U.S. patent number 3,596,622 [Application Number 04/794,092] was granted by the patent office on 1971-08-03 for light-weight wreck-resistant vehicle.
Invention is credited to Alvin Edward Moore.
United States Patent |
3,596,622 |
Moore |
August 3, 1971 |
LIGHT-WEIGHT WRECK-RESISTANT VEHICLE
Abstract
A vehicle, especially adapted for marine use, having strong,
lightweight walls, comprising gas-containing thin-metal,
cylindrical or corrugated cans, between skins, and surrounded by
foamed plastic. These receptacles are: sealed pipes or tubes; or
rows of aligned short cans, end-to-end glued together. The skins
may be: metal sheets, epoxy-glued or brazed to the cans; or
metallic mesh attached to the cans by brazing or glue and/or bolts,
coated with stucco. Optionally the rows comprise short cans of
slightly different diameters, with the smaller cans nested and
glued within rims of the larger cans; and skin-holding bolts are
between opposite smaller cans in adjacent pairs of the rows. Sheet
rubber is glued to the outer skin of stucco or metal.
Inventors: |
Moore; Alvin Edward (Waveland,
MS) |
Family
ID: |
25161680 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/794,092 |
Filed: |
January 27, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
114/69; 114/267;
52/DIG.9; 52/2.19; 428/903.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63C
9/04 (20130101); B62D 29/002 (20130101); B63B
5/24 (20130101); B64C 1/06 (20130101); B63B
43/12 (20130101); B64C 2001/0063 (20130101); B63B
2231/50 (20130101); B63B 2231/62 (20130101); Y10S
52/09 (20130101); B64C 2001/0081 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B62D
29/00 (20060101); B63B 5/00 (20060101); B63B
43/12 (20060101); B63C 9/00 (20060101); B63C
9/04 (20060101); B63B 43/00 (20060101); B63B
5/24 (20060101); B64C 1/00 (20060101); B63b
043/10 (); B63b 035/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;114/.5,.5F,68,69,66.5 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Blix; Trygve M.
Claims
I claim:
1. A vehicle adapted to traverse water comprising:
deck structure having an upper load-supporting surface;
sidewalls, each of which comprises: a plurality of sealed, upright,
vehicle-strength-providing, juxtaposed cans; means, comprising skin
structure, holding said cans in vehicle-strength-providing relation
to each other and to said deck structure; and gas-cell-containing
foamed plastic in contact with said skin structure and with said
cans; and
vehicle-floating means, fastened to lower portions of said deck
structure, comprising: float-wall rows of sealed, upright
end-to-end-joined, vehicle-strength-providing float cans; means
holding said float cans in strength-providing, end-to-end relation;
attaching means on said deck structure strongly connecting it with
upper ends of said float-wall rows of cans; float-bottom means
strongly connecting the lower ends of said float-wall rows of cans;
outer, waterproof float-skin means, exterior of said float cans,
forming outer surfaces of said floating means; and
gas-cell-containing foamed plastic, in contact with said float-skin
means and with float cans.
2. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which:
each of said float cans has a curved tubular wall, and an end cap
fixed to each end portion of said curved wall and indented toward
the center of the can from one of its ends, thus forming an end
recess;
each of said float-wall rows comprises float cans having juxtaposed
end caps and recesses of different areas, with smaller-area caps
fitting in larger-area recesses; and
said means holding said float cans in end-to-end relation comprises
strong bonding material within larger-area recesses and between
juxtaposed end caps of said different areas.
3. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which:
each of said float cans has a curved wall and an end cap fixed to
each end portion of said curved wall;
in each of said float-wall rows, each pair of said
end-to-end-joined float cans has closely juxtaposed end caps of
substantially equal areas; and
said means holding said float cans in end-to-end relation comprises
bonding material strongly uniting and holding together said closely
juxtaposed end caps.
4. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which:
each of said float cans comprises a tubular wall and an end cap
fixed to each end portion of said wall; and
said attaching means comprises, in association with each of said
float-wall rows, a tie element having a screw-threaded end;
means strongly connecting said tie element to a can-end cap at an
end of the row;
apertured means in said deck member for reception of said
screw-threaded end; and means tightly fitted on said screw-threaded
end for drawing its associated float-wall row into tight,
strength-providing contact with said deck structure.
5. A vehicle as set forth in claim 4, in which:
each of said float cans comprises a tubular wall and an end cap
fixed to each end portion of said wall;
said vehicle comprises, in association with each of said float-wall
rows, an elongated tie member that passes thru end caps of the cans
of the row;
said tie element is the upper, screw-threaded end of said tie
member; and
said float-bottom means comprises: a lower tie element, forming a
lower, screw-threaded end of each of said tie members; and means
strongly holding said tie member and its associated float-wall row
in relation to said float-bottom means.
6. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which said float cans have
corrugated, tubular walls.
7. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which at least some of
said float cans comprise:
elongated, imperforate, corrugated tubes of dense,
strength-providing material: and in which said vehicle
comprises:
bonding means, comprising material that is in flowing condition
when put in place and is solid after it sets, strongly and
sealingly uniting ends of said corrugated tubes with said deck
structure; and
closure means sealingly closing other ends of said tubes, spaced
from said deck structure.
8. A vehicle as set forth in claim 7, in which at least some of
said upright, vehicle-strength-providing cans comprise:
elongated, imperforate, corrugated tubes of dense,
strength-providing material; and in which said vehicle
comprises:
bonding means, comprising material that is in flowing condition
when put in place and is solid after it sets, strongly and
sealingly uniting ends of said corrugated tubes with said deck
structure; and
closure means sealingly closing other ends of said tubes, spaced
from said deck structure.
9. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which said float cans
contain gas under pressure above that of the atmosphere.
10. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which each of said cans
contains gas under pressure above that of the atmosphere.
11. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, comprising:
forward, after and top structures, strongly connected to said
sidewalls, providing inclosed, load-containing space; and
inside said space, balloon means, comprising lighter-than-air gas,
floating up against said top structure, exerting lifting force on
it and on said vehicle.
12. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which said float bottom
means comprises a lower portion, having a bottom, fluid-contacting
surface which in cross sections normal to the vehicle's
longitudinal axis has lines that are athwart a vertical plane thru
said axis, said surface having angles of attack on relatively
moving fluid when the vehicle is underway and thus exerting lifting
force on the float-bottom means and vehicle.
13. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, comprising:
vehicle-strength-providing top structure, having portions of
considerable area that contact and make angles with relatively
moving fluid when the vehicle is underway, thus exerting lifting
force on the top structure and vehicle; and
means strongly connecting said top structure to said sidewalls.
14. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which said
vehicle-floating means comprises three floats, each of which is
strongly attached to said deck structure and comprises a group of
said float-wall rows, attaching means, float-bottom means,
float-skin means, and foamed plastic.
15. A vehicle as set forth in claim 14, in which two of said floats
are in side parts of the vehicle, and the third float is in an
after part of the vehicle and has a longitudinal axis substantially
in an upright plane that contains the longitudinal axis of the
vehicle.
16. A vehicle as set forth in claim 15, in which:
said third float extends from the bow portion of the vehicle to its
stern portion and has a bottom that is spaced from said deck
structure by a distance that is greater than that between the deck
structure and the bottommost surfaces of the floats in said side
parts.
17. A vehicle as set forth in claim 16, in which said bottommost
surfaces of the two side floats make angles of attack on fluid
flowing over them when the vehicle is underway, thus exerting
lifting force on the vehicle.
18. A vehicle as set forth in claim 17, in which said bottom of the
said third float has a lower surface that is inclined to the
direction of the fluid flowing over it when the vehicle is in
forward motion, thus exerting lifting force on the vehicle.
19. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which said
vehicle-floating means comprises a float on each side of said
vehicle, comprising a group of said float-wall rows, attaching
means, float-bottom means, float-skin means and foamed plastic,
constructed and arranged to provide a pointed float bow, a pointed
float stern, a curved float sidewall on the side of the float that
is farther from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and a flat,
largely planar, upright sidewall on the side of the float that is
nearer to said axis.
20. Vehicular structure comprising a vehicle-strength providing row
of sealed, end-to-end-joined cans of different sizes, having
different cross-sectional areas, said row comprising a plurality of
pairs of end-joined cans of said different cross-sectional areas,
each of these pairs having a smaller can-end cap of one of the cans
of smaller size in juxtaposition with a larger can-end cap of one
of the larger-size cans; gaseous material in said cans; and means
holding said cans in strength-providing, end-to-end relation.
21. Vehicular structure as set forth in claim 20, in which:
each of said cans has a curved tubular wall, and an end cap fixed
to each end of said tubular wall and indented toward the center of
the can from one of its ends, thus forming an end recess;
said row comprises cans having juxtaposed end caps and recesses of
different areas, with smaller-area caps fitting in larger-area
recesses; and
said means holding said cans in strength-providing relation
comprises strong bonding material within larger-area recesses and
between juxtaposed end caps of different areas.
22. Vehicular structure as set forth in claim 20, in which:
each of said cans has a curved tubular wall and an end cap fixed to
each end portion of said tubular wall;
each adjoining pair of said cans has closely juxtaposed end caps of
substantially equal areas; and
said means holding said cans in strength-providing relation
comprises bonding material, strongly joining and holding together
said closely juxtaposed end caps.
23. Vehicular structure comprising a vehicle-strength providing row
of sealed, end-to-end-joined cans, each of said cans comprising a
tubular wall and an end cap fixed to each end portion of said
wall;
said structure comprising, in association with said row, a tie
element having a screw-threaded end, and means strongly connecting
said tie element to a can-end cap at an end of the row.
24. Structure as set forth in claim 23, in which said means
connecting said tie element to a can-end cap comprises strong
bonding material.
25. Structure as set forth in claim 24, in which said bonding
material comprises glue.
26. Structure as set forth in claim 23, in which each of said end
caps has a hole thru its middle portion, said structure comprising:
a second tie element; means connecting it to a can-end cap at the
end of said row opposite to the first-named row end; and an
intermediate, slender, tension-resisting element, extending thru
end-cap holes, joined to ends of said pair of tie elements.
27. Structure as set forth in claim 26, in which said tie elements
and tension-resisting element are integral and form a
screw-threaded rod extending thru said end-cap holes, and said
means connecting said tie elements to can-end caps comprises a nut
on said screw-threaded end.
28. Structure as set forth in claim 20, in which each of said cans
comprises a curved tubular wall and end caps, and in which said
means holding said cans in end-to-end relation comprises bonding
material between and strongly uniting each adjoining pair of said
can-end caps.
29. Structure as set forth in claim 28, in which said bonding
material comprises strong glue.
30. Structure as set forth in claim 20, in which said gaseous
material comprises lighter-than-air gas.
31. Structure as set forth in claim 20, in which said gaseous
material comprises gas-cell-containing foamed plastic.
32. Structure as set forth in claim 20, further comprising:
at least one other row of sealed, end-to-end-joined cans, placed
alongside said first-named row; gaseous material in said last-named
cans; means holding said last-named cans in strength-providing,
end-to-end relation; a vehicle-strength-providing sheetlike,
apertured element on each side of said side-by-side rows; and at
least one tie member extending thru holes in said sheetlike
elements and between said rows of cans, strongly holding said cans
against said element.
