Propulsion and directional control apparatus for an air cushion vehicle

• US 8,925,665 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2014
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles J. Trojahn
• Original Assignee: Charles J. Trojahn
• Inventors: Trojahn, Charles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US14/152,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20140199166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 180/117, 180/123, 244/12.5
• US Class Current: 180/117
• CPC Class Codes: B60V 1/15 using part of the cushion-forming fluid

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling the propulsion and direction of an air cushion vehicle including a housing and a first vane pivotally coupled to the housing and pivotable about a first axis. A second vane assembly including at least one second vane is disposed within the first vane. The second vane assembly is pivotally coupled to the first vane and pivotal about a second axis. The second axis is orthogonal to the first axis. A first actuator is operably coupled to the first vane and a second actuator is operably coupled to the second vane assembly. The first actuator pivots the first vane and the second vane assembly about the first axis. The second actuator pivots the second vane assembly relative to the first vane and about the second axis to control the flow of air through the housing.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling the propulsion and direction of an air cushion vehicle comprising:

a housing;

a first vane pivotally coupled to the housing and pivotable about a first axis, a gap formed between the first vane and housing to form a flow channel to permit the flow of air there between;

a second vane assembly including at least one second vane disposed within the first vane, the second vane assembly is pivotally coupled to the first vane and pivotal about a second axis, the second axis being orthogonal to the first axis; and

a first actuator operably coupled to the first vane and a second actuator operably coupled to the second vane assembly, wherein the first actuator pivots the first vane and the second vane assembly about the first axis and the second actuator pivots the second vane assembly relative to the first vane and about the second axis to control the flow of air through the housing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a fan positionally fixed relative to the housing for moving a stream of air through the housing and past the first vane and second vane assembly.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first vane has an annular configuration.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first vane is concentrically aligned with vanes of the second vane assembly.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first actuator is located outside of the housing.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second actuator is located inside of the housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second vane assembly includes a plurality of vanes each rotating relative to the first vane about a common axis.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second vane assembly includes a plurality of second vanes each rotating relative to the first vane about their own axis and wherein each of the second vane axes are perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the first vane.

9. An apparatus for controlling the propulsion and direction of an air cushion vehicle comprising:

a housing;

a first vane pivotally coupled to the housing and pivotable about a first axis;

a second vane assembly including a plurality of second vanes disposed within the housing and within the first vane, the plurality of second vanes being pivotally coupled to the first vane and each of the plurality of second vanes being pivotal about a second axis generally orthogonal to the first axis, and the plurality of second vanes each pivot about a common axis of rotation; and

a first actuator operably coupled to the first vane and a second actuator operably coupled to the plurality of second vanes, wherein the first actuator pivots the first vane and the second vane assembly about the first axis and the second actuator pivots the plurality of second vanes relative to the first vane about the second axis to control the flow of air through the housing.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of second vanes is concentric to each other.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of second vanes each pivots relative to the first vane about a separate axis.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of second vanes includes planar members spaced from each other.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of second vanes each includes hinge pins operably coupled to the first vane to permit the plurality of second vanes to pivot relative to the first vane.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first vain is pivotally connected to the housing via a hollow shaft.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a control rod extends through the hollow shaft, and a connector rod is operably connected to the plurality of second vanes and the second actuator for moving the plurality of second vanes.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein first actuator is a rotary actuator and the second actuator is a linear actuator.

17. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first vane is generally round.

18. The apparatus of claim 9, further including a fan positionally fixed relative to the housing for moving a stream of air through the housing.

19. A method of controlling the direction of an air cushioned vehicle comprising:

providing an air source to generate an air flow;

directing the air flow past a vane assembly, the vane assembly including a first vane and a plurality of second vanes disposed within the first vane and pivotally secured thereto, the first vane and plurality of second vanes being pivotable about a common first axis of rotation and the plurality of second vanes being pivotable relative to the first vane about a second axis of rotation, wherein the second axis of rotation is offset from the first axis of rotation;

operating a first rotary actuator to pivot the vane assembly about the first axis; and

operating a second linear actuator operably connected to the plurality of second vanes to pivot the second plurality of vanes relative to the first vane to control the flow of air exiting the vane assembly.

20. An apparatus for controlling the propulsion and direction of an air cushion vehicle comprising:

a housing;

a first vane pivotally coupled to the housing and pivotable about a first axis, the first vain being pivotally connected to the housing via a hollow shaft;

a second vane assembly including a plurality of second vanes disposed within the housing and within the first vane, the plurality of second vanes being pivotally coupled to the first vane and each of the plurality of second vanes being pivotal about a second axis generally orthogonal to the first axis; and

a first actuator operably coupled to the first vane and a second actuator operably coupled to the plurality of second vanes, wherein the first actuator pivots the first vane and the second vane assembly about the first axis and the second actuator pivots the plurality of second vanes relative to the first vane about the second axis to control the flow of air through the housing, and wherein a control rod extends through the hollow shaft, and a connector rod is operably connected to the plurality of second vanes and the second actuator for moving the plurality of second vanes.

21. An apparatus for controlling the propulsion and direction of an air cushion vehicle comprising:

a housing;

a first vane pivotally coupled to the housing and pivotable about a first axis;

a second vane assembly including a plurality of second vanes disposed within the housing and within the first vane, the plurality of second vanes being pivotally coupled to the first vane and each of the plurality of second vanes being pivotal about a second axis generally orthogonal to the first axis; and

a first actuator operably coupled to the first vane and a second actuator operably coupled to the plurality of second vanes, wherein the first actuator pivots the first vane and the second vane assembly about the first axis and the second actuator pivots the plurality of second vanes relative to the first vane about the second axis to control the flow of air through the housing, and wherein the first actuator is a rotary actuator and the second actuator is a linear actuator.

22. An apparatus for controlling the propulsion and direction of an air cushion vehicle comprising:

a housing including a perimeter wall having a length extending along a direction of airflow though the housing, the housing having a housing axis extending in the direction of the length;

a first vane pivotally coupled to the housing and pivotable about a first vane axis;

a second vane assembly including at least one second vane disposed within the first vane, the second vane assembly is pivotally coupled to the first vane and pivotal about a second vane axis, the second vane axis being orthogonal to the first vane axis; and

a first actuator operably coupled to the first vane and a second actuator operably coupled to the second vane assembly, wherein the first actuator pivots the first vane and the second vane assembly about the first vane axis such that the first vane axis is pivoted relative to the housing axis, and the second actuator pivots the second vane assembly relative to the first vane and about the second vane axis to control the flow of air through the housing.