US3578099A - Skirting arrangements for ground-effect machines - Google Patents

Skirting arrangements for ground-effect machines Download PDF

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Publication number
US3578099A
US3578099A US813659A US3578099DA US3578099A US 3578099 A US3578099 A US 3578099A US 813659 A US813659 A US 813659A US 3578099D A US3578099D A US 3578099DA US 3578099 A US3578099 A US 3578099A
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United States
Prior art keywords
bearing surface
machine
distance
runner
deformable wall
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Expired - Lifetime
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US813659A
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English (en)
Inventor
Francois Louis Giraud
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.)
Aerotrain SA
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Aerotrain SA
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Publication date
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    • 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

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to improvements in ground-effect machines of the kind comprising a structure located opposite a bearing surface at a variable distance therefrom, the skirting arrangements which delimit the plenum chamber being associated with means which sense the height of the leakage gap between bearing surface and skirt edge in order to control the raising and lowering of said skirting arrangement as a function of the lowering and raising of the ground-effect machine, the purpose being to prevent premama flwnfl D W 16,81 m G M n R m m G i m m mew mm m mm SEH U. hm N H m w w. 55
  • the present invention relates .to a ground-effect of the kind comprising'a structure located opposite a bearing surface at a variable distance therefrom, and a lateral confining arrangement movable in relation to said structure and delimiting an enclosure of the plenum chamber kind designed, in cooperation with said bearing surface, to define at least one fluid cushion, said confining arrangement comprising a terminal part having a free end adjacent the bearing surface and separated therefrom by a certain interval.
  • the height of said interval or gap referred to as the leakage height should fundamentally remain as small as possible for reasons connected with the general efficiency of the machine.
  • This problem relates in particular to certain kinds of movable bodies or like vehicles forming part of a mechanical conveyor transportation system, for example of the belt conveyor kind, such as that forming the subject of the Fat.
  • the lateral confining arrangement comprises at least one deformable wall and the means responding to the distance between the structure and the bearing surface comprise a reference element fixed to said deformable wall and movable in relation to said structure in a substantially normal direction to the bearing surface, said reference element being designed to come into contact with said bearing surface.
  • Said responding means will also preferably comprise a linkage cooperating with the structure and connected to a portion of the deformable wall defined between the free end of the lateral confining arrangement and the zone of attachment of the reference element to said deformable wall, in such fashion that said free end is displaced when the distance between said structure and said reference element varies.
  • the deformable wall and bearing at its other end against the said structure said end advantageously exhibiting a substantially spherical tip or like roller in order to reduce the friction with the structure.
  • elastic means are provided in order to return the deformable wall in the direction corresponding to closer approach of the terminal portion of the lateral confining device towards the bearing surface.
  • a part of the deformable wall may itself have an elastic structure.
  • the reference element comprises a runner designed to rest upon a bearing surface (for example, the ground, a prepared track or again a mechanical conveyor, for example a belt conveyor, of the general kind hereinbefore referred to), said runner having an extension upon which the structure can rest when said runner itself rests on the bearing surface.
  • a stop integral with the structure can likewise be provided in order to limit to a predetermined maximum value, the distance between the structure and the runner. The latter may also be lifted when the machine is in the ground-effect configuration.
  • the machine comprises, additionally, at least one brakeshoe located opposite the bearing surface and designed to move into contact therewith, said shoe being fixed to the structure through the medium of an elastic arrangement such as a flexible strip.
  • the stiffness of the latter may be designed so that when the ground-effect disappears, the major part of the weight of the machine is transmitted to the bearing surface by said shoe.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational illustration of a transportation system using movable bodies or like vehicles which are supported and propelled by a mechanical conveyor, certain ones, at least, of said bodies or vehicles being equipped with an enclosure capable of delimiting a fluid cushion through the agency of a retractable confining arrangement or skirt, in accordance with the invention;
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views, on a slightly larger scale, taken respectively on the lines 11- and III-III of FIG. 1, through the transportation system of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, showing the retractable confining arrangement in the operative position, that is to say when fed with pressurized fluid;
  • FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4, showing the same arrangement in the retracted position, the supply of pressurized fluid having been cut off.
  • each of these conveyors comprises tow endless belts 1, each having a top working run la upon which a movable body, such as a vehicle or cabin M, can rest through the medium of runners 2 and shoes 23.
  • the two belts are driven by a drive shaft 3 and rest on rollers or the like 4 which are located in recesses 5 in a plate or panel 6 covering a space 7 which communicates through a piping arrangement 8 with a fluid pressure source.
  • the plate or panel 6 comprises feed passages in the form of 5 directional nozzles 9 capable of being closed off by clackvalves 10 carried by a linkage 11 articulated at 12 to the plate 6 and subjected to the action of a spring 13.
  • the space 7 is delimited peripherally by a deformable wall 17 fixed in sealed fashion to the plate or panel 6.
  • This plate or panel is articulated at 18 about a fixed axis substantially longitudinally disposed and carried by a prepared track 19 in which the conveyors C are mounted.
  • the reference 20 marks a stop.
  • the vehicle or cabin M is equipped with a structure 21 at the bottom end of which an enclosure of the plenum chamber kind is connected, so that said vehicle can, if required, operate as a ground-effect machine.
  • This enclosure is delimited by a lateral confining or skirting arrangement 22, comprising retractable walls which more precisely constitute the object of the present invention.
  • the reference 23 designates brakeshoes fixed to the base of the structure through the medium of elastic strips 24.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates the vehicle M carried by the runners 2 and the shoes 23, on the moving belts 1.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates the vehicle M in the ground-effect configuration.
  • the user of the vehicle operates the lever 16 which bears against the arm 14, in order to bring about the opening of the clack-valves 10 which were hitherto kept closed by the action of the spring 13 on the linkage ]1.
  • the pressurized fluid stored in the space 7 then escapes across the directional noules 9 and creates a pressurized fluid cushion beneath the vehicle which lifts said vehicle away from the belts l.
  • the pressure prevailing in the space 7 drops to a lower value thus causing the plate or panel 6 to sink and pivot about its hinge 18 until it hits the stop 20.
  • the vehicle can then slide laterally over said plate or panel aided by the effect of the directional nozzles, and thus transfer onto a prepared area 25.
  • the latter will advantageously likewise be supplied with pressurized fluid, this by automatic means responsive to the passage of the vehicle, and can be arranged to direct the vehicle towards a parking or marshalling area. Once it has arrived at its final destination, the vehicle is braked by the cutting off of the supply of fluid to the cushions.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 provide a more detailed illustration of the retractable confining or skirt arrangement in accordance with the invention, in the two configurations hereinbefore enumerated.
  • This arrangement comprises lips 26 fixed to elastic walls 27, and flexible walls 28 fixed in a substantially sealed fashion to the structure 21.
  • the lips have a free end opposite the bearing surface 1a 6a. in order to determine in relation thereto a leakage gap of height h (see FIG. 4).
  • the walls 27 and 28 are secured to one another in substantially sealed fashion by means of a peripheral frame 29.
  • the latter carries a shock absorber 30 upon which, at intervals, there are located studs 31, preferably of elastic material such as rubber,
  • means which respond to the distance between the structure 21 and the bearing surface 1a -6a are provided.
  • These means comprise arrangements which are sensitive to the relative position of the structure 21 and at least one reference element 2 carried by the confining arrangement, and they enable that latter to be deformed or displaced in such a manner that the height h hereinbefore defined varies as a function of said relative position.
  • the reference elements are constituted by the runners 2 upon which the structure 21 can rest.
  • runners which have extensions 2a upon which the structure 21 can rest, are fixed to the confining arrangement in the intermediate zone thereof defined by the frame 29, and are movable in relation to the structure 21 in a direction substantially normal to the bearing surface, the relative displacement of the structure 21 and of the runners 2 being limited by stops 32.
  • a linkage 33 provides a kinematic link between the structure 21 and that part of the confining arrangement which is defined between the intermediate zone (itself defined hereinbefore) and the free end 26a. It will advantageously comprise a lever fixed at one of its ends 330, to the elastic wall 27, and bearing at its other end 33b against that face 21a of the structure which faces the bearing surface 10 6a. The effect of the elasticity of the wall 27 is to elastically bias it in the direction corresponding to approach of the free end 26a towards said bearing surface, the end 33b of the lever being applied against the face 21a of the structure 21. Equally, however, for this purpose an auxiliary elastic return device could be provided, such as a spring arrangement.
  • the end 33b of the linkage 33 will have a substantially spherical tip or a roller, cooperating with a mating surface 34 of low coefficient of friction.
  • the structure 21 is spaced away from the supporting surface 1a --6a; this condition being shown in FIG. 4.
  • the stops 32 the runners 2 are maintained at a certain distance above the bearing surface la 6a, as are the brakeshoes 23.
  • the linkage 33 now occupies a position such that the leakage height has the reduced valve h necessary for efficient operation of the system.
  • runners 2 are in contact with the bearing surface, they constitute the aforedescribed fixed reference elements in relation to which it is possible to detect the position of the structure 21.
  • FIG. 5 relates to the case of a vehicle resting upon a bearing surface 1a which is moving, e.g. the surface of a conveyor belt.
  • the shoes 23 then rest upon the belt without having any braking effect. If, on the other hand, the bearing surface is fixed, then the vehicle is braked by the shoes 23.
  • the stiffness of the elastic strips 24 will preferably be contrived so that the major part of the weight of the vehicle is transmitted to the bearing surface through the medium of said shoes 23 with the effect that the braking effort exerted by the runners 2,'and consequently the wear to which these runners are subjected, is reduced to a minumum.
  • said lateral confining arrangement comprising a terminal part with a free end adjacent the bearing surface and separated therefrom by a certain interval; means responding to the distance between the structure and the bearing surface for displacing the terminal part of the lateral confining arrangement in relation to said structure and to saidbearing surface, in a direction such that the said interval increases when said distance reduces, and conversely.
  • lateral confining arrangement comprises at least one deformable wall
  • the means responding to the distance between the structure and the bearing surface comprise a reference element fixed to said deformable wall and movable in relation to said structure in a direction substantially normal to the bearing surface, said referenceelementbeing adapted to come into contact with said heating surface when said machine rests directly on said bearing surface.
  • said responding means further comprises a linkage, and means on said linkage cooperating with the structure and connected to a portion of the deformable wall which is defined between the free end of said lateral confining arrangement and the zone of attachment of the reference element to said deformable wall, whereby said free end is displaced when the distance between said" at the other end of said lever bearing against said structure.
  • the reference element comprises a runner adapted to rest upon the bearing surface, said runner having an extension upon which the structure can rest when said runner itself rests upon the bearing surface.
  • a machine as claimed in claim 8 further comprising a stopintegral with the structure, said stop including means to limit to a predetermined maximum value the distance between said structure and said runner when said machine is supported by said fluid cushion.
  • a machine as claimed in claim 1 further comprising at least one brakeshoe located opposite the bearing surface, said brake shoe including means coming into contact with said bearing surface when said distance is reduced, an elastic means, and means securing said elastic means to said shoe and to the structure.
  • the reference element comprises a runner having an underface adapted to rest upon the bearing surface, said machine further comprising a stop integral with the structure, said stop including means to limit to a predetermined maximum valve the distance between said structure and said runner when said machine is supported on said fluid cushion, and at least one brakeshoe having an underface located op osite the bearing surface and designed to come into contact t erewith, wherein the distance between the underface of the brakeshoe and the bearing surface is smaller than the distance between the underface of the runner and said bearing surface, when said runner bears against said stop.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Support Of The Bearing (AREA)
  • Structure Of Belt Conveyors (AREA)
  • Elevator Door Apparatuses (AREA)
  • Vibration Dampers (AREA)
  • Escalators And Moving Walkways (AREA)
US813659A 1968-04-05 1969-04-04 Skirting arrangements for ground-effect machines Expired - Lifetime US3578099A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR147271 1968-04-05

Publications (1)

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US3578099A true US3578099A (en) 1971-05-11

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US813659A Expired - Lifetime US3578099A (en) 1968-04-05 1969-04-04 Skirting arrangements for ground-effect machines

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US (1) US3578099A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS4844473B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE731063A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH501512A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1917227A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR1581502A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1261645A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
SE (1) SE355768B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3695383A (en) * 1969-04-10 1972-10-03 Aerotrain Arrangement for securing walls together
US3804197A (en) * 1970-01-26 1974-04-16 Bertin & Cie Fluid-cushion-containing facility for ground effect machine

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3182739A (en) * 1958-09-01 1965-05-11 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Vehicles for travelling over land and/or water
US3232633A (en) * 1961-10-02 1966-02-01 Solar Aircraft Co Vehicles with means to selectively increase the effective weight thereof
US3273663A (en) * 1966-09-20 Vehicles for travelling over land and/or water
US3424266A (en) * 1963-06-21 1969-01-28 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Gas - cushion vehicles with multi-stage flexible skirts and attitude correcting means therefor

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3273663A (en) * 1966-09-20 Vehicles for travelling over land and/or water
US3182739A (en) * 1958-09-01 1965-05-11 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Vehicles for travelling over land and/or water
US3232633A (en) * 1961-10-02 1966-02-01 Solar Aircraft Co Vehicles with means to selectively increase the effective weight thereof
US3424266A (en) * 1963-06-21 1969-01-28 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Gas - cushion vehicles with multi-stage flexible skirts and attitude correcting means therefor

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3695383A (en) * 1969-04-10 1972-10-03 Aerotrain Arrangement for securing walls together
US3804197A (en) * 1970-01-26 1974-04-16 Bertin & Cie Fluid-cushion-containing facility for ground effect machine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH501512A (fr) 1971-01-15
FR1581502A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1969-09-19
SE355768B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-05-07
GB1261645A (en) 1972-01-26
BE731063A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1969-10-06
JPS4844473B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-12-25
DE1917227A1 (de) 1969-10-23

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