US3339657A - Wall device for bounding an air cushion - Google Patents

Wall device for bounding an air cushion Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3339657A
US3339657A US547633A US54763366A US3339657A US 3339657 A US3339657 A US 3339657A US 547633 A US547633 A US 547633A US 54763366 A US54763366 A US 54763366A US 3339657 A US3339657 A US 3339657A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
plate device
cushion
bearing surface
wall means
inner periphery
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US547633A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Bertin Jean Henri
Faure Marc Henri Jean
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bertin Technologies SAS
Original Assignee
Bertin et Cie SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bertin et Cie SA filed Critical Bertin et Cie SA
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3339657A publication Critical patent/US3339657A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60V—AIR-CUSHION VEHICLES
    • B60V1/00—Air-cushion
    • B60V1/04—Air-cushion wherein the cushion is contained at least in part by walls
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60V—AIR-CUSHION VEHICLES
    • B60V1/00—Air-cushion
    • B60V1/16—Flexible skirts

Definitions

  • This invention relates to vehicles supported by at least one pressure-fluid cushion, more particularly vehicles supported by several air cushions each of which is surrounded by a deformable wall made of solid material.
  • the invention relates generally to the obtaining of characteristic stability of a cushion during its dynamic operation, i.e., the elimination of instability resulting in the spontaneous vertical oscillation of the part of the vehicle disposed above the cushion and resting on it, and the entry into resonance of the cushion when the latter is subjected to periodic influences of the sort that occur during the movement of the vehicle at normal speed over undulating ground, land or water.
  • a vehicle with an air cushion has at least one composite envelope comprising two parts, a side wall advantageously sloping outwards towards the top and an annular support plate which is at least substantially flat and horizontal in the norm-a1 position, the side wall being articulated in a sealing-tight manner by its top edge to the outer circumference of the annular support plate and the latter likewise being articulated in a sealing-tight manner on the vehicle proper at its inner circumference and returned to the normal position by any resilient elements known in the field of suspension.
  • the resilient elements are preferably provided with shock absorbers.
  • the side wall and the support plate are advantageously made of materials that are inextensible under the action of the internal pressure of the supporting fluid cushion, so that variations in their external diameter and their local bending in elevation correspond to variations in the volume provided for the cushion which, if they are present at all, are at least negligible compared with the variations in the volume resulting from the movements of the support plate.
  • FIGURE 1 shows a half cross-section of an envelope defining an air cushion according to the invention in the normal operating position
  • FIGURE 2 shows the envelope in the temporarily raised position
  • FIGURES 3 and 4 are two views from below illustrating two modifications, respectively polygonal and circular, of the envelope in FIGURES 1 and 2.
  • FIG. 1 is a platform or the bottom of a vehicle supported by at least one pressure-fluid cushion 2.
  • the latter is fed in any appropriate known manner and I preferably independently of the other cushions, for ex-
  • the cushion is contained by a composite envelope, the structure of which forms the essential part of the invention.
  • This envelope generally designated 5, comprises mainly a side wall 50 and an annular plate 51 supporting this wall, which, seen in plan, has any closed form, for example a circular, rectangular or polygonal one.
  • This wall preferably slopes outwards towards the top, as shown in the drawings. It is made of a material which is inextensible but advantageously deformable, such as fabric coated to make it impermeable.
  • the annular plate 51 is also practically inextensible under the influence of the variations in the pressure of the cushion 2 defined by the composite envelope, but it can be deformed vertically so as to vary the volume of the cushion appropriately.
  • the perimeter of the connecting line of the wall 50 and the plate 51 may comprise several rigid, flat elements 51a, trapezoidal in plan, the radial edges of which have overlapping joints 51b.
  • Articulations or hinges are provided at 53 while the inner circumference of the elements 51a is connected to the platform El, or more exactly to the base of the feed conduit 4, by a diaphragm 52a made of a deformable and advantageously elastic material such as rubber.
  • a band seal 52b also made of rubber, can be associated with the hinges 53 (FIGURES l to 3).
  • the annular plate 51 comprises a simple diaphragm made of radially ribbed metal sheet and advantageously plastics-lined so as to make it stronger and diminish any vertical vibrations of the composite envelope 50, 51.
  • this plate can be secured to the conduit 4 so that it can be deformed vertically, and it may have yieldable connections akin to articulations 521) on its outer circumference.
  • the change of the plate to the position shown in FIGURE 2 (which corresponds to the highest accelerations applied to the platform 1 by its movement over uneven country) may cause its outer perimeter and also that of the wall 50 to be reduced, and this, coupled with its vertical deformation, will reduce the volume of the cushion 2 and temporarily increase the desired damping effect, in spite of the inevitable increase in volume in this case in which the skirt is relatively extensible.
  • Resilient elements 6 and shock absorbers 7 are advantageously disposed between the platform 1 and the plate 51 to keep the latter in a normally approximately horizontal position and prevent resonance due to the characteristic elasticity of the composite envelope made in this way.
  • the plan area defined by the bottom edge 50:: of the wall 50 is greater than the one defined by the articulations at 52a of the plate 51 on the platform.
  • the operation of a composite envelope as described compared with that of conventional inextensible skirts the top edges of which are directly secured to a platform, has the feature that any chance increase in the internal pressure of the fluid cushion 2 tends to act on the difference in the areas mentioned above and to raise the plate 51.
  • this is articulated to the platform along its inner circumference at 52a, it will be raised on the outer side, becoming deformed slightly as shown on FIGURE 2.
  • the volume of the cushion 2 is immediately reduced and the periodic movement of the platform that this pressure increase might cause is quickly diminished.
  • a chance reduction in pressure causes a relative lowering of the outer circumference of the plate 51 and the bottom edge 50a of the Wall 50.
  • the springs 6 and even the shock absorbers 7 can be replaced by light inflatable structures.
  • a pressure responsive, deformable plate device in the general shape of an annulus with an inner periphery adjacent said projected section of said protruding portion and an outer periphery adjacent said cushion confining wall means, said plate device extending to form a substantially fluidtight, cushion bounding physical wall on the side of said pressure fluid cushion opposite to said bearing surface whereby said pressure fluid .cushion is bounded endwise by said plate device and said bearing surface and sidewise by said confining wall means, said plate device being deflectable conical-wise upon exertion of pressure thereon with said outer periphery thereof moving bodily toward and away from said rigid structure while said inner periphery thereof remains in proximity to said projected section of said protruding portion, whereby said outer periphery of said plate device extends entirely on a same side of said inner periphery thereof,
  • second means for hingedly connecting said outer periphery of said plate device to said cushion confining wall means, whereby said wall means move bodily with respect to said inner periphery upon conical-wise deflection of said deformable plate device.
  • Movable body as claimed in claim 1 further comprising resilient return means extending between said rigid structure and said deformable plate device for urging the same to deflect conical-wise about said first hinge means toward said bearing surface.
  • Movable body as claimed in claim 2 further comprising damping means extending between said rigid structure and said deformable plate device and forming, in cooperation with said resilient return means, a suspension system for said cushion confining wall means and plate device hinged assembly on said rigid structure about said first hinge means.
  • said rigid protruding portion comprises a pressure fluid supply duct opening into the space bounded laterally by said cushion confining wall means and endwise by said plate device and said bearing surface, said duct being integral with said rigid structure and being hingedly connected to said plate device through said first means.
  • said cushion confining wall means comprises a skirt made of flaccid, fluidtight material and has a longitudinal outline which tapers toward said bearing surface.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid-Damping Devices (AREA)
  • Mattresses And Other Support Structures For Chairs And Beds (AREA)
  • Vibration Prevention Devices (AREA)
US547633A 1965-05-07 1966-05-04 Wall device for bounding an air cushion Expired - Lifetime US3339657A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR16284A FR1442531A (fr) 1965-05-07 1965-05-07 Perfectionnement aux parois servant à délimiter un coussin d'air

