abstract: A sonar support system that is suspended beneath a ship in a low drag U-sed hydrofoil mounting assembly is provided. The assembly is attached at its upper end to suitable means for pivotally rotating the transverse hydrofoil strut containing a sonar array from a streamed position under the ship's hull to a maintenance or stowed position in brackets on the ship's forward deck. The tranverse strut may be positioned at varying distances below the hull, and the assembly including vertical struts may be constructed to pivot about an axis above or below the waterline as required.

Abstract: The invention relates to an offshore platform operable for use in Arctic locations where prolonged ice conditions may be encountered. The platform includes a lower barge hull having an exterior configuration in the general shape of a rectangular frustum and being operable to be fixed relative to a desired seabed site. The lateral side walls of the barge hull are heated for facilitating movement of contiguous sea ice upwardly relative to the barge side walls to fail the ice in bending as it advances toward the barge hull. A deck is positioned above the lower barge hull and is supported by a first and second column at an elevation whereby the lower surface of the deck will be above and out of contact with sea ice passing over the hull. The deck is positioned relative to the barge hull in a posture such that at least a portion of the deck extends beyond an imaginary vertical plane projecting upwardly from at least one longitudinal edge of the upper surface of the barge hull.

Abstract: The specification discloses a pool wall and deck assembly in which a plurality of deck support beams are secured in brackets located towards the top of molded plastic pool wall sections. Brace beams are joined to the deck support beams at a point spaced from the wall section and extend downwardly therefrom back towards the wall sections. One end of each brace beam abuts the bottom flange and the exterior surface of the wall sections and is pinned to the bottom flange thereof and to the earth there beneath.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for offshore operations including individually significant aspects comprising: 1. Methods and apparatus for providing lateral force transmitting arch means extending across a vessel passageway which is laterally bounded by upwardly projecting portions of a substructure and bounded on the top by an integrated deck: 2. Methods and apparatus for assembling an integrated deck with a substructure wherein there are effected horizontal and vertical shock absorbing action, motion dampening, and desired alignment; and 3. Methods and apparatus for assembling an integrated deck with a substructure wherein, at a relatively slower rate, an integrated deck is lowered into engagement with a substructure and, at a subsequent more rapid rate, a vessel initially supporting the integrated deck is vertically separated therefrom.

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: Half-submerged sailing propulsive pedestal capable of steering through hydrofoils (70), (80a), (80b), (81) which comprises a deck structure (10) carrying super-structures such as living quarters, a cargo handling deck, etc., and two floats (60) attached via supports (40), (50) underneath the deck structure (10) for supporting the structure (10) above the water surface. With stable sailing even in storms as the principal object, a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves of arcuate cross section are formed under the structure (10) so that, when the draft line rises, buoyancy is abruptly increased to restrict the rise in the draft line. In addition, the floats (60) are flattened in cross section, to restrain up and down movement, while the supports (40.50) are greatly reduced in thickness to provide a structure which must bear less buoyancy. Since a ballast tank (30) is detachably carried on the structure (10), this pedestal can independently sail without the super-structure. Moreover, the hydrofoils (70), (80a), (80b), (81) are detachably installed for an easy maintenance and repair.

Abstract: This specification relates to a box beam (20) with upright sides (22) which are connected to upper and lower chord plates (24, 26) all of which are constructed of corrugated plate having corrugations (28) which run parallel to the length of the box beams and which have a large corrugation pitch and depth. The chord plates (24, 26) and sides (22) are bolted together at spaced apart intervals. Thin-walled shear plates (30) are placed against the box beam sides (22) and bolted to the corrugation troughs (38) of the sides and they carry vertically acting shear loads while their connection to the box beams (20) prevents them from buckling. A longitudinal camber can be incorporated in the box beam. The box beam is specifically adapted for use in a structure such as a building or bridge and several embodiments of the latter are described utilising one or more beams arranged side by side. A load carrying deck (52) constructed of corrugated checkered metal plate is supported on the deck and a concrete layer (60) is poured on top of the bridge deck (52) so as to form a mechanical interlock between the concrete and the deck to thereby structurally integrate the concrete layer with the remainder of the bridge.