Abstract: An air cushion vehicle has a substantially-endless downward and inward directed rigid primary nozzle supplied with air under pressure for producing an air curtain that creates and confines a central primary air cushion beneath the vehicle which mainly supports it. The vehicle also has at least two substantially-endless downward and inward directed rigid secondary nozzles arranged on generally opposite sides of the primary nozzle and each supplied with air under pressure for producing an air curtain that creates and confines a stabilizing air cushion beneath the vehicle smaller than the primary air cushion. The two stabilizing cushions are preferably of the same size and shape and each smaller than the primary cushion. When the vehicle leans or dips toward one of the stabilizing cushions when travelling over a surface, e.g. land or water, the pressure of that one stabilizing cushion increases and tends to push the vehicle back up to a level position.

Abstract: A solid fuel internal combustion engine is disclosed having a tank for storing particulated solid fuel such as, for example, wood. A combustion chamber is positioned proximate to the storage tank for receiving the solid fuel stored therein, wherein the solid fuel is preheated by the exhaust gases from the combustion chamber but is not ignited until the wood enters the combustion chamber. A portion of the exhaust gases from the combustion chamber is coupled to a compression turbine which in turn drives an air compressor for forcing air or other oxidizing agent under pressure into the combustion chamber. The cold compressed air serves as a combusting agent for igniting and burning the particulated wood. A major portion of the exhaust gases from the combustion chamber is controllably coupled to a power turbine for driving a vehicle or other utilization device.