33. A vehicle, adapted to traverse water, comprising:
cabin structure having load-supporting means, and sidewall members
comprising a plurality of juxtaposed, vehicle-strength-providing
elements and means strongly holding said elements together; and
vehicle floating means, connected to said sidewalls,
comprising:
float-wall rows of upright, vehicle-strength-providing float cans;
gaseous material in said can; means connecting said cans together
and to said sidewall members; waterproof float-skin means, exterior
of said float cans, forming outer surfaces of said floating means;
and foamed plastic, in contact with said float-skin means and with
float cans.
34. Structure as set forth in claim 33, in which said float cans
comprise elongated tubes.
35. Structure as set forth in claim 33, in which said float cans
comprise tubes having corrugated walls.
Description
This invention pertains to lightweight and strong vehicles.
Although its basic structure may be utilized in land vehicles,
space vehicles and aircraft or hovercraft that takeoff from land,
it is preferably incorporated in a water-traversing vessel, such as
a motorboat, cabin cruiser, houseboat, small yacht, barge,
lifeboat, raft, hovercraft, or flying boat.
Such vehicles of currently standard construction are hard to
control or dangerously fragile in rough water; or else-- as in
known concrete or steel boats-- they are extremely heavy, very
expensive, cumbersome, and require much power in their propulsion.
In view of these facts, this invention has, among other objects,
the following objectives: (1) a relatively lightweight but
extremely strong vehicle, preferably adapted to float at least part
of the time in water; (2) such a vehicle having substantially
rigid, inner, load-carrying structure and outer resilient structure
that protects its walls against fracture in crashes or storms; (3)
a water-traversing vehicle having walls comprising
strength-providing, buoyant, tubular receptacles of rigid material;
(4) a vehicle having walls comprising strength-providing, buoyant,
sealed cans; (5) a vehicle having walls comprising
strength-providing, sealed, corrugated tubes of substantially rigid
material; (6) a vehicular float, comprising cans or corrugated
tubes, adapted to be located below a load-carrying cabin and to
support the cabin and its bottom deck above water level when the
vehicle is moving at cruising speed thru water; and (7) a vehicular
float of this type having a lower surface that is inclined downward
from its forward portion to its after edge.
Other objects and the specific structure of the invention will
become apparent from the following specification, and from the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the invented vehicle, having forward and
after portions broken away and in section along a horizontal plane
between the upper and lower decks of the main load-carrying
space.
FIG. 2 is a view in vertical section along the planes indicated by
lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a detail view, in section from a vertical plane that is
transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and located at a
portion of the tubular outer wall which is not above one of the
floats.
FIG. 4 is a detail view of a portion of one of the tubular wall
elements (of a row of joined cans) before it is assembled with
other elements in a wall, in section along a plane thru the
longitudinal axis of the row.
FIG. 4A is a detail view of one of the cans of the preferred
corrugated type, shown in longitudinal section and partly broken
away, the can being filled with foam plastic as an optional feature
in lieu of gas.
FIG. 5 is a detail view, in section from a vertical plane that is
transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, showing a
variation of the main cabin deck that is adapted to provide
extraordinary strength and buoyancy under shocks of extremely rough
conditions, and further showing a junction between the main deck
and a wall of one of the floats.
FIG. 6 is a detail view, partly broken away, indicating, when
considered as in top plan view, the frame of a horizontal deck
(and, when considered as in elevational view, of a vertical vehicle
wall that is optionally different from that of FIGS. 3 and 5), the
frame being shown before stucco or like material is applied to the
metallic mesh.
FIG. 7 is a view in section from the plane 7-7 of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a detail, sectional, plan view, partly broken away, of an
alternative, corrugated form of the tubular receptacles, shown as
fixed between sheets of mesh that are parallel to the longitudinal
axes of the receptacles.
FIG. 9 is a detail, sectional view of corrugated tubular
receptacles, shown as broken away in their middle parts and as
fixed between sheets of mesh that are perpendicular to the
longitudinal axes of the receptacles. These receptacles may be of
the elongated or short type of the cans.
FIG. 10 is a detail, vertical view in fore-and-aft section along an
exterior wall of FIG. 1, showing the upper side decks of the
vehicle as optionally shaped in winglike fashion-- aerodynamically
curved to exert a lifting force on the craft.
FIG. 11 is a detail, sectional view from a vertical plane along and
thru the longitudinal axis of the preferred, skilike form of
float.
FIG. 12 is a detail view, in section from a vertical plane that is
transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle showing a
preferred form of the main deck, and further showing a junction
between the main deck and a wall of one of the floats.
FIG. 13 is a plan view (on a scale reduced from that of FIG. 1) of
an optional form of the invented vehicle, shown as partly in
section along a horizontal plane.
FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of one form of the vehicle of
FIG. 13.
FIG. 15 is a detail view, in section from a vertical plane thru a
junction between one form of the main deck and the central, larger
float of FIG. 14, this plane being normal to the longitudinal axis
of the craft and at the middle of the float.
FIG. 16 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, of the bottom part
of an optional form of either the central float or one of the side
floats of FIG. 14; this view is in section from a plane normal to
the longitudinal axis of the craft and at the middle of a float; in
this float the concrete parts of the float walls are coated with
rubber or other waterproofing applied in liquid or pasty form.
FIG. 17 is a detail, sectional, reduced-scale view of a port or
door.
FIG. 18 is a detail view of part of an alternative type of deck or
wall frame, in section along a plane that is transverse to the
tubular receptacles.
FIG. 19 is a detail, sectional view from the plane 19-19 of FIG.
18.
FIG. 20 is a detail view in section from a plane along the axes of
two cans, joined together in an alternative of the rows of
cans.
The vehicle, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprises: a central cabin
structure which provides upper and lower load-carrying spaces 1 and
2 that are separated by a deck, 3; a top deck, 4, of this central
structure, having a hatch 5 leading from the top deck to the inside
of the top cabin; lower top decks 6, one on each side of the cabin
inner deck 3; cabin structures beneath decks 6 that provide
load-containing spaces 7; lateral inner decks 8, beneath spaces 7;
side, forward floats 9, below and fixed to decks 8; and central,
after float 10, below and fixed to the main deck 11 of the cabin
structure. Each of these above-numbered members of the craft
comprises tubular receptacles of the general type indicated in
FIGS. 3 to 12 and 15 to 20. Any of the specific forms of the cans
shown in these last-named figures may be used in building the
strong, lightweight boat or aircraft frame of FIG. 1.
The vehicle's sidewall, as shown in FIG. 3, comprises a plurality
of adjacent rows of cans, with each row having a number of the cans
held together in end-to-end relation. These cans may be made of
rubber or synthetic plastic (for example of substantially rigid
plastic, reinforced with asbestos or fiberglass); but preferably
and as shown in FIG. 3 they are of sheet metal (for example, thin
sheet iron, tinned iron or aluminum alloy), and may be made by
known methods of manufacture of tin cans.
The walls or decks of the form of the invented vehicle shown in the
drawings optionally may comprise sealed tubular receptacles of any
of several different types. As indicated in FIGS. 2 to 5, 7, 10 to
12, 15, 16 and 17, the receptacles may have cylindrical walls that
are straight in cross section. Or they may have corrugated walls of
the type indicated in FIG. 4A (each having walls that are circular
in cross sections along planes normal to the can's axis) or of the
type shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 18 (each having walls that are
corrugated in cross sections that are normal to its axis). They may
be filled with gas at atmospheric pressure or, optionally, under
pressure above that of the atmosphere-- for instance, in the range
of 5 to 15 pounds per square inch; this gas, for example, may be
air, helium, hydrogen, or hydrogen mixed with a
combustion-inhibiting gas. Or, as indicated in FIG. 4A, they may be
filled and reinforced with insulating foamed plastic 12-- for
example, with polyurethane plastic foam, which may be flexible but
preferably is substantially rigid.
Such reinforcing, gaseous foam plastic is preferably under a small
above-atmospheric pressure. One way of accomplishing this
pressurized plastic filling is to insert thru a temporary end
opening of the can sufficient amounts of the two liquids which form
such gaseous foam to insure that the cellular gas of the plastic is
under the desired small pressure and then to tightly close the
opening against the pressure of the formed foam. This end opening
may be a hole in the end cap or in a tube fixed to the cap which is
quickly and tightly plugged after the two foaming liquids are
poured thru it. Or the can may have a separable lid of the type
used in common paint cans, in which event the liquids may be poured
into the large opening in the can and the lid then quickly clamped
into place.
The foam plastic 12 of FIG. 4A is there shown as an optional
feature which also may be optionally used as a reinforcing and
insulating material in any of the other disclosed tubular
receptacles. But when the cans are corrugated, as shown in FIGS.
4A, 8 and 9, and as optional in the other figures, the corrugations
present so much strength against shock that ordinarily the plastic
filling is not needed as reinforcement, although in some
installations it is desirable as insulation, as well as providing
extra strength.
The inventor's currently preferred lightweight, strength-providing
receptacle has corrugated walls. The corrugations may be either of
the type shown in FIG. 4A or that shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.
Preferably, therefore, the tubular containers shown in each of the
figures have such corrugated walls and are filled with gas. In
boats that do not fly, air is currently preferred as this gas, and
it is preferably under atmospheric pressure. But in flying boats or
hovercraft the gas used is preferably helium, optionally under
pressure above that of the atmosphere.
An assembled, glued row of the shorter cans, such as is shown in
FIGS. 3 to 5, 12, 15 and the upper part of FIG. 16, have some
advantages over elongated cans of the type shown at 14 in FIG. 2,
optionally indicated at 16 in FIG. 9, 18 in FIG. 10, and 20 in FIG.
11. The glue that is between the end caps of the short cans is very
strong, and preferably is epoxy-resin cement or putty, comprising
plastic and a hardener, which sets into a firm solid that has
strength comparable to that of steel. With such glue firmly bonding
each juxtaposed pair of the end caps, the two caps together with
the cement between them form a very strong joint; and the
thus-formed lightweight and buoyant wall or deck row strongly
resists lateral shock and bending of the row at each junction of
its cans.
The vehicle illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, utilizing structural
details indicated in FIGS. 3 to 12 and 15 to 20, is preferably
built in accordance with the following steps of manufacture (here
described with particular reference to FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 12):
1. Pieces of plywood are laid flatwise on a level floor with their
edges coated with epoxy resin or other strong cement or putty and
abutting each other. Preferably a strip of paper is put on the
floor beneath each pair of the contacting edges and the glue is
then troweled and forced into the small space between the edges and
leveled. When the glue sets a flat, unitary plywood piece of
greater area than the desired size of the main-deck plywood has
been formed.
2. This unitary piece is then curvingly sawed in the desired
general deck form or deck-piece, which in FIG. 1 is illustrated as
in streamline form, in FIGS. 3 and 5 is indicated by the numeral
22, and in FIG. 12 and 24. Holes are now sawed in the plywood for
the hatchways thru the main cabin-deck structure to the interior of
the lower floats which are to hold useful loads.
