Flexible wall structures for gas cushion vehicles

Abstract

Abstract 1,147,633. Air cushion vehicles. HOVERCRAFT DEVELOPMENT Ltd. 10 May, 1966 [25 May, 1965], No. 22265/65. Heading B7K. An air cushion, vehicle comprises a cushioncontaining wall structure 12 formed by a plurality of stacked interengaging members 12a-12g which are apertured to receive a flexible member 27 secured at 28 to bottom member 12g and tensioned at the top by a compression spring 29 or similar device. The faces of the members are normally held in intimate contact, but the members may be deflected as shown in the figure upon striking an obstacle. The compression of the spring may be reduced by electromechanical or fluid-pressure apparatus operated either manually or automatically in response to obstacle-sending means. The resistance to deflection of the wall member may be given a predetermined variation by profiling the wall vertically, by selection of the lateral distance of the member 27 from a wall surface or by bevelling outer edges of adjoining surfaces. Members may have downwardly-directed flanges to overlap adjoining lower members to exclude dirt or flexible sheets may be secured to the walls. An embodiment is described (Figs. 9-11, not shown) in which the wall is composed of discrete pillars constructed as described with reference to Fig. 3, the inner and outer surfaces of all the pillars being connected by flexible sheets which are secured also to the vehicle body. Longitudinal and transverse flexible walls may be connected by flexible curved corner walls (Fig. 16, not shown).

Inventors

• 👤 Herbert Willoughby Grace

Bibliographic Details