US3777842A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Aircar
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-04-06
•
Granted: 1973-12-11
•
Expires: 1992-04-06
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle having an air intake system at the forward end thereof, which directs a portion of the ingested air downwardly to fill a pliable doughnut-shaped skirt extending around the vehicle; the air pressure then allows air to move under the skirt so as to lift the entire vehicle. The remaining portion of the air is directed through the vehicle and out the after end thereof for propulsion and the direction of movement of this air is controlled by a plurality of rudders so that the vehicle may be turned or moved in reverse. The relative volumes of air directed through the vehicle and out from under the vehicle may be adjusted by an angularly movable plate positioned relative to an engine and a propeller.
Inventors
- 👤 H Laufman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:13
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60V; B60V1/00; B60V1/14; B60V1/15; B60V1/04; B60V1/043; B60V1/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
An air-cushion vehicle comprising a platform-like member, a body fixed on said platform-like member and having an air intake opening, at least one air outlet opening at the rear end thereof, and means for directing air from said intake opening to said at least one outlet opening, a fan in said intake opening for drawing air into and through said intake opening, a skirt attached to the underside of said body and having a first peripheral edge attached to said body about the lower, outer periphery of said body and a second peripheral edge, means for supporting said second peripheral skirt edge at a position substantially radially inside of and below the outer periphery of said body, and means in said body for passing a portion of the air drawn through said intake opening into said skirt between said peripheral edges thereof, through said support means, and beneath the lower extremity of said skirt to form a cushion of air of sufficient pressure to lift the vehicle comprising an aperture of predetermined size in said platform-like member and situated to receive air driven by said fan and a movable divider plate mounted on said platform-like member to direct a portion of the air drawn by said fan through said aperture and to direct the remainder of the air drawn by said fan through said air directing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
An air-cushion vehicle comprising a platform-like member, a body fixed on said platform-like member and having an air intake opening, at least one air outlet opening at the rear end thereof, and means for directing air from said intake opening to said at least one outlet opening, a fan in said intake opening for drawing air into and through said intake opening, a skirt attached to the underside of said body and having a first peripheral edge attached to said body about the lower, outer periphery of said body and a second peripheral edge, means for supporting said second peripheral skirt edge at a position substantially radially inside of and below the outer periphery of said body, and means in said body for passing a portion of the air drawn through said intake opening into said skirt between said peripheral edges thereof, through said support means, and beneath the lower extremity of said skirt to form a cushion of air of sufficient pressure to lift the vehicle comprising an aperture of predetermined size in said platform-like member and situated to receive air driven by said fan and a movable divider plate mounted on said platform-like member to direct a portion of the air drawn by said fan through said aperture and to direct the remainder of the air drawn by said fan through said air directing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The vehicle of claim 1 including means for moving said divider plate relative to said platform-like member to control the relative volumes of air directed through said aperture and said air directing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The vehicle of claim 1 including means in said air directing means for turning the air passing therethrough and for closing said at least one outlet opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The vehicle of claim 3 including means on said body for directing the air passing through said air directing means toward the front of the vehicle on the outside thereof when said at least one outlet opening is closed by said air turning means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The vehicle of claim 1 including first rudder means in said air directing means for controlling the direction of travel of the vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The vehicle of claim 5 including second rudder means mounted on said body for controlling the direction of travel of the vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The vehicle of claim 1 including means for controlling the relative volumes of intake air moved through said directing means and said passing means in response to an operator initiated signal to move said divider plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
214 words
An air-cushion vehicle comprising a body having an air intake opening, at least one air outlet opening at the rear end thereof, and means for conducting air from said intake opening to said at least one outlet opening, a fan in said intake opening for drawing air into and through said intake opening, a skirt attached to the underside of said body about the periphery thereof, means for directing a portion of the fan-drawn intake air beneath said body to form an air-cushion thereunder to raise the vehicle from the underlying surface, means for dividing the volume of fan-drawn intake air between said at least one outlet opening and said air-cushion forming means, means for altering the division of the volume of air, rudder means mounted in said means for conducting air to said at least one outlet opening, air scoop means on the sides of said body having an opening therein through which air is drawn into said air conducting means intermediate said intake opening and at least one outlet opening, and means for actuating said rudder means to close said at least one outlet opening and force air, passing through said means for conducting air from said inlet opening to said at least one outlet opening, out through said air scoop means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
214 words
An air-cushion vehicle comprising a body having an air intake opening, at least one air outlet opening at the rear end thereof, and means for conducting air from said intake opening to said at least one outlet opening, a fan in said intake opening for drawing air into and through said intake opening, a skirt attached to the underside of said body about the periphery thereof, means for directing a portion of the fan-drawn intake air beneath said body to form an air-cushion thereunder to raise the vehicle from the underlying surface, means for dividing the volume of fan-drawn intake air between said at least one outlet opening and said air-cushion forming means, means for altering the division of the volume of air, rudder means mounted in said means for conducting air to said at least one outlet opening, air scoop means on the sides of said body having an opening therein through which air is drawn into said air conducting means intermediate said intake opening and at least one outlet opening, and means for actuating said rudder means to close said at least one outlet opening and force air, passing through said means for conducting air from said inlet opening to said at least one outlet opening, out through said air scoop means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The vehicle of claim 8 including an engine for driving said fan and means for pivotally mounting said fan and said engine at a predetermined angle within said intake opening.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2364676A
Cited
US3117645A
Cited
US3291237A
Cited
US3292721A
Cited
US3318404A
Cited
US3259097A
Cited
US3302602A
Cited
US3463263A
Cited
US3468394A
Cited
US3285537A
Cited
US3387685A
Cited
US3332389A
Cited
US3467213A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-10 | 1977-06-11 | 1977-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-10 | 1981-06-11 | 1981-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-10 | 1985-06-11 | 1985-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |