Patent US3747726A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3747726A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ground effect vehicle
Assignee: Hybricraft Inc
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Filing: 1971-12-10
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Granted: 1973-07-24
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Expires: 1991-12-10
Abstract
Abstract A ground effect vehicle including inner and peripheral annular nozzles for directing jet streams downwardly and inwardly and beneath an annular downwardly facing lifting surface which is surrounded by an arcuate annular restoring surface that angles upwardly and outwardly therefrom. The peripheral nozzle includes a skirt cooperating with the restoring surface to normally direct the peripheral jet stream downwardly and inwardly along the restoring surface to separate therefrom at a normal separation point to continue downwardly and turn outwardly to cooperate with the inner jet stream to form a generally uniform plenum chamber for supporting the vehicle. The skirt means cooperates with the restoring surface to be responsive to one side of the vehicle being brought into closer proximity with the ground then the opposite side to cause the separation point of the peripheral jet to shift upwardly and outwardly on the restoring surface of the one side of the vehicle to thereby increase the area of the annular plenum chamber on the one side to thereby tend to raise such one side higher off the ground thus maintaining such vehicle in a generally horizontal attitude.
Inventors
- 👤 W Walter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:38
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60V; B60V1/00; B60V1/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
A ground effect vehicle comprising: a body formed with a downwardly facing lifting surface and a peripheral restoring surface extending around said lifting surface and angling upwardly and outwardly with respect thereto; central jet means having a central nozzle opening within said lifting surface to direct a central jet stream downwardly relative to the interior of said lifting surface; coanda nozzle means including peripheral skirt means surrounding said restoring surface and terminating in a lower edge spaced above the lower extremity of said angled restoring surface, said skirt means being spaced from said restoring surface a distance substantially no greater than the critical distance for a predeterMined rate of flow of a selected propulsion fluid through said coanda nozzle means to normally direct a peripheral jet stream downwardly and inwardly relative to said body to encounter an interior pressure sufficient to cause it to bend outwardly thus causing it to separate from said restoring surface at normal separation points thereby forming an outer curtain cooperating with said central jet stream to form therebetween a peripheral plenum chamber below said lifting surface; and drive means directing a central jet flow of said propulsion fluid to said central jet means and said predetermined rate of flow of said propulsion fluid to said coanda nozzle means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
A ground effect vehicle comprising: a body formed with a downwardly facing lifting surface and a peripheral restoring surface extending around said lifting surface and angling upwardly and outwardly with respect thereto; central jet means having a central nozzle opening within said lifting surface to direct a central jet stream downwardly relative to the interior of said lifting surface; coanda nozzle means including peripheral skirt means surrounding said restoring surface and terminating in a lower edge spaced above the lower extremity of said angled restoring surface, said skirt means being spaced from said restoring surface a distance substantially no greater than the critical distance for a predeterMined rate of flow of a selected propulsion fluid through said coanda nozzle means to normally direct a peripheral jet stream downwardly and inwardly relative to said body to encounter an interior pressure sufficient to cause it to bend outwardly thus causing it to separate from said restoring surface at normal separation points thereby forming an outer curtain cooperating with said central jet stream to form therebetween a peripheral plenum chamber below said lifting surface; and drive means directing a central jet flow of said propulsion fluid to said central jet means and said predetermined rate of flow of said propulsion fluid to said coanda nozzle means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A ground effect vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said restoring surface and central nozzle are annular in horizontal cross section and said central nozzle has a diameter of substantially 70.7 percent of the maximum diameter of said restoring surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A ground effect vehicle as set forth in claim 1 that includes: an airfoil surrounding said peripheral nozzle and formed to direct ambient air into the jet stream emitting therefrom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A ground effect vehicle as set forth in claim 1 that includes: means for controlling the direction at which said jet stream is emitted from one of said nozzles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
A ground effect vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said body includes a central core and a skin covering the upper side of said core and formed centrally with a jet inlet, said skin being turned downwardly at the outer periphery of said core extremity terminating in its lower end at said edge, said skin cooperating with said core to define a jet passage leading from said peripheral inlet to said nozzle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A ground effect vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said central jet nozzle is directed inwardly toward the center of said central lifting surface to emit said jet stream directed substantially horizontally inwardly toward the center of said body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A ground effect vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said body includes a downwardly and inwardly curved partition which projects inwardly to form said lifting surface; and said skirt means is disposed in close spaced relationship with said partition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A ground effect vehicle as set forth in claim 1 that includes: vortex vanes disposed in one of said jet nozzles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
A ground effect vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said drive means includes a horizontally disposed impeller for rotation in one direction and said vehicle includes: vanes disposed in one of said jet nozzles and angled to cooperate with said propulsive fluid to impart momentum to said vehicle in the rotary direction opposite said one direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A ground effect vehicle as set forth in claim 1 that includes: vanes disposed in said central jet nozzle to impart a spiral flow pattern to said central jet stream to enhance the stability of said vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A ground effect vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said restoring surface is curved upwardly and outwardly relative to said lifting surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A ground effect vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said lifting surface, restoring surface, central nozzle and peripheral nozzle are circular in plan view.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
A ground effect vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said central nozzle includes a parametrically continuous outlet for emitting a parametrically continuous stream of said fluid to form a downwardly flowing parametrically continuous central curtain of said fluid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-23 | 1977-01-22 | 1977-07-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-23 | 1981-01-22 | 1981-07-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-23 | 1985-01-22 | 1985-07-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |