Skirted surface effect vehicle

A surface effect vehicle for traversing a water or ground surface is provided. The surface effect vehicle comprises an elongate body and forward and rear scoops, preferably having a large angle of attack inducing stall conditions on the scoops. Each scoop has an arched leading edge defining, in conjunction with the surface, a forwardly facing opening. Preferably, each scoop also has an opening with a fan mounted therein. Forward and rear skirts are movably mounted relative to the forward and rear scoops. Propulsion apparatus are provided for moving the surface effect vehicle across the surface. When the forward and rear skirts are placed in extended positions covering the forwardly facing openings and the front and rear fans are activated, the surface effect vehicle may be lifted relative to the surface to be traversed. Alternatively, when the forward and rear skirts are placed in their retracted positions and the propulsion apparatus move the surface effect vehicle across the surface, air is forced through the uncovered forwardly facing openings and beneath the scoops to lift the surface effect vehicle from the surface to be traversed.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present invention relates to surface effect vehicles which are capable 
of riding on a cushion of air over water or ground surfaces. 
BACKGROUND ART 
Surface effect vehicles are used for moving just above water, ground, or a 
combination of terrains, making them more efficient than either a water 
vehicle, like a boat, or a ground vehicle, like an automobile. This is 
because when a vehicle is in contact with a water or ground surface there 
is a large coefficient of friction between the vehicle and the surface. 
However, when a vehicle moves through a medium such as air, the 
coefficient of friction is substantially reduced. Surface effect vehicles 
ride on cushions of air just above a surface, like water, wherein the 
friction-reducing cushion enhances the ability of the surface effect 
vehicle to move forwardly. 
There is an acknowledged difference between flying aircraft and surface 
effect vehicles. Flying aircraft use the low pressure flow of air over the 
aircraft wing and the high pressure flow of air beneath the wing to create 
lift. In contrast, surface effect vehicles use the high pressure of air 
beneath an air foil to produce a cushion of air between the vehicle and a 
traversed surface to separate the vehicle from the surface. Forward 
movement of the surface effect vehicle is from some type of propulsion 
means. 
In essence, surface effect vehicles cannot rise more than a few feet from 
the surface without redesigning the air foil and providing an elevator. To 
date, there have been stabilization problems for surface effect vehicles 
designed to operate both as a boat and as a surface effect vehicle. When 
departing one medium for another the hydrodynamic and aerodynamic forces 
on the vehicle are often difficult to control and stabilize. Some vehicles 
use air flaps on the rear of the vehicle to provide control and 
stabilization. Such arrangements are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,918,382, 
4,151,893 and 4,712,630. 
Another problem surface effect vehicles have is that it takes a great deal 
of power to-accelerate the surface effect vehicle to a sufficient speed so 
that the air pressure beneath the surface effect vehicle will lift the 
vehicle free of the surface to be traversed. This again is due to the 
relatively large coefficient of friction between the moving surface effect 
vehicle and the surface to be traversed as compared to the resistance 
offered between just air and the vehicle. 
The present invention meets the need for a stable surface effect vehicle 
while also overcoming the problem of freeing the surface effect vehicle 
from the surface to be traversed. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a surface effect 
vehicle which is more stable than prior surface effect vehicles. 
It is another object to provide a surface effect vehicle which has forward 
and rear scoops mounted on an elongated body, each scoop having a reverse 
delta shape with a trailing apex and a forward opening arch-shaped leading 
edge. The scoops preferably have angles of attack sufficiently large to 
induce a stall condition which inhibits the surface effect vehicle from 
flying. 
It is yet a further object to provide a surface effect vehicle having at 
least one scoop having a skirt movably mounted across a forward opening 
leading edge and having a fan mounted in the scoop so that the scoop and 
skirt form a closed region beneath the scoop which can be pressurized by 
the fan to lift the surface effect vehicle from the surface to be 
traversed. 
Still yet another object is to provide a stable surface effect vehicle 
which overcomes the parting effect when leaving a medium such as water 
without any noticeable control effects. 
The surface effect vehicle of the present invention preferably has a 
forward lifting scoop or air foil and a rear, or aft, lifting scoop or air 
foil attached to an elongate body or hull. The scoop-like air foils are 
arched to provide large air trapping surfaces for better lift and control. 
The lifting scoops are ideally arranged with a smaller scoop forward, and 
a larger scoop aft. The forward scoop provides the initial lift-off and 
preferably handles at most one-fourth of the total vehicle weight, while 
the larger aft scoop provides secondary lift-off and a majority of 
sustained lift. Using two separate lifting scoops creates two separate 
surface effect pressures with each scoop receiving air pressure to support 
the vehicle. Ideally, each scoop will have an angle of attack sufficiently 
large to induce a stall condition to the scoops. 
