Amphibious craft
AssigneeCoupland Bell Limited
InventorMark Evans
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to an improved amphibious craft or vehicle and, in particular, but not exclusively, to a craft or vehicle that may be used for commercial and rescue tasks in a great variety of weather conditions. To achieve this, an amphibious vehicle comprises a fixed geometry planing hull (2) and a skirt system (4). This has as an advantage that the fixed geometry planing hull (2) allows the craft or vehicle to operate in high waves, strong winds or other adverse conditions too severe for known hovercraft of a similar size, while the skirt system (4) contains a cushion of air providing the craft or vehicle with a full amphibious capability so that the craft can operate as a conventional hovercraft in good conditions or enter and leave water in any conditions.
Claims2
An amphibious vehicle, comprising:
- a single planing hull of fixed geometry;
- a skirt system attached to the planing hull;
- the skirt system comprising first and second side wings each pivotally connected at a first end to the planing hull, and a plurality of skirt segments;
- and
- the skirt system being alternatively operable in a planing mode wherein the skirt system at the sides of the planing hull, when the vehicle is in the water, is located clear of the water and in a fully amphibious mode wherein the skirt system provides a cushion of air which supports the entire weight of the vehicle by cushion pressure;
- wherein the skirt system further comprises at least one collar connected to a second end of each of the first and second side wings, and a plurality of skirt segments supported from the at least one collar and a lift duct;
- and
- wherein the lift duct at the sides of the vehicle is defined between the wing, the at least one collar and a flexible membrane extending between the at least one collar and the planing hull.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.