US3574300A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Crash-resistant, water-traversing, fluidfoil vehicle
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-03-03
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Granted: 1971-04-13
•
Expires: 1989-03-03
Abstract
Abstract A wreck-resistant, lightweight vehicle, adapted to traverse water and optionally to travel also in air or space, comprising: a barrel-curved, preferably rigid-walled cabin; resilient fluiddynamic foils or wings above and spaced from the cabin; fluiddynamic foils below and spaced from the cabin (serving in travel thru water as hydrofoils that lift the cabin clear of the water''s surface); resilient fluidfoil supports, strongly connecting the ends of each pair of the upper and lower fluidfoils, fitted and bonded to the vertical curves of the cabin sidewalls; and, optionally and preferably, vehicle-stabilizing balloon means, comprising a series of balloon bags in a streamlined skin, fitted between and bonded to the top of the cabin and each upper fluidfoil. The invention includes lightweight, strong, cabinwall, endless ribs, comprising curved, thin-walled tubes that are strongly inflated with gaseous material and surrounded by integral, strong insulation which comprises substantially rigid foamed plastic, or very lightweight concrete, or similar material. The ribs are epoxy bonded together in a fore-and-aft series, and sheathed in a waterproofed skin.
Inventors
- 👤 Alvin Edward Moore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:25
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B43/00; B63B43/18; B63B5/00; B63B5/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
288 words
A vehicle, adapted to transverse water, comprising: a cabin, having: a longitudinal, fore-and-aft axis; top and bottom walls; and sidewalls, having vertically curved outer surfaces which form in intersection with cross-sectional planes normal to said axis vertical, arcuate, outwardly convex curves; strongly resilient fluidfoil means, below and spaced from the bottom of the said cabin, functioning as a hydrofoil when traveling in water, comprising at least one fluidfoil, with spaced ends that are below spaced side portions of the cabin, having: a plurality of fore-and-aft-arranged fluidfoil tubes that are annular in cross section and have different diameters, with at least one tube of a smaller diameter being positioned aft of a tube of larger diameter; gaseous material in the interiors of said tubes; foamed plastic, surrounding the tubes; and a waterproof, fluid-dynamically shaped fluidfoil skin, tautly positioned around said foamed plastic and tubes; and resilient fluidfoil-support means, comprising support structures on the sides of the cabin; each of said structures having an upper end located generally above one of said fluidfoil ends, and comprising: support tubes, each of which has substantially the same diameter as a matching tube of the fluidfoil tubes and is fixed to said matching tube; gaseous material in the interiors of said support tubes; foamed plastic surrounding the support tubes; and a waterproof support skin, shaped to reduce drag from the relative flow of fluid in travel, tautly positioned around said last-named foamed plastic and tubes; and in which each of the said structures has a portion that is closely adjacent to and is curved to fit against one of said vertically curved outer sidewall surfaces, and comprises means securely and strongly fastening said adjacent portion to said one of the vertically curved surfaces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
288 words
A vehicle, adapted to transverse water, comprising: a cabin, having: a longitudinal, fore-and-aft axis; top and bottom walls; and sidewalls, having vertically curved outer surfaces which form in intersection with cross-sectional planes normal to said axis vertical, arcuate, outwardly convex curves; strongly resilient fluidfoil means, below and spaced from the bottom of the said cabin, functioning as a hydrofoil when traveling in water, comprising at least one fluidfoil, with spaced ends that are below spaced side portions of the cabin, having: a plurality of fore-and-aft-arranged fluidfoil tubes that are annular in cross section and have different diameters, with at least one tube of a smaller diameter being positioned aft of a tube of larger diameter; gaseous material in the interiors of said tubes; foamed plastic, surrounding the tubes; and a waterproof, fluid-dynamically shaped fluidfoil skin, tautly positioned around said foamed plastic and tubes; and resilient fluidfoil-support means, comprising support structures on the sides of the cabin; each of said structures having an upper end located generally above one of said fluidfoil ends, and comprising: support tubes, each of which has substantially the same diameter as a matching tube of the fluidfoil tubes and is fixed to said matching tube; gaseous material in the interiors of said support tubes; foamed plastic surrounding the support tubes; and a waterproof support skin, shaped to reduce drag from the relative flow of fluid in travel, tautly positioned around said last-named foamed plastic and tubes; and in which each of the said structures has a portion that is closely adjacent to and is curved to fit against one of said vertically curved outer sidewall surfaces, and comprises means securely and strongly fastening said adjacent portion to said one of the vertically curved surfaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which the said gaseous material is gas under a pressure well above that of the atmosphere.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 2, in which the material of said tubes comprises fabric and resilient plastic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which the said gaseous material is lighter-than-air gas.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which said vehicle is a boat, and said fluidfoil means below the cabin is a hydrofoil, adapted to lift the cabin above the surface of nonturbulent water in forward, speedy travel of the boat.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
116 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which the upper ends of said structure are located above said cabin, and in which the said vehicle further comprises support-bracing means, having spaced ends that are fixed to said upper ends, bridging over a space above the cabin, and having: support-bracing tubes, each of which has substantially the same diameter as an adjacent tube of the said fluidfoil-support tubes and is fixed to said adjacent tube; gaseous material in the interiors of said support-bracing tubes; foamed plastic, surrounding said support-bracing tubes; and a waterproof envelope, shaped to reduce dRag from the relative flow of fluid in travel, tautly positioned around said last-named foamed plastic and tubes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 6, in which said support-bracing means has fluid-dynamically shaped outer surfaces and exerts lifting force on the cabin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 6, further comprising: in the space between said cabin and support-bracing means, lighter-than-air balloon means for exerting a lift on said cabin and aiding in stabilizing the vehicle against rolling and pitching motions; and means connecting said balloon means to said cabin and to said support-bracing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which said tubes are of thin, resilient metal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which said cabin has barrel-curved outer surfaces and comprises fore-and-aft-arranged, curved, endless ribs and means strongly fastening said ribs together, said ribs comprising: endless tubular members; and integral, strength-providing insulating material around and adding strength to each of said tubular members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
89 words
A vehicular cabin, having curved outer surfaces, and comprising fore-and-aft-arranged, curved, endless ribs and means strongly fastening said ribs together, said ribs comprising: endless tubular members; and integral, strong, insulating material surrounding and adding strength to each of said tubular members wherein said cabin has substantially rigid walls having barrel-curved surfaces, and in which said device further comprises; vehicular fluidfoil means, below and spaced from said cabin, having fluid-dynamic surfaces for exerting lifting force on said cabin; and fluidfoil supporting means strongly connecting said fluidfoil means to said cabin.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
89 words
A vehicular cabin, having curved outer surfaces, and comprising fore-and-aft-arranged, curved, endless ribs and means strongly fastening said ribs together, said ribs comprising: endless tubular members; and integral, strong, insulating material surrounding and adding strength to each of said tubular members wherein said cabin has substantially rigid walls having barrel-curved surfaces, and in which said device further comprises; vehicular fluidfoil means, below and spaced from said cabin, having fluid-dynamic surfaces for exerting lifting force on said cabin; and fluidfoil supporting means strongly connecting said fluidfoil means to said cabin.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as set forth in claim 11, in which said fluidfoil means and fluidfoil-supporting means are stiffly resilient.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
A device as set forth in claim 11, in which said fluidfoil means comprises a looped lift-producing means that encompasses said cabin and comprises resilient upper fluidfoil means, spaced above said cabin; resilient lower fluidfoil means, spaced below said cabin, providing a hydrodynamic lift when traveling in water; and resilient connecting means, joining and supporting said upper and lower fluidfoils.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as set forth in claim 11, in which said fluidfoil means comprises tubular members, pressurized gaseous material in said tubular members, and resilient plastic surrounding the tubular members.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
88 words
A vehicle comprising: a cabin having substantially rigid walls and barrel-curved outer surfaces, comprising: curved ribs; means strongly fastening said ribs together; and integral insulating material surrounding and adding strength to said ribs; and looped lift-producing means that encompasses said cabin and comprises: resilient upper support means, extending above and across said cabin; resilient lower fluidfoil means, spaced below said cabin, providing a hydrodynamic lift when traveling in water; and resilient connecting means, joining and supporting said upper and lower means, and fitted against portions of said surfaces.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
88 words
A vehicle comprising: a cabin having substantially rigid walls and barrel-curved outer surfaces, comprising: curved ribs; means strongly fastening said ribs together; and integral insulating material surrounding and adding strength to said ribs; and looped lift-producing means that encompasses said cabin and comprises: resilient upper support means, extending above and across said cabin; resilient lower fluidfoil means, spaced below said cabin, providing a hydrodynamic lift when traveling in water; and resilient connecting means, joining and supporting said upper and lower means, and fitted against portions of said surfaces.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3431878A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-12 | 1974-10-12 | 1975-04-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-12 | 1978-10-12 | 1979-04-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-12 | 1982-10-12 | 1983-04-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |