GB1069173A - Air cushion water craft - Google Patents

Abstract

1,069,173. Air cushion vehicles. G. T. COCKSEDGE. July 28, 1965, No. 32346/65. Heading B7K. An air cushion vehicle for operation over water comprises a base platform and superstructure 1 connected to three laterally spaced buoyant hulls 7, which form side-by-side plenum chambers (9) and (10), the buoyancy of the hulls being such that there is always a volume of air trapped between the base platform and the water surface. The forward and rear ends of each plenum chamber are closed by a hinged bow plate 13 and a hinged stern plate 15 respectively. The bow plates are urged downwardly by springs 21 against tie wires 21a and mechanism is provided (Fig. 4, not shown) for moving the plates bodily fore and aft so as to vary the position of the centre of lift with respect to the centre of gravity of the craft. Similar mechanism (Fig. 8, not shown) is provided for the stern plates. Further mechanism (Fig. 7, not shown) enables the stern plates to be moved up and down differentially or in unison for controlling the rearward discharge of air from the plenum chambers for propulsion and lateral control purposes. A plurality of ganged rudders 17 at the rear ends of the plenum chambers is controlled by mechanism operated by rudder pedals (Fig. 6, not shown). The superstructure of the vehicle is formed with an air intake 3 housing a fan 4 which delivers air into the plenum chambers through adjustable vanes 11 which may be operated individually or collectively (Fig. 5, not shown). Each outer hull is formed with a valved port 70, whereby cushion air may be discharged to provide lateral control. One or more fan installations may be provided for each plenum chamber and control in roll may be achieved by differential control of the fan outputs or by differential adjustment of the stern plates. It is stated that co-ordinated adjustment of the pressures in the plenum chambers and of the rudders 17 will enable the craft to execute a banked turn. The bow plates 13 may be moved bodily forward until they come into contact with stops 62 and are thereby raised about pivots 14 to enable cushion air to escape forwardly and thereby propel the vehicle rearwardly, lateral control being effected by operation of valves 70.