Patent GB-1277892-A (GB)
Title: Load bearing air cushion apparatus
Inventor: VAUGHEN JACK FRANCIS
IPC: B60V1/00
Filed: 1969-06-03
Abstract: 1277892 Hover pallets; gangways J F VAUGHEN 3 June 1969 [4 June 1968 28 April 1969] 28021/69 Headings B7J and B7K [Also in Division B8] A hover pallet has a bag type upper skirt 31 depending from its base 2 and a lower flexible skirt in the form of a low profile or high profile brush 28, Fig. 3, or (29), Fig. 4 (not shown), depending from the upper skirt air being supplied through the framework of the base 2 to cushions 11 to 16, Fig. 2. In a first embodiment, Fig. 1 (not shown), platform (2) supports a rigid part cylindrical roof (3) or an inflatable roof (10) to provide shelter when work is being carried out on an aircraft (1). The brush 28 may be mounted on a segmented header comprising a number of stiff cross wise members 35 separated by relatively flexible sections of the reduced thickness 36, Fig. 7 and to prevent the skirt 31 being crushed when the cushion is deflated structural supports 22 are provided. Load pallets (49), Fig. 10 (not shown),  may be placed under cargo bearing auxiliary conveyances (46, 47) which are given the required ground clearance by integral skids (57) or separate blocks (48). The load pallets themselves are tapered and chamfered to allow easy insertion under the conveyances and the containers are moved on-cushion by means of a winch (54). Height and attitude of an upper skirt, 141, Fig. 26, may be altered by means of a cable 157 and to prevent the skirt from ballooning out when it is inflated a primary ring 156 inside the skirt is arranged to "pick-up" secondary rings 163 to 166. In an arrangement for moving load containers, Fig. 22 (not shown), relatively high pressure air is supplied by compressor (122) and utilized to power a jet compressor (124) to provide air at a somewhat lower pressure to supply the cushions beneath load pallets (120). In another embodiment, Fig. 30 (not shown), pallets (172 to 174) are interconnected end to end and high pressure air is supplied by a compressor (175) and allowed to expand in a duct (183). The air may be heated in a heat exchanger by exhaust gases. In this embodiment there are four interconnected skirt assemblies. In a further embodiment, Fig. 43 (not shown), compressed air is supplied by a compressor (306) which may be moved around by forming an air cushion under its base surface air from the compressor supplying a tip-turbine fan (310) mounted on the pallet to supply air to the pallet cushion. In this embodiment the lower skirt (357), Fig. 45 (not shown), is connected to the upper skirt (336) by means of a sliding clasp fastener (363). An embodiment, Fig. 51 (not shown), shows a method of loading a fluid carrying container (372) on to a flat-bed truck (374). Air for the air cushion base (373) of the container is supplied by a compressor (380) mounted on the truck to supply high pressure air via a channel (390) round the base (373), Figs. 56 (not shown), to wedge shaped chambers in which the air is expanded before being supplied to the cushion cells. Other embodiments are disclosed of differing forms of pallets and associated air compressors. In a further embodiment, Fig. 79, a passenger transporter, supported on cushion devices as previously described, comprises a body 621 provided with doors 624, 625 for entry or exit of passeners and gangways provided by fixed stairways or powered escalators 626, 627 to enable the passengers to enter or leave an aircraft.