US3841433A - Gas-cushion vehicles - Google Patents

Gas-cushion vehicles Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3841433A
US3841433A US22877472A US3841433A US 3841433 A US3841433 A US 3841433A US 22877472 A US22877472 A US 22877472A US 3841433 A US3841433 A US 3841433A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
cushion
duct
gas
hull
corners
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
Inventor
R Dyke
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.)
Vosper Ltd
Original Assignee
Vosper 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
Priority claimed from GB117269A external-priority patent/GB1300751A/en
Application filed by Vosper Ltd filed Critical Vosper Ltd
Priority to US22877472 priority Critical patent/US3841433A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3841433A publication Critical patent/US3841433A/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
    • 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
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
    • Y10T137/7722—Line condition change responsive valves
    • Y10T137/7837—Direct response valves [i.e., check valve type]
    • Y10T137/7879—Resilient material valve
    • Y10T137/788—Having expansible port

Definitions

  • a gas-cushion vehicle has a gas-cushion supply duct in its hull through which a lift fan supplies gas under pressure to the vehicles gas-cushion.
  • the duct contains a valve formed from segments of flexible material which allow gas to flow from the lift fan to the gascushion but automatically invert to obstruct reverse flow of gas from the gas-cushion through an inoperative lift fan.
  • the invention relates to vehicles which are wholly or partially supported by at least one cushion of pressurised gas, and more particularly to improvements in ducts through which gas under pressure passes to supply the cushion or cushions.
  • the gas is pressurised by one or more lift fans and supplied through a duct or ducts to the or each cushion. If the lift fan or one of the lift fans fails it is desirable to prevent the loss of gas from said cushion or cushions by reverse flow through the inoperative lift fan.
  • the object of the invention is to provide a simple valve in the duct to minimise the loss of gas from the cushion or cushions by such reverse flow.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic part sectional side elevation of an air-cushion vehicle
  • FIG. 2 is a part sectional side elevation of an aircushion supply duct in the air-cushion vehicle
  • FIG. 3 is a part sectional plan view of the air-cushion supply duct.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of part of the air-cushion supply duct.
  • an air-cushion supply duct in an air-cushion vehicles hull ll connects a lift fan 7 to an air-cushion 8 confined by a skirt 9.
  • Fabric segments 12 coated with rubber or plastics material are pivotally mounted in two rows in the duct 10.
  • Each segment 12 is connected by a cord 13, which passes through an eyelet 14 in the segment 12, to a pin 15 in the duct 10 and also by two cords 16, which pass through two eyelets 17 in the segment 12, to two pins 18 mounted on a bar 19.
  • the bar 19 is attached at its ends to the walls of the duct 10.
  • a corner of each segment 12 is pivoted to a duct wall at pin 15 and the other two corners are pivoted on a common axis at pins 18.
  • a vehicle supported by a cushion of pressurized gas comprising a hull, gas supply means for supplying gas under pressure to said cushion, a duct in said hull connecting said gas supply means with said cushion, and check valve means in said duct actuated by reverse gas flow from said cushion into said duct to a close position to at least partially seal said duct against said reverse gas flow upon failure of said gas supply means, said check valve means including at least one triangular valve segment of flexible material pivotally connected at all three corners to the hull, two of said corners being adjacent and substantially aligned to provide a common pivot axis therefor, said segment being movable between a normal valve open position during the time gas under pressure is supplied to said cushion and an inverted closed valve position in response to said reverse gas flow.
  • check valve means comprises two rows of said segments pivotally mounted alongside each other and extending across the duct.
  • a vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the segments of the respective rows each have one corner pivotally connected to a wall of the duct and said two adjacent corners pivotally connected to a common fixed member within the duct.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Check Valves (AREA)

Abstract

A gas-cushion vehicle has a gas-cushion supply duct in its hull through which a lift fan supplies gas under pressure to the vehicle''s gas-cushion. The duct contains a valve formed from segments of flexible material which allow gas to flow from the lift fan to the gas-cushion but automatically invert to obstruct reverse flow of gas from the gas-cushion through an inoperative lift fan.

