Air-cushion vehicle with reverse thrust brakes

Claim 1

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.