Hovercraft having segmented skirt which reduces plowing
OwnerRalph K. DuBoseinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A self-propelled hovercraft having a body or hull around the periphery of which is a segmented skirt. The segmented skirt of the hovercraft comprises a plurality of bags, one adjacent to another, completely encircling the hovercraft body. Each of the bags has front and side portions and, in one embodiment, at least some of the bags at the forward end of the hovercraft are provided with semi-rigid lower front surfaces constructed of material less flexible than material of other bags and which may be provided with internal cushion devices which support the front semi-rigid material against water surface contact.
Claims8
A self-propelled hovercraft having a body and an air plenum chamber around the periphery of which is a segmented skirt and which when supplied with sufficient air flow will support said hovercraft on a cushion of air above the surface of ground or water across which said hovercraft is to be propelled and power-driven fan means for directing air flow to said air plenum and generally rearwardly of said hovercraft to propel said hovercraft in a forwardly direction characterized by:
- a plurality of bags, one adjacent to another, completely encircling said hovercraft body to provide said segmented skirt, each of said bags having front and side portions and being in fluid communication with said air plenum to provide a flexible seal between said cushion of air and the ground or water across which said hovercraft is to be propelled, said segmented bags being made of flexible materials but at least the lower area of the front portions of at least some of said bags at the forward end of said hovercraft being joined to substantially flat semi-rigid material, at least some of said bags at said forward end of said hovercraft also being provided with internal cushion devices so that when said forward end segmented bags encounter increased water resistance to forward movement the semi-rigid front portions of said forward end bags curve around a point of engagement with said cushion device to cooperate in limiting drag and providing hydrodynamic lift to the forward end of said hovercraft to inhibit plowing in of said hovercraft and to increase the stability thereof.
A self-propelled hovercraft having a body and an air plenum chamber around the periphery of which is a segmented skirt and which when supplied with sufficient air flow will support said hovercraft on a cushion of air above the surface of ground or water across which said hovercraft is to be propelled and power-driven fan means for directing air flow to said air plenum and generally rearwardly of said hovercraft to propel said hovercraft in a forwardly direction characterized by:
- a plurality of bags, one adjacent to another, completely encircling said hovercraft body, to provide said segmented skirt, each of said bags having front and side portions and being in fluid communication with said air plenum to provide a flexible seal between said cushion of air and the ground or water across which said hovercraft is to be propelled, said bags being of a flexible material but at least the lower area of some of said bag front portions at the forward end of said hovercraft being of a material which is semi-rigid so that when said hovercraft encounters sudden increased skirt drag, said semi-rigid lower areas of said forward end bags will not be as easily deformed and will provide semi-rigid smooth surfaces to inhibit plowing of said hovercraft and to increase the stability thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.