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US 10,549,743 B1Granted
Air supply system and method for a hovercraft
AssigneeCharles E. Hill & Associates, Inc.
InventorCharles E. Hill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hovercraft includes a lift air supply source having a dynamic air flow area in communication with a central lift air chamber to provide continuous air flow to the central lift air chamber and a static air flow area in communication with an inflatable skirt extending around a periphery of the hovercraft. Air flow from the static air flow area enters the skirt to replenish air leaking from the skirt. The static air flow area has less air flow than the dynamic air flow area. The static air flow area is located at a higher position than the dynamic air flow area to reduce the likelihood of water entering the inflatable skirt when the hovercraft is operated on water.
Claims20
A hovercraft comprising:
- a hull having a base including a forward end, a rear end, and a central opening;
- a thrust air supply source coupled to the hull adjacent the rear end;
- an inflatable skirt coupled to an outer periphery of the base to define a central lift air chamber under the hull;
- a lift air supply source coupled to the hull, the lift air supply source including a lift air shroud coupled to the hull, the lift air shroud is in fluid communication with the central opening of the base and positioned fully forward of a cockpit;
- a center skid bar extending across the central opening;
- and
- a mounting rail extending through the central opening of the base, the mounting rail including a first rail and a second rail, wherein the first rail and the second rail are on opposite sides of the center skid bar, the first rail and the second rail dividing the lift air shroud into a first region, a second region, and a third region, wherein the first region and the third region are static air flow areas in fluid communication with the skirt so that air flow enters the skirt to replenish air leaking from the skirt, and the second region is a dynamic air flow area in fluid communication with the central lift air chamber to provide continuous air flow to the central lift air chamber.
4 more elements
A hovercraft comprising:
- a hull having a base including a forward end, a rear end, and a central opening;
- a thrust air supply source coupled to the hull adjacent the rear end;
- an inflatable skirt coupled to an outer periphery of the base to define a central lift air chamber under the hull;
- a lift air supply source coupled to the hull, the lift air supply source including a lift air shroud coupled to the hull, the lift air shroud is in fluid communication with the central opening of the base and positioned fully forward of a cockpit;
- a mounting rail that extends longitudinally between the forward end and the rear end, wherein the mounting rail divides the lift air shroud into a first region that provides a static air flow area and a second region that provides a dynamic air flow area, the dynamic air flow area being in fluid communication with the central lift air chamber to provide continuous air flow to the central lift air chamber and the static air flow area being in fluid communication with the skirt so that air flow enters the skirt to replenish air leaking from the skirt;
- and
- at least one extension bar, wherein a portion of the mounting rail is raised upwardly from the base of the hull into the lift air shroud by the at least one extension bar.
4 more elements
A hovercraft comprising:
- a hull having a base including a forward end, a rear end, and a central opening;
- a thrust air supply source coupled to the hull adjacent the rear end;
- an inflatable skirt coupled to an outer periphery of the base to define a central lift air chamber under the hull;
- a lift air supply source coupled to the hull, the lift air supply source including a lift air shroud coupled to the hull, the lift air shroud is in fluid communication with the central opening of the base and positioned fully forward of a cockpit;
- a center skid bar extending across the central opening;
- a mounting rail that divides the lift air shroud into a first region that provides a static air flow area and a second region that provides a dynamic air flow area, the dynamic air flow area being in fluid communication with the central lift air chamber to provide continuous air flow to the central lift air chamber and the static air flow area being in fluid communication with the skirt so that air flow enters the skirt to replenish air leaking from the skirt, the mounting rail including a first rail, wherein the first rail is on a first side of the center skid bar;
- and
- at least one extension bar, wherein a portion of the mounting rail is raised upwardly from the base of the hull into the lift air shroud by the at least one extension bar.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.