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3339657A true US3339657A (en) 1967-09-05

Family

ID=8578274

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US547633A Expired - Lifetime US3339657A (en) 1965-05-07 1966-05-04 Wall device for bounding an air cushion

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3339657A (fr)
DE (1) DE1290436B (fr)
FR (1) FR1442531A (fr)
GB (1) GB1150162A (fr)
OA (1) OA01959A (fr)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3444951A (en) * 1966-06-15 1969-05-20 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Plural cushion load transporter device
US3463264A (en) * 1966-07-15 1969-08-26 Bertin & Cie Bellows type fluid cushion confining device for surface effect machines
US3608664A (en) * 1968-05-08 1971-09-28 British Hovencraft Corp Ltd Cushion barriers for air cushion vehicles
US3625157A (en) * 1968-06-24 1971-12-07 Tracked Hovercraft Ltd Gas cushion load-supporting device
US3643757A (en) * 1968-05-09 1972-02-22 Aeroglisseurs Marins Flexible skirts for surface-effect machines
US3804197A (en) * 1970-01-26 1974-04-16 Bertin & Cie Fluid-cushion-containing facility for ground effect machine
US3908785A (en) * 1972-02-16 1975-09-30 Jack F Vaughen Air cushion conveyances
US20040244633A1 (en) * 2003-05-08 2004-12-09 Witmer Warner H. Cats-constrained airplane transportation system

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR80047E (fr) * 1961-06-30 1963-03-01 Bertin Et Cie Soc Perfectionnements aux plates-formes volantes à effet de sol
US3119598A (en) * 1962-08-28 1964-01-28 Douglas Aircraft Co Inc Air film supported weighing jack
US3185240A (en) * 1962-01-25 1965-05-25 Vickers Armstrongs Ltd Air-cushion borne vehicles
US3209848A (en) * 1961-07-19 1965-10-05 American Mach & Foundry Air cushion vehicle
US3233692A (en) * 1962-10-27 1966-02-08 Bertin & Cie Gas supply apparatus for ground-effect platforms with multiple air cushions
US3260322A (en) * 1962-01-10 1966-07-12 Gen Motors Corp Multiple pad air cushion support

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB935825A (en) * 1958-09-01 1963-09-04 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Improvements in or relating to vehicles for travelling over land and/or water
US3170530A (en) * 1961-03-23 1965-02-23 Richard W Black Mobile air supported vehicle
NL299079A (fr) * 1962-10-18 1900-01-01
FR1371776A (fr) * 1963-01-24 1964-09-11 Vickers Armstrongs Ltd Perfectionnements apportés aux véhicules se déplaçant sur des coussins d'air

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR80047E (fr) * 1961-06-30 1963-03-01 Bertin Et Cie Soc Perfectionnements aux plates-formes volantes à effet de sol
US3209848A (en) * 1961-07-19 1965-10-05 American Mach & Foundry Air cushion vehicle
US3260322A (en) * 1962-01-10 1966-07-12 Gen Motors Corp Multiple pad air cushion support
US3185240A (en) * 1962-01-25 1965-05-25 Vickers Armstrongs Ltd Air-cushion borne vehicles
US3119598A (en) * 1962-08-28 1964-01-28 Douglas Aircraft Co Inc Air film supported weighing jack
US3233692A (en) * 1962-10-27 1966-02-08 Bertin & Cie Gas supply apparatus for ground-effect platforms with multiple air cushions

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3444951A (en) * 1966-06-15 1969-05-20 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Plural cushion load transporter device
US3463264A (en) * 1966-07-15 1969-08-26 Bertin & Cie Bellows type fluid cushion confining device for surface effect machines
US3608664A (en) * 1968-05-08 1971-09-28 British Hovencraft Corp Ltd Cushion barriers for air cushion vehicles
US3643757A (en) * 1968-05-09 1972-02-22 Aeroglisseurs Marins Flexible skirts for surface-effect machines
US3625157A (en) * 1968-06-24 1971-12-07 Tracked Hovercraft Ltd Gas cushion load-supporting device
US3804197A (en) * 1970-01-26 1974-04-16 Bertin & Cie Fluid-cushion-containing facility for ground effect machine
US3908785A (en) * 1972-02-16 1975-09-30 Jack F Vaughen Air cushion conveyances
US20040244633A1 (en) * 2003-05-08 2004-12-09 Witmer Warner H. Cats-constrained airplane transportation system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
OA01959A (fr) 1970-02-04
DE1290436B (de) 1969-03-06
FR1442531A (fr) 1966-06-17
GB1150162A (en) 1969-04-30

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3414076A (en) Gas-cushion devices intended to support or guide a movable load
US3318405A (en) Flexible skirt deflecting means for ground effect vehicles
US3997151A (en) Modular cushioning pad
US3339657A (en) Wall device for bounding an air cushion
US3291237A (en) Vehicles for travelling over a surface
US3379271A (en) Vehicles for travelling over a surface provided with flexible skirts of differing stiffnesses
US3185240A (en) Air-cushion borne vehicles
US3653651A (en) Suspension systems for vehicles
US3493071A (en) Air cushion supported platforms
US3483939A (en) Skirt for plenum-type air cushion vehicle
CA1049591A (fr) Vehicule sur coussin d'air
GB1230016A (fr)
US3580181A (en) Surface-effect transport support systems
US3327799A (en) Raisable flexible skirt for fluidcushion sustained vehicles
US2981305A (en) Variable pressure pneumatic vehicle tire
US3409103A (en) Gas-cushion vehicles
US3512603A (en) Flexible hulls
US3643757A (en) Flexible skirts for surface-effect machines
US3643758A (en) Skirts for air cushion vehicles
US3467215A (en) Cushion supported vehicles with extensible base area
US3327797A (en) Ground effect vehicle with detachable flexible skirt
GB1210261A (en) Improvements in or relating to air cushion supported platforms
US3444951A (en) Plural cushion load transporter device
US3482645A (en) Gas-cushion devices intended to support or guide a movable load
CA1191526A (fr) Vehicules tous terrains a sustentation pneumatique