Ground effect vehicle

• US 4,386,801 A
• Filed: 11/28/1980
• Issued: 06/07/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Team Lotus International Limited
• Original Assignee: Team Lotus International Limited
• Inventors: Wright, Peter G., Chapman, Anthony C. B.
• Primary Examiner(s): SONG, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US06/211,038
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 296/1 S
• US Class Current: 280/107
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/00 Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or surface conditions, e.g. due to speed or load levelling or stabilising systems for tippers B60P1/045
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4308 Protecting guards, e.g. for rigid axle damage protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/02 Trucks; Load vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/27 Racing vehicles, e.g. F1
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/02 Streamlining the undersurfaces B62D35/005, B62D35/007, B62D35/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 37/02 by aerodynamic means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses

Abstract

A wheeled vehicle has an undertray shaped to form a venturi duct with a road or like surface over which the vehicle moves, the undertray being carried in substantially fixed relationship with the wheels, so that the vehicle chassis or body can move relative to the wheels without substantial alteration of the shape of the venturi duct. The undertray can comprise the lower wall of a shell enclosing the vehicle body or chassis.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

body means,

wheel means for supporting the vehicle on a support surface,

suspension means connecting together said body means and said wheel means, said suspension means being adapted to permit relative movement between said wheel means and said body means,

underbody means shaped to co-operate with said support surface to form therewith a venturi duct, and

means mounting said underbody means for movement with said wheel means relative to said body means.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 having axles for said wheel means wherein said underbody means is suspended from said axles by said mounting means.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein said suspension means is adapted to permit movement of at least one of said wheel means relative to the remaining of said wheel means, and said mounting means is adapted to accommodate said relative movement.

4. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein said suspension means is adapted to permit movement of at least one of said wheel means relative to the remaining of said wheel means, and said underbody means is flexible to accommodate said relative movement.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said underbody means has a front portion thereof forming a convex rearwardly curved downward extension of the front surface of said body means.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said underbody means is a part of a shell substantially enclosing said body means.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said underbody means has along each side thereof a downwardly extending side portion having a lower edge spaced from said support surface.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said underbody means has along each side thereof a downwardly extending skirt portion having a lower edge, said skirt portions being adapted to engage said support surface.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein said underbody means has a downwardly open longitudinal slot extending along each side thereof, and said skirt portions are slidable up and down within said slots.