GB1057102A - Improvements in ground effect machines - Google Patents

Abstract

1,057,102. Air cushion vehicles. D. K. WARNER. Jan. 13, 1964. No. 1399/64 Heading B7K. A ground effect machine for operation over water has stabilizers ahead of its centre of gravity, one on each side of the longitudinal centre line, each stabilizer comprising a V- section strut connecting the body of the machine to a larger hydrofoil (42) (Fig. 2, not shown) and a further V-section strut depending from the larger hydrofoil to which is fixed a smaller hydrofoil (43). In operation the water level is between the two hydrofoils, and if the lower one leaves the water or the upper one enters it, the change in lift provides a sufficient restoring force. Each hydrofoil has two steps, and ram air may be directed to the space behind each step. The further strut may be retractable within the upper strut, and the upper strut may be pivotable forwardly and upwardly to avoid damage by grounding, and may be turned for steering. The air cushion is formed by ram air pressure, but when starting, auxiliary rockets (18) (Fig. 2, not shown), retractable within the body, may be extended into the cushion space and fired. The machine has front and rear aerofoils (24, 39) extending between sidewalls (25) within the cushion space, and in another embodiment (Figs. 13 and 15, not shown) the rockets are replaced by steam ejectors (48a) within the front aerofoil (24), the steam being produced in a liquid oxygen-aviation fuel fired boiler (32). The aerofoil (24) has front and rear flaps (50, 55) in its top surface which are raised to form a passage through which air is drawn by the ejector. The aerofoils (24 and 39) also have lower surface flaps (23, 64) to reduce leakage from the air cushion until the cruising speed of the machine is reached, and these are urged against the air cushion pressure by pneumatic actuators (28, 68 respectively) (Fig. 6, not shown) supplied by air reservoirs (29, 69). Further flaps (37) (Fig. 13, not shown) may be extended from the body to contact the upper surface of the rear aerofoil (39). The machine has external wings (40), ailerons (41) and tail surfaces (5, 47) (Fig. 1, not shown) and is propelled by turbofan engines (9), propellers (9a) (Fig. 13, not shown), and/or gas turbine engines exhausting through slots (3) in the body (Figs. land 2, not shown). Flaps (119) (Fig. 13, not shown) may divert air from the propellers (9a) into the air cushion space.