초록 ▼

A simple and low maintenance Ride Control System (RCS) for Air Cushion Vehicles (ACV) is presented. This RCS reduces the effect of water wave generated pressure pulses on ACV ride by venting the pressure pulses from the pressurized supporting gas cushion and/or restricting gas flow into a powered bl

A simple and low maintenance Ride Control System (RCS) for Air Cushion Vehicles (ACV) is presented. This RCS reduces the effect of water wave generated pressure pulses on ACV ride by venting the pressure pulses from the pressurized supporting gas cushion and/or restricting gas flow into a powered blower that supplies the pressurized supporting gas cushion as the pressure pulses occur. The preferred embodiment utilizes high aspect ratio low moment of inertia vanes that are individually driven by brushless electric servo motors and the vanes can rotate in either direction through 360 degrees. A vane braking and locking mechanism is presented that brakes and locks the vanes in a closed position in the event of power failure to the vane drive motors. A further feature of the invention is a venturi that is positioned between the powered blower and the pressurized supporting gas cushion to reduce the effect of the pressure pulses on blower operation. Control of the vanes is normally directed by a controller that takes inputs from a pressure transducer that monitors pressurized supporting gas cushion pressures and analyzes same to come up with vane operational directions.

대표청구항 ▼

A fluid flow control means to reduce in magnitude water wave generated pressure pulses in a pressurized supporting gas cushion of an air cushion marine vehicle, said pressurized supporting gas cushion supplied with pressurized gas by gas pressurization means, comprising: multiple high aspect ratio f

A fluid flow control means to reduce in magnitude water wave generated pressure pulses in a pressurized supporting gas cushion of an air cushion marine vehicle, said pressurized supporting gas cushion supplied with pressurized gas by gas pressurization means, comprising: multiple high aspect ratio fluid flow control vanes that are substantially symmetrical about their rotational axes, said high aspect ratio fluid flow control vanes being individually driven by and axially in line with a vane drive motor, said high aspect ratio fluid flow control vanes at least partially disposed in a fluid flow path in fluid communication with the pressurized supporting gas cushion of said air cushion marine vehicle whereby rotational motion of said high aspect ratio fluid flow control vanes results in alternative, at least partial, openings and closings of said fluid flow path; and an individual braking and locking device for one of said high aspect ratio fluid flow control vanes that is capable of braking and locking said high aspect ratio fluid flow control vane in a fixed position.