3. The plywood is covered entirely with a layer, 26, of reinforcing
metallic mesh, which may be of aluminum alloy, but preferably (and
especially in a nonflying vehicle) is steel network in the form of
expanded metal (metal lath) or hardware cloth. This mesh is forced
down into continuous level contact with the plywood by large-headed
nails or screws thru washers, and then glue (preferably epoxy-resin
putty) is troweled into the apertures of the mesh and on the
plywood.
4. After the glue sets the laminated member of plywood and mesh is
turned over and another layer of metallic mesh (28) is similarly
fastened and glued over the plywood. If the main deck of the cabin
space is to comprise stuccoed, waterproofed concrete (of Portland
cement and fine lightweight aggregate), indicated at 30 in FIGS. 5
and 12, this application of glue or putty does not completely cover
over the expanded metal, but instead merely glues it to the
plywood, so that the stucco (comprising fine aggregate-- for
example, cinders or granules of expanded clay or shale or pellets
of foamed plastic)-- will enter into the mesh, and the two will
reinforce each other. But preferably waterproof putty (which may be
epoxy putty, or the more economical plastic putty that contains
aluminum powder and requires no hardener) is troweled over the mesh
and slightly covers the whole of it, as indicated in FIG. 3 at 28.
This then forms the load-carrying surfaces of the lateral decks 8,
in the compartments 7, and the similar upper surface of the deck
11, in space 2.
5. The resulting laminated deck structure of plywood and mesh is
raised and laid on sawhorses or benches; and holes for the rods 32
(or 34) are drilled thru it. Many of these holes are along the
streamline curve thru the centers of the outer cabin-wall cans or
can rows 36 and 38 and the distance along the curve between the
centers of the holes is equal to the outer diameter of the end caps
of the larger cans 36 in the upright can rows. Similarly spaced
holes are also drilled for the optional rods of the rows of cans 40
that form the major part of the walls of central cabins 1 and 2,
for the optional rods 41 (or 42) on which are threaded the cans 44
and 46 of the side floats 9, and for the optional rods of the cans
48 of the central after float 10. These optional float rods are not
all shown in FIG. 1 for the cans 44 and 48, as shown in this
figure, may be either of the short type (joined in rows on rods) or
of the elongated type (for example, those of FIG. 2, 10 or 11)
which preferably have no central rods thru them, but are
epoxy-resin-glued to the main deck 11 and to the lower, float deck
(50 in FIG. 16).
6. The laminated deck structure is turned over and laid on benches
that are high enough and spaced apart enough to allow a workman to
work under the deck structure and between floats 9 and 10. The
laminated structure is now upside down, with its puttied bottom
mesh 26 now uppermost.
7. The rodlike elements 32 and 41 (or 34 and 42) are now vertically
placed thru the holes along the outer periphery of the craft and
thru the holes outlining the walls of the floats and central cabin
space 2. These elements may be elongated stove bolts (threaded at
each end), but preferably they are threaded rods. Such rods of
three-sixteenth inch and one-quarter inch have been utilized by the
inventor. After each rod is in place pairs of the nuts 52 and 54
are screwed on them, toward each other and against the laminated
structure, tightly clamping the rods to the flat deck structure and
in upright positions. These nuts are sufficiently deep that the top
one of each pair of the nuts holds only a small portion of the
upper end of the rod, so that about half of the screw-threaded bore
of the nut is temporarily vacant, ready to be filled in later
screw-threaded and glued union with the lower end of a cabin-wall
rod.
8. Next, there are threaded and glued on the rods the rod-braced
ones of the main-deck cans: the cans 58 (to which the side-float
cans are to be attached); and those cans 48 to which the sidewall
cans of after float 10 are to be attached. (This assembly is
possible because the end caps of these cans have been previously,
centrally drilled, to provide holes that fit over the rods.) These
rod-braced cans, forming part of the buoyant, insulating,
strength-providing portion of the cabin main deck are now strongly
fastened to the laminated deck structure, either by nuts 59,
covered with glue in short cylinders as shown in FIG. 5, or only by
glue 66 in short cylinders (as shown in FIG. 12).
9. The remaining ones of the tier (or tiers) of the main-deck cans
are now glued to the flat main cabin-deck structure, and so to each
other. Where the hatchways to float interiors are located these
cans outline the openings and border on hatch frames of wood-- or
of metal as indicated in FIGS. 17 at 61. Preferably, and as shown
in FIGS. 2, 3, 7 and 12, only one tier of these main-deck cans 56,
58 and 60 is utilized. But in building a boat, hovercraft or
aircraft that will be used under extremely rough conditions-- for
example in rescue work during storms-- two tiers of such cans, as
indicated in FIG. 5 at 56, 58, 60 and 62, may be made, preferably
with a sheet of metallic mesh, 64, between them, with the cans
epoxy-resin glued to the mesh and to each other.
10. The cans of the sidewalls of the floats are now assembled and
glued to each other and to the rods. Although all the
longitudinally aligned cans of each row of the float and cabin
walls optionally may be of the same diameter, preferably they are
of slightly different diameters, and the smaller cans 46 are nested
in the recesses 64 of the larger cans 44. Between the adjacent end
caps of each pair of the nested cans there is an element 66 which
seals each of the adjacent rod holes and fastens the cans to each
other and to the rod. This element comprises: a short cylinder,
which may be of molded plastic, or a cut piece of plastic or other
pipe, or waterproofed cardboard; and strong glue. The cylinder is
of slightly less length than the distance between the end caps, and
the epoxy putty or other strong glue is mounded above the top of
each cylinder so that it penetrates the hole of the next upper can,
and seals around the rod there when this next can is threaded on
the rod and pressed downward.
11. The next step is the construction of the inner skin means of
the hollow floats that are to house useful loads. This skin means,
indicated in FIG. 2 at 67, may comprise an imperforate, curved
sheet or sheetlike piece of metal or plywood, glued to the cans;
or, as shown in FIGS. 5, 11, 12, 15 and 16, it may comprise stucco,
68, of cement and fine, lightweight aggregate, impregnating and
coating fabric, 68A, which may be of fiberglass but preferably is
metallic mesh (for example, expanded metal, aluminum mesh or steel
hardware cloth). The cement used is of a type that makes a hard
stucco. It may be epoxy or other plastic glue, and the fine
aggregate mixed with it may be aluminum powder or filings in
adhesive putty. In this step (11) the inner skins of the float deck
(of the general type indicated at 50 in FIG. 16) is also made of
the hard stucco on fabric-- preferably on metallic mesh.
12. When the craft of FIG. 1 is a boat and its propulsion is not of
the aerodynamic type (such as preferably would be used in airboats,
hovercraft or flying boats), the space within the sidewall cans 48
of float 10 may house an engine or an hydraulic or electric motor,
which drives a propeller that is abaft the bottom part of the
float. But the boat as illustrated in FIG. 1 preferably is
propelled by means of engines or motors in floats 9; and so the
central float 10 may comprise float-strengthening, buoyant filler
elements. In this event, this optional step (12) comprises the
placing and strongly gluing together of the filler elements. As
shown, these comprise cans 69 and smaller-diameter, gas-containing
elements 70, which may be end-sealed lengths of thin-walled
metallic or plastic pipe, but preferably are pieces of bamboo. The
cans used may be of the elongated type indicated in FIGS. 9 to 11,
but for extra strength preferably are of the short, strong-jointed
form indicated in FIGS. 4, 4A, 5, 16, 19 and 20. In the spaces
between these annular unitary or composite tubular members of the
larger diameter the smaller pieces of bamboo or pipe are placed
after being coated with strong glue or putty, at least at their
ends which engage the main deck so that they become strongly glued
to it. Preferably the smaller elements 70 are of slightly different
diameters, and where feasible are forcibly jammed tightly between
the cans. Optionally, the entire surfaces of these elements may be
coated with epoxy-resin or other strong cement or putty either
before or after they are in position between the cans.
13. While the float walls are still upside down, the major portions
of the bottoms of the floats are now constructed. The bottom part
of each of the pair of side floats 9, or of the central float 10,
optionally may be V-shaped in cross section, or flat and
horizontal, or inclined for ski-type lift, and flat as shown (or
curved in hydrodynamic fashion). When V-shaped, its sides may be
curved, but preferably and as shown in FIG. 16, they are straight.
When the bottom of the central float or of each of the side floats
operates as a lifting water ski it may be constructed as shown in
FIG. 2 or in FIG. 11. In cross-sectional FIG. 2, the cans 72 are
similar to cans 60 of FIG. 12 and, like cans 60, they are strongly
glued to the bottom flat deck structure 74 of the interior of the
float. This structure optionally may be a metal sheet or plate; or
it may be of the type shown in FIG. 12 at 24-26-28. To the bottoms
of the cans 72 numerous pieces 76 of bamboo or of sealed metallic
or plastic pipe are glued or puttied. These pieces may be of
approximately the same small diameter and piled higher at the after
part of the float than at its bow, to build up and solidly
strengthen the inclined ski surface 78; or they may have selected
diameters of considerably different sizes as indicated at 79 in
FIG. 11. This figure shows optional substitution for the cans 72 of
FIG. 2 of a tier of the gas-containing pieces 80 of metal or
plastic pipe or of bamboo.
Optionally: the bottom parts of the three floats of FIGS. 1 and 2
are ski-surfaced; the bottoms of the side floats 9 are considerably
higher than the bottoms of the central float 10; the floats 9
contain some of the heavier loads of the craft-- for example,
batteries, gasoline engine and generator, air-conditioning
equipment and/or tools; and the deeper float 10 is hollow (as in
FIG. 16) and houses propulsion means, which preferably comprises an
hydraulic or electric motor, receiving its power from a source that
is driven by a gasoline or diesel engine and is located either in
one of the side floats or on the deck 11. Thus, when underway the
inclined surfaces of the side floats rise to a level not far below
the surface of the water (but sufficiently below that surface to
aid in achieving directional stability); and the after float rises
about the same amount but its bottom stays well below the water's
surface, for efficient propulsion and directional stability.
Alternatively and as shown in FIG. 2, the bottoms of the three
floats may be at the same level and in practice they are so narrow
in beam and deep that the ski-surfaced bottoms of all three floats
stay well below the water surface, thus achieving efficient
directional stability and propulsion. In each instance, the
criterion of the optional arrangement of the floats is: their
volumes, depths, and usual loads (with respect to the other loads
of the craft) are so calculated and related that the ski bottoms
rise until the main deck is well clear of the water, but at least
one of them remains well below the water's surface.
In summary, and in connection with any of the optional float
structures and arrangements, this step (13) comprises the following
substeps: (A) placing and fastening on the bottoms of the
float-deck gas-containing elements of step (11) (that is, on the
upright rows of cans and/or filler elements) a flat float-deck
structure (metallic and/or laminated); (B) gluing to this structure
upright cans and/or horizontal gas-containing elements 80; and (C)
building up an inclined ski-bottom frame by gluing to the members
of substep (B) gas-containing elements (pieces of bamboo or
pipe).
14. The outer skins of the floats are now made. Those of the float
sidewalls may be substantially vertical like the outer sidewall
skins of the float 10 as it is shown in FIG. 2, or inclined upward
from the float's bottom, like those of the side floats shown in
FIG. 2, FIG. 5 or FIG. 12. In FIG. 2, element 82 comprises a
rubber-coated piece of metal which is preferably of spring steel.
