Air cushion vehicles

Abstract

Abstract 1,220,081. Air cushion vehicles. M. F. JOYCE. 26 Jan., 1968 [1 Feb., 1967], No. 4798/67. Heading B7K. A sidewall air cushion vehicle for operation over water has a rear wall maintained in spaced relation above the water surface whereby gaseous fluid in excess of that required for support of the vehicle is discharged to propel the vehicle. A vehicle a has a fan unit b which delivers air through an inclined duct to a plenum chamber contained at the sides by partially immersed sidewalls c, at the front by pivoted flaps cc urged into overlapping relationship and into contact with the water by cushion pressure and at the rear by a pivoted flap t maintained or counterbalanced above the surface of the water by pressure of the cushion on its forward side and by the effect on its rearward side of cushion pressure within a chamber v. Other arrangements of air supply ducts are described and there may be three hulls arranged in staggered formation. In a further embodiment (Figs. 2A- 2C, not shown) the means for maintaining the rear wall in spaced relation may comprise inwardly inclined base surfaces on the side walls which act as planing members. In a still further embodiment (Figs. 6-6c, not shown), the apparatus is adapted to support an aircraft.

Inventors

• 👤 Michael Fred Joyce

Bibliographic Details