GB1208870A - Improvements in or relating to skirting assemblies for air cushion vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

1,208,870. Telescopic skirt assembly. BRITISH HOVERCRAFT CORP. Ltd. 14 Aug., 1968 [14 Sept., 1967], No. 41901/67. Heading B7K. An air-cushion vehicle has a telescopic skirt assembly. In one embodiment, Fig. 1, a platform 20 has a fan 22 to provide an air cushion 21 and a peripheral skirt 23 consisting of three sections 24, 25, 26. The upper section 24 is fixed to the platform 20 and the two lower sections 25, 26 which have ties 27 to limit their downward movement, are arranged to telescope inside the upper section and the lower section 26 has a lip 28 to pick up the middle section. In an alternative structure, Fig. 2 (not shown), the skirt (23) telescopes outside the platform (20). In both of these embodiments the downward movement may be limited instead by rolling diaphragms (31), Fig. 3 (not shown). The upper section 24, which may be curved, Fig. 4 (not shown), may be also rigid so that, when not in operation, the craft is supported on this section. The length of the skirt may be varied mechanically, Fig. 5 (not shown). In another embodiment, Fig. 6 (not shown), a platform (20) has a peripheral duct (34) with an inner (41) and outer (35) skirt, the corresponding sections of which may be joined by diaphragms. The skirt assembly slopes inwardly of the cushion. In another embodiment, Fig. 7, a telescopic segment is composed of three members 42, 43, 44 pivoted together at points 45, 46. Limiting straps 47, 48 ensure that the sections do not separate. Several such segments are employed and may be attached to either the base (49), Fig. 8 (not shown) of the vehicle or to a flexible diaphragm (51), Fig. 9 (not shown) which extends across a peripheral duct (34) of an air-cushion vehicle. In a further arrangement, Fig. 10, a flexible tubular member 54 of any cross-section is supported inside the diaphragm 51 by means of a flange 55, and is prevented from passing completely into the duct by a lip 56. Several of these tubes, which may be made of a number of telescopic sections, are used inclined inwardly to co-operate to form at least part of an air-cushion barrier. In another embodiment several inflatable telescopic compartments depend from the periphery of the base. Each compartment includes three sections (59, 60, 61), Fig. 11 (not shown) of impermeable material, the upper (59) and middle (60) sections, of U-shaped form with tapered arms, being hinged together with the lower section (61) which is closed at the bottom. The base of the U, facing the air cushion, has ports (62). Alternatively, compartments may be attached to an inflatable diaphragm (67), Fig. 12 (not shown), which has a port (70) to allow air to pass from the duct (34) to the compartment and there is a port (62) to allow air into the cushion. In a final embodiment, Fig. 13 (not shown), there are a plurality of skirts (23) containing cushions and each cushion may contain an inflatable bag (73) of variable size to alter the characteristics of the cushion. The telescopic action of the skirt may be limited so as not to uncover the bag.