US3232366A - Ground effect machine with permeable material support member - Google Patents

Ground effect machine with permeable material support member Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3232366A
US3232366A US202238A US20223862A US3232366A US 3232366 A US3232366 A US 3232366A US 202238 A US202238 A US 202238A US 20223862 A US20223862 A US 20223862A US 3232366 A US3232366 A US 3232366A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
support member
air
permeable
load
vehicle
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US202238A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Cockerell Christopher Sydney
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Hovercraft Development Ltd
Original Assignee
Hovercraft Development Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hovercraft Development Ltd filed Critical Hovercraft Development Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3232366A publication Critical patent/US3232366A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60V—AIR-CUSHION VEHICLES
    • B60V3/00—Land vehicles, waterborne vessels, or aircraft, adapted or modified to travel on air cushions
    • B60V3/02—Land vehicles, e.g. road vehicles
    • B60V3/04—Land vehicles, e.g. road vehicles co-operating with rails or other guiding means, e.g. with air cushion between rail and vehicle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60V—AIR-CUSHION VEHICLES
    • B60V1/00—Air-cushion
    • B60V1/04—Air-cushion wherein the cushion is contained at least in part by walls
    • B60V1/043—Air-cushion wherein the cushion is contained at least in part by walls the walls being flexible
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60V—AIR-CUSHION VEHICLES
    • B60V3/00—Land vehicles, waterborne vessels, or aircraft, adapted or modified to travel on air cushions
    • B60V3/02—Land vehicles, e.g. road vehicles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60V—AIR-CUSHION VEHICLES
    • B60V3/00—Land vehicles, waterborne vessels, or aircraft, adapted or modified to travel on air cushions
    • B60V3/02—Land vehicles, e.g. road vehicles
    • B60V3/025—Land vehicles, e.g. road vehicles co-operating with a flat surface, e.g. transporting loads on platforms
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60V—AIR-CUSHION VEHICLES
    • B60V3/00—Land vehicles, waterborne vessels, or aircraft, adapted or modified to travel on air cushions
    • B60V3/08—Aircraft, e.g. air-cushion alighting-gear therefor

Definitions

  • JNVENTOP C S COCKERELL ATTOP/VEVS United States Patent 3,232,366 GRUUNI) EFFECT MACHINE WITH PERMEAELE h IATERIAL SUIPGRT MEMBER Christopher Sydney Cooker-ell, Bassett, Victoria, England, assi'gnor to Hovercraft Development Limited, London, England, a British company Filed June 13, 1962, Ser. No. 262,238 Claims priority, application Great Britain, June 13, 1961, 21,275/61 3 Claims. (Cl. 180-7) This invent-ion relates to means for supporting a structure, member or body, or any other load out of contact with a surface.
  • the present invention is concerned with an alternative arrangement in which a film of gas is maintained between the member and the surface so that at least part of the load is supported by the member. Where the member only partly supports the load, it is possible to form a cushion of pressurised gas which supports the remainder of the load.
  • load supporting means for supporting a structure, member or body out of contact with a bearing surface comprising a support member located between the structure, member or body and the bearing surface, said support member comprising a body of material permeable to a fluid, said body of material having a boundary face presented either towards the surface or towards the structure, member or body and flexibly displaceable therefrom, and means for feeding pressurised fluid through said permeable body to maintain a film of pressured fluid between the boundary face and the bearing surface or between the boundary face and the structure, member or body.
  • permeable means a porous member or body of material which allows the passage of fluid through the pores or interstices thereof so that the fluid issues from the boundary face thereof over substantially its entire area.
  • the permeable material support member can be flexible and it may be more resistant to gas flow in directions parallel to said boundary surface than in directions normal thereto.
  • the material may be of tubular texture having tubules extending therethrough normal to the boundary surface or it may be in the form of a pile fabric.
  • means may be provided for restricting or preventing escape of gas through the lateral boundaries of said body or said body may have an area of boundary surface great in relation to its dimension normal thereto, i.e. it may have a large area/ thickness ratio whereby th escape of gas laterally from the body is small in relation to the flow of gas through said boundary surface, under operating condition.
  • Various of these expedients may be used in combination according to the clearance required to be established between the support member and the surface over which it is to operate and the degree of irregularity of the surface.
  • a support member of the nature above described may circumscribe or at least partially circumscribe a space between the load and the surface within which a pressurised gas cushion may be built up.
  • FIGURE 1 is a side view of a load supported by one embodiment of the invention.
  • FIGURE 2 is a side view of a load supported by another embodiment of the invention.
  • FIGURE 3 is an inverted plan view of th arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 2.
  • FIGURE 4 is a vertical cross-sectional elevation of a load carrying vehicle embodying the invention.
  • FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the vehicle illustrated in FIGURE 4.
  • FIGURE 6 is a side view of a further form of vehicle embodying the invention.
  • FIGURE 7 is an inverted plan view of the vehicle illustrated in FIGURE 6.
  • FIGURE 8 is a similar view to that of FIGURE 7 illustrating a modification thereof.
  • FIGURE 9 is a transverse cross-section of another form of vehicle embodying the invention.
  • FIGURE 10 is a vertical cross-section through a sup port member according to the invention.
  • FIGURE 11 is a side view of a further form of load carrying means embodying the invention.
  • FIGURE 12 is a vertical crosssection through the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 11.
  • FIGURE 13 is a similar cross-section to that of FIG- URE 12 but illustrating a modification thereof.
  • FIGURE 14 is a side view of a further form of vehicle embodying the invention.
  • FIGURE 15 is a side View of an aircraft embodying the invention.
  • FIGURE 16 is a vertical section of one of the support members illustrated in FIGURE 15, to an enlarged scale.
  • FIGURE 17 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention.
  • FIGURE 18 is a cross-section through another embodiment.
  • FIGURE 19 is a similar view to that of FIGURE 18 illustrating a modification thereof.
  • FIGURE 1 illustrates the application of the invention to supporting a load clear of a surface.
  • the load 1 can be of varying configlration provided it has a substantially flat bottom surface 2.
  • a member 3 which comprises a hollow top portion 4 and a permeable support member 5.
  • pressurised air is supplied to the hollow portion 4 by means of a pipe 6 from any suitable source.
  • the air percolates through the permeable support member 5 to form a thin layer or clearance 7 between the bottom of the support member and the surface 3 over which the load is to be supported.
  • the clearance 7 is exaggerated in FIGURE 1 for clarity and is normally quite small.
  • the arrangement can be used for moving various loads, a particular example being heavy machinery.
  • the support member can form part of the mounting means for the machine when it is in position or extenda'ble feet may be provided.
  • FIGURE 1 The invention as illustrated in FIGURE 1 can also be applied to loads which do not have a flat surface extending for the entire base of the load. This is illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3.
  • the load 10 has a recessed bottom surface 11 having a central portion which is higher than the end portions.
  • Members 12 are attached to the bottom surface at the ends each comprising a hollow portion 13 and permeable support member 14. Air is supplied by a pipe 15, the support members being connected by means of further pipes 16.
  • the operation of the arrangement is as that illustrated in FIGURE 1.
  • the invention can also be applied to loads, which have no flat bottom surface at all by providing suitable attachment means.
  • the support member or members can be attached by means of short struts or legs to the bottom surface of the load.
  • FIGURES 4 and 5 illustrate such a truck which comprises a platform 21 at one end'of which is mounted a compressor 22 driven by an engine 23.
  • a cavity 24 is formed in the bottom surface of the platform 21, the cavity being closed at its lower limit by a permeable support member 25.
  • a duct 26 connects the compressor 22 to the cavity 24.
