US3511331A - Skirts for vehicles propelled on air cushions - Google Patents

Skirts for vehicles propelled on air cushions Download PDF

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Publication number
US3511331A
US3511331A US655940A US3511331DA US3511331A US 3511331 A US3511331 A US 3511331A US 655940 A US655940 A US 655940A US 3511331D A US3511331D A US 3511331DA US 3511331 A US3511331 A US 3511331A
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United States
Prior art keywords
skirt
flexible elements
skirts
stresses
sheet
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Expired - Lifetime
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US655940A
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English (en)
Inventor
Roger H Landry
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.)
Pneumatiques Caoutchouc Manufacture et Plastiques Kleber Colombes SA
Original Assignee
Pneumatiques Caoutchouc Manufacture et Plastiques Kleber Colombes SA
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Publication of US3511331A publication Critical patent/US3511331A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60V—AIR-CUSHION VEHICLES
    • B60V1/00—Air-cushion
    • B60V1/16—Flexible skirts

Definitions

  • Skirts 'for vehicles propelled on air cushions must have the following properties and concurrently must satisfy the following requirements: (a) they must be light in weight and yet adapted to withstand any exterior influences, for example, that due to tension, stress, environmental conditions, etc., (b) they must be flexible in order to adjust without difliculty to the obstacles which may be present or which may be produced on the surface of the ground (c) the walls of the skirt should nevertheless be sufiiciently strong and possess a sort of spring action so that they will return to their original position close to the surface of the ground as soon as the obstacle has been cleared by the vehicle and (d) they must substantially preserve their geometric shape for the entire period of time they are utilized.
  • An object of the present invention is to avoid the prior art disadvantages in skirts for vehicles which are displaced on cushions of air.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide skirts for vehicles displaced on cushions of air which are light in weight and yet adapted to withstand exterior influences.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide skirts for vehicles displaced on cushions of air which are 3,511,331 Patented May 12, 1970 flexible, strong, and possess a sort of spring action which returns them to their original position close to the surface of the ground after the obstacle has been traversed by the vehicle.
  • skirts which comprise an inner framework containing sheets covered on the sides thereof with an elastomeric layer or coating.
  • the inner framework is made of flexible elements which are separated from each other and disposed in the direction of the stresses or the components of the stresses to which the skirt is subjected during operation of the vehicle, in such a manner that as many as possible of these flexible elements operate under the same conditions.
  • the framework generally comprises at least two superimposed sheets or layers of flexible elements which are not woven and are substantially inextensible, or show little tendency therefor.
  • the flexible elements of one sheet or layer are substantially disposed as described hereinabo-ve, that is in the direction of some of the stresses, while the elements of the other sheet or layer are disposed in the direction of the other stresses to which the skirt is exposed.
  • the flexible elements constituting each layer or sheet are made from fibers having a limited amount of elongation, for example, glass fibers or rayon fibers. It has been observed that this feature makes it possible to obtain skirts which are light and flexible and virtually nondeformable, and which have a high mechanical strength while at the same time displaying the kind of spring action which is necessary to permit them to return to their original position as soon as the obstacle has been traversed by the vehicle.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a skirt as proposed by the present invention
  • FIG. 2 illustrates another type of skirt according tothe present invention
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a further type of skirt according to the present invention
  • FIG. 4 illustrates the alignment of the filaments of one layer or sheet in another skirt according to the present invention
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a different alignment of the filaments according to another embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an improved arrangement imparting to the skirts a greater degree of elasticity
  • FIG. 8 illustrates a skirt with multiple lobes enclosing or surrounding smaller skirts.
  • the skirts have the shape of truncated cones. However, it is to be understood that the present invention is also applicable to any other desired shape of the skirts.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 are directed to embodiments wherein the skirts have the shape of straight truncated cones
  • FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 refer to embodiments of the present invention wherein the skirts have the shape of oblique truncated cones.
  • All of the skirts are composed of a framework covered with an elastomeric coating or layer on both sides thereof.
  • the framework for the skirt shown in FIG. 1 comprises two superimposed sheets or layers of fibers, for example, glass fibers.
  • the flexible elements of one sheet or layer are arranged according to circles which are substantially parallel to the bases of the truncated cone, that is, in the direction of lines 1 of FIG. 1.
  • the flexible element of the other sheet or layer of the framework are arranged according to the generatraces in the direction of lines 2 of FIG. 1.
  • the flexible elements disposed in the direction of lines 1 resist the lateral stresses which are due to the pressure at the inside of the skirt, Whereas those disposed in the direction of lines 2 resist the stresses directed downwardly and resulting from the surface difference between the two bases.
  • the flexible elements of the frame are oriented in the direction of the stresses to which they are commonly subjected.
  • the skirt shown in FIG. 1 is made from a conventional woven fabric coated with an elastomer
  • the frame would be composed of the filaments of the fabric which intersect each other at right angles and which have a uniform spacing with respect to each other. This would not have been significant with respect to the sheet having flexible elements oriented as circles parallel to the bases of the truncated cone. However, the other sheet would not have flexible elements oriented according to the generatrices. Accordingly, the skirt has a lower mechanical resistant and substantial deformations are produced when the skirt is used.
  • a skirt such as the one shown in FIG. 1, that is, in the form of a truncated cone, can be produced in the following manner.
  • a layer of an elastomeric material for example, rubber or an analogous material, is applied to one sheet of the framework which forms concentric circular arcs and which when shaped as a skirt forms concentric circles substantially parallel to the bases of the truncated cone.
  • a new layer of elastomer is applied to the coated sheet of framework and upon this layer is placed another sheet of framework according to the radii of the circular arcs of the first sheet, that is, in the finished skirt the flexible elements of the sheet are disposed according to the generatrices.
  • a new layer of elastomer is then placed upon this latter framework and the composite is thereafter vulcanized.
  • the skirt is then made by shaping the composite into a desired shape, for example, a truncated cone.
  • a desired shape for example, a truncated cone.
  • the flexible elements disposed according to the generatrices (line 2) were extended, they would intersect at the apex of the truncated cone.
  • the vulcanizing operation may be dispensed with it, instead of utilizing rubber, either selfvulcanizable materials or synthetic materials are employed.
  • Flexible elements which are resistant to elongation and which can be used to produce the framework of the skirt according to the present invention include glass fibers, for example, fiberglass, metal fibers and any of the natural or synthetic materials which are also resistant to elongation.
  • the natural fibers include those of animal or vegetable origin, for example, cotton, wool, silk, natural cellulose, etc.
  • the synthetic fibers may comprise rayon, regenerated cellulose, saponified acetate fibers, nylon 6 obtained by the condensation of caprolactam, nylon 66 obtained by the condensation of hexamethylenediamine with adipic acid, saran obtained by the polymerization of vinyl compounds, for example, vinylidene chloride or copolymers thereof with other unsaturated monomers, protein fibers, for example, Vicara obtained from corn protein, Acrilan which is a synthetic fiber made from acrylonitrile, Dacron which is a synthetic polyester fiber made from methyl terephthalate and ethylene glycol.
  • Dynel which is a copolymer of vinyl chloride and acrylonitrile, Orlon, which is a synthetic fiber made from acrylonitrile, Vinyon HH which is a synthetic fiber made from a copolymer of vinyl acetate and vinyl chloride, and other like materials.
  • the preferred fibers are glass fibers or rayon fibers.
  • the elastomeric material used for coating the framework can include any of the vulcanizable materials, for example, rubber or analogous materials and also selfvulcanizable materials as well as certain synthetic materials, for example, synthetic resins which are light in weight and possess the properties of elasticity, flexibility, and suflicient strength to absorb the stresses and forces encountered in traversing the terrain.
  • Suitable materials include polyolefins, e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, etc., polyesters, e.g., polyethylene terephthalate, etc., polyvinyl materials, e.g., polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, etc., acrylate resins, e.g., polymethylmethacrylate, phenolic resins, e.g., phenol formaldehyde resins, urea formaldehyde resins, etc., polyurethane resins, and copolymers of these materials with one another or with ethylenically unsaturated monomers, and similar type polymers.
  • polyolefins e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.
  • polyesters e.g., polyethylene terephthalate, etc.
  • polyvinyl materials e.g., polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, etc.
  • acrylate resins
  • the flexible elements of the present invention may be in the form of filaments, strands, cables, bands, etc. As has been indicated hereinabove, it is advantageous to use glass filaments with a slight torsion or rayon having a slight elongation in conjunction with the elastomeric material in forming the skirts of the present invention.
  • the framework of the skirt illustrated in FIG. 2 is similar to that shown in FIG. 1.
  • the skirt according to FIG. 2 is made by placing a layer of elastomer, for example, rubber, upon a mold and winding thereon a continuous filament or band which, being positioned in the direction of line 3, constitutes in the framework the sheet or nap which resists the transverse stresses.
  • a layer of elastomer for example, rubber
  • the flexible elements of this sheet or nap of the framework do not form true circles parallel to the bases.
  • the angle which they form with the bases is sutficiently slight that they operate under the same conditions as the flexible elements of the skirt of FIG. 1 positioned according to lines 1.
  • the skirt shown in FIG. 3 has the shape of a truncated cone being oblique and not having an axis of symmetry.
  • the framework is made up of two superimposed sheets or naps, the flexible elements of one of these sheets having the form of circles being substantially parallel to the bases (line 5), and the flexible elements of the other sheet being disposed according to the generatrices (line 6).
  • This skirt may be manufactured in the same manner as that shown in FIG. 1, and, as is the case with the skirt shown in FIG. 1. if the flexible elements disposed according to the generatrices (line 6) were extended, they would intersect at the apex of the oblique truncated cone shown in FIG. 3.
  • skirts having the shape of an oblique truncated cone to orient the flexible elements of the framework, which are designed to resist the lateral forces or stresses, in the direction of these lines. This renders it possible not only to cause these flexible elements to operate under the best possible conditions, but also to make the skirt lighter by providing at the different parts of the framework only the resistance which is necessary to absorb the forces or stresses to which they are exposed.
  • the directions of the reinforcing flexible elements 8 and 9 correspond to those of the components of the stresses.
  • the angles of intersection of the elements are variable in the downward direction of the skirt.
  • the framework of the skirts is made from two sheets or naps. It is obvious that more than two such sheets or naps could be provided without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. This is particularly the case if a single sheet or nap does not provide suflicient resistance to the stresses or forces to which the skirt is subjected.
  • the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown and described herein. More particularly, it may be applied in other forms or shapes of skirts, and FIG. 8 shows by way of example the application thereof to a skirt 12 having multiple lobes surrounding or enclosing smaller skirts 13.
  • a skirt for vehicles propelled and supported on at least one pressurized air cushion comprising at least two sheets separated from each other by an elastomeric layer, each sheet formed by flexible elements separated from each other and the flexible elements of each of said sheets having a direction oriented to resist orthogonally related groups of forces, the flexible elements in each of said sheets being interconnected by the elastomeric layer which separates said sheets, the flexible elements of said sheets being disposed in the direction to resist said forces to which said skirt is subjected to by said pressurized air cushion, the flexible elements of one of said sheets being disposed in the direction to resist one of said group of orthogonally related forces while the flexible elements of the other of said sheets are disposed in a direction to resist the other orthogonally related forces.
  • skirt of claim 1 in the form of a truncated cone, wherein the flexible elements of one sheet are disposed according to the generatrices of said cone and the flexible elements of the other sheet are continuous filaments which form a helix with respect to the bases of said cone.
  • each of said sheets comprises at least two partially overlapping panels interconnected by means of a flexible joint between the overlapping portions of said panels.
  • a skirt in the form of a truncated cone, for vehicles propelled on air cushions which comprises at least two sheets separated from each other by an elastomeric layer, each sheet being formed by flexible elements separated from each other and having a direction oriented to resist specific forces and stresses, the flexible elements of said sheets being interconnected by the elastomeric layer which separates said sheets, the flexible elements of one sheet being disposed according to the generatrices of said truncated cone while the flexible elements of the other sheet are disposed substantially parallel to the bases of the cone.
  • the flexible element is a filament which possesses a limited amount of elongation selected from the group consisting of glass fibers, metallic fibers, natural fibers and synthetic fibers.
  • the elastomeric layer is selected from the group consisting of a vulcanizable rubber, a self-vulcanizable material or a synthetic resin.
  • each of said sheets comprises at least two partially overlapping panels interconnected by means of a flexible joint between the overlapping portions of said panels.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)
  • Diaphragms And Bellows (AREA)
US655940A 1966-07-25 1967-07-25 Skirts for vehicles propelled on air cushions Expired - Lifetime US3511331A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR70792A FR1501780A (fr) 1966-07-25 1966-07-25 Jupes pour véhicules se déplaçant sur coussins d'air

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3511331A true US3511331A (en) 1970-05-12

Family

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Family Applications (1)

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US655940A Expired - Lifetime US3511331A (en) 1966-07-25 1967-07-25 Skirts for vehicles propelled on air cushions

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US3511331A (fr)
BE (1) BE701799A (fr)
ES (1) ES343344A1 (fr)
FR (1) FR1501780A (fr)
GB (1) GB1173933A (fr)
LU (1) LU54149A1 (fr)
NL (1) NL6710177A (fr)
OA (1) OA02656A (fr)
SE (1) SE306240B (fr)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3608664A (en) * 1968-05-08 1971-09-28 British Hovencraft Corp Ltd Cushion barriers for air cushion vehicles
US3620325A (en) * 1967-06-08 1971-11-16 Marthe Marie Louis Arsandaux Deformable skirting system for surface effect machine
US3643757A (en) * 1968-05-09 1972-02-22 Aeroglisseurs Marins Flexible skirts for surface-effect machines
US3677361A (en) * 1969-05-19 1972-07-18 Aeroglisseurs Marins Pressure fluid confining facility for ground-effect machine
US3690401A (en) * 1970-09-25 1972-09-12 Textron Inc Air cushion support space defining structure and stocksheet fabrication therefor
US3779334A (en) * 1972-06-07 1973-12-18 Aerojet General Co Cells for fluid cushion vehicles
US3966012A (en) * 1974-02-21 1976-06-29 British Hovercraft Corporation Limited Air cushion vehicles
US4494473A (en) * 1983-07-06 1985-01-22 Textron Inc. Surface effect ship stern seal
US5119897A (en) * 1989-07-25 1992-06-09 Takumi Moriwake Means for mounting a skirt on an air cushion vehicle
US20050176320A1 (en) * 2003-02-06 2005-08-11 Holland John E. Abrasion-resistant sheet material

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2125147B1 (fr) * 1971-02-12 1974-09-27 Kleber Colombes

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2151307A (en) * 1938-01-17 1939-03-21 Walter G L Smith Reinforced hose and method of constructing the same
US2377650A (en) * 1942-10-24 1945-06-05 Goodrich Co B F Belt
US2698032A (en) * 1949-02-09 1954-12-28 Dayton Rubber Company Check strap for looms
US3211246A (en) * 1961-09-13 1965-10-12 Vickers Armstrongs Ltd Air cushion vehicle
US3254731A (en) * 1962-03-08 1966-06-07 Ford Motor Co Vehicle skirt element for ground effect vehicle
US3339655A (en) * 1965-05-26 1967-09-05 Bertin & Cie Skirts for surface effect devices to reduce drag and air cushion disturbances
US3388766A (en) * 1962-01-11 1968-06-18 Bertin & Cie Fluid cushion device for ground effect vehicles and the like

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2151307A (en) * 1938-01-17 1939-03-21 Walter G L Smith Reinforced hose and method of constructing the same
US2377650A (en) * 1942-10-24 1945-06-05 Goodrich Co B F Belt
US2698032A (en) * 1949-02-09 1954-12-28 Dayton Rubber Company Check strap for looms
US3211246A (en) * 1961-09-13 1965-10-12 Vickers Armstrongs Ltd Air cushion vehicle
US3388766A (en) * 1962-01-11 1968-06-18 Bertin & Cie Fluid cushion device for ground effect vehicles and the like
US3254731A (en) * 1962-03-08 1966-06-07 Ford Motor Co Vehicle skirt element for ground effect vehicle
US3339655A (en) * 1965-05-26 1967-09-05 Bertin & Cie Skirts for surface effect devices to reduce drag and air cushion disturbances

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3620325A (en) * 1967-06-08 1971-11-16 Marthe Marie Louis Arsandaux Deformable skirting system for surface effect machine
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
US3677361A (en) * 1969-05-19 1972-07-18 Aeroglisseurs Marins Pressure fluid confining facility for ground-effect machine
US3690401A (en) * 1970-09-25 1972-09-12 Textron Inc Air cushion support space defining structure and stocksheet fabrication therefor
US3779334A (en) * 1972-06-07 1973-12-18 Aerojet General Co Cells for fluid cushion vehicles
US3966012A (en) * 1974-02-21 1976-06-29 British Hovercraft Corporation Limited Air cushion vehicles
US4494473A (en) * 1983-07-06 1985-01-22 Textron Inc. Surface effect ship stern seal
US5119897A (en) * 1989-07-25 1992-06-09 Takumi Moriwake Means for mounting a skirt on an air cushion vehicle
US20050176320A1 (en) * 2003-02-06 2005-08-11 Holland John E. Abrasion-resistant sheet material
US7498278B2 (en) * 2003-02-06 2009-03-03 Honeywell International Inc. Abrasion-resistant sheet material

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR1501780A (fr) 1967-11-18
SE306240B (fr) 1968-11-18
LU54149A1 (fr) 1968-03-14
NL6710177A (fr) 1968-01-26
OA02656A (fr) 1970-12-15
GB1173933A (en) 1969-12-10
ES343344A1 (es) 1968-09-01
BE701799A (fr) 1968-01-25

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