US3101125A

US3101125A - Ground effect machine

Info

Publication number: US3101125A
Application number: US45647A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ridder Ernst J De
Original assignee: Reynolds Metals Co
Current assignee: Reynolds Metals Co
Priority date: 1960-07-27
Filing date: 1960-07-27
Publication date: 1963-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 1980-08-20

Description

Aug. 20, 1963 I .4. DE RDbER 3,l0l,125

AGROUND EFFECT MACHINE I F i led July 27. 1960 INVENT OR.

E RNST J. DE RIDDER s BY I ,l u ss 52 W AI TORNEYS tet 3 ,1@`1,E2 Federated Aug. 20, 1963 3,101,l25 GROUND EFFECT MACHINE Ernst .l. De Ridfier, Henrico County, Va., assignor to Reynohis Metals Company, Richrnond, Va., a cerporaton of Delaware Fiied July 27, 1960, Ser. Ne. 45,647 8 Clains. (Cl. 180-7) This invention relates to ground efiect machine or vehicle of the character which has a superatmospheric pressure air cushion between a lifting area and a cooperating ground surface.

According to this invention an air cushion with superatmospheric air pressure 'is produced below the lifting area of the machine and above the cooperating ground surface. Such air cushion has an open periphery to the atmosphere between the lifting area and the ground surface. The lifting power of this ground efiect machine or vehicle is enhanced by the provision of effective means for maintaining a large proportion of the superatmospheric pressure air of the air cushion within the surrounding periphery and in a manner to prevent undue loss of superatmospheric air from the air cushion outwardly to the atmosphere along such periphery.

The means for producng the air cushion may include a relatively slow speed, low pressure jet which is downwardly and inwardly directed at a relatively large angle to a horizontal plane along the periphery. A relatively high pressure, high speed jet is provided outside of, and adjacent to, the low pressure jet, and the high pressure jet is downwardly and inwardly directed at a relatively smaller angle, or sharper angle, to such horizontal plane. By this Construction the high pressure jet produces an effective barrier or seal around the air cushion and greatly reduces any outward loss of superatmospherc pressure air from the air cushion to the surrounding atmosphere. By this Construction the lifting power of the machine is greatly increased, and is maintained at a high standard of operation.

A low pressure air supply means, such as a low pressure fan, Supplies air at relatively low pressure to the low pressure jet and a high pressure air supply means, such as a high pressure fan, Supplies air to the relatively high pressure high speed jet. The eifectiveness of this combination is enhanced, when desired, by having the high pressure air supply means or fan obtain its air supply from the low pressure air supply means or fan.

More specifically, the low pressure air fan receives air at atmospheric pressure and Supplies low pressure air to a low pressure plenum chamber, and the plenum chamber supplies low pressure air to the low pressure air jet. A high pressure air fan receives air from the low pressure plenum chamber and Supplies high pressure air to a high pressure plenum chamber which Supplies high pressure air to the high pressure air jet.

In an embodiment of this invention the air fans are aligned on a common shaft. If desired, the common shaft is in the vertical position. In another embodiment, the fans are aligned on a common shaft which is horizontal.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a ground efiect machine or vehicle having one or more of the features herein disclosed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method of lifting a ground e'fect machine, which method has one or more of the features herein disclosed.

Other objects are apparent from this description, and/ or the accompany'ng drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a diagrammatic vertical cross-section of an embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross-section of a portion of an embodiment somewhat sinilar to FIGURE 1, with the jet constructions slightly modified. i

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross-section of another embodirnent of this invention, taken along line 3--3 of FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-section along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

In FIGURE '1, a ground efiect machine or vehicle is generally designated by the numeral 10. The machine or vehicle has an air lifting area along its under surface 12 which is above a cooperating ground surface indicated by the line 14-. An air cushion 16 of super-atmospheric pressure air is produced below the lifting area 12 and above the ground surface 14. 'Ile air cushion 16 has an open periphery which is open to the atmosphere between the area 12 and the ground surface 14. This periphery is indicated, in general, by the vertical lines 18 and 20. These lines diagrammatically indicate a periphery or peripheral zone which extends completely around the general lifting perimeter of the machine 10.

Means for producng the air cushion 16 may include a relativelyslow speed, low pressure jet 22 which is downwardly and inwardly directed at a relatively large angle 2241 to a horizontal plane, such as the plane of the ground surface 14.

The means for maintaining the air cushion may also include a relatively high pressure, high speed jet 24 which is downwardly and inwardly directed at a relatively smaller, or sharper, angle %a to the horizontal plane,

which may be the ground surface 14.