The sharp angle of attack and the ratios of the lifting scoops are 
advantageous to the stability of the vehicle. For example, the forward 
scoop ideally has about one-fourth the area of the aft scoop. Also, the 
body or hull does not contact the surface, such as water, thereby 
eliminating drag of the body at lift-off. These factors increase the 
stability of the vehicle during lift-off and sustained lift. There are 
also louvers in the scoops to regulate height and lift at high speeds. 
Another stabilizing feature is non-trip appendages on the tips of each 
scoop to function as stabilizing skis on lift-off and landing. The 
non-trip appendages are ideally set at an angle of about 30.degree. to 
promote lifting during lift-off and landing. 
In a second preferred embodiment, a surface effect vehicle for traversing a 
water or ground surface is provided comprising an elongate body and 
forward and rear scoops. The elongate body has a forward end and a rear 
end. The forward and rear scoops are mounted adjacent the forward and rear 
ends of the body. Each scoop has an arched leading edge and a trailing 
apex defining, in conjunction with the surface to be traversed, a 
forwardly facing opening. Ideally, each scoop has a fan opening therein 
and an angle of attack sufficiently large to induce a stall condition. 
Forward and rear skirts are movably mounted relative to the forward and 
rear scoops between first extended positions covering the forwardly facing 
openings wherein the scoops and skirts generally seal with the surface to 
be traversed and second retracted positions wherein the skirts do not 
cover the forwardly facing openings. Front and rear fans are mounted in 
the fan openings in the forward and rear scoops for blowing air beneath 
the front and rear scoops. Also, propulsion means are provided for moving 
the surface effect vehicle across a surface. 
When the forward and rear skirts are placed in their extended positions 
covering the forwardly facing openings and the front and rear fans are 
activated, the surface effect vehicle may be lifted from the surface to be 
traversed. This allows the vehicle to be propelled forwardly without 
having to overcome frictional resistance between the vehicle and the 
traversed surface. Or if the vehicle is not lifted completely clear of the 
surface, at least the frictional resistance is reduced by partially 
lifting the vehicle relative to the surface. 
Thereafter, the forward and rear skirts may be placed in their retracted 
positions with the propulsion means moving the surface effect vehicle 
across the surface. Air is forced through the uncovered forwardly facing 
openings and beneath the scoops to maintain the lift of the surface effect 
vehicle from the surface to be traversed.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
Referring to FIGS. 1-6, there is shown a first embodiment of a surface 
vehicle 10 of the invention comprised of a hull or body 12, having an 
aerodynamic shape to reduce air resistance and a cockpit 14 streamlined to 
match the hull shape. A forward lifting scoop or air foil 16, is 
positioned near the nose 18 of the hull 12, and an aft or rear lifting 
scoop or air foil 20, is positioned toward the rear 22 of hull 12. The 
hull 12 is suspended on the lifting scoops 16 and 20 above a ground or 
water surface to improve stability while reducing drag. A pusher engine 
24, with a propeller, is mounted in space 26 behind the cockpit 14. An air 
deflecting rudder 28 is mounted in the path of forced air from the engine 
propeller to steer the vehicle. For steering the vehicle on water, a 
rudder 30 is mounted on the stern of the hull. 
Forward lifting scoop 16 and aft lifting scoop 20 have essentially the same 
design. Both scoops, 16 and 20, have a delta wing shape. While the apex of 
delta wings in aircraft are generally facing forward, scoops 16 and 20 
have their apexes facing rearward. A forward or leading edge 32 on scoop 
16 is arched as shown in FIG. 3, to collect air when surface effect 
vehicle 10 is moving forwardly. A trailing edge 34 on scoop 16 is an 
arcuate curve in top view and is flat, or parallel, to the horizontal, as 
shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, to trap air collected under the arched lifting 
scoop's underside which extends from forward edge 32 to trailing edge 34. 
Lifting scoop 16 has an angle of attack which extends from leading edge 32 
to trailing edge 34. The most desirable angle is approximately 16.degree. 
to produce a pressure ramp in front of scoop 16. Aft or rear lifting scoop 
20 has the same configuration with a leading edge 36 and a trailing edge 
38. This angle of attack will cause a stall effect should the air pressure 
collected under scoops 16 and 20 become too great and will prevent the 
vehicle from flying or becoming unstable. 
There are certain preferred relationships which dictate the shapes of 
lifting scoops 16 and 20. The height 40 of a Scoop is ideally one-seventh 
of its width or beam 42. Scoop length 46 is determined as three-sevenths 
of its width or beam 42. The dimensions are only shown on lift scoop 16, 
however, the same relationships, or ratios, apply to lifting scoop 20. 
Another relationship important to the design of surface effect vehicle 10, 
is the spacing between forward or leading edges 32 and 36 of scoops 16 and 
20 which is ideally four-sevenths of the width of aft scoop 20 or beam 48. 
These relationships provide improved control and stability over known 
surface effect vehicles. 
Forward lifting scoop 16 has one-half the area of aft lifting scoop 20. The 
smaller forward lifting scoop 16 provides the initial lift-off of vehicle 
10. Accordingly, the smaller size and the forward position of scoop 16 
provides less weight to be lifted, and consequently, nose 8 almost 
immediately lifts off. The angle of attack of scoop 16 increases its 
efficiency for lift-off; Likewise, once the nose 18 lifts off, the larger 
aft lifting scoop 20 which is filled with air begins to lift off, carrying 
the heavier rearward weight of the vehicle. 
FIG. 1 shows lifting scoop 16 with waste louvers 50, and lifting scoop 20 
with two pairs of waste louvers 52 and 54. These waste louvers 50, 52 and 
54 can be opened automatically or manually to regulate the height that 
surface effect vehicle 10 maintains over the water or some other surface. 
Additionally, louvers 50, 52 and 54 prevent instability, or spill lift, at 
high speeds. The surface effect vehicle may obtain speeds in excess of 85 
miles per hour. Having waste louvers reduces the lifting of nose 18 which 
could create a sudden unstable condition. Also, the same condition exists 
for the aft lifting scoop 20. Louvers 50 can either work together with, or 
independently of, louvers 52 and 54. A typical louver 50, shown in FIG. 4, 
is opened to reduce the lift on one of the scoops. 
Each of the scoops 16 and 20 has non-trip appendages, or stabilizing skis 
56 on each of the tips 58, FIGS. 5 and 6. On lift-off the appendages 56, 
which are at an angle of 30.degree. to the water or ground surface, 
function like skis to aid in lift-off. Also, the appendages 56 prevent the 
tips 58 from "digging" into the water which would trip the scoop tip, 
thereby losing stability. Flotation is achieved around the perimeter of 
the scoop. 
FIGS. 7-12 show a second embodiment of a surface effect vehicle 100. 
Surface effect vehicle 100 is similar to the first embodiment, however, it 
is enlarged and carries a number of passengers. Also, it is designed to 
more easily lift from a water or ground surface so that the surface effect 
vehicle 100 can move forwardly with only minimal initial frictional 
resistance. 
Surface effect vehicle 100 has an elongate longitudinally extending main 
body or hull 102 with attached forward and rear scoops 104 and 106. A pair 
of waste louvers 110 are mounted in forward scoop 104 on either side of 
the front end of main body 102. Similarly, rear scoop 106 has a pair of 
inboard louvers 112 and outboard louvers 114 located lateral to main body 
102. Again, louvers 110, 112 and 114 serve to prevent excessive pressure 
from building up beneath scoops 104 and 106. 
Rear scoop 106 has inboard segments 116 affixed to main body 102 and 
outboard segments 120 which are pivotally or hingedly attached to inboard 
segment 116. This allows outboard segments 120 to pivot vertically 
relative,to inboard segments 116 to reduce the total width or beam of 
surface effect vehicle 100. This is particularly advantageous for 
transporting surface effect vehicle 100. Cables 121 are attached to 
outboard segments 120 to effect the pivoting of those outboard segments 
120. Cable 121 is reeled in and out by a winch, not shown. Outboard 
segments 120 may be held in position with respect to inboard segments 116 
by retractable pins, also not shown, or cables until outboard segments 120 
are to be pivoted inboard during transport. 
Mounted atop each inboard segment 116 is a motor assembly 122. Each motor 
assembly 122 includes a support 124 affixed to inboard segment 116, an 
engine 126 which drives a propeller 130, as best seen in FIG. 11. 
Propeller 130 is driven to provide propulsion in the longitudinal 
direction. Blades of propeller 130 may be driven forwardly to drive 
surface effect vehicle 100 forwardly, or else, the propeller may be 
reversed to move surface effect vehicle 100 in a rearward direction. Also, 
the amount Of propulsion provided by each propeller 130 can be varied to 
turn or rotate vehicle 100 in one direction or the other. 
Each of forward scoop 104 and rear scoop 106 is again of the reverse delta 
wing configuration described in the first embodiment and has an angle of 
attack of 16.degree. to induce a stall condition. As best seen in FIG. 11, 
forward Scoop 104 has a trailing edge 132 which extends generally parallel 
with a surface to be traversed, and then scoop 104 rises forwardly to an 
arched leading edge 134. The ground or water surface and leading edge 134 
define a forwardly facing opening 136. A front skirt 140 is hingedly 
suspended from leading edge 134 to cover front opening 136. Front skirt 
140 may be made of a flexible material such as canvas or a fiberglass 
reinforced plastic. In FIG. 11, skirt 140 is shown on the left half of 
vehicle 100 in an extended position covering front opening 136. On the 
right half, skirt 140 is shown in a second retracted position uncovering 
front opening 136. 
