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.
Claims30
A ground effect craft comprising:
- a body;
- a sponson dynamically coupled to the body, wherein the sponson is configured to move relative to the body;
- and
- a dynamic seal configured, when there is relative airflow across a lift surface, to maintain or increase pressure under the lift surface during movement of the sponson relative to the body,
- wherein the dynamic seal is at least one of substantially adjacent to the sponson or is between the lift surface and the sponson.
A craft, the assembly comprising:
- a first sponson;
- a second sponson;
- a body;
- a first control system configured to dynamically couple the body to the first sponson and the second sponson, wherein the first lift surface is at least partially isolated from a movement of the first sponson;
- and
- a first dynamic seal configured, when there is relative airflow across a first lift surface, to maintain or increase air pressure under the first lift surface during movement of the first sponson,
- wherein the dynamic seal is at least one of substantially adjacent to the first sponson or is between the first lift surface and the first sponson.
A ground effect craft comprising:
- a sponson;
- a lift surface;
- and
- a dynamic seal comprising a membrane connecting the lift surface to the sponson, wherein the first dynamic seal is configured to maintain or increase pressure under the lift surface during a movement of the sponson relative to the lift surface,
- wherein the lift surface is at least partially isolated from the movement of the sponson relative to the lift surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.