The words "ground surface are intended to describe any suitably cooperating surface underneath the vehicle. Such ground surface may be actual ground, such as a road, a field, and the like; Alternatively, the ground surface need not be ground in the ordinary sense of the word, but may also include liquid surfaces, such as swamps, rivers, lakes, oceans, and the like. The ground surface may also be a combination of water and ground, such as where water and ground merge together along a shore line or along a very shallow surface of water.

A low pressure air supply means is generally indicated by the numeral 236 and this may be in the form of a low pressure fan 28 which receives atmospheric air from the atmosphere 30 adjacent to the vehicle, and forces such air at relatively low pressure along the plenum chamber 32 to the low pressure jet 22. Such relatively low pressure air is at superatmospherc air pressure, however.

A high pressure `supply means, or fan 34, Supplies air `at relatively high pressure, *along the high pressure plenum chamber :

Construction

36, 38 to supply air at relatively high pressure to the high speed jet 24. The radial tubes 36 receive the air fromfan 34 'and dischange it [into annular chamber 38. The high pressure air supply means or fan 34 obtains its air supply prefenably from the low pressure air supply means 23, through the inlet 36', which is located in the low pressure plenum chamber '32. The relatively high pressure air is also at superatmospheric air pressure.

For example, the high pressure fan 34 may pick up only from /5 to /2 of the air Volume furnished iby the low pressure fan 23, to supply the high pressure jet 24.

The peripheral jet 24 of the higher air pressure has a much smaller opening than the p eripheral jet 22 of the low pressure Construction, to produce the higher air speed of jet 24.

The outside higher air speed of the jet stream produces a high pressure, relatively fast air curtain 40 which has a much higher m'r speed than can be produced by the low pressure plenum chamber 32 which supplies low pressure air to the inner peripheral low pressure jet 22. Consequently, the jet 22 produces -a relatively slow air stream.

The slower *air speed of the jet stream from low pressure jet 22 produces :a low pressure, relatively slow, air

air of the air cushion 16 within the surrounding pertiphery Referring to FIGURE 2, the relatively high pressure,

high speed jet 50 has a smaller or sharper angle 52 with respect to a horizontal plane 54 than the angle 58 of the relatively low speed, low pressure jet 60.

The outside high pressure jet air stream or curtain 62 has a considerably higher speed than the low pressure, slow speed air stream or curtain 64. When the our

tains

62 and 64 touch, together an inwar dly turnin-g tunb ulenoe is :created adding somewhat to 'the scaling eflfect around the air cushion 65. l

' To cut down the speed of the air flow in the area between the inner jet stream 64 and the outer jet stream 62, the vehicle bottom can be curved as shown at 66. This curvature 66 improves the scaling property of the high speed outer jet stream or curtain 62.

If desired, the outlet of the outer jet 50 may be located in a lower plane than the outlet of the low pressure jet 60..

This also produces a beneficial scaling efiect.

The high pressure jet 50 may be supplied from a high pressure plenum chamber 68, which may comespond to the high pressure plenum chamber 36-38 of FIGURE 1. The low pressure jet 60 may be suppliedwith low pressure air from the low pressure plenum chamber 70', which may 'be supplied with low pressure air a manner similar to that shown in connection with low pressure plenum chamber 32 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 1 shows the fans 28 *and 34 ali-gned on a common shaft 72 which is substantially vertical. The shaf-t 72 may be driven by any suitable means, not shown, such as an internal combustion engine,` electric motor, and the like, which may be directly connected to the shatt 72. Alternatively, the driving means may be connected to the shaft 72 by any suitable transmission, such :as a belt drive, gear and shaft drive, fiexible shaft drive, :and the like. The 'driving means may be placed either in one of the plenum chambers, or on the surface or platform 74. 'If desired, the engine may be a vertical shaft engine with a drive shaft aligned with .and connected to the shaft 72 and spaced` above the inlet 76 of the fan 28, so that the atmospheric air may enter the fan 28 through -an annular space between the internal combustion engine and the air inlet 76. The internal combust-ion engine or motor may be in the plenum chamber 32 and may be connected by a belt drive or shaft drive with the shaft 72. The engine or motor may be in the

plenum chamber

36, 38, if desired. Any other type of connection may be used, if 'desired.

'FIGURES 3 'and 4 show :a construc-tion in which the [fans are connected to a horizontal shaft, and in which the driving means or engine is drivingly connected -to such horizontal shaft.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 3 and 4 a ground effect .machine `80 has a lifting area produced by the lower ifting surface `82 of the machine. The lifting area 82 cooperates with the ground surface 84, which may .be the surface of ground, swamp, river, lake or ocean and the like or any combination thereof. An air cushion 86 is produced below the area 82 and above the ground surface 84, such air cushion being of superatmosphe'ic air pressure. The cushion *86 has an open periphery surrounding the area 86, and is indicated by the idotted lines 87.

-Means are provided to maintain the air cushion 86 at superatrnospheric pressure, and such means may include a low pressure jet 92 which is 'downwar dly and inwardly direoted 'at a relatively large angle 92:: to a horizontal 4 plane 94. The jet 92 extends along the open periphery 87 of the air cushion 86.

The low pressure jet 92 produces a penipheral, slow speed, air stream or curtain 8'8 or which sur-rounds the 'air cushion 86.

A melatively high pressure, high speed, jet 96 is downwardly and inwardly direc ted at a relatively smaller or sharper angle 96a with respect to the horizontal plane 94. The jet 96 produces an `air stream or curtain 98 of relatively high speed Compared to the slow speed air stream or

curtain

88, 90, which is produced by the jet 92. This produ ces a scaling zone 100 which holds a large proportion of the low pressure, superatmo'spheric air within the air cushion 86, and increases the lifting power of the ground effect machine, 80.

A relatively low pressure airsupply means or

plenum chamber

101, 102 Supplies low superatmospheric pressure air to the low pressure jet 92. The low pressure supply or plenum 101, 102 :is supplied with air -at relatinelylow pressure by the low pressure fan 104, which receives atmospheric air *from the surrounding atmosphere 106, through the inlet 1108, :and dischanges this atmosphenic air at a rel-atively low superatmospheric air pressure into the plenumpamageway 101 and through the passageway 108 to the low pressure plenum passageway 102.

A high pressure air supply means or

plenum chanber

110, 112, and 114. supplies superatmospheric pressure air at relatively high pressure to the high pressure jet 96.

-The high pressure air supply means 110, 112 and 114 receives air from the low pressure air supply means 101 through the intake 116 of the high pressure fan 118. The high pressure fan 118 discharges into the connected

horizontal passageways

110, 112 and 114, so that the high pressure air is discharged into the high pressure jet 96. The Construction is such that the slow speed, low

pressure air curtain

88, 90 of the low pressure jet 92, which extends completely 'around the periphery 87 of the air cushion 86 produces a relatively low superatmospheric air pressure in the air cushion 86. The high pressure peripheral' jet 96 produces a high pressure, high speed curtain 98', which confines the superatmospheric air in the air cushion by the confining zone 100 and tends to prevent outward discharge of the `cushion air along the open periphery 87 into the atmosphere. The relationship of the jet 96 to the jet 92 is substantially the same as the previously described relati onship. of the jet 24 to the jet 22. Accordingly, a detailed description thereof is not repeated.

` The fans 104 and 118 -are drivingly connected to the

horizontal shaft

120, 122, which in turn is connected to the source of power, such as the internal combustion engine 124. Alternatively, the

shaft

120, 122 may be v connected to any other source of power, such as an electric motor and the like.

If desired, the space 126, in which the engine 124 or the like is located', may be at the pressure of the atmosphere 106, and may be connected thereto if desired. Alternatively, the space 124 may have a pressure substantially the same as the pressure in the

low pressure plenum

101, 102, in which case such space 126 may be connected by a suitable passageway, not shown, with

such plenum

101, 102. Alternatively, the space 126 may be a high pressure space of substant ially the same pressure as the

high pressure plenum

110, 112, and 114, in which case such space 126 may be connected, by a suitable opening or openings, not shown, to the

high pressure plenum

110, 112, and 114.

The engine 124 may exhaus t into the space 126, or it may -be provided with discharge or exhaust pipe, not

`louvres, additional fans which may be turned in any desired direction, etc., as desired.

in the operation of the emhodiments of the invention hcrein specifically disclosed, atmospheric 'air from the surrounding atniosphere 30 or 1% is raised to a relatively low superatrnospheric pressure by the fans 28 or 1% and is discharged into the relatively low pressure plenum chamhers 32 or or 191, lim. Part of this relatively low superatrnospheric pressure air is delivered to the lo-w pressure jets 22, 60 'or 92. Another part of this low prcssure air is delivered to the intakes se' or 116 of the

high pressure fans

34 or 118, where such air is raised to a relatively high, superatmospheric air pressure and is discharged to the high

pressure plenum chambers

36, 38, or 63, or 116 112, 114. These high pressure plenum chanbers respectivcly deliver high pressure air to the

high pressure jets

24, 50, or 96.

