Ground effect craft
AssigneePierceCraft IP Ltd.
InventorRichard David Pierce
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ground effect craft having a ground effect wing, a plurality of sponsons, and a control system is disclosed. The ground effect wing may include a fore ground effect wing and an aft ground effect wing. The ground effect wing may generate a stabilizing moment on at least one sponson to stabilize the ground effect craft. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to the body. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to each other. The dynamic coupling may permit the sponsons to move relatively independent of the body and each other, thereby stabilizing the ground effect craft. The ground effect craft may include a stabilizing wing.
Claims29
An assembly for use on a craft comprising a body, the assembly comprising:
- a first sponson;
- a second sponson;
- a first aerodynamic lift surface attached to the body;
- a first control system configured to dynamically couple the body of the craft to the first sponson and the second sponson, wherein the first aerodynamic lift surface is at least partially isolated from a pitch of the first sponson and the second sponson;
- and
- a second control system configured to dynamically couple the first sponson to the second sponson.
A ground effect craft comprising:
- a plurality of sponsons, wherein a first sponson and a second sponson in the plurality of sponsons are dynamically coupled to each other, wherein the first sponson moves in pitch relative to the second sponson;
- a body dynamically coupled to the plurality of sponsons via a plurality of control links;
- and
- a first aerodynamic lift surface connected to the body.
A method of operating a ground effect craft comprising:
- generating lift via an aerodynamic lift surface connected to a body;
- at least partially isolating the movement of the body relative to a first sponson and a second sponson connected to the body;
- and
- at least partially isolating the movement of the first sponson and the second sponson relative to each other when the first sponson is dynamically coupled to the second sponson via a control link.
A ground effect craft comprising:
- a body connected to a fore aerodynamic lift surface;
- a sponson dynamically coupled to the body;
- and
- an aft aerodynamic lift surface coupled to the sponson;
- wherein the fore aerodynamic lift surface is configured to move relatively independent of the sponson and the aft aerodynamic lift surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.