Abstract: A sidewall gas-cushion vehicle is provided with hydrofoils carried in recesses defined by the sidewalls and capable of being extended into an operable position or of being retracted into an inoperative position. The foils may be used to generate lift forces and/or to counter unwanted movements of the vehicle, such as heave, roll and pitching motions. The lift forces can be made positive or negative.

Abstract: The invention pertains to apparatus for preventing the flooding of an enclosed plenum chamber pressurized by a source of pressurized gas provided through a duct system leading from a plenum chamber open to the surface of the water over which the ship rides. The inlet to the duct system located within the open plenum chamber is formed to reject by deflection a substantial quantity of water adjacent the inlet from entry. Any small amount of water entering the duct that is not initially rejected from the inlet is ramped through the duct and collected in a stern holding tank. The holding tanks include a float controlled water exhaust valve that opens to the atmosphere and exhausts that collected water therein with the aid of plenum pressure. Any water reaching the closed plenum chamber is constantly exhausted therefrom through apertures in its walls. An additional embodiment is disclosed that prevents substantially all water from entering the enclosed plenum chamber.

Abstract: A wing in ground effect (WIG) vehicle, the body of which is a low aspect io airfoil. Soft end plates allow for proper sealing of pressure below the wing while preventing the transmittal of wave action forces to the vehicle. Fin rudders and a dorsal fin provide turning control. Efflux from the propulsor engines can be split to flow both over and under the wing so that the vehicle will be capable of both rapid movement and hover over both land and water. Two designs are disclosed providing this vehicle with the ability to jump out of ground effect mode to avoid obstacles appearing in its flight path.

Abstract: A planing seal for a vehicle having a hull with downward extending sidewalls. The seal comprises a plurality of juxtaposed supporting stays positioned parallel to and between the extended hull sidewalls. These supporting stays are connected to the hull at their forward end and remain free at their rearward end. A plurality of forming cables are attached to the hull at one of their ends and at least one of the plurality of cables attach to at least one of the supporting stays intermediate its ends. The cables have a length selected to provide a curvilinear form to the supporting member which allows independent freedom of movement of the stays toward the hull cable attach point. A flexible, non-permeable membrane extends the width of the hull between the sidewall extensions. The membrane has a spaced-apart sealed attachment to the hull fore and aft. The combination of the extended sidewalls and membrane hull attachments provide a pressurizable plenum chamber with seals supported by the stays.

Abstract: An arctic vehicle is provided for the rapid transport of goods, machinery, and personnel over ice, snow and frozen ground surfaces.The vehicle is supported partially while at rest and/or under way by a cushion of air which is entrained by a system of seals. Seals along the sides terminate in runners for guiding and partially supporting the vehicles. A cutter system is deployed in front of each runner to form smooth running tracks or furrows over ice, snow, and frozen ground surfaces. A transverse cutter may be deployed in front of the forward transverse seal for removing major ice protrusions between the runners, to reduce seal leakage and wear, and improve ride characteristics. The cut tracks, in addition to providing smooth transit, engage the runners and side seals to prevent lateral shifting of the vehicle by the action of crosswinds and sideslopes.The vehicle may be self-propelled or towed.

Abstract: A cushion containing seal particularly suited for use as the bow or stern seal on a large ocean-going sidewall air cushion vehicle or surface effect ship, comprises adjacent elongated stiff members arranged near to one of their ends for attachment to rigid structure of the vehicle so as to be deflectable for contour conformation. Escape of pressurized air from the cushion between adjacent elongated stiff members is substantially prevented by flexible impermeable members that permit the elongated members to deflect with respect to each other. The elongated stiff members may be manufactured from metal so as to be rigid.

Abstract: A flexible gas cushion confinement cell for a ground effect vehicle comprising two flexible walls extending substantially parallel to one another with flexible partitions extending transversely of the walls and joining them together over at least a part of their height. The walls define, in conjunction with one another and with the partitions, juxtaposed compartments which are open at their upper ends to enable them to be connected to a gas pressure source and which are closed or substantially closed at their lower ends. The cell is approximately of horseshoe-shape and can be provided with an additional wall and transverse deflectors extending between the legs of the horseshoe-shaped cell.

Abstract: A passive stern seal for a plenum chamber of an air cushion marine vehicle comprising a front rectilinear planar seal member with an upward extending curvilinear rear tip, a plurality of front seal member supporting stay members adjacent to the underside of the planar seal, and pivotally attached to the vehicle at their forward surfaces, strut members pivotally attached and extending from the front planar seal member adjacent the curvilinear tip; a rear seal member extending from an attachment to the vehicle downward and to an attachment to the front planar seal member forward of the curvilinear tip, the free end of the strut members are attached to the upper surface of the rear seal member and a plurality of forming members are attached between the rear seal member and the vehicle. The forming members cooperate with pressure within the stern seal and form at least one transverse convolute in said rear seal member.

Abstract: A vehicle, primarily a marine vessel, but also adaptable for travel over snow or ice, which is supported and propelled by air flow through a channel in the underside of the body. An impeller in a duct in the forward end of the vehicle provides the air flow, which can be deflected rearwardly, downwardly forwardly and varied laterally for full control of the vehicle. The air flow channel is divided into a central channel and high speed side channels by longitudinal curtains, the side channels conducting air to steering vanes and rudders at the rear of the body. Trim rudders also extend across the rear of the channel to control lift and roll at the rear of the vehicle. In one form, the vehicle has an inflatable bow to seal the forward end of the channel at low speed, or to open the channel to ram air at high speed.

Abstract: An automatic roll, pitch, and heave stability device for air-cushion-borne vehicles equipped with semi-rigid planing bow and stern seals, the latter which may be divided into separate port and starboard seals, and with rigid side-walls. Each seal at its trailing edge is mechanically linked to, and controls, a bypass duct valve. The linkage is arranged so that pressure in the seal increases as the seal is forced up due to a wave crest, and decreases as the seal drops away from the vehicle body in a wave trough. Vehicle stability in heave is achieved by the bow and stern seals operating in unison; in pitch, by the bow and stern seals operating oppositely; and in roll, by the split port and starboard seals operating oppositely. The system operates both while the vehicle is underway, and with changes in load on the vehicle in calm water.

Abstract: In an air cushion vehicle of the type having a pair of rigid sidewall structures extending longitudinally along the sides of the vehicle body and depending downwardly therefrom so as to dip into the water and provide a cushion seal at the sides of the vehicle, wedge shaped members are provided at the forward ends of the sidewalls on those parts of the outer surfaces which dip into the water so that in operation the wedge shaped members break up the flow of water over these surfaces.