US3611980A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Amphibious boat with vertical air shutter
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-09-18
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Granted: 1971-10-12
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Expires: 1989-09-18
Abstract
Abstract An amphibious air cushion boat including rearwardly opening opposite side compressed air outlets each having a centrally located vertical air rudder operatively associated therewith for steerage of the boat. Each of the outlets is provided with a pair of movable and controlled air shutters upstream from the associated air rudder and operable to throttle the discharge of air from the outlet in a manner such that the rudder is maintained centered in the air discharge from the outlet throughout the full range of movement of the air shutters from the full open positions thereof to substantially fully closed positions thereof and the air being discharged from the outlet, when partially throttled, is directed on opposite side surfaces of the rudder whereby the rudder will be maintained effective to steer the boat even when the air discharge from the outlets is throttled to less than 10 percent of the airflow when the air shutters are in the fully opened positions.
Inventors
- 👤 John Van Veldhuizen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:17
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60V; B60V1/00; B60V1/14; B60V1/15; B60V1/11; B60V1/115; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T70/00; Y02T70/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
In combination with a vehicle including a compressed air outlet having transversely centrally located upstanding air rudder means oscillatable about an upstanding axis operatively associated therewith and disposed, at least partially, outwardly of said outlet for steerage of the vehicle, said outlet also having movable air shutter means operatively associated therewith upstream from the associated air rudder means and shiftable between open and closed positions for throttling the discharge of air from the outlet, said air shutter means, when in any partially closed positions, including means operative to maintain the transverse center of the flow of air there past at least substantially aligned with the upstanding axis of oscillation of said air rudder means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
In combination with a vehicle including a compressed air outlet having transversely centrally located upstanding air rudder means oscillatable about an upstanding axis operatively associated therewith and disposed, at least partially, outwardly of said outlet for steerage of the vehicle, said outlet also having movable air shutter means operatively associated therewith upstream from the associated air rudder means and shiftable between open and closed positions for throttling the discharge of air from the outlet, said air shutter means, when in any partially closed positions, including means operative to maintain the transverse center of the flow of air there past at least substantially aligned with the upstanding axis of oscillation of said air rudder means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said vehicle includes a pair of said outlets on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of said vehicle and the second outlet has air rudder means and air shutter means corresponding to the first mentioned rudder and shutter means operatively associated therewith.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said outlet opens rearwardly of said vehicle whereby the air discharged therefrom may also serve to propel the vehicle forwardly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said vehicle comprises an air cushion vehicle including air cushion forming means operable to form and maintain a supporting air cushion beneath said vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
134 words
In combination with a structure including a compressed air outlet defining a longitudinal centerline, flap means centrally disposed relative to the centerline of said outlet and supported for oscillation about an axis disposed generally normal to said centerline and with said flap means disposed at least partially downstream from said outlet, said outlet also having a plurality of movable air shutters operatively associated therewith upstream from the associated flap means for throttling the discharge of air from said outlet past said flap means, said shutters being swingable in both directions from center positions disposed in planes generally paralleling said centerline, said shutters, when partially closed, including means operative to maintain the transverse center of the flow of air there past at least substantially aligned with the axis of oscillation of said air flap means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
134 words
In combination with a structure including a compressed air outlet defining a longitudinal centerline, flap means centrally disposed relative to the centerline of said outlet and supported for oscillation about an axis disposed generally normal to said centerline and with said flap means disposed at least partially downstream from said outlet, said outlet also having a plurality of movable air shutters operatively associated therewith upstream from the associated flap means for throttling the discharge of air from said outlet past said flap means, said shutters being swingable in both directions from center positions disposed in planes generally paralleling said centerline, said shutters, when partially closed, including means operative to maintain the transverse center of the flow of air there past at least substantially aligned with the axis of oscillation of said air flap means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said shutters comprise a pair of panel portions mounted for oscillation about axes generally paralleling the axis of oscillation of said rudder means and disposed on opposite sides of the centerline of said outlet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination of claim 6 including control means operatively connected to said pair of panel portions for equally and oppositely oscillating said panel portions about their axes of oscillation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said shutter means comprise a pair of panel portions mounted for oscillation about axes generally paralleling the axis of oscillation of said rudder means and disposed on opposite sides of the centerline of said outlet, the axes of oscillation of said panel portions being spaced closely adjacent the corresponding opposite side portions of said outlet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said shutter means comprise a pair of panel portions mounted for oscillation about axes generally paralleling the axis of oscillation of said rudder means and disposed on opposite sides of the centerline of said outlet, the axes of oscillation of said panel portions each being spaced inwardly of the corresponding opposite side portions of said outlet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said shutter means comprise a pair of panel portions mounted for oscillation about axes generally paralleling the axis of oscillation of said rudder means and disposed on opposite sides of the centerline of said outlet, the axes of oscillation of said panel portions coinciding with each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said shutter means comprise a pair of panel portions mounted for oscillation about axes generally paralleling the axis of oscillation of said rudder means and disposed on opposite sides of the centerline of said outlet, said panel portions each comprising partial cylindrical panel members whose axes of curvature generally coincide with said axes of oscillation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
100 words
In combination, a vehicle including opposite side rearwardly opening compressed air outlets having corresponding transversely centrally located vertical air rudder means oscillatable about vertical axes operatively associated therewith for steerage of the vehicle, said outlets also having movable air shutter means operatively associated therewith upstream from the associated air rudder means and shiftable between open and closed positions for throttling the discharge of air from said outlets, said air shutter means, when partially closed, Including means operative to maintain the transverse center of airflow therepast at least substantially transversely centered relative to the axes of oscillation of said rudder means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
100 words
In combination, a vehicle including opposite side rearwardly opening compressed air outlets having corresponding transversely centrally located vertical air rudder means oscillatable about vertical axes operatively associated therewith for steerage of the vehicle, said outlets also having movable air shutter means operatively associated therewith upstream from the associated air rudder means and shiftable between open and closed positions for throttling the discharge of air from said outlets, said air shutter means, when partially closed, Including means operative to maintain the transverse center of airflow therepast at least substantially transversely centered relative to the axes of oscillation of said rudder 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) | 1974-10-11 | 1975-04-12 | 1975-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-11 | 1979-04-12 | 1979-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-11 | 1983-04-12 | 1983-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |