Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60V—AIR-CUSHION VEHICLES
  • B60V1/00—Air-cushion
  • B60V1/18—Body structure
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60V—AIR-CUSHION VEHICLES
  • B60V1/00—Air-cushion
  • B60V1/16—Flexible skirts

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a vehicle moving on an air cushion, intended to move on land or on water, comprising a central platform, lifting means for establishing an air cushion under said platform and lift it from the ground or the surface of the water as well as propulsion means to ensure the sliding of said platform on the air cushion thus created.
• the invention relates more particularly to an air cushion vehicle, comprising on its periphery an inflatable skirt ensuring a seal with respect to the support (earth or water) on which the vehicle is moving.
• Vehicles of this type are already known, generally having the disadvantage of being designed only for a very specific use and of being unable to be conveniently converted to another use.
• the object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle moving on an air cushion, of particularly simple construction and which can without any difficulty be transformed so as to adapt to any desired use.
• the same vehicle could thus be used for professional needs and, at the cost of a simple change of bodywork, be devoted to leisure activities.
• this possibility of transformation is due not only to the particular structure of the vehicle, but also to the particular arrangement of the lift and propulsion means associated with this structure.
• the vehicle according to the invention intended to move on land or on water, comprising a central platform surrounded by an inflatable skirt, as well as lifting means for establishing the air cushion under said platform and propulsion means, is characterized in that it comprises between said platform and said skirt a belt surrounding this platform and providing under the latter a first face directed obliquely towards the center of the platform and downwards, extending towards the outside of the platform by a second horizontal face, this second face forming a support pad, at least one nozzle connected to the means lift opening under the platform in said first oblique face of the belt for the formation of the air cushion, said belt receiving on its outer periphery a profile for fixing the skirt.
• the first oblique face of the belt makes an angle between 50 and 70 ° with the horizontal, that is to say with the plane of the central platform.
• the belt is constituted by a tube of polygonal section, two adjacent faces of this tube forming the first oblique face and the second horizontal support face.
• This belt while ensuring a stiffening of the structure, allows a convenient transformation of the vehicle, depending on the desired use.
• Figure 1 is an overall side view, in perspective, of an embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention.
• Figure 2 shows the vehicle of F.igtire 1, seen from three-quarters rear.
• Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of part of the structure of a vehicle according to the invention.
• Figure 4 is a schematic view of the lift and propulsion means fitted to this vehicle.
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of the means of Figure 4 associated with the vehicle structure.
• Figure 6 shows in particular a method of fixing the vehicle sealing skirt.
• the vehicle according to the invention in the embodiment chosen comprises a body 10, forming a cabin 11 that protects at the front a windshield 12, and comprising at rear two annular fairings 13 each surrounding a multi-blade propeller fan driven by a motor (not visible).
• directional control surfaces 15 At the rear of these fairings, on the path of the air stirred by the propellers, are disposed directional control surfaces 15 (here in two groups of three), actuated for example by means of an appropriate wheelhouse, by the wheel.
• the bodywork 10 On its periphery, the bodywork 10 carries an inflatable sealing skirt 20, to which we will return below.
• the body 10 is fixed to a structure essentially comprising an annular belt 21, surrounding a central platform 22, this belt being constituted by a tubular profile 23, for example of polygonal section.
• This belt 21 household, under the platform 22, a face 24 obliquely directed downward and towards the center of the platform, making an angle ⁇ with the horizontal, while this same belt household over its entire length a second face 25, horizontal, intended to serve as support pads on the ground or on water when the lift means are not in action.
• the faces 24 and 25 are advantageously faces of the polygonal profile 23.
• the belt 21 serves to support the skirt by means of a second profile 27, of curvilinear section, directed outwards and upwards, cons- tituant a kind of gutter all around said belt.
