Mark Alan Small

US Patent:

D341786, Oct 24, 1989

Filed:

Sep 25, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/910513

Inventors:

William V. Cranston - Boca Raton FL
Randall W. Martin - Boca Raton FL
Mark S. Small - Pompano Beach FL
Mark A. Young - Lake Worth FL

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corp. - Armonk NY

US Classification:

D14109

US Patent:

46890262, Aug 25, 1987

Filed:

Aug 26, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/769438

Inventors:

Mark S. Small - Boca Raton FL

International Classification:

B63H 516

US Classification:

440 66

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

45953708, Jun 17, 1986

Filed:

Aug 27, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/770705

Inventors:

Mark Small - Boca Raton FL

Assignee:

Brunswick Corp. - Skokie IL

International Classification:

B63H 2530

US Classification:

440 53

Abstract:

An integral hydraulic valve and cylinder assembly for power steering a marine drive. The assembly is operatively connected between the propulsion unit and the steering wheel of a boat and includes a common valve body for housing both the cylinder and the valve. A valve spool located within a spool-receiving bore formed in the valve body is axially slidable therein in response to movement of the steering wheel between neutral and operational positions for selectively establishing fluid communication of an inlet port with outlet ports and work passages in the valve body leading to the cylinder. A core wire is connected to the steering arm of the propulsion unit and is axially slidable within an internal bore in the valve body. In response to valve spool movement, hydraulic assistance is properly directed to aid in steering the boat.

US Patent:

20190061899, Feb 28, 2019

Filed:

Jul 17, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/037607

Inventors:

Mark Small - Pompano Beach FL, US

International Classification:

B63H 23/06
B63H 5/125

Abstract:

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.