US3595336A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High energy air cushion vehicle skid brake
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-09-19
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Granted: 1971-07-27
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Expires: 1989-09-19
Abstract
Abstract A high energy air cushion skid brake for decelerating gas cushion vehicle utilizing an air trunk (bag) design comprising means for rigidizing the air trunk structure to provide high contact skid pressure and including an expansible bellows mounted on the bottom side of the air trunk structure with friction skid brake members carried on the lower side of the bellows for ground contact with means for inflating and expanding the bellows for surface contact and including an air pervious heat shield fixed between the bellows and the skid brake member which dissipates the skid brake friction heat away from the rigidized air trunk structure when the skid brake member contacts with the ground.
Inventors
- 👤 David J Perez
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:00
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60V; B60V3/00; B60V3/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
In an air cushion outlining trunk system comprising the undercarriage component of a vehicle, adapted to be levitated in friction free relation above a reaction surface, said trunk system comprising an air inflatable balloonlike wall structure of flexible fabric having air jet openings therethrough in the bottom areas of said trunk system, the improvement comprising a plurality of downwardly extensible inflatable bellows members, skid brake elements carried by said bellows below the same for surface friction skid braking contact with a landing surface, an inflatable flexible liner within said balloonlike wall structure covering the area above said skid brake elements for rigidizing said balloonlike wall structure above said bellows and said skid brake elements, pervious heat insulating and dissipating shield members interposed between said skid brake elements and said bellows members, means for inflating said bellows members to lower said skid brake elements into spaced braking relation below the bottom of said balloonlike wall structure, and means for inflating said rigidizing liner to rigidize the area of said balloonlike wall structure which is located above said bellows members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
In an air cushion outlining trunk system comprising the undercarriage component of a vehicle, adapted to be levitated in friction free relation above a reaction surface, said trunk system comprising an air inflatable balloonlike wall structure of flexible fabric having air jet openings therethrough in the bottom areas of said trunk system, the improvement comprising a plurality of downwardly extensible inflatable bellows members, skid brake elements carried by said bellows below the same for surface friction skid braking contact with a landing surface, an inflatable flexible liner within said balloonlike wall structure covering the area above said skid brake elements for rigidizing said balloonlike wall structure above said bellows and said skid brake elements, pervious heat insulating and dissipating shield members interposed between said skid brake elements and said bellows members, means for inflating said bellows members to lower said skid brake elements into spaced braking relation below the bottom of said balloonlike wall structure, and means for inflating said rigidizing liner to rigidize the area of said balloonlike wall structure which is located above said bellows members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
153 words
A surface-effect vehicle comprising a structure movable along a supporting surface in spaced relation thereto, an inflatable baglike flexible supporting structure for said vehicle having a front and a rear end and plurality of air jet openings therethrough in the bottom thereof opening downwardly toward said supporting surface, air pressure supply means for supplying air under pressure into said inflatable baglike flexible structure for downward discharge through said jet openings, a rigidizing flexible closed inflatable liner of predetermined length lining a portion of the inside of said inflatable baglike structure, a plurality of inflatable expansible and contRactable bellows members fixed to the exterior of the lower side of said inflatable baglike structure, between the front and rear ends of said rigidifying flexible liner, a heat absorbing shield fixed on the lower side of each of said bellows members, and skid brake blocks secured in contact with the lower surface of said heat shield.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
153 words
A surface-effect vehicle comprising a structure movable along a supporting surface in spaced relation thereto, an inflatable baglike flexible supporting structure for said vehicle having a front and a rear end and plurality of air jet openings therethrough in the bottom thereof opening downwardly toward said supporting surface, air pressure supply means for supplying air under pressure into said inflatable baglike flexible structure for downward discharge through said jet openings, a rigidizing flexible closed inflatable liner of predetermined length lining a portion of the inside of said inflatable baglike structure, a plurality of inflatable expansible and contRactable bellows members fixed to the exterior of the lower side of said inflatable baglike structure, between the front and rear ends of said rigidifying flexible liner, a heat absorbing shield fixed on the lower side of each of said bellows members, and skid brake blocks secured in contact with the lower surface of said heat shield.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, in which a separate air supply conduit selectively supplies air to said bellows members, includes pedal control valve means in said last mentioned air supply conduit for selectively controlling and regulating air supplied to and exhausted from said bellows.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said bellows members are mounted on the bottom of said baglike supporting structure in parallel spaced fore and aft extending rows at opposite sides of said inflatable baglike structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which said heat absorbing layers are air pervious and means are included for supplying air from said air supply means through said heat absorbing liners when said bellows are extended, a friction skid brake block fixed on the lower side of each of said heat absorbing layers, air supply means carried by said vehicle, including valve controlled conduits from said air supply means to said rigidifying liner and to said bellows for inflating and rigidifying said liner, and for expanding said bellows downwardly to move said friction skid brake blocks downwardly away from the bottom of said inflatable baglike supporting structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 including an inclined drag link member pivotally connected at one end to the front end of each of said skid brake blocks and inclining forwardly and upwardly with its opposite end hingedly connected to the bottom of said inflatable baglike structure in forwardly spaced relation to the front end of each of said skid brake blocks.
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 |