Abstract An air cushion vehicle including a rigid body extended along a longitudinal axis thereof, and means for producing an air cushion thereunder; at least two wheels equipped with inflatable tires, said wheels depending downwardly from the rigid body and each wheel being on an opposite side of and laterally spaced from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; and said wheels being located in the central third portion longitudinally of the vehicle. Means are provided for causing said wheels to selectively engage the surface underneath the vehicle (whether it be solid, semi-solid, or fluid) and means for driving the wheels independently in the same direction or in opposite directions, and at the same speed or at different speeds. Also, means are provided for selectively braking said wheels, whereby to assist in propulsion of the vehicle on inclined surfaces, and in the steering of the vehicle during maneuverings over ground or water surfaces.
In an air cushion vehicle comprising a body having a longitudinal axis and including means for providing a supporting air cushion under the body including a perimetrically located air cushion space defining means, means for supplying pressurized air to said cushion space, and control means for controlling the supply of pressurized air to vary the vehicle height above the ground surface; a pair of wheels located at opposite sides of said longitudinal axis within the confines of said air cushion space defining means and located within the central third longitudinal portion of the vehicle, each said wheel including a hub rotatably mounted on said vehicle and a tire mounted upon said hub, each tire being variably expandable into terrain contact condition and contractable upon said hub to avoid terrain contact, means for selectively expanding and contracting said tires including a pressurized air supply and an atmospheric vent and a control valve selectively connecting said tires to said air supply and said vent, and an individual drive means for each wheel and including selective drive and braking controls for each wheel individually to control operation of said wheels for aiding in maneuvering said vehicle when said tires are in terrain contact condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
In an air cushion vehicle comprising a body having a longitudinal axis and including means for providing a supporting air cushion under the body including a perimetrically located air cushion space defining means, means for supplying pressurized air to said cushion space, and control means for controlling the supply of pressurized air to vary the vehicle height above the ground surface; a pair of wheels located at opposite sides of said longitudinal axis within the confines of said air cushion space defining means and located within the central third longitudinal portion of the vehicle, each said wheel including a hub rotatably mounted on said vehicle and a tire mounted upon said hub, each tire being variably expandable into terrain contact condition and contractable upon said hub to avoid terrain contact, means for selectively expanding and contracting said tires including a pressurized air supply and an atmospheric vent and a control valve selectively connecting said tires to said air supply and said vent, and an individual drive means for each wheel and including selective drive and braking controls for each wheel individually to control operation of said wheels for aiding in maneuvering said vehicle when said tires are in terrain contact condition.