Flexible annular jet seal for surface effect vehicles
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsFreddie W. Wilson, Harvey J. Howe, James H. Nichols, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved bow and/or stern seal is provided for a surface effect vehicle herein the vehicle has a pair of spaced apart side hulls which are joined by a wet deck, and the bow and stern seals extend between the side hulls so that an air cushion can be formed between the side walls and the bow and stern seals. The improved seal includes a portion of the deck having an opening for providing an air inlet to the air cushion. An elongated pneumatic bag is mounted along its length to the bottom of the wet deck, is sealed at its ends and is positioned to receive air from the deck opening along its forward side. Provision is made for a passageway between the side hulls for directing air around the forward side of the bag.
Claims19
In a surface effect vehicle having a pair of spaced apart side hulls joined by a wet deck and a seal extending between the side hulls so that an air cushion can be formed, an improved seal comprising:
- a forward portion of the deck having an opening for providing an air inlet to the air cushion;
- an elongated pneumatic bag mounted along its length to the bottom of the wet deck and positioned to receive air from the deck opening along its forward side;
- passageway means mounted between the side hulls for directing air around the forward side of the bag, and
- fan means mounted between the side hulls and located between the top of the deck opening and the forward side of the bag for forcing air from the deck opening into said passageway means.
In a surface effect vehicle having a pair of spaced apart side hulls joined by a wet deck and a seal extending between the side hulls so that an air cushion can be formed, an improved seal comprising:
- a forward portion of the deck having an opening for providing an air inlet to the air cushion;
- an elongated pneumatic bag mounted along its length to the bottom of the wet deck and positioned to receive air from the deck opening along its forward side;
- passageway means mounted between the side hulls for directing air around the forward side of the bag, said passageway including:
- a flexible nozzle having an inlet and an outlet, the flexible nozzle being connected at its inlet to the wet deck at said opening for receiving air from the opening;
- and
- the flexible nozzle curving about the forward side of the bag with its outlet being directed in an aft direction.
In a surface effect vehicle having a pair of spaced apart side hulls joined by a wet deck and a seal extending between the side hulls so that an air cushion can be formed, an improved seal comprising:
- a forward portion of the deck having an opening for providing an air inlet to the air cushion;
- an elongated pneumatic bag mounted along its length to the bottom of the wet deck and positioned to receive air from the deck opening along its forward side;
- passageway means mounted between the side hulls for directing air around the forward side of the bag, said passageway including:
- the wet deck having a partial annular passageway located about a top portion of the bag, said passageway having forward and aft downwardly directed openings into the air cushion so that air can be directed completely about the bag.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.