Patent US3841433A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3841433A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas-cushion vehicles
Assignee: Vosper Ltd
•
Filing: 1972-02-23
•
Granted: 1974-10-15
•
Expires: 1992-02-23
Abstract
Abstract A gas-cushion vehicle has a gas-cushion supply duct in its hull through which a lift fan supplies gas under pressure to the vehicle''s gas-cushion. The duct contains a valve formed from segments of flexible material which allow gas to flow from the lift fan to the gas-cushion but automatically invert to obstruct reverse flow of gas from the gas-cushion through an inoperative lift fan.
Inventors
- 👤 R Dyke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:31
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60V; B60V1/00; B60V1/04; B60V1/043; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7837; Y10T137/7879; Y10T137/788
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A vehicle supported by a cushion of pressurized gas comprising a hull, gas supply means for supplying gas under pressure to said cushion, a duct in said hull connecting said gas supply means with said cushion, and check valve means in said duct actuated by reverse gas flow from said cushion into said duct to a close position to at least partially seal said duct against said reverse gas flow upon failure of said gas supply means, said check valve means including at least one triangular valve segment of flexible material pivotally connected at all three corners to the hull, two of said corners being adjacent and substantially aligned to provide a common pivot axis therefor, said segment being movable between a normal valve open position during the time gas under pressure is supplied to said cushion and an inverted closed valve position in response to said reverse gas flow.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A vehicle supported by a cushion of pressurized gas comprising a hull, gas supply means for supplying gas under pressure to said cushion, a duct in said hull connecting said gas supply means with said cushion, and check valve means in said duct actuated by reverse gas flow from said cushion into said duct to a close position to at least partially seal said duct against said reverse gas flow upon failure of said gas supply means, said check valve means including at least one triangular valve segment of flexible material pivotally connected at all three corners to the hull, two of said corners being adjacent and substantially aligned to provide a common pivot axis therefor, said segment being movable between a normal valve open position during the time gas under pressure is supplied to said cushion and an inverted closed valve position in response to said reverse gas flow.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said check valve means comprises two rows of said segments pivotally mounted alongside each other and extending across the duct.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the segments of the respective rows each have one corner pivotally connected to a wall of the duct and said two adjacent corners pivotally connected to a common fixed member within the duct.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2926686A
Cited
US2358143A
Cited
US2630178A
Cited
US2941544A
Cited
US2958487A
Cited
US3181636A
Cited
US3050146A
Cited
US3106260A
Cited
US3425505A
Cited
US3443659A
Cited
US3552519A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |