Ground-effect machines having improved guiding and propelling means

Claim 1

A wheeled ground effect machine comprising a rigid structure movable along a bearing surface in spaced relationship therewith with the interposition of a pressure fluid cushion system comprising a fluid cushion retaining means secured to the underside of said structure and open to said surface for permitting the fluid cushion system retained thereby to react against said surface for supporting, in part, said structure above said surface, and of a wheel system engaging said surface externally of said cushion means, said systems being in mutual load sharing relation with respect to said machine and bearing respective fractions of the load thereof against said surface, wherein the improvement comprises wheel carrier means supporting said wheel system and movably connected to said structure for adjustability of the wheel system position relatively to said structure, and controllably jack operated strut means extending between said structure and said wheel carrier means for adjusting the engagement of said wheel system with said surface whereby said load fractions borne respectively by said wheel system and by said cushion system are oppositely varied through operation of said controllable jack means.