Patent GB-1072731-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to gas-cushion vehicles
Inventor: COCKERELL CHRISTOPHER SYDNEY
IPC: B60V1/00
Filed: 1963-06-21
Abstract: 1,072,731. Air cushion vehicles. HOVERCRAFT DEVELOPMENT Ltd. June 18, 1964 [June 21, 1963], No. 24819/63. Heading B7K. An air cushion vehicle has a depending movable wall structure, means for moving the wall structure vertically, means for detecting the application of unwanted dynamic forces to the vehicle, which forces result in a decrease in clearance between the vehicle and the surface over which it operates, and control means operative so as to move the wall structure downwardly where the clearance between the vehicle body and the said surface is decreased whereby vertically-acting restoring forces are applied to the vehicle in opposition to said unwanted forces. The vehicle is constructed as a plenum chamber type with the cushion space (1) (Fig. 1, not shown) enclosed by a plurality of inflatable members (2) extending from the front, along the sides, and by an inflatable member (3) which extends across the back of the vehicle. Members (2) are inflated from a pressurized chamber (5) which communicates with a sub-divided duct (4) through control valves (7), the chamber (5) supplying air also to the cushion space (1). An attitude detecting device (10), e.g. gyros and accelerometers, actuates a system (11) for controlling the operation of valves (7). Deviation from a datum attitude results in more or less air being supplied through valves (7) to individual groups of the members (2) whereby they are either extended or retracted to cause them to react with the operating surface and restore the vehicle to its datum attitude. The members (2) may have apertures at their lower ends to provide a fluid curtain and the inflatable member (3) may comprise a panel hinged at its forward edge about a transverse axis whereby it may be moved upwardly by a jack, curtainforming nozzles being formed in the base of the panel. The members (2) may be attached to an impermeable diaphragm. In Fig. 8 the cushion space 50 is bounded by a structure 51 and a fluid curtain 52, structure 51 comprising an upper inflatable bag 53 and, attached to the lower part of the bag, a series of separate channel shaped sections of flexible material. Ducts 55, 56 extend outside the structure 51 from a compressor 57 which supplies air for a curtain 52. A further compressor 59 supplies air through ducts 58 to inflate bag 53, which may be drawn upwardly against inflation pressure by a plurality of cords 60 connected to jacks 63. The jacks 63 may be actuated in response to deviations of attitude of the vehicle, but in the embodiment actuation is responsive to pressure changes in ducts 56, detected by pressure heads 65, 66 which connect through chambers 67, 68 to opposite sides of a capsule 69 which actuates valves 74, 75 controlling the operation of jacks 63. A trimming mechanism may override the automatic control mechanism. An arrangement (Fig. 9, not shown) is described in which pressure heads in the base of the vehicle detect deviation in pitch and roll and actuate a part of the vehicle aft of the detecting point to correct the deviation. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 935,825.