Patent US3595171A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3595171A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Traction unit for an air cushion vehicle
Assignee: Bentley Motors Ltd
•
Filing: 1969-07-29
•
Granted: 1971-07-27
•
Expires: 1989-07-29
Abstract
Abstract The invention concerns a traction unit for an air cushion vehicle which is adapted to be driven over a T-shaped rail or rails, the traction unit comprising at least one driving wheel which is rotatable about an horizontal axis and which is adapted for driving engagement with the underside of the head of a respective rail, a motor for driving the or each driving wheel, and air cushion means which, in operation, maintain the traction unit in a desired position with respect to the rail or rails such that the or each driving wheel is urged upwardly against the respective rail.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis Ernest Sheppard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 08:15
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60V; B60V3/00; B60V3/02; B60V3/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
In combination: a T-shaped rail having a vertically extending web portion with a head portion thereon, said head portion having at least one horizontal downwardly facing surface on its underside adjacent said web portion, and means for protecting said at least one horizontal downwardly facing surface from water and ice collecting on the same; and an air cushion vehicle mounted on said T-shaped rail for movement thereon, said air cushion vehicle having a traction unit comprising a bogie, at least one driving wheel carried by said bogie and rotatable about a horizontal axis, said driving wheel having driving engagement with said downwardly facing surface on said head portion, a motor for driving said driving wheel, and air cushion means which, in operation, maintain said traction unit in a desired position with respect to said T-shaped rail such that the driving wheel is urged upwardly against the downwardly facing surface of said head portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
In combination: a T-shaped rail having a vertically extending web portion with a head portion thereon, said head portion having at least one horizontal downwardly facing surface on its underside adjacent said web portion, and means for protecting said at least one horizontal downwardly facing surface from water and ice collecting on the same; and an air cushion vehicle mounted on said T-shaped rail for movement thereon, said air cushion vehicle having a traction unit comprising a bogie, at least one driving wheel carried by said bogie and rotatable about a horizontal axis, said driving wheel having driving engagement with said downwardly facing surface on said head portion, a motor for driving said driving wheel, and air cushion means which, in operation, maintain said traction unit in a desired position with respect to said T-shaped rail such that the driving wheel is urged upwardly against the downwardly facing surface of said head portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1, in which said protection means includes a short downwardly extending flange along an edge of said head portion and spaced from said web by said downwardly facing surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination as claimed in claim 2, in which said driving wheel is provided with a pneumatic tire which, in operation, is urged upwardly against the downwardly facing surface of said head with a substantially constant pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
The combination as claimed in claim 3, in which said traction unit is provided with at least one pair of aligned driving wheels disposed on opposite sides of said web of said T-shaped rail and in which said head portion has two horizontal downwardly facing surfaces on its underside and on opposite sides of said web, said pair of driving wheels respectively engaging said two downwardly facing surfaces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination as claimed in claim 4, in which said air cushion vehicle includes a gas turbine engine, said gas turbine engine supplying compressed air directly to said air cushion means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-26 | 1975-01-25 | 1975-07-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-26 | 1979-01-25 | 1979-07-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-26 | 1983-01-25 | 1983-07-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |