Wave motion simulator

Apparatus to generate a wave-like pattern of forces on the underside of a surface effect ship which comprises a flexible membrane activated to simulate water waves, the crests of said waves active on the underside of said ship to transfer forces thereto, and undulating means to undulate said membrane, said undulating means comprising a drive motor, drive shaft means extending the length of the membrane and a plurality of linkage means interconnecting said drive shaft means and said flexible membrane.

Apparatus to generate a wave-like pattern of forces on the underside of a surface effect ship which comprises a flexible membrane activated to simulate water waves, the crest of said waves active on the underside of said ship to transfer forces thereto, and means to undulate said membrane and further comprising a water injection system means for injecting water between the upper surface of said membrane and said underside of said ship.

Apparatus to generate a wave-like pattern of forces on the underside of a surface effect ship which comprises a flexible membrane activated to simulate water waves, the crests of said waves active on the underside of said ship to transfer forces thereto, and means to undulate said membrane and further comprises a sonic height sensor means for detecting the position of a portion of said membrane during undulation thereof.

Apparatus to generate a wave-like pattern of forces on the underside of a surface effect ship which comprises a flexible membrane activated to simulate water waves, the crests of said waves active on the underside of said ship to transfer forces thereto, and means to undulate said membrane and further comprises a vehicle support means for imparting a selected vehicle load on said membrane.

Apparatus to generate a wave-like pattern of forces on the underside of a surface effect ship which comprises a flexible membrane activated to simulate water waves, the crests of said waves active on the underside of said ship to transfer forces thereto, and means to undulate said membrane, said undulating means includes means to vary the frequency of said waves, said undulating means comprises a drive motor and a primary drive shaft extending the length of the membrane, a series of secondary drive means positioned at specified stations along the primary drive shaft, and the secondary drive means comprises a plurality of gear box means and a plurality of linkage means, one link of which extends to and is connected to the underside of said membrane and said one link is rotatably driven about said secondary drive means in such a manner to move the membrane at its point of contact, in a predetermined reciprocal motion.

Apparatus to generate wave-like pattern of forces on the underside of a surface effect ship which comprises a flexible membrane activated to simulate water waves, the crests of said waves active on the underside of said ship to transfer forces thereto, means to undulate said membrane comprising a plurality of shafts each having a series of linkage means connected to said membrane at preselected points and each said series similarly acting on said membrane along a common line thereof, the entire membrane simulating water waves at a preselected sine-wave frequency and configuration and means for providing motion to said shafts.