Skirt 140 may be captured between leading edge 134 using an elongate 
clamping plate (not shown) which is periodically bolted to leading edge 
134 to effect a seal between skirt 140 and leading edge 134. The 
flexibility of skirt 140 provides for the hinging action of skirt 140 
relative to scoop 104. 
Similarly, rear scoop 106 has a trailing rear edge 142 extending parallel 
with the surface to be traversed. Rear scoop 106 then extends and rises 
forwardly terminating in a leading edge 144. A front opening 146 is 
defined between leading edge 144 and the ground or water surface. A rear 
skirt 150 is hingedly suspended from leading edge 144 covering opening 
146. Skirt 150 may be clampingly bolted to leading edge 144 using a 
clamping strip as well. 
Front cables 147 and rear cables 149 are laterally spaced and extend 
between forward scoop 104 and rear scoop 106 and respective front and rear 
skirts 140 and 150 so that front and rear skirts 140 and 150 cannot swing 
or billow too far forwardly, thereby preventing front and rear openings 
136 and 146 from becoming uncovered. 
Referring now to FIG. 10, a front fan 152 and a pair of laterally spaced 
rear fans 154 are disposed within openings 153 and 155 in the front end of 
main body 102 and front scoop 104 and inboard segments 116 of rear scoop 
106. Front and rear fans 152 and 154 are aligned such that when the fans 
are operated, air is drawn through front fan 152 and rear fans 154 to 
force air within the closed regions bounded by the ground surface and 
forward scoop 104 and extended front skirt 140 and rear scoop 106 and 
extended rear skirt 150. When pressurized, these closed regions cause 
surface effect vehicle 100 to lift relative to the surface to be 
traversed. 
Looking now to FIGS. 9 and 10, front and rear skirts 140 and 150 are 
allowed to billow slightly forwardly. The pressurized air beneath the 
scoops is forced to exit beneath the trailing edges 132 and 142 and 
beneath extended front and rear skirts 140 and 150. This is schematically 
demonstrated in FIG. 12 where air flows through opening 155 into the 
closed region and out beneath trailing edge 142 and rear skirt 150. 
FIG. 9 illustrates that surface effect vehicle 100 has a cockpit 160 and a 
passenger compartment 162 having a number of seats 164. Again, cockpit 160 
should be streamlined with main body 102. 
Front and rear outboard motors 170 and 172, attached to body 102, are used 
to allow surface effect vehicle 100 to troll through water. When front and 
rear outboard motors 170 and 172 are not in use, they can be pivoted 
horizontally out of engagement with the traversed surface. Also, wheels 
may be provided beneath scoops 104 and 106 and body 102 to allow vehicle 
100 to roll across a ground surface. 
In operation, front fan 152 in the front end of main body 102 and rear fans 
154 in rear scoop 106 are activated to blow air and pressurize beneath 
forward and rear scoops 104 and 106. This causes front and rear skirts 140 
and 150 to billow forwardly with air passing beneath trailing edges 132 
and 142 of front and rear scoops 104 and 106 and extended front and rear 
skirts 140 and 150. Cables 147 and 149 prevent skirts 140 and 150 from 
swinging forwardly and uncovering forwardly facing openings 136 and 146. 
This localized region of increased pressure causes surface effect vehicle 
100 to lift relative to the water or ground surface. Accordingly, there is 
little frictional resistance between surface effect vehicle 100 and the 
ground or water surface. 
Once surface effect vehicle 100 is lifted relative to the surface, 
propellers 130 are driven by engines 126 to effect forward movement of 
surface effect vehicle 100 with respect to the surface. Upon reaching a 
sufficient speed, front and rear fans 152 and 154 are deactivated allowing 
front and rear skirts 140 and 150 to freely swing rearwardly as air is 
driven beneath front and rear scoops 104 and 106. Skirts 140 and 150 are 
designed to fold back and cover fan openings 153 and 155 to prevent air 
from escaping therethrough when surface effect vehicle 100 is moving 
forwardly at a sufficient speed. FIG. 12 schematically illustrates skirt 
150 in its extended and, in phantom retracted positions. 
When surface effect vehicle 100 is to be stopped, propellers 130 are 
deactivated and front and rear fans 152 and 154 are again activated. This 
causes front and rear skirts 140 and 150 to extend forwardly creating the 
closed regions between front and rear scoops 104 and 106 and the ground 
surface. Front and rear fans 152 and 154 can then be slowed to allow the 
surface effect vehicle 100 to gently rest upon the ground or water 
surface. 
While the foregoing specification of this invention has been described in 
relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and many details have 
been set forth for purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those 
skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to additional 
embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied 
considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention. 
For example, although not preferred, the invention could be altered to 
provide a single scoop having a skirt thereon and a fan in the scoop to 
pressurize beneath the scoop.