US3612208A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air-cushion vehicle with reverse thrust brakes
Assignee: COGSWELL ARNOLD
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Filing: 1970-04-20
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Granted: 1971-10-12
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Expires: 1990-04-20
Abstract
Abstract A single propeller mounted toward the front of the vehicle provides both propulsion and air cushion. Two point steering is provided by front and rear steering vanes with air channels on each side which direct a portion of the downstream flow of air, under the control of the front vanes, to the rear vanes. To reduce forward thrust without reducing engine power, collapsible airbrakes are mounted on the outer walls of the air channels and in their collapsed position form a part thereof. The airbrakes include flexible sheets which in their extended positions, form concave arcuate surfaces extending across respective air channels and outside thereof to intercept downstream flow of air and divert it outwardly of the vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Hugo S Ferguson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:57
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60V; B60V1/00; B60V1/14; B60V1/15; B60V1/04; B60V1/043
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
289 words
An air-cushion which comprises a. a body, b. means for propelling and supporting said body on an air cushion including air propelling means mounted toward the forward end of said body and adapted to produce a downstream flow of air in the rearward direction of the vehicle, c. front steering Means for changing the direction of said downstream flow of air to lateral angles on either side of the vehicle, d. rear steering means positioned toward the rear of the vehicle on each side thereof and adapted to divert downstream flow of air supplied thereto to lateral angles on either side of the vehicle, e. a pair of air channels spaced downstream of said front steering means with the space therebetween opening laterally to the ambient air, f. said air channels being laterally spaced and having respective inner and outer walls extending upwardly and rearwardly of said body for receiving portions of said downstream flow of air under the control of said front steering means and directing the flow of air therethrough to said rear steering means, g. a pair of flexible sheets for providing air brakes, h. mounting means for mounting said flexible sheets for movement between braking and nonbraking positions, i. said flexible sheets in their nonbraking position being in general alignment with respective outer walls of said air channels, j. each flexible sheet in its braking position having a front concave arcuate surface extending at least partially across the respective air channel and laterally outside the air channel to intercept a substantial portion of the downstream flow of air directed toward the air channel and divert it outward of the vehicle, k. and control means for moving said flexible sheets between said nonbraking and braking positions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
289 words
An air-cushion which comprises a. a body, b. means for propelling and supporting said body on an air cushion including air propelling means mounted toward the forward end of said body and adapted to produce a downstream flow of air in the rearward direction of the vehicle, c. front steering Means for changing the direction of said downstream flow of air to lateral angles on either side of the vehicle, d. rear steering means positioned toward the rear of the vehicle on each side thereof and adapted to divert downstream flow of air supplied thereto to lateral angles on either side of the vehicle, e. a pair of air channels spaced downstream of said front steering means with the space therebetween opening laterally to the ambient air, f. said air channels being laterally spaced and having respective inner and outer walls extending upwardly and rearwardly of said body for receiving portions of said downstream flow of air under the control of said front steering means and directing the flow of air therethrough to said rear steering means, g. a pair of flexible sheets for providing air brakes, h. mounting means for mounting said flexible sheets for movement between braking and nonbraking positions, i. said flexible sheets in their nonbraking position being in general alignment with respective outer walls of said air channels, j. each flexible sheet in its braking position having a front concave arcuate surface extending at least partially across the respective air channel and laterally outside the air channel to intercept a substantial portion of the downstream flow of air directed toward the air channel and divert it outward of the vehicle, k. and control means for moving said flexible sheets between said nonbraking and braking positions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
An air-cushion vehicle in accordance with claim 1 in which said flexible sheets are mounted on respective outer wall sections of the air channels and extend at least partially across the front of the respective air channel in the braking position thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
An air-cushion vehicle in accordance with claim 1 in which said pair of flexible sheets are of pliable material, and in which said mounting means includes a pair of stiff flexible sheets for each of said pliable flexible sheets, each pair of stiff flexible sheets being fixedly mounted in close proximity toward the rear thereof and the respective pliable flexible sheet being attached adjacent the front edges thereof whereby air pressure forms said concave arcuate surface of the pliable sheet upon separation of said front edges and folds the pliable sheet between the stiff sheets upon bringing together said front edges, said control means being adapted to control the separation and bringing together of said front edges.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
An air-cushion vehicle in accordance with claim 3 in which said pair of stiff flexible sheets are fixedly mounted on the outer wall of the corresponding air channel and extend forwardly beyond the front thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
An air-cushion vehicle in accordance with claim 4 in which said stiff flexible sheets are of springy material, the stiff flexible sheets of each pair being formed and mounted to bias the front edges thereof toward their separated position, said control means being adapted to draw said front edges together and allow separation thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
136 words
An air-cushion vehicle in accordance with claim 1 in which said pair of flexible sheets are first sheets of stiff flexible material, and said mounting means includes a pair of second sheets of stiff flexible material, each second sheet being fixedly mounted toward the rear thereof and the front end thereof being fixedly attached to the respective first sheet intermediate the ends thereof, respective first and second sheets extending in general alignment with the outer wall of the respective air channel in the nonbraking position thereof with the rear portion of the first sheet overlapping the second sheet, said control means including means attached to said rear portion of the first sheet near the free end thereof for drawing said rear portion forwardly and outwardly to bend said first sheet to form said concave arcuate surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
An air-cushion vehicle in accordance with claim 6 in which each second sheet is rigidly attached to the outer wall of the respective aiR channel and extends forwardly thereof.
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 |