GB1296044A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1296044 Air cushion vehicles BRITISH HOVERCRAFT CORP Ltd 17 Nov 1970 [4 Dec 1969] 59265/69 Heading B7K An air cushion vehicle has air cushions contained in compartments 14, 15 bounded by flexible walls 11, 12, 13, each compartment being supplied with air from a separate source 16, 17 respectively via a respective separate plenum chamber 20, 21 formed within the rigid structure of the vehicle, whereby transfer of air from one compartment to another is substantially prevented, so damping pitch movements caused, for example, by waves. Air supplied by one source i.e. fan 17 fills plenum chamber 21 and escapes to cushion 15 via inflatable parts of the walls 12, 13, cushion 14 being supplied by another source i.e. fan 16 through the plenum chamber 20 and an inflatable part of the wall 11. Partitions 22, 23 in the wall 11 in register with the barrier 19 between the plenum chambers prevent air transfer therethrough and thereby damp pitch movements. Valves may be provided in the barrier 19 to control air transfer and may be arranged to open automatically when a fan fails so that both cushion compartments are supplied with air from the other fan. The dividing wall 13 may be a retractable bag, Fig. 7 (not shown). The aperture in the plenum chamber 21 supplying the dividing wall may be provided with a valve to control inflation of the wall. These controls of the wall 13 enable transfer of air between the compartments to be controlled, so controlling the ride of the vehicle by affecting pitch damping. In another embodiment, Fig. 8 (not shown), the cushion is divided into four compartments by lateral and fore and aft dividing walls, each compartment being supplied by one lift fan. This arrangement provides damping for roll and pitch movements. The craft may be provided with a retractable hydrofoil, preferably in a fore compartment, Figs. 9 and 10 (not shown).