GB1347352A - Ground effect machine - Google Patents

Abstract

1347352 Ground effect vehicle S C RETHORST 26 March 1971 7953/71 Heading B7K A ground effect vehicle comprises a streamlined body 20 having leading and trailing edges 33, 34 and a cambered mean line 22, the bottom of the body being flat or being concave with a slope of not more than 10 degrees, the body being shaped to produce aerodynamic lift during translation, there being a slot 27 along each side of the body for emitting air curtains 28. Preferably the bottom of the body is concave, forming a diffuser section 23 opening into a plenum chamber 24 followed by an aft contraction section 25, these together forming a flow channel for air when the vehicle is moving. This flow channel is bounded forward and aft of the vehicle by the extended streamline 22f, 22a, so that the diffuser and contraction sections in effect extend forward of and aft of the body; either section 23 or 25 may be omitted and diffusion and/or contraction take place externally of the vehicle. When the vehicle is stationary or moving slowly air curtains may be provided along the front and rear to generate and contain an air cushion; alternatively the cushion may be contained by walls or flaps. In rapid motion only the air curtains 28 are provided and lift maintained by air flowing into the flow channel; the air from the slots 27 is given a rearward component of velocity by pivotable vanes (32), Fig. 7 (not shown).