• This profile 27 is for example fixed on an oblique external face 28 of the tube 23, by a flange 30 ( Figure 6) and ends with a horizontal edge 31 intended for fixing, by any appropriate means of the body 10.
• the latter is easily removable and, therefore, interchangeable. It is naturally possible to replace the assembly constituted by the platform 10, the tube 23 and the profile 27, by a single plate suitably stamped and sparing the faces 24, 25 and 28, as well as the profile 27 and the platform. shape 28.
• the lift and propulsion means comprise, associated with the fan 14, a duct 40 whose inlet 41 opens upwards, directly behind said fan between the latter and the gutters 15.
• a first flap 42 pivotally mounted around a horizontal axis 43, is disposed above this entry 41.
• This flap 42 is associated with manual control means, not shown, and can be moved between a position in which it completely closes the entry 41 and a position in which it releases it to channel a large part of the air flow displaced by the fan. By displacement of said flap 42, it is thus possible to admit into the duct 40 a greater or lesser quantity of air, or no air at all.
• the front edge 44 of the shutter 42 is very close to the plane of the fan blades, so as to reduce turbulence between shutter and blades.
• the conduit 40 is divided vertically by a partition 45 into two parts 46 and 47 ending respectively with a nozzle 48 passing through the profile 27 to open into the skirt 20, and by a nozzle 49 opening into the inclined face 24 of the belt 21, immediately below the platform 22.
• This suitably profiled nozzle 49 ends in a substantially horizontal direction, and has an outlet with an elongated profile, its major axis being parallel to the platform 22.
• the nozzle 49 has at its upper part a deflector 50 intended to ensure a better channeling of the air flow which leaves therefrom.
• the upper edge of the partition 45 is extended by a second flap 51, movable around an axis 52 adjacent to said edge and disposed below the flap 42, this axis being actuated by manual means so as to be able to ensure, at the request, the distribution of the admitted air flow adjustable by the first flap 42, between the two nozzles 48 and 49.
• the air flow stirred by the fan 14 provides propulsion and acts on the directional rudders 15 but, by the play of the flaps 42 and 51, also serves to support the vehicle by forming a cushion of air under the platform, and also at the inflation of the skirt.
• propulsion and lift means at any suitable location of the vehicle, depending on the use of the latter.
• the structure of the vehicle is particularly suitable for such mobility in the choice of location.
• the angle ⁇ made by the oblique face 24 with the horizontal is between 50 and 70 °, this angle being chosen in particular according to the location of the nozzle 49 relative to the hull of the vehicle. and the direction of movement thereof.
• the angle ⁇ is preferably chosen to be close to 50 °, if, on the other hand, the nozzle is at the rear, the angle ⁇ is chosen to be preferably around 70 °.
• a layer of resin 50 is placed in the bottom of the belt 21 and, without any appreciable increase in weight, gives greater rigidity to the pads 25.
• fans 14 which provide lift and propulsion.
• a platform having the same structure that is to say comprising a peripheral stiffening belt, may only be equipped with sole lift means, the fan then having, for example, a vertical axis of rotation, and the platform serving as lifting means which can be moved by means of ha! age, or may be fitted with non-driving or driving wheels, possibly fitted with low pressure tires and driven for example by hydraulic motors.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)
• Pivots And Pivotal Connections (AREA)
• Superconductors And Manufacturing Methods Therefor (AREA)
• Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)
• Fire-Extinguishing By Fire Departments, And Fire-Extinguishing Equipment And Control Thereof (AREA)
• Refuge Islands, Traffic Blockers, Or Guard Fence (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9239233

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Families Citing this family (6)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 1980
  • 1980-03-03 FR FR8004702A patent/FR2477088A1/fr active Granted
• 1981
  • 1981-03-03 US US06/317,892 patent/US4413697A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1981-03-03 BR BR8107263A patent/BR8107263A/pt unknown
  • 1981-03-03 WO PCT/FR1981/000025 patent/WO1981002552A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1981-03-03 JP JP56500774A patent/JPS57500375A/ja active Pending
  • 1981-03-03 EP EP81900512A patent/EP0047256A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 1981-10-20 DK DK462381A patent/DK462381A/da not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1981-10-30 NO NO813672A patent/NO813672L/no unknown
  • 1981-10-30 SU SU813350750A patent/SU1087065A3/ru active

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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