  • air is fed by the compressor 22 via the .duct 26, to the cavity 24.
  • the air percolates through the support member and forms a thin layer of air between the'bottom of the support member and the surface 27 over which the truck is to move.
  • the truck is thus supported on a thin layer of air and is very easily moved. As the load is spread over the entire area of the plat-form the loading on the surface 27 is low.
  • the air supply to the cavity can be shut off, either by shutting off the engine 23 or by providing a valve 28 in the duct 26.
  • Articles to be carried on the truck are placed on the platform as indicated at 29.
  • the truck can be moved by pushing or in any other suitable manner.
  • FIGURES 6 and 7. A vehicle for transporting passengers and/ or freight is illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7.
  • the vehicle comprises a body portion 32 having a permeable support member 33 attached to and extending round the periphery of the bottom surface.
  • An intake 34 is provided at the front of the vehicle, communicating with the inlet of a compressor 35 driven by an engine 36.
  • the outlet of the compressor 35 is connected to a duct 37 formed inside the body 32.
  • the bottom surface of the duct is perforated to allow air to flow from the duct 37 to the support member 33.
  • a plenum chamber is formed within the support member and air is fed to this plenum chamber, preferably directly from the duct 37 via ports 38. Alternatively the plenum chamber may be fed from a separate source.
  • air is drawn in through the intake 34 by the compressor 35 and is fed to the duct 37. From the duct 37 the air passes through the perforated bottom surface of the duct and percolates through the support member 33 to form a thin layer of air between the bottom surface of the support member 33, and the surface over which the vehicle is operating. Air is also fed to the plenum chamber and the weight of the vehicle is partly supported by the pressure in the plenum chamber and partly by the permeable support member 33.
  • the vehicle can be propelled by air propellers 39, mounted on pylons 40 at the rear of the vehicle, and driven by shafting 41 and gearing 42 by engines 43.
  • FIGURE 8 is an inverted plan view similar to that of FIGURE 7 in which two sections 44 and 45 of permeable material are provided located adjacent to each side of the vehicle.
  • FIGURE 9 is a transverse crosssection of a vehicle operating over such a prepared track.
  • the vehicle comprises a body portion 50 having two members 51 attached to its bottom surface, one along each side of the vehicle.
  • the supporting members 51 are inclined slightly to the horizontal, as shown, and cooperate with similarly inclined tracks 52.
  • Permeable supports 53 are attached to the bottom surfaces of the members 51 and are supplied with air from a compressor 54 via ducts 55.
  • the clearance between the permeable support member and the surface can be increased for the same air fiow, or maintained at a nominal value by a decreased air flow, by attaching a multiplicity of fibres beneath the permeable member.
  • FIGURE 10 Such a construction is illustrated somewhat diagrammatically in FIGURE 10.
  • the bottom surface 60 of the vehicle has attached to it a duct 61 having a perforated bottom surface 62 to which is attached a permeable support member 63.
  • a layer of permeable material 64 having a pile surface 65. Air is fed to the duct 61 via pipe 66 from any convenient source, and flows to the permeable member 63 through the perforated surface 62. The air percolates through the member 63 and the layer of permeable material 64.
  • the pile surface acts as a labyrinth and restricts the flow of air to the outside atmosphere.
  • a similar clearance as obtained in the examples described above can be maintained with a reduced air flow.
  • an increased clearance can be obtained.
  • the permeable support member can be flexibly attached to the body of the vehicle.
  • a permeable support member 70 is attached to the bottom of a flexible tube 71 attached to the periphery of the bottom surface 72 of the vehicle body 73 to form a plenum chamber 78.
  • the flexible tube 71 is inflated by air fed into the tube by means of a duct 75 connected to a compressor 74.
  • a duct 79 connects the plenum chamber 78 and the compressor 74 through which air can be fed to the plenum chamber.
  • FIGURE 13 shows an alternative construction to that shown in FIGURE 12 in which the tube 71 is completely sealed.
  • the air from the compressor 74 is fed via a series of flexible pipes 76 to a duct 77 formed in the bottom of the tube 71.
  • the bottom of the tube is perforated, as before, and air flows direct from the compressor via the pipes 76 to the duct 77 and thence to the permeable support member 70.
  • the support member in such arrangements is flexible either by being of flexible material or by being made in sections flexibly connected.
  • the permeable member may be flexibly attached by other means such as springs or pneumatic or hydraulic rams.
  • a permeable support member 80 is attached to a duct 81, the whole assembly being attached to the vehicle body 82 by rams 83. Air is drawn in through an intake 84 by a compressor 85 driven by an engine 86. The air is fed to the duct 81 via flexible pipes 87.
  • the permeable support member 80 and the duct 81 may be of flexible construction or they may be of rigid sections flexibly connected together.
  • the invention may be used as take off and landing aids for aircraft. This is illustrated in FIGURES 15 and 16.
  • the aircarft has a number of pads 91, on the bottom surfaces of which are fixed permeable support members 92, the members extending over the whole of the surface or only round the periphery.
  • the pads at the front of the aircraft may be retractable into the fuselage.
  • the small clearance provided by the air film is likely to be sufficient for taxying but increased clearances are desirable at other times particularly when landing.
  • FIG- URE 16 which is a vertical cross-section through a pad, by causing air to issue from a port or ports 95 adjacent to the periphery of the pads, to form one or more air curtains 96.
  • a cushion, or cushions, of pressurised air can be formed beneath each pad to support it at an increased clearance for high speeds.
  • the air curtains are formed and as the aircraft approaches the surface the cushion of air is formed.
  • the air forming the air curtains is gradualy cut off until the pads are supported only by the thin film of air percolating through the permeable support members 92.
  • the air supply to the supporting members 92 and to the ports 95 can separate as shown being supplied by coaxial flexible pipes )7 and 98.
