US3578768A - Partitioning system for fluid cushions in ground effect machines - Google Patents

Partitioning system for fluid cushions in ground effect machines Download PDF

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Publication number
US3578768A
US3578768A US740498A US3578768DA US3578768A US 3578768 A US3578768 A US 3578768A US 740498 A US740498 A US 740498A US 3578768D A US3578768D A US 3578768DA US 3578768 A US3578768 A US 3578768A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
cushion
dihedral
confining system
daylight
confining
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
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US740498A
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English (en)
Inventor
Francois L Giraud
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.)
Societe detude de l'Aerotrain
Aerotrain SA
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Aerotrain 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 Aerotrain SA filed Critical Aerotrain SA
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3578768A publication Critical patent/US3578768A/en
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60V—AIR-CUSHION VEHICLES
    • B60V1/00—Air-cushion
    • B60V1/16—Flexible skirts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60V—AIR-CUSHION VEHICLES
    • B60V3/00—Land vehicles, waterborne vessels, or aircraft, adapted or modified to travel on air cushions
    • B60V3/02—Land vehicles, e.g. road vehicles
    • B60V3/04—Land vehicles, e.g. road vehicles co-operating with rails or other guiding means, e.g. with air cushion between rail and vehicle

Definitions

  • the present invention has for its object an improved partitioning system for the fluid cushions provided for sustaining and/or guiding a ground effect machine.
  • such a partitioning system includes two elementary partitions forming an angle transversely between them and extending thus in two planes sloping with reference to a line normal to the surface against which the cushion bears, said elementary angularly set partitions being adapted to pivot in unison under the action of a difference in pressure to either side of said partitioning system, thereby to produce in cooperation with said bearing surface a clearance which varies in accordance with the pivotal angle assumed by said elementary partitions.
  • the compressed fluid cushions are confined within bell-shaped areas of which the sidewalls are movable with reference to the machine frame.
  • elastic means are provided for holding the elementary angularly set partitions in a predetermined position cooperating with the bearing surface.
  • the relative movements of the elementary partitions with reference to tionoperated damping means for'instance.
  • FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a cushionfomiing space defined by movable sidewalls, said cross section passing through line II-II of FIG. 3,.
  • FIG. 3 is a cross section through line III-III of FIG. 2. 7
  • FIG. 4 is a cross section taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 2 and illustrating a first embodiment of partitioning system according to the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a similar view of an alternative, preferred embodiment of such system.
  • FIG. 6 is a further similar view of another alternative embodiment of such system.
  • FIG. 7 is a cross section of an intermediate partitioning system through line VIIVII of FIG. 2.
  • a track I which is in the shape of an inverted T and includes an axial rail provided with vertical surfaces facing opposite directions at 6a, 6b and two projecting carrier flanges the upper surfaces of which 40, 4b are substantially horizontal.
  • a movable part or machine 2 constituted by a vehicle in the case considered cooperates with said track. It is carried above said track by cushions 3a, 3!) bearing on the substantially horizontal surfaces 40, 4b of the track rail, while it is guided by cushions 5a, 5b extending along the substantially vertical surfaces 60, 6b of the track.
  • the different cushions associated with the vehicle are fed with compressed fluid produced by generators which are not illustrated.
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 there is shown a cushion confined laterally by movable sidewalls 7 and subdivided transversely by partitions 8 designed in accordance with the invention.
  • Said cushion is assumed to be a sustaining cushion. but it may as well form a guiding cushion.
  • the sidewalls made of an advantageously deformable material are secured to an angle bar 9.
  • the arrangement including the sidewall 7 and angle bar 9 is secured pivotally to a rod I0 of which the end 10a extends through the folded lugs II and I2 rigid respectively with the actual frame 13 of the vehicle and with the sidewall and angle bar arrangement.
  • Said rod 10 extends beyond the lug 12 in a direction substantially the machine frame are braked in any suitable manner by M0
  • the rod 10 forms also an elastic member urging the sidewall 7 towards the bearing surface 4 provided by the track.
  • end 10b of said rod engages, through the agency of a friction pad 15, the plate 16 rigid with the vehicle frame. It should be remarked that the ends 101; and 10b of the rod 10 are thus held in two clearly distinct geometrical planes. Consequently, the rod 10 forms a spring operating against twisting the frictional pad 15 and plate 16 forming a frictionoperated damping means.
  • a yielding wall 17 secured on the one and to the frame 13 of the vehicle and on the other hand to the angle bar 9 provides for complete transverse fluidtightness
  • each cushion may be confined by a succession of independent lateral walls such as 7a, 717, each wall being held by and pivotally securedto the rods 10 forming springs and inserted in opposite head and tail relationship.
  • FIG. 4 shows a partitioning system according to the invention. It should be remarked that the application of such partitions is by no means limited to a transverse subdivision and that, generally speaking, such partitions may be used for longitudinally and/or transversely subdividing the cushion.
  • the improved partition 8 provided in accordance with the invention includes two elementary partitions l8 and 19 which are preferably deformable and held in planes which slope with 1 reference to a line perpendicular to the bearing surface 4 of the track, as provided by the angle bar 20 rigidly interconnecting the elementary partitions.
  • the adjacent edge portions 21 of any two cooperating partitions I8, 19 are rigidly secured together by rivets 22 to a deformable diaphragm 23 which is carried in its turn by a rigid wall 24 secured in the vehicle frame, for instance by means of an angle bar 25.
  • the clearance 26 defined between the elementary partitions l8 and 19 on the one hand and the bearing surface 4 on the other hand is reduced when said partitions execute simultaneously a rotation as allowed by the deformable diaphragm 23, so that one of said elementary partitions assumes a position nearer aposition perpendicular to the bearing surface 4.
  • the complex partition 8 subdivides the space formed between the sidewalls 7 into two compartments 27 and 28.
  • the clearance 26 may in such a case be comparatively large without this resulting in any detrimental action on the stability of the vehicle.
  • the partition 19 assumes thus a position nearer a normal to the surface 4 of the track and consequently the clearance 26 between said partition and the track is reduced, which leads to a constriction of the passageway afforded for the flow of fluid from the compartment 28 towards the compartment 27 and thus the two compartments are cut off to a substantial extent with reference to each other.
  • the partitioning system includes two elementary partitions 36, 37 which are advantageously deformable and held in planes sloping with reference to a line normal to the bearing surface 4 for the cushions sustaining the machine, said elementary partitions being carried by means of an angle bar or stay 38 to which said partitions are secured for instance by bolts or rivets 38.
  • the angle bar 38 is pivotally secured at 40 to a plate 41 which is carried in its turn by a rigid wall 42 secured to the machine frame, for instance by means of a further angle bar 43.
  • spring blades 44 and 45 which in the example illustrated are held by a nutand-bolt system 46 serving also for securing the plate 41 to the rigid stationary wall 42.
  • said manner of securing the springs 44 and 45 is not essential and may be modified as required.
  • the spring blades 44 and 45 are constituted by elastic blades the free ends of which engage the elementary partitions 36 and 37.
  • the clearance 26 defined between the partitions 36 or 37 and the bearing surface 4 is reduced whenever said partitions execute together a rotation round the pivotal connection 40.
  • the rocking movement of said partitions is braked by the springs 44 and 45 on the one hand by means of their elasticity and on the other hand by reason of the fact that during their rotation the partitions 36 and 37 move with reference to said springs, the friction between the partitions 36 or 37 and the corresponding springs 44 or 46 cooperating in the damping of the rotary movement.
  • the partitioning system includes two elementary partitions 47 and 48 which are advantageously deformable and held in planes sloping with reference to a line normal to the bearing surface 4 for the cushion sustaining the machine, said partitions being secured to an angle bar or stay 49 by rivets S0.
  • the whole system is connected with the machine frame by two yielding strips 51 and 52 secured to a rigid wall 53 which is itself carried by the machine frame, for instance through the agency of an angle bar 54.
  • a rigid plate 59 is inserted between the two yielding strips 51 and 52 in the area where the latter are to join the wall 53.
  • the clearance 26 defined between the partitions 47 and 48 and the bearing surface 4 is reduced when said partitions execute simultaneously a pivotal movement allowed by the yielding strips 51 and 52.
  • the pivotal movement of said partitions is limited by the stationary plate 59 and is thus clamped by the shock absorber 57.
  • the sidewall 7 is subdivided into two aligned portions 7a and 7b and the same is the case for the fluidtight yielding wall I7 which is subdivided into two portions I7a and 17!); the connection between the pans 17a and 17b is performed substantially in registry with the partitions 30 and 31.
  • a covering sheet 33 which is advantageously elastic is secured by rivets 34 to the parts 17a and 17b of the fluidtight wall 17 and the system of partitions 30, 31 is connected with the partitioncovering sheet 33 by a yielding hinge 35.
  • Said partitions 30, 31 operate in a manner similar to the above-mentioned partitions l8 and 19 located substantially in alignment therewith in the example illustrated.
  • the walls 7 and !7 may also be subdivided into several sections of which the length is advantageously a submultiple of the distance separating two adjacent partitions.
  • a cushion-confining system comprising a partition wall of generally Y-shaped cross section having two angularly spaced branch portions in generally dihedral assembly of substantial constant angle, extending obliquely on opposite sides of an included plane perpendicular to said surface, to end with free edges which are adjacent and substantially parallel to said surface and which define therewith respective daylight clearances, and connecting means for mounting said dihedral assembly to pivot about an axis substantially parallel to said surface whereby angular displacement of said dihedral assembly causes one branch portion thereof to pivot towards said perpendicular plane thus narrowing the corresponding daylight clearance while the other branch portion pivots away from said plane thus widening the corresponding daylight clearance.
  • cushion-confining system as claimed in claim I, wherein said pivotable dihedral assembly has a mean position of rest at which said free edges are at substantially the same distance from said surface and define substantially equal daylight clearances.
  • cushion-confining system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pivotable dihedral assembly, when in said mean position thereof, is generally symmetrical about said perpendicular plane.
  • said partition wall of generally Y-shaped cross section further comprises a stationary, rigid stem portion to which said dihedral assembly is pivotally connected by said mounting means.
  • cushion-confining system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said mounting means comprises a deformable diaphragm secured at spaced locations thereof respectively to said rigid stem portion and to said dihedral assembly.
  • cushion-confining system as claimed in claim 4, further comprising resilient return means extending between said rigid stem portion and said dihedral assembly to urge the latter into said mean position thereof.
  • cushion-confining system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising spacer means extending between said branch portions to keep the same at a substantially constant angular spacing with respect to each other.
  • cushion-confining system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said spacer means comprises a substantially rigid angle bar secured to said branch portions.
  • cushion-confining system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said partition wall constitutes an internal dividing wall between two contiguous pressure fluid cushions whereby said wall is subjected on one side thereof to the pressure of one of said cushions and on the other side thereof to the pressure of the other of said cushions, and said pivotal dihedral assembly is responsive to the difference between said cushion pressures whereby said daylight clearances vary as a function of said pressure difference.
  • said pivotal dihedral assembly being in said mean position thereof with saiddaylight clearances being substantially equal when said cushion pressures are substantially equal.
  • suspension means for movably supporting said sidewalls on said machine relatively to said surface, and for resiliently urging said sidewalls towards said surface.
  • suspension means comprises a bent spring rod hinged to said machine and bearing said sidewalls.
  • cushion-confining system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said suspension means comprises friction means for damping relative movement of said sidewalls.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)
  • Vibration Prevention Devices (AREA)
  • Combined Devices Of Dampers And Springs (AREA)
US740498A 1967-10-04 1968-06-27 Partitioning system for fluid cushions in ground effect machines Expired - Lifetime US3578768A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR123278A FR1545863A (fr) 1967-10-04 1967-10-04 Perfectionnements au cloisonnement de coussins fluides d'une machine à effet de sol
FR155691A FR95205E (fr) 1967-10-04 1968-06-19 Perfectionnements au cloisonnement de coussins fluides d'une machine a effet de sol.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3578768A true US3578768A (en) 1971-05-18

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US740498A Expired - Lifetime US3578768A (en) 1967-10-04 1968-06-27 Partitioning system for fluid cushions in ground effect machines

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3578768A (fr)
BE (2) BE721699A (fr)
CH (2) CH491771A (fr)
DE (2) DE1800818A1 (fr)
ES (2) ES358728A1 (fr)
FR (2) FR1545863A (fr)
GB (2) GB1248055A (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3695383A (en) * 1969-04-10 1972-10-03 Aerotrain Arrangement for securing walls together

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3237708A (en) * 1962-10-12 1966-03-01 Newport News Shipbuilding Air cushion cargo handling apparatus
US3486577A (en) * 1965-10-21 1969-12-30 Arthur M Jackes Axial flow ground effect machine

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3237708A (en) * 1962-10-12 1966-03-01 Newport News Shipbuilding Air cushion cargo handling apparatus
US3486577A (en) * 1965-10-21 1969-12-30 Arthur M Jackes Axial flow ground effect machine

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3695383A (en) * 1969-04-10 1972-10-03 Aerotrain Arrangement for securing walls together

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1800819A1 (de) 1969-06-19
DE1800819B2 (de) 1973-09-13
GB1248055A (en) 1971-09-29
BE721699A (fr) 1969-03-14
ES358729A1 (es) 1970-07-01
DE1800818A1 (de) 1970-05-14
CH491771A (fr) 1970-06-15
FR1545863A (fr) 1968-11-15
DE1800819C3 (de) 1974-04-18
FR95205E (fr) 1970-08-07
GB1248056A (en) 1971-09-29
BE721700A (fr) 1969-03-14
ES358728A1 (es) 1970-06-01
CH481779A (fr) 1969-11-30

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