GB747446A - Improvements in or relating to pontoons or floats for aircraft - Google Patents

Abstract

747,446. Aircraft floats. ERIKSSON, C. E. Feb. 17, 1954, No. 4723/54. Classes 4 and 113. In a float comprising two or more sections hinged together, one section supports an aircraft and has a slanting rear surface connected to the forwardly inclined front end surface of a tail section, means are provided. for confining the sections in an aligned position and for limiting the upward swing of the tail section, and spring means urge the tail section into the aligned position. In the embodiment illustrated the float comprises a front section 1, a middle section 2 supporting an aircraft 3, and a tail section 4. The front and rear sections are hinged at 7 to the middle section to swing upwardly against the action of springs 8, the axles 7 being placed at the bottom of transverse gaps 9, 10 between the sections 1, 2 and 2, 4, the gaps being V- shaped upwardly and inclined forwardly and having abutments 11 to restrict the upward swing, and chains or links 12 to limit the downward swing into aligned position. The bottoms 13, 14 of the middle and tail sections are concave in transverse section, the depth of the concavity decreasing continuously from the forward to the aft end of each section (Figs. 3 and 4), the concavities also forming steps. The gaps 9, 10 entrain air which is conducted rearwardly along the longitudinal concavities to reduce the frictional resistance at high speeds. The edges of the concavities serve as sleigh runners on ice and snow surfaces. The pivoted front section serves as a shock absorber due to waves or unevenness of ice or shore surfaces, while at high speeds the rear section runs smoothing along the water surface without digging in the water.