GB1220082A - Air cushion vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

1,220,082. Air cushion vehicles. M. F. JOYCE. 11 March, 1968 [11 March, 1967], No. 11496/67. Heading B7K. An air-cushion vehicle is propelled by fluid discharged from the cushion space or from nozzles associated with it, such fluid being determined to be in excess of that necessary for the formation of the cushion. A fan b delivers air to the cushion space and also to the interior of a peripheral bag skirt c formed in its base with a plurality of nozzles h. The outer wall of the skirt is secured to the body and the inner wall is attached by tie cords to a control member i, movement of which will cause the nozzles to be deflected simultaneously to achieve a propulsive effect on the craft. In other embodiments the inner wall of the skirt may be connected to a pivoted beam which may be controlled to effect deflection of the nozzles h. In other embodiments (Figs. 9 and 10, not shown), there may be directable nozzles ejecting into the cushion chamber and in a further embodiment, Fig. 11 (not shown) a device which senses cushion pressure is used to operate valves to direct air from the cushion to nozzles mounted on the exterior of the body. In a still further embodiment, a craft has a bag skirt and propulsion is achieved by the pilot adjusting his position so as to tilt the vehicle and thereby spill cushion air in a selected direction.