US3357514A - Flexible understructures for ground effect machines - Google Patents

Flexible understructures for ground effect machines Download PDF

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Publication number
US3357514A
US3357514A US379847A US37984764A US3357514A US 3357514 A US3357514 A US 3357514A US 379847 A US379847 A US 379847A US 37984764 A US37984764 A US 37984764A US 3357514 A US3357514 A US 3357514A
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Prior art keywords
flexible
ground effect
skirting assembly
assembly
air
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Expired - Lifetime
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US379847A
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English (en)
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Jones Richard Stanton
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Westland Group PLC
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Westland Aircraft Ltd
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Publication date
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60V—AIR-CUSHION VEHICLES
    • B60V1/00—Air-cushion
    • B60V1/16—Flexible skirts

Definitions

  • An object of this invention is to provide an improved construction of flexible skirting assembly, wherein the inner and outer walls of which assume a natural bulbous shape during operation, the assembly being substantially self-sustaining in shape, and in which the duct losses of air passing through the assembly are substantially reduced by the air being turned through a large cross-sectional area at relatively low velocity.
  • a peripheral jet type ground effect machine is provided with an inflatable rflexible skirting assembly freely suspended to encompass at least part of, and to retard the escape of air or gas from, the gaseous ground effect cushion, the flexible skirting assembly comprising an outer flexible portion which, when the flexible skirting assembly is in the inflated condition, extends from its uppermost point of attachment to the ground effect machine outwardly from the gaseous cushion space, then downwardly and inwardly to include the outermost portion of a discharge nozzle arrangement, and an inner flexible skirt portion which, when the flexible skirting assembly is inflated, extends from its uppermost point of attachment to the ground effect machine downwardly and outwardly from the cushion space to include the innermost portion of said nozzle arrangement, said flexible skirting assembly having sufficient rigidity, when inflated, to assume and when deflected, to return to, a downwardly extended position, and means maintaining the innermost and outermost portions of the discharge nozzle arrangement in the desired position relative to each other.
  • a peripheral jet type ground effect machine is provided with an inflatable flexible skirting assembly freely suspended to encompass at least part of, and to retard the escape of air or gas from,
  • the flexible skirting assembly comprising an outer flexible portion which, when the flexible skirting assembly is inflated, extends from its uppermost point of attachment to the ground effect machine outwardly from the gaseous cushion space, then downwardly and inwardly to include the outermost portion of a discharge nozzle arrangement, and an inner flexible skirt portion which, when the flexible skirting assembly is inflated, extends from its uppermost point of attachment to the ground effect machine downwardly and outwardly from the cushion space to include the innermost portion of said nozzle arrangement, said flexible skirting assembly having sufficient rigidity, when inflated, to assume and when deflected, to return to, a downwardly extended position, and means maintaining the lower portions of the inner and outer skirts in the desired position relative to each other, the area enclosed by the nozzles being greater than the planform area of the rigid structure of the ground effect machine upon which the air cushion acts.
  • FIGURE 1 is an elevation in section through a portion of a ground effect machine where the sides are straight in planform, showing the ducting, flexible skirting and nozzles according to the invention.
  • FIGURE 2 is an elevation in section through a portion of the base platform of a ground effect machine where the sides are curved in planform showing the ducting, flexible skirting assembly and nozzles according to the invention.
  • the rigid base platform 1 of a peripheral jet type ground effect machine incorporates an air or gas supply duct 2 around its periphery, the air or gas supply duct 2 being formed by the rigid base platform 1 and a rigid outer casing 3.
  • the duct 2 is flexibly extended a predetermined distance beneath the platform 1 by a flexible skirting assembly, generally indicated at 4, the predeter mined distance being chosen in accordance with the op erational role of the vehicle.
  • the flexible skirting assembly 4 comprises a flexible outer wall or skirt 5 and a flexible inner wall or skirt 6, the outer wall or skirt 5 being attached to the rigid outer casing 3 at 7, and the inner wall or skirt 6 being attached to the rigid base platform v1 at 8.
  • the flexible skirting assembly 4 is made of rubber, plastic, rubberised or plasticised fabric, or any other fluid-tight abrasion resistant flexible material.
  • the air channel formed by the flexible skirting assembly 4 is funnel shaped in cross-section, tapering towards the bottom, to form the flexible jet nozzle orifices, which are inwardly inclined to impart an inward component to the air being discharged.
  • the pressure of the air or gas inflates the skirting assembly 4 and maintains the nozzles in their operational position and provides an element of sufficient rigidity to maintain and bias the flexible skirting assembly 4 in the downwardly extended position.
  • Diaphragms 10, in combination with the inner skirt 6, form compartments 11, and tension in the diaphragms 10 maintains the inward inclination of the jet nozzle orifices.
  • Flexible restraining membranes or crossdiaphragms 14 are provided between the inner skirt 6 and the outer skirt 5, and are located at substantially regular intervals along the flexible skirting assembly 4 tion relative to the inner walls of the flexible nozzles.
  • chains 15 may be preferably located substantially in line with each adjacent pair of flexible restraining membranes or crossdiaphragms 14. Furthermore, extra chains may be added between, if necessary.
  • compartments 11 are in communication with the air channel or duct extension by way of ports 12, located in the inner. skirt 6, and are further in communication with the ground effect air cushion by way of discharge ports 13.
  • the maximum ratio of the shortest distance between the line joining the points 7 and 8 and the lowest tip of the flexible skirting assembly (e.g. the point C in FIGURE 1), to the distance between the points 7 and 8 lies be tween 0.9 and 1.25.
  • the point 8 may be located inboard of the air or gas supply duct, 2, as shown in FIGURE 1, or alternatively may be the inboard lower edge of the air or gas supply duct 2 as shown in FIGURE 2.
  • skirting assembly 4 which are self-supportin g and receive no additional inherent stiffness that might be imparted by the portion of the platform that is curved in planform, is substantially as shown in FIGURE 1.
  • r is the radius assumed by the outer wall or skirt. 1', is the radius assumed by the inner wall or skirt. P is the skirt mean internal pressure.
  • p is the cushion pressure
  • K is a factor having a value between 0.75 and 1.0.
  • the flexible skirting assembly 4 has some inherent stiffness imparted to it, because that part of the flexible skirting assembly 4 is suspended from a curved portion of the rigid base platform, then the inner and outer skirts or walls 5 and 6 will assume greater radii than in the case where there is no inherent stiffness imparted to it. Such a condition is illustrated in FIGURE 2.
  • the radii assumed by the inner and outer walls or skirts of the flexible skirting assembly increase.
  • the cushion area enclosed by the jet nozzles is preferably greater than the planform area of the rigid structure of the ground effect machine upon which the air acts.
  • the flexible skirting when inflated, forms a pressure chamber and is sufliciently flaccid to permit it to fold locally to pass over an obstacle.
  • point 7 to which the outer wall 5 of the flexible skirting assembly is attached is laterally outboard of the rigid structure upon which the air cushion acts, and it is preferred that at least part of the inner wall 6 encompasses a downwardly progressively larger planform area of the cushion.
  • a peripheral jet type ground effect machine provided with an inflatable flexible skirting assembly freely suspended to encompass at least part of, and to retard the escape of air or gas from, the gaseous ground effect cushion, the flexible skirting assembly comprising an outer flexible portion which, when the flexible skirting assembly is inflated, extends from its uppermost point of attachment to the ground effect machine outwardly from the gaseous cushion space, then downwardly and inwardly to include the outermost portion of a discharge nozzle arrangement which includes, at least one gaseous fluid discharge orifice, and an inner flexible skirt portion which, when the flexible skirting assembly is inflated, extends from its uppermost point of attachment to the ground effect machine downwardly and outwardly from the cushion space to include the innermost portion of said nozzle arrangement, said flexible skirting assembly having sufficient rigidity, when inflated, to assume, and when deflected, to return to, a downwardly extended position, and tension members maintaining the innermost and outermost portions of the discharge nozzle arrangement in the desired position relative to each other, the inner wall of said gaseous fluid discharge orifice
  • tension members connecting the inner wall of the orifice to the inner skirt portion comprise flexible diaphragms which, with the flexible inner skirt portions, cooperate to form compartments, each compartment being provided with at least one port in communication with the interior of the pressurized air or gas cushion, and through which water that collects in the flexible skirting assembly is discharged, and at least one hole through the flexible inner portion of the flexible skirting assembly, through which the interior of the compartment is in communication with the interior of said flexible skirting assembly.
  • a peripheral jet type ground eflect machine provided with an inflatable flexible skirting assembly freely suspended to encompass at least part of, and to retard the escape of air or gas from, the gaseous ground effect cushion, the flexible skirting assembly comprising an outer flexible portion which, when the flexible skirting assembly is inflated, extends from its uppermost point of attachment to the ground effect machine outwardly from the gaseous cushion space, then downwardly and inwardly to include the outermost portion of a discharge nozzle arrangement which includes at least one gaseous fluid discharge orifice, and an inner flexible skirt portion which, when the flexible skirting assembly is inflated, extends from its uppermost point of attachment to the ground effect machine downwardly and outwardly from the cushion space to include the innermost portion of said nozzle arrangement, said flexible skirting assembly having sufficient rigidity, when inflated, to assume, and when deflected, to return to, a downwardly extended position, and tension members maintaining the innermost and outermost portions of the discharge nozzle arrangement in the desired position relative to each other, at least part of the flexible skirting assembly depending from
  • a peripheral jet type ground eflect machine provided with an inflatable flexible skirting assembly freely suspended to encompass at least part of, and to retard the escape of air or gas from, the gaseous ground effect
  • the flexible skirting assembly comprising an outer flexible portion which, when the flexible skirting assembly is inflated, extends from its uppermost point of attachment to the ground effect machine outwardly from the gaseous cushion space, then downwardly and inwardly to include the outermost portion of a discharge nozzle arrangement which includes at least one gaseous fluid discharge orifice, and an inner flexible skirt portion which, when the flexible skirting assembly is inflated, extends from its uppermost point of attachment to the ground eflect machine downwardly and outwardly from the cushion space to include the innermost portion of said nozzle arrangement
  • said flexible skirting assembly having sufficient rigidity, when inflated, to assume, and when deflected, to return to, a downwardly extended position, and tension members maintaining the innermost and outermost portions of the discharge nozzle arrangement in the desired position relative to each other, the ratio of the shortest distance between
  • a peripheral jet ty-pe ground effect machine provided with an inflatable flexible skirting assembly freely suspended to encompass at least part of, and to retard the escape of air or gas from, the gaseous ground effect cushion, the flexible skirting assembly comprising an outer flexible portion which, when the flexible skirting assembly is inflated, extends from its uppermost point of attachment to the ground effect machine outwardly from the gaseous cushion space, then downwardly and inwardly to include the outermost portion of a discharge nozzle arrangement which includes at least one gaseous fluid discharge orifice, and an inner flexible skirt portion which, when the flexible skirting assembly is inflated, extends from its uppermost point of attachment to the ground effect machine downwardly and outwardly from the cushion space to include the innermost portion of said nozzle arrangement, said flexible skirting assembly having sufficient rigidity, when inflated, to assume, and when deflected, to return to, a downwardly extended position, and tension members maintaining the innermost and outermost portions of the discharge nozzle arrangement in the desired position relative to each other, the flexible skirting assembly when inflated adopting

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Mattresses And Other Support Structures For Chairs And Beds (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
  • Pipe Accessories (AREA)
  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
  • Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
US379847A 1963-07-20 1964-07-02 Flexible understructures for ground effect machines Expired - Lifetime US3357514A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB28806/63A GB1019639A (en) 1963-07-20 1963-07-20 Improvements in or relating to ground effect machines

Publications (1)

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US3357514A true US3357514A (en) 1967-12-12

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US379847A Expired - Lifetime US3357514A (en) 1963-07-20 1964-07-02 Flexible understructures for ground effect machines

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US (1) US3357514A (enrdf_load_html_response)
BE (1) BE650782A (enrdf_load_html_response)
DE (2) DE1431198B1 (enrdf_load_html_response)
ES (1) ES302257A1 (enrdf_load_html_response)
GB (1) GB1019639A (enrdf_load_html_response)
NL (1) NL6408299A (enrdf_load_html_response)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3467215A (en) * 1964-07-28 1969-09-16 British Hovercraft Corp Ltd Cushion supported vehicles with extensible base area
US3561560A (en) * 1967-10-13 1971-02-09 Air Cushion Vehicles Australas Flexible structure for air cushion vehicles

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1319033A (fr) * 1962-04-03 1963-02-22 Westland Aircraft Ltd Perfectionnements apportés aux véhicules à effet de sol
US3117645A (en) * 1960-04-13 1964-01-14 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Ground effect vehicle with curtain reinforcing means
US3194333A (en) * 1960-04-05 1965-07-13 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Ground effect machines with supply and recovery ports in a common duct
US3209847A (en) * 1962-08-01 1965-10-05 Fred Starobin A Spray suppressor for air cushion vehicles

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB935825A (en) * 1958-09-01 1963-09-04 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Improvements in or relating to vehicles for travelling over land and/or water
GB1002572A (en) * 1961-06-13 1965-08-25 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Support means for vehicles and other load carrying devices
FR1329474A (fr) * 1962-07-25 1963-06-07 Westland Aircraft Ltd Dispositif à effet de sol pour véhicules
DE1275363B (de) * 1962-11-15 1968-08-14 British Hovercraft Corp Ltd Luftkissenfahrzeug

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3194333A (en) * 1960-04-05 1965-07-13 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Ground effect machines with supply and recovery ports in a common duct
US3117645A (en) * 1960-04-13 1964-01-14 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Ground effect vehicle with curtain reinforcing means
FR1319033A (fr) * 1962-04-03 1963-02-22 Westland Aircraft Ltd Perfectionnements apportés aux véhicules à effet de sol
US3209847A (en) * 1962-08-01 1965-10-05 Fred Starobin A Spray suppressor for air cushion vehicles

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3467215A (en) * 1964-07-28 1969-09-16 British Hovercraft Corp Ltd Cushion supported vehicles with extensible base area
US3561560A (en) * 1967-10-13 1971-02-09 Air Cushion Vehicles Australas Flexible structure for air cushion vehicles

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Publication number Publication date
BE650782A (enrdf_load_html_response)
GB1019639A (en) 1966-02-09
NL6408299A (enrdf_load_html_response) 1965-01-21
DE1930681U (de) 1966-01-05
DE1431198B1 (de) 1969-09-04
ES302257A1 (es) 1964-10-16

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