This piece optionally may be a metallic sheet, or fibrous or
metallic fabric (network) with its apertures filled with
impregnating flexible cement, for example, liquid rubber cement
which sets in the air. The sidewall's outer surface preferably is
sheet rubber that is glued to it; but optionally it may be rubber
that is molded in place on the sheet or fabric or is applied to it
in liquid form and allowed to set in the air.
Between element 82 and the sidewall cans there is a space 83 which
is filled with air or other gas, or with resilient foamed plastic.
In FIGS. 5 and 12 the composite sidewall skin means comprises:
metal rods 84, angled and screw-threaded at their upper and lower
ends, and spaced along the float's sidewall; a layer or ply of
metallic mesh 85 (preferably of expanded metal), fastened to rods
84; concrete stucco 86 (or epoxy-resin putty or cement or rubber),
impregnating and coating he mesh 85; and an outer sheet of rubber,
87, glued to the stucco or rubber-impregnated mesh of the float
sidewalls and bottoms, and to the under side of the cabin main deck
11. Between the rods and sidewall cans (in FIG. 5 or FIG. 12) there
are filler elements, which comprise foamed plastic 88 and
plastic-reinforcing elements which may be wires, metallic mesh or
fabric as shown at 89 in FIG. 5, or bowed, elongated,
gas-containing elements 89, as shown in FIG. 12. The lightweight,
float-strength-providing elements 89' may be bent, curved, plastic
or metal pipes (preferably of resilient material); or of steamed or
hot-water-soaked and bent bamboo. The inventor currently prefers
for these elements 89' bamboo of small diameter, which is easily
bent into the desired curve, is stiffly resilient, strong and
economical; and prefers that the plastic 88 be resilient (of liquid
materials poured in situ between the outer and inner float skins),
and that the outer skins and rods be resilient. Thus stiffly
resilient buffers for the floats are provided.
Broadly, this method step (14) comprises: (A) strongly connecting
to the main cabin-deck structure and to the float-deck structures
upright rods 84, well spaced apart in lines that generally conform
with the desired outer shape of the float; (B) fixing waterproof
dense sheet material (metal sheet or elements 85--86) on the
outside of the rods 84; and (C) gluing with epoxy or rubber cement
an outer skin of flexible rubber sheet 87 to the rod-attached dense
sheet material, to the under surfaces of the floats, and to the
lower surface of the cabin main deck 11.
15. The two liquids which make the desired, known type of foamed
plastic are now briefly mixed; the foaming mixture is poured or
injected between the inner and outer skin means of the floats; and
after this pouring the hole is forcibly closed. Passage of the
pressurized foam outside the skins and the tiers of cans and bamboo
(or pipe) fillers is prevented by this hole closure and by the
imperforate structures of the skin means and of the flat structures
of the cabin decks; but the foam penetrates into the spaces between
the cans and filler elements. The resulting foamed plastic quickly
sets. Its chosen type is resilient if the outer skin means is
resilient, and preferably is substantially rigid if the skin means
lacks resiliency.
16. The sawhorses or benches are now removed from under the
completed lower part of the craft, and it is turned over, and the
float bottoms are rested on the floor.
17. The next step is the construction of the central wall or
structure that braces the upper part of the float 10, shown in
section in FIG. 1. This wall comprises, in effect, a continuation
upward of the tubular articles of the float proper. Preferably the
cans and fillers that are in line with the lower, similar, tubular
articles of the after float 10 rise to the height of only one of
the shorter cans; they are covered by a strong top, thus forming a
seat and/or shelf for supporting articles. When the float 10 is
hollow (housing, for instance, a propulsive motor), this top
comprises a hinged hatch; but when, as shown in FIG. 1, the float
is solidly built its top is permanently attached to the upper cans
and fillers. In either event, the top may be of wood or metal or of
stuccoed metal mesh. Each of the outer, upper cans 48 preferably is
threaded on and glued to a screw-threaded rod, 90, the bottom of
which may be screwed and glued into the top half of a
deck-contacting nut on the aligned lower rod of a float can.
Alternatively, the rods in the upper cans may be integral
continuations of the lower rods, projected from the flat deck
structure in step (7), above. The upper cans 69 and pieces of
bamboo or pipe 70 are now positioned and glued to the flat deck
structure; and the cans and fillers are tightly surrounded by and
glued to a curved sheet of metal, plywood, or stuccoed mesh. Then,
outside this sheet, the filler cans and pieces of bamboo pipe shown
in FIG. 1 are glued to the deck, and bordered by the upstanding
sheet 91 of plywood, metal or stuccoed mesh. The cover is now made;
and preferably foam-plastic liquids are poured thru closable small
holes in the top into the spaces between the cans and fillers. On
the after part of the bench or shelf thus formed a rudder--
operating device 92 (a motor, wheel, lever or gears) is mounted; it
moves the rudder by means of a rudder-post shaft that is pivoted in
a stern-pipe, 92', of the float and float-bracing shelf.