  • the load has been considered as being supported over a surface, the support member or members being attached to the load.
  • the invention is also applicable to other forms of supporting a load. Thus, for example, it may be desired to support a load sideways.
  • One typical application is for fenders as used to prevent damage to ships and the like when coming alongside, or tied up to, a loading quay.
  • FIGURE 17 illustrates the application of the invention to the docking of vehicles of the type which are supported by one or more cushions of pressurised gas.
  • vehicles can be constructed of relatively thin material and can be readily damaged.
  • one or more support members 1% can be attached to the sides of the quay or dock, each member comprising a hollow portion 101, with a layer of permeable material lib-2 on its outer face.
  • air can be fed to the permeable material via the hollow portion fill of each member. If the vehicle tends to come into contact with the side of the dock a layer of pressurised air will form between the permeable material 192 and the side of the vehicle. If the vehicle is entering the dock then it can continue mooring without damaging its skin.
  • FiGURE 18 is a cross section through an arrangement such as a conveyor.
  • the surface of the conveyor is in the form of a support member 1% comprising a lower hollow member 1% having an upper surface which is perforated and to which is attached a layer of permeable material M57. If desired, further members 1% can be provided at each side to prevent articles from falling off the conveyor.
  • the support member can be contoured to suit the shape of the load being supported.
  • the support member 109 has the permeable material 11% shaped to form a concave form.
  • the permeable material can be shaped by moulding or other methods to follow closely the shape of the body or part of the body. Air can be supplied to the permeable material by means of hollow members 111.
  • the permeable members in the various examples described above, can be of differing forms.
  • they may be substantially rigid, being of a sintered material or foamed plastic.
  • they can be flexible such as of sponge rubber or plastic.
  • the members can be arranged to have porosity, or flow, in one direction only, i.e. normal to the bottom surface, or can be arranged to have porosity in all directions. In this latter case it is preferable to seal the peripheral edge to restrict loss of air.
  • the form will often be dictated by the particular use or by the particular arrangement. Thus where the arrangement is for supporting and moving loads over very smooth surfaces then the substantially rigid form can be used. For use over rougher surfaces the more flexible forms of sponge rubber or plastic would normally be used. Where the roughness of the surface is likely to exceed the air film thickness, such as when flexibly attached sections are used, as in FIGURES l1 and i4, and where fairly high speeds are likely to be encountered, as in FIGURES l5 and 16, then a support member comprising a multiplicity of fine flexible tubes could provide an advantageous arrangement.
  • the tubes are arranged to hang vertically, and if contact occurs with the surface, from time to time, then the bottoms of the tubes can erode without materially interfering with the operation of the support member.
  • the tubes can either be arranged to hang freely but closely together, or they can be attached to one another, for example by adhesive, to form a resilient compact mass.
  • the material forming the layer may be of a fibrous nature, which will form the pile, or the material may have the pile forming fibres woven into it.
  • a vehicle supported over a surface by a permeable member will have an initial degree of stability as any variation in its attitude with respect to the surface will also result in a variation of local clearance. This will produce a local increase in the pressure of the air in the film at the smaller clearance and a decrease in the pressure at the greater clearance, this pressure difference tending to correct the attitude of the vehicle.
  • the stability can be increased by providing downward extending projections which, in the event of a variation in attitude of the vehicle touch or almost touch the surface and tend to sub-divide the area beneath the permeable member into a series of compartments. Such projections could be formed, for example, by strips of material which have a pile surface.
  • Load supporting means for supporting a load over a surface comprising a support member beneath the load, said support member comprising a body of material permeable to a fluid, said body of material having a boundary face presented towards the surface and flexibly displaceable from the surface, means including said body of permeable material circumscribing a space between said load and said surface within which a cushion of pressurised gas can be built up, means for supplying pressurised gas to said space, and means for causing pressurised fluid to percolate through the permeable body and to issue from said boundary face over substantially the entire area thereof to maintain a film of pressurised fluid between the boundary face and the surface.
  • a vehicle adapted to be supported above a surface on a relatively thin layer of fluid comprising a body and at least one load supporting means attached to said body, said load supporting means being as claimed in claim ll.
  • a vehicle adapted to be supported above a surface on a relatively thin layer of fluid comprising a body, a support member beneath said body comprising a body of material permeable to said fluid, said body of material having a boundary face presented downwards towards the surface over which the vehicle is operating, means for causing pressurised fiuid to percolate through said permeable body and to issue from said boundary face over substantially the entire area thereof to maintain a film of pressurised fluid between said boundary face and said surface, means including said body of permeable material circumscribing a space between the vehicle body and the surface within which a cushion of pressurised gas can be built up, and means for supplying pressurised gas to said space, said body of permeable material having a greater permeability in a vertical direction than in a horizontal direction.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)
  • Moulding By Coating Moulds (AREA)
  • Fluid-Damping Devices (AREA)
US202238A 1961-06-13 1962-06-13 Ground effect machine with permeable material support member Expired - Lifetime US3232366A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB21275/61A GB1002572A (en) 1961-06-13 1961-06-13 Support means for vehicles and other load carrying devices

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3232366A true US3232366A (en) 1966-02-01

Family

ID=10160147

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US202238A Expired - Lifetime US3232366A (en) 1961-06-13 1962-06-13 Ground effect machine with permeable material support member

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3232366A (de)
CH (1) CH430465A (de)
FR (1) FR1326049A (de)
GB (1) GB1002572A (de)

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3295621A (en) * 1963-04-25 1967-01-03 Dentists Supply Co Supporting base for chair and the like for gliding on a film of air
US3302587A (en) * 1964-03-12 1967-02-07 Jr William C Knox Air sled freeway
US3308767A (en) * 1964-12-22 1967-03-14 United Aircraft Corp Transportation device utilizing hydrostatic bearings
US3363717A (en) * 1963-11-18 1968-01-16 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Vehicles for travelling over a surface and equipped with inflatable cushionretainingwalls
US3375893A (en) * 1965-02-08 1968-04-02 Gen Motors Corp Self-modulating flexible choke air bearing
US3385390A (en) * 1964-01-21 1968-05-28 Bertin & Cie Pressure fluid cushion sealing system for tracked ground effect machines
US3414076A (en) * 1965-04-30 1968-12-03 Bertin & Cie Gas-cushion devices intended to support or guide a movable load
US3443838A (en) * 1967-05-04 1969-05-13 Clark Equipment Co Pallet conveyor arrangement
US3468393A (en) * 1967-05-26 1969-09-23 William M Harrison Air cushion transporting system for heavy duty pallet
US3520381A (en) * 1966-11-04 1970-07-14 Exxon Research Engineering Co Method and apparatus for moving storage tanks
US3563333A (en) * 1968-11-27 1971-02-16 Melville W Beardsley Air cushion vehicles
US3613822A (en) * 1969-08-22 1971-10-19 Transportation Technology Combined plenum chamber and jet curtain air cushion device
US3613821A (en) * 1968-03-02 1971-10-19 Nat Res Dev Load-supporting device
US3651956A (en) * 1970-07-16 1972-03-28 Andrew T Kornylak Air flotation table conveyor
US3685607A (en) * 1970-03-26 1972-08-22 Eglen Hovercraft Inc Air support vehicle
US3768588A (en) * 1971-08-16 1973-10-30 J Vaughen Structure to form a load-bearing air cushion for a vehicle
US3822761A (en) * 1969-04-28 1974-07-09 J Vaughen Load bearing air cushion apparatus
US4280782A (en) * 1977-10-13 1981-07-28 Stumpf Guenter O Air cushion table for transporting layers of laminar material, e.g. layers of fabric
US5308218A (en) * 1991-04-11 1994-05-03 Fujitsu Limited Transportation device having an air-foil bearing
DE29920681U1 (de) 1999-11-25 2000-10-12 Lufthansa Cargo AG, 65451 Kelsterbach Stoßhemmende Frachtpaletten