Description

United States Patent [191 Dyke [ GAS-CUSHION VEHICLES [75] Inventor: Raymond William Dyke,
Southampton, England [73] Assignee: Vosper Limited, Portsmouth,
England [22] Filed: Feb. 23, 1972 [21] Appl. No.2 228,774
Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No, 689, Jan. 5, I970,
abandoned.
[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 8, 1969 Great Britain 1172/69 [52] US. Cl 180/116, 137/525.1, 180/122, 180/128 [51] lint. Cl. B60r 1/02 [58] Field of Search 180/116, 117, 118, 120, ISO/121,122,124,125,127,128, 129; 137/5251, 493, 525.3, 525
[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,358,143 9/1944 Castor 137/493 X 2,630,178 3/1953 Brown 2,926,686 3/1960 Ghreen 137/517 X 2,941,544 6/1960 Peras 1. 137/493 2,958,487 11/1960 Fraebel 244/138 R 3,050,146 8/1962 Crim 180/116 X 3,106,260 10/1963 Bollum t 180/116 3,181,636 5/1965 Cockcrell 180/118 3,425,505 2/1969 Jones 180/118 3,443,659 5/1969 Moore ct a1. 180/118 3,552,519 1/1971 Wren 1811/124 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 559,321 3/1957 ltaly 137/5253 Primary ExaminerDavid Schonberg Assistant ExaminerJohn P. Silverstrim Attorney, Agent, or FirmNorris & Bateman [5 7 ABSTRACT A gas-cushion vehicle has a gas-cushion supply duct in its hull through which a lift fan supplies gas under pressure to the vehicles gas-cushion. The duct contains a valve formed from segments of flexible material which allow gas to flow from the lift fan to the gascushion but automatically invert to obstruct reverse flow of gas from the gas-cushion through an inoperative lift fan.
3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SHEET 10? 2 PATENIEBUCT 1 51974 INVENTOR RAYMOND WILLIAM DYKE PATENTEDUBT 1 51914 s-,&41.43a sum 2 0r 2 INVENTOR RAYMOND WILLIAM DYKE YWSM i1 gdliimuu AT TO R N E Y GAS-CUSHION VEHICLES This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 689, filed Jan. 5, 1970, now abandoned.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to vehicles which are wholly or partially supported by at least one cushion of pressurised gas, and more particularly to improvements in ducts through which gas under pressure passes to supply the cushion or cushions.
It is usual for the gas to be pressurised by one or more lift fans and supplied through a duct or ducts to the or each cushion. If the lift fan or one of the lift fans fails it is desirable to prevent the loss of gas from said cushion or cushions by reverse flow through the inoperative lift fan.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to provide a simple valve in the duct to minimise the loss of gas from the cushion or cushions by such reverse flow.
According to the invention, a vehicle which is wholly or partially supported by at least one cushion of pressurised gas comprises a hull, means for supplying gas under pressure to the or each cushion by way of at least one duct in said hull and valve means in the or each duct formed of one or more segments of flexible material.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic part sectional side elevation of an air-cushion vehicle;
FIG. 2 is a part sectional side elevation of an aircushion supply duct in the air-cushion vehicle;
FIG. 3 is a part sectional plan view of the air-cushion supply duct; and
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of part of the air-cushion supply duct.
Referring now to the drawings, an air-cushion supply duct in an air-cushion vehicles hull ll connects a lift fan 7 to an air-cushion 8 confined by a skirt 9. Fabric segments 12 coated with rubber or plastics material are pivotally mounted in two rows in the duct 10. Each segment 12 is connected by a cord 13, which passes through an eyelet 14 in the segment 12, to a pin 15 in the duct 10 and also by two cords 16, which pass through two eyelets 17 in the segment 12, to two pins 18 mounted on a bar 19. The bar 19 is attached at its ends to the walls of the duct 10. As shown in the drawings a corner of each segment 12 is pivoted to a duct wall at pin 15 and the other two corners are pivoted on a common axis at pins 18.
In operation, air under pressure flows through the duct 10 in the direction of the arrow A, that is to say from the lift fan 7 to the air-cushion 8, and the segments 12 take up the position shown in full lines in the drawings and thus offer little resistance to the flow of air. If the lift fan fails and air begins to flow in the reverse direction the segments 12 automatically pivot about the pins 15, 18 and invert to take up the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 2 and form a seal across the duct 10 minimising said reverse flow.
- What I claim is:
1. A vehicle supported by a cushion of pressurized gas comprising a hull, gas supply means for supplying gas under pressure to said cushion, a duct in said hull connecting said gas supply means with said cushion, and check valve means in said duct actuated by reverse gas flow from said cushion into said duct to a close position to at least partially seal said duct against said reverse gas flow upon failure of said gas supply means, said check valve means including at least one triangular valve segment of flexible material pivotally connected at all three corners to the hull, two of said corners being adjacent and substantially aligned to provide a common pivot axis therefor, said segment being movable between a normal valve open position during the time gas under pressure is supplied to said cushion and an inverted closed valve position in response to said reverse gas flow.
2. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said check valve means comprises two rows of said segments pivotally mounted alongside each other and extending across the duct.
3. A vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the segments of the respective rows each have one corner pivotally connected to a wall of the duct and said two adjacent corners pivotally connected to a common fixed member within the duct.

Claims (3)

1. A vehicle supported by a cushion of pressurized gas comprising a hull, gas supply means for supplying gas under pressure to said cushion, a duct in said hull connecting said gas supply means with said cushion, and check valve means in said duct actuated by reverse gas flow from said cushion into said duct to a close position to at least partially seal said duct against said reverse gas flow upon failure of said gas supply means, said check valve means including at least one triangular valve segment of flexible material pivotally connected at all three corners to the hull, two of said corners being adjacent and substantially aligned to provide a common pivot axis therefor, said segment being movable between a normal valve open position during the time gas under pressure is supplied to said cushion and an inverted closed valve position in response to said reverse gas flow.
2. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said check valve means comprises two rows of said segments pivotally mounted alongside each other and extending across the duct.
3. A vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the segments of the respective rows each have one corner pivotally connected to a wall of the duct and said two adjacent corners pivotally connected to a common fixed member within the duct.
US22877472 1969-01-08 1972-02-23 Gas-cushion vehicles Expired - Lifetime US3841433A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US22877472 US3841433A (en) 1969-01-08 1972-02-23 Gas-cushion vehicles

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB117269A GB1300751A (en) 1969-01-08 1969-01-08 Gas-cushion vehicles
US68970A 1970-01-05 1970-01-05
US22877472 US3841433A (en) 1969-01-08 1972-02-23 Gas-cushion vehicles

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3841433A true US3841433A (en) 1974-10-15

Family

ID=27253842

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US22877472 Expired - Lifetime US3841433A (en) 1969-01-08 1972-02-23 Gas-cushion vehicles

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US3841433A (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4111277A (en) * 1974-05-20 1978-09-05 Michel Francois Peissel Gas cushion vehicle
US20110084526A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2011-04-14 Casala Meubelen Nederland B.V. Chair and method for manufacture thereof

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2358143A (en) * 1942-06-11 1944-09-12 Fuller Label & Box Company Vented panel
US2630178A (en) * 1949-04-22 1953-03-03 Cicero C Brown Valve
US2926686A (en) * 1960-03-01 gheen
US2941544A (en) * 1955-09-27 1960-06-21 Renault Fluid control devices and elastic pressure-responsive valves
US2958487A (en) * 1956-09-10 1960-11-01 Garrett Corp Impact absorption device
US3050146A (en) * 1959-10-30 1962-08-21 Almer D Crim Controls for vehicles utilizing the ground effect principle
US3106260A (en) * 1959-12-16 1963-10-08 Carwil Entpr Inc Earth-skimming air vehicle with pressure responsive valve means
US3181636A (en) * 1959-10-02 1965-05-04 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Ground effect machine having heave stability for traversing rough surfaces
US3425505A (en) * 1965-05-03 1969-02-04 Westland Aircraft Ltd Cushion air reverse flow preventing means
US3443659A (en) * 1966-03-08 1969-05-13 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Gas cushion vehicle with attitude stabilizing means
US3552519A (en) * 1967-09-04 1971-01-05 Curtis Dyna Prod Corp Air-cushion vehicles

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2926686A (en) * 1960-03-01 gheen
US2358143A (en) * 1942-06-11 1944-09-12 Fuller Label & Box Company Vented panel
US2630178A (en) * 1949-04-22 1953-03-03 Cicero C Brown Valve
US2941544A (en) * 1955-09-27 1960-06-21 Renault Fluid control devices and elastic pressure-responsive valves
US2958487A (en) * 1956-09-10 1960-11-01 Garrett Corp Impact absorption device
US3181636A (en) * 1959-10-02 1965-05-04 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Ground effect machine having heave stability for traversing rough surfaces
US3050146A (en) * 1959-10-30 1962-08-21 Almer D Crim Controls for vehicles utilizing the ground effect principle
US3106260A (en) * 1959-12-16 1963-10-08 Carwil Entpr Inc Earth-skimming air vehicle with pressure responsive valve means
US3425505A (en) * 1965-05-03 1969-02-04 Westland Aircraft Ltd Cushion air reverse flow preventing means
US3443659A (en) * 1966-03-08 1969-05-13 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Gas cushion vehicle with attitude stabilizing means
US3552519A (en) * 1967-09-04 1971-01-05 Curtis Dyna Prod Corp Air-cushion vehicles

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4111277A (en) * 1974-05-20 1978-09-05 Michel Francois Peissel Gas cushion vehicle
US20110084526A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2011-04-14 Casala Meubelen Nederland B.V. Chair and method for manufacture thereof

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3008214A (en) Flexible inflatable fabric and method of making the same
US3291237A (en) Vehicles for travelling over a surface
US4978162A (en) Drag reducer for rear end of vehicle
US3420330A (en) Means for bounding a space for receiving pressurised gas
US3414077A (en) Air cushion vehicle
GB1072731A (en) Improvements relating to gas-cushion vehicles
US3362499A (en) Vehicles for travelling over a surface
US3379271A (en) Vehicles for travelling over a surface provided with flexible skirts of differing stiffnesses
US3841433A (en) Gas-cushion vehicles
US3385390A (en) Pressure fluid cushion sealing system for tracked ground effect machines
US3756343A (en) Air cushion seal
US3621932A (en) Gas-cushion vehicles
JP2007534557A (en) Cone inclusion finger in skirt system
US3363717A (en) Vehicles for travelling over a surface and equipped with inflatable cushionretainingwalls
US3249166A (en) Ribbed cushion bounding walls for ground effect machines
GB1141601A (en) Improvements relating to gas-cushion vehicles
GB1254561A (en) Improvements relating to flexible skirt assemblies for air cushion vehicles
US3318404A (en) Air cushion center of pressure displacing means for ground effect vehicles
US3363718A (en) Skirts for gas-cushion vehicles
CA1049591A (en) Air cushion vehicles
US3429395A (en) Air-cushion vehicle with flexible skirt
US3291240A (en) Air cushion vehicles having deflectable wall structures
US3782494A (en) Air cushion vehicle seal
US3805913A (en) Air-cushion vehicle edge skirt arrangement
US3353617A (en) Gas-cushion vehicles