Other

International Business Machines Corporation

Power Vent Technologies, Inc.

Mark S Small

Randall W Martin

Pedro M Alfonso

David J Gruenwald

William V Cranston, Iii

Mark A Young

Kenneth C Musgrave

John C Irwin

Pedro E Fernandez

Don R Smith

Robert W Montedonico

An endless loop rope climbing machine that maintains a constant rope speed through a hydraulic resistance mechanism. This method and device uses a climbing rope threaded about a tapered friction sheave connected to a hydraulic pump via a shaft. The user selects a desired fluid flow rate corresponding to a preferred rope climbing speed using a flow adjustment mechanism. Force exerted on the rope by the climber initiates the flow of fluid through the hydraulic system. Fluid is propelled through the system to a pressure compensated flow control (PCFC) valve in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump. A pressure compensating spool within this PCFC valve shifts in position to regulate fluid flow, returning a constant velocity of fluid to the hydraulic pump. The shaft connected to the hydraulic pump rotates at a consistent speed regardless of the force applied by the climber, thereby maintaining the steady rope climbing speed selected by the user.

Isokinetic rope climbing method and machine

A marine propulsion system having a steering axis that allows pivoting of propellers along a first vertical axis directly beneath a gear box located inside the hull of a boat. A lower gear box can be placed within a vented or non-vented tunnel eliminating the need for a rudder and providing directional control of the boat by the orientation of the lower gear box. Surface piercing propellers and/or counter-rotating propellers may be used with the propellers pivoted around the vertical axis of the gear box. The offset steering axis allows pivoting around the first vertical axis wherein a secondary axis is moved with minimal drag providing superior maneuverability at both high and low speeds.

Marine propulsion system

A rudder for a water craft is constructed to automatically compensate for impact on the rudder while the craft is maneuvering. The lower portion of the rudder is mounted to an upper portion by a pin. The lower portion can pivot about the pin to reduce drag and draft. The lower portion is spring loaded to return to the original position after impact.

Impact rudder

An improved method for raising a propeller up into the hull of a marine water craft for the purpose of reducing the likelihood of underwater impact and improving shallow water operation without encountering the high efficiency losses normally associated with shallow draft drive systems or water jets. It utilizes a unique tunnel which is open bottomed and extends longitudinally in the running surface of the hull. The lead in to the tunnel, which is termed the &ldquo;chute&rdquo; forms the entry to a deeper portion of the tunnel located further aft. A super-cavitating propeller is positioned in the aft tunnel section. The propeller is raised vertically into the tunnel such that the propeller blade tips can be above, below or flush with the running surface of the hull but the prop shaft is always above the running surface of the hull. The invention relates to the longitudinal position of the chute with respect to the propeller, the general shape of the chute and its normal method of operation.

Method for reducing vessel draft

The instant invention is directed toward a marine craft having a semi-enclosed surfacing type propeller in a tunnel that draws air through specific areas located and shaped to enhance performance and compensate for prime mover torque and horsepower characteristics. The invention further relates to the field of marine water craft, particularly to high speed power boats utilizing a surface piercing propeller drive system mounted within a propeller tunnel formed integral to the hull of the boat, and most particularly to inclusion, within a wall of said tunnel, of a means for providing air thereto; said means being judiciously placed for linearization of the relationship between vessel velocity and engine speed.

Air induction system for tunnel mounted surface piercing propellers

The instant invention is directed toward a marine craft having a semi-enclosed surfacing type propeller in a tunnel that draws air through the specific areas located and shaped to enhance performance and compensate for prime mover torque and horsepower characteristics. The invention consists of these air induction features with description of their relationship to craft performance and operating characteristics. This invention also relates certain structures and configuration of these elements, as to enhanced control of said marine craft. The control of these elements having no moving parts or operator interface. Its sequencing is established by the hull movement and the water around it.

Semi-enclosed surfacing propeller driver system including air induction

Automotive test terminal

Disk drive shroud enclosure for an industrial computer

A marine craft having a propeller tunnel in which the sidewalls of the tunnel are essentially parallel and vertical and mate with a descending upper surface of the tunnel which optionally can be divided into a transom plate portion, engine plate portion, and bottom plate portion. The bottom plate portion mates with the bottom of the boat hull in a sharp line intersection. A surfacing propeller and associated drive shaft is mounted in the tunnel with a rudder positioned aft of the surfacing propeller. Baffles are provided on the lateral sides of the tunnel and terminate in a forward portion aft of the bottom plate portion of the tunnel. Optionally the exhaust can be vented onto the bottom plate portion of the tunnel to augment the flow of air. The method of the invention is directed to forcing the flow of air inside a surfacing propeller tunnel on a boat to the end that baffles provided on the lateral side are fed by air from the transom portion of the baffle and induced by the forward motion of the boat as well as the pneumatic effect of the surfacing propeller portion which is not in the water to force the air to go into the tunnel portion and thereby minimize any negative pressure build-up which would otherwise occur absent of venting. In addition the method contemplates augmenting the pressure within the tunnel by directing the exhaust to a forward portion of the tunnel.

Growing community of inventors

Delray Beach, FL, United States of America

Mark S Small