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1278849B (de) * 1963-05-17 1968-09-26 Cross & Jackson Ltd Luftkissenfahrzeug in Vollkammer-Bauart
BE650782A (de) * 1963-07-20
GB1277892A (en) * 1968-06-04 1972-06-14 Jack Francis Vaughen Load bearing air cushion apparatus
FR2314394A1 (fr) * 1975-06-12 1977-01-07 Bertin & Cie Elements flexibles de contact pour vehicules ou transporteurs

Citations (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1169682A (en) * 1913-02-01 1916-01-25 Sargents Sons Corp C G Stock-agitator for drying-machines.
US2395727A (en) * 1943-01-02 1946-02-26 Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co Glass bending
US2676851A (en) * 1952-03-18 1954-04-27 Smidth & Co As F L Conveying apparatus
US2918183A (en) * 1958-06-11 1959-12-22 Douglas Aircraft Co Inc Air cushion cargo handling system
US2938590A (en) * 1957-12-09 1960-05-31 Henry W Barnett Conveying device
FR1238499A (fr) * 1958-09-01 1960-12-02 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Perfectionnements aux véhicules pour voyager au-dessus de la terre ou de l'eau
US3013505A (en) * 1960-04-14 1961-12-19 Texaco Experiment Inc Ground effect vehicle
US3052483A (en) * 1961-03-08 1962-09-04 Douglas Aircraft Co Inc Air film supported load carrier
US3055312A (en) * 1958-10-03 1962-09-25 Ford Motor Co High speed transportation vehicle
US3055446A (en) * 1959-12-28 1962-09-25 Jack F Vaughen Air-supported cargo platform or container
US3082836A (en) * 1960-12-05 1963-03-26 United Aircraft Corp Lifting device
US3090327A (en) * 1958-09-29 1963-05-21 Carwill Entpr Inc Hydro-air vehicle
US3104496A (en) * 1958-05-26 1963-09-24 Macks Elmer Fred Apparatus for providing mobility of a figure toy
US3140753A (en) * 1958-11-25 1964-07-14 Bertin & Cie Supporting device using a layer of fluid under pressure

Patent Citations (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1169682A (en) * 1913-02-01 1916-01-25 Sargents Sons Corp C G Stock-agitator for drying-machines.
US2395727A (en) * 1943-01-02 1946-02-26 Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co Glass bending
US2676851A (en) * 1952-03-18 1954-04-27 Smidth & Co As F L Conveying apparatus
US2938590A (en) * 1957-12-09 1960-05-31 Henry W Barnett Conveying device
US3104496A (en) * 1958-05-26 1963-09-24 Macks Elmer Fred Apparatus for providing mobility of a figure toy
US2918183A (en) * 1958-06-11 1959-12-22 Douglas Aircraft Co Inc Air cushion cargo handling system
FR1238499A (fr) * 1958-09-01 1960-12-02 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Perfectionnements aux véhicules pour voyager au-dessus de la terre ou de l'eau
US3090327A (en) * 1958-09-29 1963-05-21 Carwill Entpr Inc Hydro-air vehicle
US3055312A (en) * 1958-10-03 1962-09-25 Ford Motor Co High speed transportation vehicle
US3140753A (en) * 1958-11-25 1964-07-14 Bertin & Cie Supporting device using a layer of fluid under pressure
US3055446A (en) * 1959-12-28 1962-09-25 Jack F Vaughen Air-supported cargo platform or container
US3013505A (en) * 1960-04-14 1961-12-19 Texaco Experiment Inc Ground effect vehicle
US3082836A (en) * 1960-12-05 1963-03-26 United Aircraft Corp Lifting device
US3052483A (en) * 1961-03-08 1962-09-04 Douglas Aircraft Co Inc Air film supported load carrier

