Wrapped-cone fingers for use in an air-cushion vehicle (ACV) skirt system are described. Wrapped-cone fingers may include an inner cone that is "wrapped" or generally enclosed by an outer finger. The inner cone may include an inner cone opening through which air may travel. The outer cone may includ
Wrapped-cone fingers for use in an air-cushion vehicle (ACV) skirt system are described. Wrapped-cone fingers may include an inner cone that is "wrapped" or generally enclosed by an outer finger. The inner cone may include an inner cone opening through which air may travel. The outer cone may include a back face opening. When inflated, the inner cone blocks the back face opening in the outer finger, allowing for increased air pressure in the outer finger and thus inflating the inner cone and outer finger of the wrapped-cone finger. Wrapped-cone fingers according to the present invention may be lightweight, inexpensive and resistant to scooping and snagging. Embodiments are also directed to ACV skirt systems and methods of manufacturing wrapped-cone fingers for use with an ACV skirt system.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A wrapped-cone finger for an air-cushion vehicle skirt system, comprising: an outer finger having a leading edge and an outer finger surface having an outer finger opening; an inner cone disposed within said outer finger and having a leading edge that forms an acute angle wit
What is claimed is: 1. A wrapped-cone finger for an air-cushion vehicle skirt system, comprising: an outer finger having a leading edge and an outer finger surface having an outer finger opening; an inner cone disposed within said outer finger and having a leading edge that forms an acute angle with the leading edge of the outer finger; and wherein said wrapped-cone finger is operable to move from an inflated state where said outer finger opening is substantially blocked by said inner cone to a deflated state where said outer finger opening is not substantially blocked by said inner cone. 2. The wrapped-cone finger of claim 1, further comprising an inner cone opening that enables the inner cone to be inflated via the opening. 3. The wrapped-cone finger of claim 1, further comprising a skirt bag having a skirt bag surface and wherein said first outer finger surface further comprises an outer finger attachment perimeter for connection to the skirt bag surface. 4. A wrapped-cone finger for an air-cushion vehicle skirt system, comprising: an outer finger having an outer finger surface having an outer finger opening; an inner cone disposed within said outer finger; wherein said wrapped-cone finger is operable to move from an inflated state where said outer finger opening is substantially blocked by said inner cone to a deflated state where said outer finger opening is not substantially blocked by said inner cone; and a skirt bag having a skirt bag surface and wherein said inner cone further comprises an inner cone attachment perimeter for connection to the skirt bag surface. 5. The wrapped-cone finger of claim 3, further comprising a skirt bag having a skirt bag surface and wherein said skirt bag surface is attached to said attachment perimeter. 6. The wrapped-cone finger of claim 1, wherein the outer finger is of a flexible material. 7. The wrapped-cone finger of claim 6, wherein the flexible material is an elastomer. 8. The wrapped-cone finger of claim 6, wherein the flexible material is a natural rubber. 9. The wrapped-cone finger of claim 6, wherein the flexible material is a a rubber-coated fabric. 10. The wrapped-cone finger of claim 9, wherein the rubber-coated fabric is coated with polybutadiene. 11. The wrapped-cone-finger of claim 6, wherein the flexible material includes a nylon base fabric. 12. The wrapped-cone finger of claim 11, wherein the nylon base fabric includes one or more plies of nylon fabric. 13. A wrapped-cone finger for an air-cushion vehicle skirt system, comprising: an outer finger having an outer finger surface having an outer finger opening; an inner cone disposed within said outer finger; wherein said wrapped-cone finger is operable to move from an inflated state where said outer finger opening is substantially blocked by said inner cone to a deflated state where said outer finger opening is not substantially blocked by said inner cone; wherein said outer finger includes an outer finger longitudinal axis and said inner cone includes an inner cone longitudinal axis, wherein in said inflated state said inner cone longitudinal axis is in a first position with respect to said outer finger longitudinal axis, and wherein in said deflated state said inner cone longitudinal axis is in a second position with respect to said outer finger longitudinal axis. 14. The wrapped-cone finger of claim 13, wherein said first position of said inner cone longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to said outer finger longitudinal axis. 15. The wrapped-cone finger of claim 13, wherein said second position of said inner cone longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to said outer finger longitudinal axis. 16. An air cushion vehicle (ACY) skirt system comprising: a) a hull; b) a skirt bag attached to the hull; c) a plurality of fingers attached to and depending from said skirt bag, wherein said plurality of fingers includes one or more wrapped-cone fingers having an inner inflatable cone placed within an outer inflatable finger having a leading edge, said inner cone having a leading edge that forms an acute angle with the leading edge of the outer finger; d) wherein the outer inflatable finger has a generally U shaped cross section having a larger upper end portion and a smaller lower end portion; and e) the inner inflatable cone contained within the outer inflatable finger. 17. An air cushion vehicle (ACV) skirt system comprising: a) a hull; b) a skirt bag attached to the hull; c) a plurality of fingers attached to and depending from said skirt bag, wherein said plurality of fingers includes one or more wrapped-cone fingers having an inner inflatable cone placed within an outer inflatable finger; d) wherein the outer inflatable finger has a generally U shaped cross section having a larger upper end portion and a smaller lower end portion; e) the inner inflatable cone contained within the outer inflatable finger; f) wherein each of said one or more wrapped-cone fingers comprises: an outer finger having an outer finger surface defining an outer finger opening and an outer finger interior having an outer finger longitudinal axis; and an inner cone disposed with said outer finger interior, said inner cone having an inner cone longitudinal axis that is not parallel to said outer finger longitudinal axis when said inner cone is in an inflated state. 18. An air cushion vehicle (ACV) skirt system comprising: a) a hull; b) a skirt bag attached to the hull; c) a plurality of fingers attached to and depending from said skirt bag, wherein said plurality of fingers includes one or more wrapped-cone fingers having an inner cone placed within an outer finger; d) wherein each of said one or more wrapped-cone fingers comprises: an outer finger having an outer finger surface defining an outer finger opening and an outer finger interior having an outer finger longitudinal axis; and an inner cone disposed within said outer finger interior, said inner cone having an inner cone longitudinal axis that is not parallel to said outer finger longitudinal axis when said inner cone is in an inflated state; e) wherein said inner cone further comprises an inner cone opening. 19. The system of claim 17, wherein said outer finger further comprises an outer finger attachment perimeter for connection to a surface of said skirt bag. 20. The system of claim 17, wherein said inner cone further comprises an inner cone attachment perimeter for connection to a surface of said skirt bag. 21. The system of claim 19, wherein said outer finger attachment perimeter comprises a finger flap. 22. The system of claim 17, wherein said first outer finger comprises a flexible material. 23. The system of claim 17, wherein said one or more wrapped-cone fingers are located at a stern portion of said skirt bag. 24. The system of claim 17, wherein said one or more wrapped-cone fingers are located at a stern corner portion of said skirt bag. 25. An air cushion comprising: a) a hull; b) an inflatable skirt bag attached to the hull; c) a plurality of fingers attached to and depending from the skirt bag, the fingers including at least one inflatable wrapped-cone finger; d) the wrapped cone finger comprising: an inner inflatable cone placed inside of an outer inflatable finger such that the inner cone is disposed within the outer finger; the outer finger having an outer finger surface providing a leading edge and having an outer finger opening; and the inner cone having a leading edge that forms an acute angle with the leading edge of the outer finger; and, e) wherein the wrapped-cone finger is operable to move from an inflated state where the outer finger opening is substantially blocked by the inner cone to a deflated state where the outer finger opening is not substantially blocked by the inner cone. 26. The air cushion of claim 25, wherein the outer finger includes an outer finger longitudinal axis and the inner cone includes an inner cone longitudinal axis, wherein in the inflated state the inner cone longitudinal axis is in a first position with respect to the outer finger longitudinal axis, and wherein in the deflated state the inner cone longitudinal axis is in a second position with respect to the outer finger longitudinal axis. 27. The air cushion of claim 26, wherein the first position of the inner cone longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the outer finger longitudinal axis. 28. The air cushion of claim 26, wherein the second position of the inner cone longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the outer finger longitudinal axis. 29. The air cushion of claim 25, wherein the outer inflatable finger has a generally U shaped cross section having a larger upper end portion and a smaller lower end portion; and wherein the inner inflatable cone is contained within the outer inflatable finger. 30. The air cushion of claim 29, wherein each of said one or more wrapped-cone fingers comprises: an outer finger interior having an outer finger longitudinal axis and the outer finger surface defining the outer finger opening, and; the inner cone disposed within the outer finger interior, the inner cone having an inner cone longitudinal axis that is not parallel to the outer finger longitudinal axis when the inner cone is in an inflated state. 31. The air cushion of claim 30, wherein the inner cone further comprises an inner cone opening. 32. A wrapped-cone finger for an air-cushion vehicle skirt system, comprising: a) an air bag affixed to the vehicle; b) an outer finger having a leading edge and an outer finger surface having an outer finger opening; c) an inner cone disposed within said outer finger and behind the outer finger leading edge; d) wherein said wrapped-cone finger is operable to move from an inflated state where said outer finger opening is substantially blocked by said inner cone to a deflated state where said outer finger opening is not substantially blocked by said inner cone; and e) flow channels that supply air from the air bag to the inner cone and outer finger, one of the openings inflating the inner cone, the other opening being in between the inner cone and the leading edge of the outer finger. 33. The wrapped-cone finger of claim 32, wherein the outer finger is of a flexible material. 34. The wrapped-cone finger of claim 33, wherein the flexible material is an elastomer. 35. The wrapped-cone finger of claim 33, wherein the flexible material is a natural rubber. 36. The wrapped-cone finger of claim 33, wherein the flexible material is a rubber-coated fabric. 37. The wrapped-cone finger of claim 33, wherein the rubber-coated fabric is coated with polybutadiene. 38. The wrapped-cone-finger of claim 33, wherein the flexible material includes a nylon base fabric. 39. The wrapped-cone finger of claim 38, wherein the nylon base fabric includes one or more plies of nylon fabric. 40. The system of claim 32, wherein said outer finger further comprises an outer finger attachment perimeter for connection to a surface of said skirt bag. 41. The system of claim 32, wherein said inner cone further comprises an inner cone attachment perimeter for connection to a surface of said skirt bag. 42. The system of claim 40, wherein said outer finger attachment perimeter comprises a finger flap. 43. The system of claim 32, wherein said first outer finger comprises a flexible material. 44. The system of claim 32, wherein said one or more wrapped-cone fingers are located at a stern portion of said skirt bag. 45. The system of claim 32, wherein said one or more wrapped-cone fingers are located at a stern corner portion of said skirt bag. 46. The air cushion of claim 32, wherein the outer finger includes an outer finger longitudinal axis and the inner cone includes an inner cone longitudinal axis, wherein in the inflated state the inner cone longitudinal axis is in a first position with respect to the outer finger longitudinal axis, and wherein in the deflated state the inner cone longitudinal axis is in a second position with respect to the outer finger longitudinal axis. 47. The air cushion of claim 46, wherein the first position of the inner cone longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the outer finger longitudinal axis. 48. The air cushion of claim 46, wherein the second position of the inner cone longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the outer finger longitudinal axis. 49. The air cushion of claim 32, wherein the outer inflatable finger has a generally U shaped cross section having a larger upper end portion and a smaller lower end portion; and wherein the inner inflatable cone is contained within the outer inflatable finger. 50. The air cushion of claim 49, wherein each of said one or more wrapped-cone fingers comprises: an outer finger interior having an outer finger longitudinal axis and the outer finger surface defining the outer finger opening; and the inner cone disposed within the outer finger interior, the inner cone having an inner cone longitudinal axis that is not parallel to the outer finger longitudinal axis when the inner cone is in an inflated state.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (9)
Earl T. Desmond (Buffalo NY), Air cushion type undercarriage for aircraft.
Yoshida Ryuichi (Takarazuka JPX) Ohnishi Tokio (Ushiku JPX) Yamamura Tetsushi (Takasago JPX) Nihei Kanta (Nishi JPX) Takaeda Shingo (Funabashi JPX), Finger skirt for an air cushion vehicle.
Bertrand Jean-Paul A. (Paris FRX) Guezou Jean-Pierre R. (Athis-Mons FRX) Balquet Robert J. (Paris FRX) Marcouyoux Sylvain J. A. (Le Pradet FRX) Jodelet Francois C. L. (Saint Etienne de Crossey FRX), Surface effect type, side keel vessel fitted with an improved forward buoyancy cushion seal apparatus.
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