GB958996A - Improvements in or relating to air-cushion vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

958,996. Air cushion vehicles. VICKERSARMSTRONGS Ltd. July 18, 1962 [July 18, 1961; Dec. 22, 1961], Nos. 26069/61 and 46080/61. Heading B7K. An air cushion vehicle has on its underside a skirt extending downwardly from the peripheral part of the vehicle body for encircling the air cushion, the skirt being of flexible material and at least part of the skirt being formed by discrete flexible members which depend from the underside of the vehicle body, adjacent flexible members of the skirt being substantially contiguous thereby to minimize escape of the air from the cushion. The vehicle may be of the plenum-chamber or peripheral fluid-curtain type, the flexible skirt being formed of a plurality of elements of the form shown in the base plan view of Fig. 1, though the end curtains only may be so constructed, the side skirts being flexible but continuous. The joints between contiguous elements may be covered by closing panels. As shown in Fig. 4, the individual elements 4 of the skirt are located outside the air curtain 8, though air curtains may be located one inside and another outside the skirt, or, as described in the first Provisional Specification, a pair of skirts may form a channel and nozzle for the air forming the curtain. The skirt elements may be hinged to the body and spring-loaded against outward movement caused by cushion pressure or they may be mounted on discrete inflatable supports, or they may be so constructed that cushion pressure tends to move them inwards. Other embodiments for use over water incorporate a planing surface which on contact with the water, causes its supporting skirt member to deflect rearwardly, rather than to dig in to the water or the skirt may comprise discrete elements each comprising verticallyspaced solid members secured to a flexible support which deflects when in contact with the water. In further embodiments the skirts may be hinged, or moved bodily, for and aft or sideways to provide a means of controlling pitching or rolling movements of the vehicle. The individual skirt members may be constructed from a solid flexible member of one hollow flexible member of one material, e.g. rubber sleeving another flexible member of steel or nylon. They may be of uniform or tapered section or they may be formed with a distinct change in section. The vehicle may be supported in part only by the air cushion and propulsion may be effected by either raising a part of the rear skirt or forming it with controllable apertures.