GIMBAL GROUND EFFECT VEHICLES

• US 3,827,527 A
• Filed: 01/18/1971
• Issued: 08/06/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William R. Bertelsen
• Original Assignee: William R. Bertelsen
• Inventors: Bertelsen, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/107,350
• Time in Patent Office: 1,296 Days
• Field of Search: 180/117,120,121,122 244/12,23R,23A,23B,23C,23D 248/180,182
• US Class Current: 180/120
• CPC Class Codes: B60V 1/043 the walls being flexible skirt details B60V1/16
• CPC Class Codes: B60V 1/15 using part of the cushion-forming fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60V 1/16 Flexible skirts

Abstract

Ground effect vehicles including power means for providing a flow of gas and gimbal mounted flow-directing means for selectively directing the flow of gas into a lift component and a propulsion or control component. The propulsion or control component acts directly from the flow-directing means and is directed over the top of a deck or platform. Single and multiengine versions are disclosed, and eye lid devices which cooperate with the flow-directing means to reduce loss of liftgas are described.

Claims

1. Directional control means for a ground effect vehicle, the ground effect vehicle having a platform, a lift gas chamber beneath the platform, and power means adapted to provide a flow of gas to said lift gas chamber;

said directional control means comprising;

gimbal means including flow-directing means, said power means providing flow of gas to said flow-directing means, an aperture through said platform, said gimbal means mounted on said platform to position said flow-directing means over said aperture to direct the flow of gas from said power means to said lift gas chamber, said gimbal means operable to direct a desired portion of the flow of gas above said platform while still directing sufficient flow through said aperture to said lift gas chamber for supporting said ground effect vehicle and further operable to change the direction of flow of gas over said platform to change the direction of thrust parallel therewith.

2. Directional control means as claimed in claim 1 having a plurality of spaced apart apertures through said platform, and one of said gimbal means positioned with respect to each of said apertures, and each of said gimbal means operable independently to direct the flow of gas from its flow-directing means above said platform in different directions in a plane parallel therewith.

3. Directional control means as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gimbal means includes a ring, a pair of upstanding mounts, said ring being pivotally mounted above said platform between said upstanding mounts, said flow-directing means including a shroud within said ring pivotally connected thereto, said shroud having a closed wall to define a duct, and first and Second control means connected to said ring and said shroud respectively to operate said gimbal means.

4. Directional control means as claimed in claim 3 wherein a portion of said shroud is disposed within said aperture.

5. Directional control means as claimed in claim 4 wherein said wall of said shroud is adapted to extend across said aperture when said gimbal means is controlled to direct a portion of the flow of gas above said platform, the wall thereby restricting said aperture, the wall being moved gradually from its position across said aperture as said flow-directing means is controlled to direct an increasing proportion of the flow of gas into said lift gas chamber.

6. A directional control means as claimed in claim 5 wherein eye lid means is positioned about said wall of said shroud and is movable to extend from said wall to further restrict said aperture.

7. A directional control means as claimed in claim 6 wherein said shroud includes a plurality of eye lid means, each of said eye lid means having a stop to limit the travel of the respective eye lid means.

8. Directional control means as claimed in claim 4 wherein said power means is a motor and fan mounted within said shroud to provide flow of gas, and said first and second control means being operable to tilt said motor and fan for tilting the flow of gas therefrom.

9. A ground effect vehicle as defined in claim 1 wherein an adjustable seat means is movable over said platform for improving trim capabilities of the vehicle.

10. A ground effect vehicle as defined in claim 9 wherein the vehicle has a travelling control station including said seat means, instruments and control movable as a unit.