US3403652A - Hovership - Google Patents

Hovership Download PDF

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Publication number
US3403652A
US3403652A US577732A US57773266A US3403652A US 3403652 A US3403652 A US 3403652A US 577732 A US577732 A US 577732A US 57773266 A US57773266 A US 57773266A US 3403652 A US3403652 A US 3403652A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
air cushion
vessel
cushion vehicle
vehicle
deck
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US577732A
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English (en)
Inventor
Hardy Derek James
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Westland Group PLC
Original Assignee
Westland Aircraft Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Westland Aircraft Ltd filed Critical Westland Aircraft Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3403652A publication Critical patent/US3403652A/en
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60V—AIR-CUSHION VEHICLES
    • B60V1/00—Air-cushion
    • B60V1/04—Air-cushion wherein the cushion is contained at least in part by walls
    • B60V1/043—Air-cushion wherein the cushion is contained at least in part by walls the walls being flexible
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60V—AIR-CUSHION VEHICLES
    • B60V3/00—Land vehicles, waterborne vessels, or aircraft, adapted or modified to travel on air cushions
    • B60V3/06—Waterborne vessels
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
    • B63B35/40—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for for transporting marine vessels

Definitions

  • a composite vessel includes at least two portions, one of the portions comprising a powered displacement vessel having at least two hulls spaced apart and joined together by structure, part of the structure forming a docking area, and the other portion comprising an air cushion vehicle adapted to be housed within the docking area and separable from the powered displacement portion when desired.
  • the upper after surfaces of the bulls and the upper after surface of the joining structure cooperate to form a substantially fiat deck which is boundaried, at least in part, by side and rear peripheral walls extending above the deck.
  • the side and rear peripheral walls are hingedly attached to the vessel to allow outward and downward pivotal movement thereof during launching and recovery of the air cushion vehicle, and wedge shaped guidance members located on the inner surfaces of the side walls for progressively restricting lateral movement of the air cushion vehicle as the vertical distance between the base of the air cushion vehicle and the deck decreases when the air cushion vehicle is settling onto the deck during recovery operations.
  • This invention relates to sea-going vessels, which includes vessels operating on large lakes and inland seas, and is specially concerned with the design features of a composite vessel having two or more operationally separable but complementary portions.
  • One of these portions is preferably a true displacement vessel, and is the larger.
  • the others are air cushion vehicles which can be either cushionborne or waterborne, according to the immediate requirements.
  • the composite vessel in which each part may operate in co-operation with the other even when separated, is primarily intended to play the role of a fighting ship in anti-submarine warfare, but need not, of course, be limited to such a role, and it is an object of the invention to combine the advantages of an air cushion vehicle with those of a displacement vessel, without going to the extreme of building the very large and expensive hovership that would be necessary to attain the required speed as a displacement craft, and to enable such a vessel to remain at sea for long periods in all Weathers.
  • a composite vessel including a displacement portion having at least two hulls and at least one separate air cushion supported portion, the portions being arranged to act as one operational unit, the displacement portion having the capability of carrying the air cushion supported portion.
  • a composite vessel including at least two portions, one of said portions comprising a powered displacement vessel having at least two hulls spaced apart and joined together by structure, part of said structure forming a docking area, and the other portion comprising at least one air cushion vehicle adapted to be housed within the docking area, and separable from the powered displacement portion, when desired.
  • each portion of the composite vessel may be provided with at least partial air cushion support.
  • FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a composite vessel in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • FIGURE 2 is a composite vertical diagrammatic crosssection, in planes parallel to its lateral axis, of a vehicle similar to that illustrated in FIGURE 1.
  • the right side of the figure is a section across the docking area of the vessel, and the left side of the figure is a section across the vessel ahead of the docking area, and
  • FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the separate portions of a composite vessel illustrating a method by which the air cushion portion may be drawn into the docking area of the displacement portion.
  • a composite vessel consisting of two independent portions.
  • the larger portion consists of a displacement watercraft 1, hereinafter referred to as the parent vessel, having two hulls 2 and being approximately 350 feet in length with a beam of approximately feet.
  • This portion is propelled by water propellers driven by engines and transmission shafts housed in each hull in the manner usual for displacement vessels.
  • the hulls 2 are joined and spaced apart by structure 13 arranged so that it is always above the water line 11.
  • each hull and of the joining structure 13 provides space for the control rooms, crews quarters and other facilities necessary for a vessel engaged in anti-submarine activities, and superstructures may be provided above the forward parts of the hulls in which navigational and other equipment for operating the vessel is housed.
  • each hull 2 is provided with ballast tanks (not shown), which may be flooded so that the attitude of the parent vessel may be varied.
  • ballast tanks not shown
  • the vessel is trimmed stern down, as illustrated in FIGURE 3.
  • the forward end 4 of the dock 3 is appropriately shaped to receive the bow of an air cushion vehicle 5, which comprises the other portion of the composite vessel.
  • the flat deck of the clock has support pads 6 arranged to cooperate with the landing pads of the air cushion vehicle 5, to provide support for the vehicle when it is not cushionborne. These support pads 6 are provided with jacking means (not shown) so that the vehicle can be raised, for example, for maintenance purposes.
  • the side walls 7 of the dock 3 have sufiicient height to afiord protection to and security for the air cushion vehicle 5, when housed in the dock 3. These walls 7 are arranged to co-operate with the sides of the air cushion vehicle 5 and are made adjustable being capable of splaying outwards vertically to approximately 45, as illustrated in FIGURES 2. and 3, during launching and recovery operations. Similarly, the stern wall 8 can be pivoted outwards and downwards to an extent sufiicicnt to form a ramp leading from the water surface to the deck of the dock when the vessel 1 is in the stern down attitude.
  • a movable winch 10, arranged to travel along a track 12, positioned on the longitudinal centre line of the dock 3 is provided with means to haul the air cushion vehicle 5 close to the stern of the parent vessel 1 and with traction means so that it may move, with the air cushion vehicle 5 attached, between the stern and the forward end of the clock 3.
  • a recess 9 is provided in the wall 4, to house the winch.
  • the side walls 7 have fitted to them guidance means, consisting, for example, of wedge shaped members 7a (see FIGURES 2 and 3) adjacent to the air cushion vehicle arranged so that the widest part of the wedge is uppermost, which, when the walls 7 are in their upright position, co-operate with fittings on the air cushion vehicle 5, for example, retractable spigots (not shown), so that, as the distance between the :base of the air cushion vehicle 5 and the deck of the dock 3 decreases when the air supply to the cushions ceases, or the support pads 6 are lowered, the air cushion vehicle 5 is progessively restricted in its lateral and longitudinal movement.
  • guidance means consisting, for example, of wedge shaped members 7a (see FIGURES 2 and 3) adjacent to the air cushion vehicle arranged so that the widest part of the wedge is uppermost, which, when the walls 7 are in their upright position, co-operate with fittings on the air cushion vehicle 5, for example, retractable spigots (not shown), so that, as the distance between the
  • automatic locking devices for example, spring-loaded pawls (not shown) in the lower parts of the wedge shaped members 7a, engage the spigots on the air cushion vehicle '5, and secure the air cushion vehicle in a pre-selected position.
  • the tunnel formed between the underside of the joining structure 13, the two hull-s 2, and the surface of the water 11 is provided, at its front and rear, with pendulum flaps or obturator members (not shown), similar to those described in British Patents Nos. 935,531 and 1,001,059, hinged to the underside of the joining structure 13, so as to close each end of the tunnel.
  • the space thus formed can be filled with pressurised gaseous fluid, in order to reduce the draught of the displacement watercraft, and hence the power required for its propulsion.
  • the composite vessel can venture into open sea as one ship, the air cushion portion being clamped and held by the adjustable walls and any other means necessary to secure it.
  • the vessel operates submarine search equipment, for example, by towing sonar-buoys, and generally operates as a mobile war headquarters, utilising the facilities of the air cushion vehicle as desired.
  • the air cushion vehicle is launched to make a high-speed dash to a specified target area within the range of the air cushion vehicle or to patrol for a considerable period, using the facilities of the air cushion vehicle.
  • the stern wall 8 When the air cushion vehicle returns to the parent vessel the stern wall 8 is lowered, the sides 7 are opened out, and the stern of the parent vessel is trimmed down by flooding the ballast tanks. If weather and other conditions are suitable, a direct run-in to the dock can be made by the air cushion vehicle. As soon as the air cushion vehicle reaches the correct position on the dock 3, the sides 7 of the parent vessel are moved to the vertical position and the wedge-shaped members 7a on the walls engage the spigots on the sides of the air cushion vehicle. The air cushion generating power is now cut, allowing the vehicle 5 to settle down on its landing pads, when spring-loaded catches automatically clamp the air cushion vehicle to the parent vessel. The stern wall 8 is now raised and the ballast tanks are blown, bringing the composite vessel to a level trim.
  • Launching is achieved by trimming down the stern of the paren vessel and lowering the side and stern walls, when the air cushion vehicle may back out under its own power and control.
  • the forward speed of the parent vessel is adjusted, to ensure that the air cushion vehicle has at least a small forward velocity relatively to the water as it leaves.
  • the above described winching procedure may be reversed, and the cable slipped, when the bow of the air cushion vehicle is clear of the parent vessel.
  • a larger parent ship of similar design could accommodate two or more air cushion vehicles fore and aft or abreast of each other. Once they were aboard the parent ship they could be covered with a detachable structure or flexible sheets, for weatherproofing or camouflage purposes.
  • the composite vessel hereinbefore described need not be limited to any one role, and could be used as a support craft in landing operations, or as a ferry craft, when the air cushion vehicle would be used to collect passengers from a number of dispersed areas, and bring them to the parent ship standing off-shore.
  • a composite vessel including at least two portions, one of said portions comprising a powered displacement vessel having at least two hulls spaced apart and joined together by structure, the aft part of said structure forming a docking area, and the other portion comprising an air cu-shi'on vehicle adapted to be housed within the docking area and separable from the powered displacement portion when desired, the upper after surfaces of the said hulls and the upper after surface of the joining structure cooperating to form a substantially flat unobstructed deck, said deck being boundaried, at least in part, by side and rear peripheral walls extending above said deck, said side and rear peripheral walls being hingedly attached to the vessel toallow outward and downward pivotal movement thereof during launching and recovery of the air cushion vehicle guidance means on the inner surfaces of said side walls for, when the side walls are in their upright positions, automatically progressively restricting lateral movement of said air cushion vehicle as the vertical distance between the base of the air cushion vehicle and the said deck decreases when the air cushion vehicle is settling onto said deck during recovery operations.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)
  • Vibration Prevention Devices (AREA)
US577732A 1965-09-24 1966-09-07 Hovership Expired - Lifetime US3403652A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB40884/65A GB1103935A (en) 1965-09-24 1965-09-24 Improvements in or relating to a marine air cushion vehicle carrier

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3403652A true US3403652A (en) 1968-10-01

Family

ID=10417101

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US577732A Expired - Lifetime US3403652A (en) 1965-09-24 1966-09-07 Hovership

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3403652A (de)
DE (1) DE1984935U (de)
GB (1) GB1103935A (de)
NL (1) NL6613221A (de)

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3507241A (en) * 1968-11-26 1970-04-21 Us Navy Deep submergence rescue vehicle handling system
US3556036A (en) * 1968-12-11 1971-01-19 Paul S Wells Deep sea cargo vessel
US3726245A (en) * 1970-08-03 1973-04-10 Pippin R Watercraft
US3774565A (en) * 1972-07-10 1973-11-27 H Paxos Lighter carrying marine vessel
US3776167A (en) * 1971-12-02 1973-12-04 Litton Systems Inc Semi-submersible tender
US3823681A (en) * 1972-11-16 1974-07-16 Inter Hull Barge carrying transport vessel
WO1987005875A1 (en) * 1986-03-27 1987-10-08 Burg Donald E Rapid attachment boat docking system
US4747334A (en) * 1986-03-12 1988-05-31 Sankyu Inc. Ocean launching apparatus of space rocket
US5492076A (en) * 1992-04-09 1996-02-20 Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha Patrol boat
US6843198B1 (en) 2002-07-31 2005-01-18 Columbia Research Corporation Transport, launch and recovery craft
US20070151499A1 (en) * 2005-12-07 2007-07-05 Textron Inc. (A Delaware, Us, Corporation) Marine Vessel Transfer System
US7621230B1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2009-11-24 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Carrier and flow-through ship
US10486776B2 (en) * 2017-01-13 2019-11-26 Wendell B. Leimbach Amphibious deployment system and method
CN113212638A (zh) * 2021-06-16 2021-08-06 中国船舶工业集团公司第七0八研究所 一种模块化拖船

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5337751Y2 (de) * 1973-06-29 1978-09-12
GB2077197A (en) * 1980-05-23 1981-12-16 Vosper International Ltd Minehunting and disposal system
US5366028A (en) * 1992-04-09 1994-11-22 Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha Patrol boat
KR20020081378A (ko) * 2000-03-02 2002-10-26 워크쉽스 콘트랙터스 비.브이. 잠수형 중화물용 쌍동선

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1013087A (en) * 1911-07-15 1911-12-26 Charles Louis Couvrette Means for carrying ships' launches.
US2370916A (en) * 1942-03-17 1945-03-06 Sr Walter W Reedy Mother ship for watercrafts
US2405115A (en) * 1942-09-25 1946-08-06 Floating Stations Ltd Floating structure
US3066753A (en) * 1960-02-26 1962-12-04 Curtiss Wright Corp Ground effect machine
US3205847A (en) * 1964-03-23 1965-09-14 Bell Aerospace Corp Combination aquatic-ground effect vehicle
US3259097A (en) * 1964-07-10 1966-07-05 John Van Veldhuizen Air-propelled boat

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1013087A (en) * 1911-07-15 1911-12-26 Charles Louis Couvrette Means for carrying ships' launches.
US2370916A (en) * 1942-03-17 1945-03-06 Sr Walter W Reedy Mother ship for watercrafts
US2405115A (en) * 1942-09-25 1946-08-06 Floating Stations Ltd Floating structure
US3066753A (en) * 1960-02-26 1962-12-04 Curtiss Wright Corp Ground effect machine
US3205847A (en) * 1964-03-23 1965-09-14 Bell Aerospace Corp Combination aquatic-ground effect vehicle
US3259097A (en) * 1964-07-10 1966-07-05 John Van Veldhuizen Air-propelled boat

Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3507241A (en) * 1968-11-26 1970-04-21 Us Navy Deep submergence rescue vehicle handling system
US3556036A (en) * 1968-12-11 1971-01-19 Paul S Wells Deep sea cargo vessel
US3726245A (en) * 1970-08-03 1973-04-10 Pippin R Watercraft
US3776167A (en) * 1971-12-02 1973-12-04 Litton Systems Inc Semi-submersible tender
US3774565A (en) * 1972-07-10 1973-11-27 H Paxos Lighter carrying marine vessel
US3823681A (en) * 1972-11-16 1974-07-16 Inter Hull Barge carrying transport vessel
US4735164A (en) * 1976-11-01 1988-04-05 Burg Donald E Rapid attachment boat docking system
US4747334A (en) * 1986-03-12 1988-05-31 Sankyu Inc. Ocean launching apparatus of space rocket
WO1987005875A1 (en) * 1986-03-27 1987-10-08 Burg Donald E Rapid attachment boat docking system
US5492076A (en) * 1992-04-09 1996-02-20 Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha Patrol boat
US6843198B1 (en) 2002-07-31 2005-01-18 Columbia Research Corporation Transport, launch and recovery craft
US20070151499A1 (en) * 2005-12-07 2007-07-05 Textron Inc. (A Delaware, Us, Corporation) Marine Vessel Transfer System
WO2008039219A2 (en) * 2005-12-07 2008-04-03 Textron Inc. Marine vessel transfer system
WO2008039219A3 (en) * 2005-12-07 2008-10-02 Textron Inc Marine vessel transfer system
US7654211B2 (en) * 2005-12-07 2010-02-02 Textron Inc. Marine vessel transfer system
US7621230B1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2009-11-24 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Carrier and flow-through ship
US10486776B2 (en) * 2017-01-13 2019-11-26 Wendell B. Leimbach Amphibious deployment system and method
US20200231255A1 (en) * 2017-01-13 2020-07-23 Wendell B. Leimbach Amphibious deployment system and method
CN113212638A (zh) * 2021-06-16 2021-08-06 中国船舶工业集团公司第七0八研究所 一种模块化拖船

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1103935A (en) 1968-02-21
NL6613221A (de) 1967-03-28
DE1984935U (de) 1968-05-02

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