Air-cushion vehicles

Claim 2

A gas-cushion vehicle comprising a pair of hollow laterallyspaced body structures adapted to carry payload inside of said body structures, structural means extending between the body structures so as to interconnect said body structures, a membraneous barrier comprising flexible sheeting means covering the space between the body structures and being sealed to said body structures so as to separate said space from the atmosphere above, and means for forming a vehicle-supporting cushion of pressurized gas within said space.

Claim 3

A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sheeting means comprise metal sheeting means.

Claim 4

A vehicle as claimed in cLaim 1 wherein said sheeting means comprise elastic flexible sheet means.

Claim 5

A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sheeting means are of concave form with the concavity facing said space between the body structures.

Claim 6

A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the structural means extending between the body structures are formed to serve as passageways between said body side structures.

Claim 7

A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one extremity of a body structure is provided with means allowing access to the interior thereof.

Claim 8

A vehicle as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means allowing access to the body structure comprises an end portion movably connected to the remainder of the body structure.

Claim 9

A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided for carrying additional payload within the space occupied by the vehicle-supporting cushion.

Claim 10

A vehicle as claimed in claim 8 wherein said means comprise platform means and means for lifting and lowering the platform means away from and on to a ground surface beneath the vehicle.

Claim 11

A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lower portions of the body structures are of flexible construction.

Claim 12

A vehicle as claimed in claim 10 wherein said lower portions are of inflatable construction.

Claim 13

A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ends of the vehicle-supporting cushion are contained by skirt means extending laterally between the ends of the body structures.

Claim 14

A vehicle as claimed in claim 12 wherein the skirt means are of inflatable construction.

Claim 15

A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 including thrust means for imparting a lateral thrust to the vehicle.

Claim 16

A vehicle as claimed in claim 14 for operation over water wherein said thrust means comprise water-pump thrust means carried by the body structures.

Claim 17

A vehicle as claimed in claim 14 wherein said thrust means comprise means for releasing cushion gas from the space between the body structures.

Claim 18

A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 for operation over water wherein the body structures are of elongated form and include a pair of wall structures extending lengthwise along and depending from the body structures so as to dip into the water and preserve a cushion-gas seal.

Claim 19

A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said means for forming a vehicle-supporting cushion of pressurized gas within said space comprises means for forming said cushion independently of vehicle travel.

Claim 20

A gas-cushion vehicle comprising a pair of hollow laterally-spaced body structures adapted to carry payload inside of said body structures, spacer means of hollow form extending laterally between the ends of the body structures so that the body structures and spacer means together form an annular structure, a membraneous barrier comprising flexible sheeting means covering the space defined by the annular structure and being sealed thereto so as to separate said space from the atmosphere above, and means for forming a vehicle-supporting cushion of pressurized gas within said space.

Claim 21

A gas-cushion vehicle comprising a pair of hollow laterally-spaced body structures adapted to carry payload inside of said body structures, spacer means of hollow form extending laterally between the ends of the body structures so that the body structures and spacer means together form an annular structure, a membraneous barrier comprising flexible sheeting means covering the space defined by the annular structure and being sealed thereto so as to separate said space from the atmosphere above, and means for forming a vehicle-supporting cushion of pressurized gas within said space.

Claim 22

A vehicle according to claim 19 wherein said means for forming a vehicle-supporting cushion of pressurized gas within said space comprises means for forming said cushion independently of vehicle travel.

Claim 23

A gas-cushion vehicle for operation over water and comprising a pair of hollow laterally-spaced body structures of buoyant construction and adapted to carry payload inside of said body structures, doorway means for providing access to the interiors of said body structures, structural means extending laterally between said body structures so as to interconnect said body structures, a membraneous barrier comprising flexible sheeting means covering the space between the body structures and being sealed to said body structures so as to separate said space from the atmosphere thereabove, and means for forming a vehicle-supporting cushion of pressurized gas within a said space, the center of gravity of said vehicle being within said space.

Claim 24

A gas-cushion vehicle for operation over water and comprising a pair of hollow laterally-spaced body structures of buoyant construction and adapted to carry payload inside of said body structures, doorway means for providing access to the interiors of said body structures, structural means extending laterally between said body structures so as to interconnect said body structures, a membraneous barrier comprising flexible sheeting means covering the space between the body structures and being sealed to said body structures so as to separate said space from the atmosphere thereabove, and means for forming a vehicle-supporting cushion of pressurized gas within a said space, the center of gravity of said vehicle being within said space.

Claim 25

A veHicle according to claim 21 wherein said means for forming a vehicle-supporting cushion of pressurized gas within said space comprises means for forming said cushion independently of vehicle travel.

Claim 26

In a gas-cushion vehicle, the combination of a pair of laterally spaced hollow body side structures adapted to contain payload, said structures having opening means providing access to the insides of said structures for enabling loading and unloading of payload therein; means rigidly interconnecting said body side structures; cushion containing transverse skirt means at the stern and bow ends of said body structures, said body side structures and said skirt means peripherally bounding a gas cushion cavity; sheeting means sealed to said body structures so as to form a membraneous barrier between said cavity and the atmosphere above and to contain a gas cushion within said cavity; and means for generating a gas pressure within said cavity independently of vehicle travel so as to provide a vehicle supporting cushion.

Claim 27

In a gas-cushion vehicle, the combination of a pair of laterally spaced hollow body side structures adapted to contain payload, said structures having opening means providing access to the insides of said structures for enabling loading and unloading of payload therein; means rigidly interconnecting said body side structures; cushion containing transverse skirt means at the stern and bow ends of said body structures, said body side structures and said skirt means peripherally bounding a gas cushion cavity; sheeting means sealed to said body structures so as to form a membraneous barrier between said cavity and the atmosphere above and to contain a gas cushion within said cavity; and means for generating a gas pressure within said cavity independently of vehicle travel so as to provide a vehicle supporting cushion.