US3870121A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air cushion vehicle
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-12-04
•
Granted: 1975-03-11
•
Expires: 1992-12-04
Abstract
Abstract An air cushion vehicle has a single power source driving two fans, one mounted in each side of the vehicle. One of the fans drives air beneath the vehicle for lift; and the other fan drives air rearwardly from the vehicle for thrust. A controllable baffle plate is mounted in the thrust flow, to divert some or nearly all of the flow forwardly through a duct having a forward facing exit. The forward speed of the vehicle is thus controlled, and the vehicle may have zero or negative forward speed if a sufficient flow of thrust air is diverted forwardly. At least a bleed of thrust air flows rearwardly at all times, past steering vanes, to allow steering control at all vehicle speeds. The fans operate at substantially a constant speed, providing substantially constant air flow.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph W Schneider
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:09
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60V; B60V1/00; B60V1/04; B60V1/043
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
In an air cushion vehicle: a rigid frame; a power source driving first and second axial flow fans at a constant r.p.m. to deliver a substantially constant flow of air from the two fans during operation of the vehicle; first duct means communicating with said first fan so as to direct a first flow of air therefrom to beneath said rigid frame; second duct means communicating with said second fan so as to direct a second flow of air rearwardly therefrom to a thrust control means; said thrust control means including: at least one steering control vane; forward and reverse thrust ducts in communication with each other, and a controllable valve means supported by said rigid frame and positioned downstream of said second duct means and relative to said second flow of air so as to control both the degree of communication between said forward and reverse thrust ducts and the amount of said second flow of air being directed to each of said forward and reverse thrust ducts; and means for permitting a portion of said second flow of air to pass continuously over said at least one steering control vane; said forward thrust duct comprising a third duct means having said at least one steering control vane mounted therein, and a fourth duct means being located proximate to said third duct means and in communication, under the control of said controllable valve means, with said reverse thrust duct and said second duct means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
245 words
In an air cushion vehicle: a rigid frame; a power source driving first and second axial flow fans at a constant r.p.m. to deliver a substantially constant flow of air from the two fans during operation of the vehicle; first duct means communicating with said first fan so as to direct a first flow of air therefrom to beneath said rigid frame; second duct means communicating with said second fan so as to direct a second flow of air rearwardly therefrom to a thrust control means; said thrust control means including: at least one steering control vane; forward and reverse thrust ducts in communication with each other, and a controllable valve means supported by said rigid frame and positioned downstream of said second duct means and relative to said second flow of air so as to control both the degree of communication between said forward and reverse thrust ducts and the amount of said second flow of air being directed to each of said forward and reverse thrust ducts; and means for permitting a portion of said second flow of air to pass continuously over said at least one steering control vane; said forward thrust duct comprising a third duct means having said at least one steering control vane mounted therein, and a fourth duct means being located proximate to said third duct means and in communication, under the control of said controllable valve means, with said reverse thrust duct and said second duct means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
245 words
In an air cushion vehicle: a rigid frame; a power source driving first and second axial flow fans at a constant r.p.m. to deliver a substantially constant flow of air from the two fans during operation of the vehicle; first duct means communicating with said first fan so as to direct a first flow of air therefrom to beneath said rigid frame; second duct means communicating with said second fan so as to direct a second flow of air rearwardly therefrom to a thrust control means; said thrust control means including: at least one steering control vane; forward and reverse thrust ducts in communication with each other, and a controllable valve means supported by said rigid frame and positioned downstream of said second duct means and relative to said second flow of air so as to control both the degree of communication between said forward and reverse thrust ducts and the amount of said second flow of air being directed to each of said forward and reverse thrust ducts; and means for permitting a portion of said second flow of air to pass continuously over said at least one steering control vane; said forward thrust duct comprising a third duct means having said at least one steering control vane mounted therein, and a fourth duct means being located proximate to said third duct means and in communication, under the control of said controllable valve means, with said reverse thrust duct and said second duct means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
245 words
In an air cushion vehicle: a rigid frame; a power source driving first and second axial flow fans at a constant r.p.m. to deliver a substantially constant flow of air from the two fans during operation of the vehicle; first duct means communicating with said first fan so as to direct a first flow of air therefrom to beneath said rigid frame; second duct means communicating with said second fan so as to direct a second flow of air rearwardly therefrom to a thrust control means; said thrust control means including: at least one steering control vane; forward and reverse thrust ducts in communication with each other, and a controllable valve means supported by said rigid frame and positioned downstream of said second duct means and relative to said second flow of air so as to control both the degree of communication between said forward and reverse thrust ducts and the amount of said second flow of air being directed to each of said forward and reverse thrust ducts; and means for permitting a portion of said second flow of air to pass continuously over said at least one steering control vane; said forward thrust duct comprising a third duct means having said at least one steering control vane mounted therein, and a fourth duct means being located proximate to said third duct means and in communication, under the control of said controllable valve means, with said reverse thrust duct and said second duct means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
97 words
The air cushion vehicle of claim 1, wherein said controllable valve means is a movable baffleplate mounted in a space common to and at the junction of said second duct means, said reverse thrust duct, and said third and fourth duct means; said baffleplate being movable to any position between and including a first extreme position where at least a major portion of said second flow of air is directed to said third duct means, and a second extreme position where a major portion of said second flow of air is directed to said reverse thrust duct.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The air cushion vehicle of claim 2 where said baffleplate is mounted so that in said first extreme position there is communication between said reverse thrust duct and said fourth duct means; and in said second extreme position there is substantially no communication between said reverse thrust duct and said fourth duct means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The air cushion vehicle of claim 3 where a plurality of steering control vanes is mounted in said third duct means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
130 words
The air cushion vehicle of claim 2 where said fourth duct means is a rearward extension of said reverse thrust duct means; said baffleplate being mounted so that movement of said baffleplate to said second extreme position precludes communication between said reverse thrust duct and said fourth duct and directs the major portion of said second flow of air from said second duct means to said reverse duct, while allowing a minor bleed portion of said second flow of air to flow to said third duct means; and movement of said baffleplate to said first extreme position directs the major portion of said second flow of air from said second duct means to said third duct means, while permitting communication between said reverse thrust duct and said fourth duct means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
The air cushion vehicle of claim 1 where said first duct means directs said first flow of air through a substantially 90* turn to beneath said rigid frame from a first fan port on one side of said vehicle wherein said first axial flow fan is mounted; and said second duct means directs said second flow of air through a substantially 90* turn to said thrust control means from a second fan port on the other side of said vehicle wherein said second axial flow fan is mounted.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-10 | 1978-09-09 | 1979-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-10 | 1982-09-09 | 1983-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-10 | 1986-09-09 | 1987-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |