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.
Claims48
A ground effect craft comprising:
- a first sponson;
- a second sponson;
- a fore aerodynamic lift surface configured to generate lift substantially independent of pitch movement of the first sponson and the second sponson;
- a body dynamically coupled to the first sponson and the second sponson;
- and
- an aft aerodynamic lift surface connected to at least one of the first sponson and the second sponson, wherein the aft aerodynamic lift surface is configured to move substantially independent of the fore aerodynamic lift surface.
A ground effect craft comprising:
- a first sponson;
- a second sponson;
- a fore aerodynamic lift surface configured to entrap air beneath the fore aerodynamic lift surface and between the first sponson and the second sponson, wherein the fore aerodynamic lift surface is configured to move independent of pitch movement of the first sponson and the second sponson;
- a body dynamically coupled to the first sponson and the second sponson;
- and
- an aft aerodynamic lift surface connected to at least one of the first sponson and the second sponson and is between the first sponson and the second sponson, wherein the aft aerodynamic lift surface is configured to move independent of pitch movement of the fore aerodynamic lift surface.
A ground effect craft comprising:
- a first sponson;
- a second sponson;
- a fore aerodynamic lift surface configured to generate lift substantially independent of pitch movement of the first sponson and the second sponson, wherein the fore aerodynamic lift surface is configured to move independent of pitch movement of the first sponson and the second sponson;
- a body configured to move relatively independent of the first sponson and the second sponson, wherein the body is connected to the first sponson and the second sponson;
- and
- an aft aerodynamic lift surface connected to at least one of the first sponson and the second sponson and is between the first sponson and the second sponson, wherein the aft aerodynamic lift surface is configured to move independent of pitch movement of the fore aerodynamic lift surface.
A ground effect craft comprising:
- a first sponson;
- a second sponson;
- a fore ground effect surface configured to generate lift substantially independent of pitch movement of the first sponson and the second sponson,
- a body comprising the fore ground effect surface, the body dynamically coupled to the first sponson and the second sponson;
- and
- an aft ground effect surface connected to at least one of the first sponson and the second sponson and is between the first sponson and the second sponson, wherein the aft ground effect surface is configured to move independent of pitch movement of the fore ground effect surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.