AU767882B2

AU767882B2 - Hovercraft rigid panel sealing system

Info

Publication number: AU767882B2
Application number: AU53680/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Joseph Jude Fernandez
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-08-29
Filing date: 2000-08-29
Publication date: 2003-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 2020-08-29
Also published as: AU5368000A

Description

THE HOVERCRAFT RIGID PANEL SEALING SYSTEM Field of the Invention Described is a rigid panel sealing system (RPSS) for use in a hovercraft for sealing in a cushion of air as an alternative to the bag skirt and fixed sidewall sealing systems.

Introduction The RPSS uses vertical panels for sealing along the sides. These panels are pivoted from the hull via pivot arms that are secured with lateral pins on bearing surfaces. Front and back sealing of the plenum chamber is provided by flat panels that are hinged from the hull at the forward edge of the panels.

Further panels may be used to divide the air cushion into two or more chambers to allow for an air pressure differential to be maintained between the chambers to improve attitude control of the craft.

Springs and dampers may also be incorporated on the pivot arms to enable suspension control of the craft. Alternatively a fully active suspension using a hydraulic rams or S electric servomotors can be incorporated into the craft.

The craft may be made from any suitable material including plastics, metals or wood.

The rigid panels and the hull should be buoyant for use in water. The craft is best constructed using composite materials such as glass reinforced plastic and expanded e foam.

ee* e The pivot bearings should accommodate thrust loads. The bearings may be of any ee S• 30 material and type such as bronze, nylon or ball or needle bearings.

Additional pivot arms to that shown in the diagrams may be incorporated, if necessary, to resist sideways thrust forces.

2 The craft as shown in the diagrams is constructed from glass reinforced plastic with an expanded PVC core. This craft is propelled by two engines driving two separate pressurised chambers. Steering control of the craft is achieved by increasing the speed of the outside fan. The resulting increased airflow velocity as well as increased static pressure on the outside chamber both aid in creating a turn radius.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the hovercraft and hovercraft sealing system of an embodiment of the present invention Figure 2 shows a side view of the hovercraft and hovercraft sealing system shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a front view of the hovercraft and hovercraft sealing system shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows the rigid side panel of the hovercraft and hovercraft sealing system shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 shows the front and rear panels of the hovercraft and hovercraft sealing system shown in Figure 1.

Figure 6 shows the pivot arm, pivot pins and pivot bearing of the hovercraft and hovercraft sealing system shown in Figure 1.

Best Mode of the Invention Described is a hovercraft sealing system including at least two rigid side panels each rigid side panel extending along substantially the full length of the base of a hovercraft body.

Each rigid side panel is hingedly mounted to the hovercraft body by at least one pivot arm and disposed substantially parallel to and non-planar with respect to any other of the rigid •ee side panels such that each rigid side panel is moveable about its hinge between an extended position and a retracted position.

In a further aspect of the invention the sealing system includes front and rear panels, the front and rear panels being hingedly mounted to the hovercraft body such that each panel is moveable about its hinge between an extended position and a retracted position.

Figure 1 shows a hovercraft sealing system of the present invention, including a rigid panel extending longitudinally along substantially the full length of the hovercraft body. The rigid panel is hingedly attached with the hovercraft body by one or more pivot arms which include pivot pins The sealing system further includes a front panel and rear panel An air duct directs air between the panels of the sealing system.

The rigid panels are spaced apart and can divide the air cushion into two or more chambers to allow for an air pressure differential to be maintained between the chambers to improve attitude control of the craft.

Figure 2 shows the same hovercraft sealing system with arrows indicating the flow of air through the sealing system.

Figure 3 shows the three rigid panels (lA, 1B, 1C) extending longitudinally along the hovercraft body and moveable between an extended position and a retracted position. 1A 20 is fully retracted, 1B is partly retracted and 1C is fully extended. The figure further shows two front panels (2A and 2B) which extend laterally along the body of the hovercraft and are moveable about the hinged attachment between an extended position and a retracted position. 2A shows the panel retracted and 2B shows the panel extended.

Figure 4 shows the rigid panel SFigures 5 and 6 show the front panel and rear panel Figure 7 shows a pivot bearing which is attached with the body of the hovercraft. A pivot pin (4A) is attached with the pivot bearing and a second pivot pin (4B) is attached with the rigid panel of the present invention. The pivot arm is attached to pivot pins 4A and 4B to suspend the rigid panel from the body of the hovercraft.

Claims

1. A hovercraft sealing system including at least two rigid side panels each rigid side panel extending along substantially the full length of the base of a hovercraft body wherein each rigid side panel is hingedly mounted to the hovercraft body by at least one pivot arm and each rigid side panel is disposed substantially parallel to and non-planar with respect to any other of the rigid side panels such that each rigid side panel is moveable about its hinge between an extended position and a retracted position.

2. The hovercraft sealing system of claim 1, further comprising one or more front panels, the front panels being hingedly mounted to the hovercraft body such that each front panel is moveable about its hinge between an extended position and a retracted position.

3. The hovercraft system of claims 1 or 2, further comprising one or more rear panels, the rear panels being hingedly attached with the hovercraft body such that each rear panel is moveable about its hinge between an extended position and a retracted position.

4. The hovercraft sealing system of any of claims 1 3, wherein the one or more pivot arms include a pivot bearing, the pivot bearing being mounted to the body of the hovercraft, and one *or more pivot pins. S

5. The hovercraft sealing system of claim 4, wherein at least one of the one or more pivot pins is hingedly mounted to the body of the hovercraft and at least one of the one or more pivot pins is hingedly mounted to the rigid panel.

6. The hovercraft sealing system of any of claims 1 5, wherein the pivot arms include springs. o

7. A hovercraft including the sealing system of any of claims 1 6.

8. A hovercraft sealing system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A hovercraft substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 17th day of September 2003 J. JUDE FERNANDEZ By: HODGKINSON AND McINNES Patent Attorneys for the Applicant