초록 ▼

A hovercraft includes a rigid body and a flexible skirt pending from a lower periphery thereof. A main engine and propeller are coupled to the rigid body and provide a main propeller thrust. A plurality of thrust control vanes are located downstream of the propeller and divide the main propeller thr

A hovercraft includes a rigid body and a flexible skirt pending from a lower periphery thereof. A main engine and propeller are coupled to the rigid body and provide a main propeller thrust. A plurality of thrust control vanes are located downstream of the propeller and divide the main propeller thrust into a horizontal thrust component directed rearwardly of the thrust control vanes and a vertical thrust component directed to a location under the rigid body so as to cooperate with the flexible skirt to form an air cushion on which the hovercraft rides. A plurality of steering control vanes are located downstream of the thrust control vanes and control the forward direction of the hovercraft. A single control stick controls the operation of both the thrust control vanes and the steering control vanes.

대표청구항 ▼

A hovercraft, comprising: a rigid body; a flexible skirt depending from a lower periphery of said rigid body; a main engine and propeller for generating a main propeller thrust; at least one thrust control vane located downstream of said propeller for dividing said main propeller thrust into a horiz

A hovercraft, comprising: a rigid body; a flexible skirt depending from a lower periphery of said rigid body; a main engine and propeller for generating a main propeller thrust; at least one thrust control vane located downstream of said propeller for dividing said main propeller thrust into a horizontal thrust component directed rearwardly of said at least one thrust control vane and a vertical thrust component directed to a location under said rigid body so as to cooperate with said flexible skirt to form an air cushion on which said hovercraft rides; an air distribution network which distributes said vertical thrust component to direct it to said location under said rigid body and distributes said vertical thrust component substantially equally along the entire periphery of said air cushion; said air distribution network includes an air chamber extending around substantially the entire periphery of said air cushion and a plurality of localized air chambers located below said air distribution chamber at respective locations along substantially the entire periphery of said air cushion; at least one steering control vane located downstream of said at least one thrust control vane for controlling the forward direction of said hovercraft; a single control stick; and means responsive to said control stick for controlling both said at least one thrust control vane and said at least one steering control vane.