GB1439326A - Skirts of gas cushion vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

1439326 Air cushion vehicles HOVERCRAFT DEVELOPMENT Ltd 5 June 1973 [6 June 1972] 26324/72 Heading B7K An air cushion vehicle has a flexible skirt comprising an upper looped part 3 secured at 4 to the body 5 and connected at 7 to a plurality of contiguous fingers 6, the side walls 9 of which are connected at 10 by cords 11 secured to the body 5 at 13. The points of connection 10 are all connected by further cords or ties 12 extending longitudinally of the skirt and connected to control means whereby if a cord 12 is pulled in one direction or the other the cords 11 will swing about their connections 13 and cause the lower portion of the skirt to move in or out thereby adjusting the centre of pressure C.P. of the cushion with respect to the vehicle C.G. To improve the ride of the vehicle a spring 16 is incorporated in each cord 12 to enable it to extend and contract with variations in cushion pressure. The skirt may be divided into sections each having an individual cord 12, adjoining cords being movable in opposite directions with the provision of diagonal bracing cords (Figs. 12, 13, not shown). The ties 12 may be connected to the ties 11 at any desired point intermediate their connections to the side wall 9 and the body 5. The ties 12 may be formed as rigid bars pivoted at their ends.