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3295621A (en) * 1963-04-25 1967-01-03 Dentists Supply Co Supporting base for chair and the like for gliding on a film of air
US3363717A (en) * 1963-11-18 1968-01-16 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Vehicles for travelling over a surface and equipped with inflatable cushionretainingwalls
US3385390A (en) * 1964-01-21 1968-05-28 Bertin & Cie Pressure fluid cushion sealing system for tracked ground effect machines
US3302587A (en) * 1964-03-12 1967-02-07 Jr William C Knox Air sled freeway
US3308767A (en) * 1964-12-22 1967-03-14 United Aircraft Corp Transportation device utilizing hydrostatic bearings
US3375893A (en) * 1965-02-08 1968-04-02 Gen Motors Corp Self-modulating flexible choke air bearing
US3414076A (en) * 1965-04-30 1968-12-03 Bertin & Cie Gas-cushion devices intended to support or guide a movable load
US3520381A (en) * 1966-11-04 1970-07-14 Exxon Research Engineering Co Method and apparatus for moving storage tanks
US3443838A (en) * 1967-05-04 1969-05-13 Clark Equipment Co Pallet conveyor arrangement
US3468393A (en) * 1967-05-26 1969-09-23 William M Harrison Air cushion transporting system for heavy duty pallet
US3613821A (en) * 1968-03-02 1971-10-19 Nat Res Dev Load-supporting device
US3563333A (en) * 1968-11-27 1971-02-16 Melville W Beardsley Air cushion vehicles
US3822761A (en) * 1969-04-28 1974-07-09 J Vaughen Load bearing air cushion apparatus
US3613822A (en) * 1969-08-22 1971-10-19 Transportation Technology Combined plenum chamber and jet curtain air cushion device
US3685607A (en) * 1970-03-26 1972-08-22 Eglen Hovercraft Inc Air support vehicle
US3651956A (en) * 1970-07-16 1972-03-28 Andrew T Kornylak Air flotation table conveyor
US3768588A (en) * 1971-08-16 1973-10-30 J Vaughen Structure to form a load-bearing air cushion for a vehicle
US4280782A (en) * 1977-10-13 1981-07-28 Stumpf Guenter O Air cushion table for transporting layers of laminar material, e.g. layers of fabric
US5308218A (en) * 1991-04-11 1994-05-03 Fujitsu Limited Transportation device having an air-foil bearing
DE29920681U1 (de) 1999-11-25 2000-10-12 Lufthansa Cargo AG, 65451 Kelsterbach Stoßhemmende Frachtpaletten

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1002572A (en) 1965-08-25
FR1326049A (fr) 1963-05-03
CH430465A (de) 1967-02-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3232366A (en) Ground effect machine with permeable material support member
US3285356A (en) Vehicles for travelling over land and/or water
US3513934A (en) Air bearing devices
US3414076A (en) Gas-cushion devices intended to support or guide a movable load
US3267882A (en) Load carrying unit
US3275270A (en) Aircraft with ground effect type landing gear
US3291237A (en) Vehicles for travelling over a surface
US3760899A (en) Inflated air bearing
US3495679A (en) Vehicle for travelling over land and/or water
US3401767A (en) Articulated ground effect machine system
US3613821A (en) Load-supporting device
US3618695A (en) Flexible skirt assemblies for air cushion vehicles
US3502168A (en) Flexible skirting assemblies for ground effect machines
US3363717A (en) Vehicles for travelling over a surface and equipped with inflatable cushionretainingwalls
US3662854A (en) High-speed ground effect vehicles
US3595336A (en) High energy air cushion vehicle skid brake
US3822761A (en) Load bearing air cushion apparatus
US3134452A (en) Ground effect machines having flexible skirts
US3653458A (en) Combined peripheral jet and plenum chamber air cushion device
US3177960A (en) Vehicles for travelling over land and/or water
US3327797A (en) Ground effect vehicle with detachable flexible skirt
US3388766A (en) Fluid cushion device for ground effect vehicles and the like
US3754617A (en) Device for partitioning a space between two bodies in relative motion to each other
US4428448A (en) Fluid-cushion supported apparatus
US3399744A (en) Air cushion supported vehicles with distributing duct within the cushion space