The low pressure jets 22, 6@ and 92 respectively produce low superatmosphericpressure, relatively slow air curtains 42, se, or 88, 96, which respectively surround the relatively low superatnospheric

pressure air cushions

16, 65' or 86. The high pressure jets 24, 5@ and 96 respectively produce high pressure, relatively fast air curtains 441, 62 or 93, which are adjacent to and surround the

slow air curtains

42, 64 and 83, ?ti

The high speed curtains 40, 6201" 98 confine the respective

slow speed curtains

42, 64 and 88, 913, and the

respective air cushions

16, 65 andS to reduce materially .the outward flow of superatmospherie air from the respectve air cushions, past their respective open peripheries to the surrounding atmosphere.

This action materially increases the lifting powers oi' the lifting areas of the respective ground efiect ma chines disclosed.

Hence a relatively simple and efficient ground efieot machine Construction has been provided by this invention.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, `all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination: a ground eti'ect machine having a liftir g area above a cooperating ground surface to define an air cushion between said area and surface; a downwardly directed relatively low pressure annular air jet along the periphery of said air cushion directed downwardly at a relatively large angle to a horizontal plane; a downwardly and inwardly directed rel-atively high pressure annular jet around said low pressure air jet at a relatively small angle to said horizontal plane to aid in scaling said air cushion under said lifting area; a low pressure air fan re'ceiving air at atmospheric pressure and supplying low pressure air to a low pressure plenum charnber, said low pressnre plenum chamber supplying said low pressure air to said low pressure air jet; and a high p-ressure air fan receiving air from said low pressurc plenum charnher and supplying high pressure air to said high p-ressure air jet.

2. A combination according to claim 1 in which said fans are aligned on a common shaf t.

-3, A combination according to claim 1 in which said fans are aligned on a common shat and in which said shaft is vertical.

4. A combination according to claim 1 in which said fans are aligned on a common shaft and in which said shaft is horizontal. v

5. in comhination: a ground efect machine having a lifting area above a cooperating ground surface to define an air cushion between said area and surface; a downwardly directed relatively low pressure air jet along the periphery of said air cushion directed downwardly at a relatively large angle to a horizontal plane; means supplying relatively low pressure air to said low pressure jet; a downwardly and inwardly directed relatively high pressure air jet around said 'low pressure air jet at a relatively small angle to said horizontal plane to aid in scaling said air cushion under said lifting area; and means supplying relatively high pressure air .to said high pressur'e jet; said means supplying low pressure air 'to said low pressure jet comprising a low pressure air fan receiving air at atmospheric pressure and supplying low pressure air to a low pressure plenurn chamber, which chamber Supplies low pressure air to said low pressure air jet; said means supplyng high pressure air to said high pressure jet comprising a high pressure air fan receivirg air from said low pressure plenum chamber and supplying high pressure air to said high pressure air jet.

6. A combination according to claim 5 in which said fans are aligned on a common shaft.

7. A combination according to claim 5 in which said fans are aligned on a common shaft and in which said shaft is vertical.

8. A oombination according to claim 5 in which said fans are a-ligned on a common shaft and in which said shaft is horizontal.

Symposium on Ground Effect Phenomenzf'; Oct. 21- 23, 1959; pages 111-118, 149, 240 and 389 reliecl on.

Claims

1. IN COMBINATION: A GROUND EFFECT MACHINE HAVING A LIFTING AREA ABOVE A COOPERATING GROUND SURFACE TO DEFINE AN AIR CUSHION BETWEEN SAID AREA AND SURFACE; A DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED RELATIVELY LOW PRESSURE ANNULAR AIR JET ALONG THE PERIPHERY OF SAID AIR CUSHION DIRECTED DOWNWARDLY AT A RELATIVELY LARGE ANGLE TO A HORIZONTAL PLANE; A DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY DIRECTED RELATIVELY HIGH PRESSURE ANNULAR JET AROUND SAID LOW PRESSURE AIR JET AT A RELATIVELY SMALL ANGLE TO SAID HORIZONTAL PLANE TO AID IN SEALING SAID AIR CUSHION UNDER SAID LIFTING AREA; A LOW PRESSURE AIR FAN RECEIVING AIR AT ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE AND SUPPLYING LOW PRESSURE AIR TO A LOW PRESSURE PLENUM CHAMBER, SAID LOW PRESSURE PLENUM CHAMBER SUPPLYING SAID LOW PRESSURE AIR TO SAID LOW PRESSURE AIR JET; AND A HIGH PRESSURE AIR FAN RECEIVING AIR FROM SAID LOW PRESSURE PLENUM CHAMBER AND SUPPLYING HIGH PRESSURE AIR TO SAID HIGH PRESSURE AIR JET.