18. This step is the construction of the side and upper walls of
the central cabins 1 and 2. (If a craft of less height is desired,
the upper cabin may be eliminated). The cans 40 are shown as glued
to the deck, preferably with epoxy putty; but as pointed out above
they may be threaded and glued on rods that are screwed down and
cemented in the upper halves of the bores of nuts 52. These cans
are preferably corrugated; they may be elongated, end-sealed tubes
as indicated in FIG. 5, 9 or 10, or optionally in FIG. 19; or they
may be short and glued together as indicated in FIG. 3, 4, 5, 12,
or optionally in FIG. 19. Preferably they are stacked as shown in
FIG. 4, cemented by epoxy putty 93; and to the end cap of the can
94 a short bolt is attached, by epoxy glue, soldering or brazing--
or by extending the bolt thru the end cap before it is soldered in
place, housing the bolt head inside the can. When used at the
bottom of a can row 40 the total length of the bolt between the two
end caps is less than indicated in FIG. 4, and is such that when
its threaded end is screwed and cemented in the top half of a nut
52 the rim 95 is tightly jammed (and glued) on the deck. The
opposite end can of each row 40 preferably has a similar bolt,
similarly attached to its end cap, but this bolt is preferably
longer than the relative length that is indicated in FIG. 4. After
all the can rows of the sidewall of compartment 2 are in place,
they are tightly surrounded by a skin or sheet 96, of metal, or
cement-stuccoed fabric (for example, Portland cement and fine
aggregate on metallic mesh). The cans also are tightly bordered on
their inside by such sheet material; and thru apertures in the two
skins bolts 97 are extended, strongly clamping them to the larger
cans when nuts are tightened on the bolts. These extend between
some of the cans of the smaller diameter and are glue-puttied over
at their nuts and heads. When the curved sheets comprise expanded
metal or steel hardware cloth these bolts are extended thru the
mesh before the stucco is applied; when the sheets are of solid
metal (for example corrugated aluminum roll roofing) they are
drilled for reception of the bolts. The decks 3 and 4 are similar
to the main cabin deck shown in FIG. 3. The upper sidewall can rows
and skins are preferably made like the walls of compartment 2.
Before the top surface of the deck 4 is stuccoed the bolts at the
upper ends of the can rows, of the general type shown in FIG. 4,
are projected thru holes in the top-deck structure, and nuts are
screwed on the bolt ends, tightly clamping the can rows to the deck
structure. The projecting ends of the bolt, if necessary, are
clipped off, and the nuts are glued and stuccoed over: In this step
framed gaps are left in the walls in which doors are preferably
hinged, for passage between each pair of the partition-separated
cabins shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Preferably the can rows that are
above and below the door frames are fastened to the frames by glue
and by bolts of the type shown in FIG. 4. Two of the doors are
indicated at 97A.
19. Next the sidewalls of compartments 9', constituting an upper
continuation and bracing means for the side floats 9 and
vehicle-strengthening partitions in the cabin space, are built.
These may comprise elongated cans, but preferably the can rows 44
are made as indicated in FIG. 4. These rows are sheathed with skin
means and bolt-clamped between the two skins as indicated in step
(18). If the craft is very narrow in beam these sidewalls
preferably extend upward only a short distance above the main deck
11.
20. Next the outer sidewalls of the cabin structure are formed.
Although the can rows 36 may comprise elongated cans, preferably
they are of the stacked, glued and bolt-ended shorter cans of the
general type shown in FIG. 4; and they are preferably bolt-clamped
to inner and outer skins of the type referred to in step (18). This
outer wall structure is contiguous to, and is mutually braced by,
substantial portions of the sidewalls of compartments 9'; and
preferably these portions are clamped to the outer walls by bolts
or wires that extend between pairs of the small-diameter cans in
both walls.
21. The upper side decks 6 are now formed in the manner of
construction of the deck 4. They are clamped to the can rows by
means of bolts of the general type shown in FIG. 4.
22. Rubber sheeting, 98, is now glued by epoxy or rubber cement to
the tops of decks 4 and 6, and preferably also to the outer cabin
sidewalls, as indicated in FIG. 3, 5 or 12.
23. This step is the construction of a resilient bumper around the
middle of the craft. Lengths of gas-containing, resilient, rubber
or plastic hose, 99, are glued with epoxy or rubber cement to the
outer sidewalls, with each length preferably encompassing the whole
craft and having ends that are sealing glued together at the
pointed stern. When the desired number of such lengths are in place
the set is covered at top, sides and bottom with rubber sheeting,
100, that is glued with epoxy or rubber cement to the hose. The gas
in the hose lengths may be helium, but preferably is air; it may be
pressurized, but preferably is at atmospheric pressure.
FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate another, optional form of the vehicle
that may be made by the general method that is described above. In
this species of the invention the side floats 102 have flat upright
sides 104, and although the floats optionally may e hollow and
house propulsion motors, they are preferably solidly constructed of
cans and filler elements in accordance with the general method of
building the floats as set forth above. Since horizontal planes
thru the float intersect the sides 104 in straight lines that are
parallel to the longitudinal axis of the craft little or no wave
action is caused by these sides. The skins, bolts, rods, tubular
receptacles and small-diameter lengths of filler pipes or bamboo
used in building the boat of FIGS. 13 and 14 may be of any of the
types and arrangements of these structures that are shown in the
drawings and described above.
As illustrated in FIG. 14, the boat has a central superstructure
106 which constitutes a continuation upward of the can rows of the
central cabin 108, and has a central float 110 in the form of a
deep V, with a narrow, inclined-surface, ski-type bottom. Any type
of hydrodynamic or aerodynamic propulsion may be used; but
preferably an hydraulic motor mounted on the deck inside this
central float, receiving driving fluid from a pump and engine
located in an upper part of the boat, drives a propeller that is
abaft the bottom of the float. When underway, pressure on the
inclined bottom surfaces of the three floats lifts the boat part of
the way out of the water. Preferably the floats are sufficiently
narrow and have the proper volume to cause this lift to clear the
main lower deck 112 above the water level, while the ski-shaped
bottoms of the floats 114 are at or near the water's surface, and
the bottom of float 110 is sufficiently below the surface to keep
the propeller efficiently below the water level.
If desired, the bottom of the float 110 may be pointed as indicated
at 116. Or this central float may be eliminated, making the boat a
catamaran; in this event the side floats 114 preferably are deeper,
and preferably support propulsion motors. When a boat of only about
8 feet in total height is desired: the superstructure 106
preferably is eliminated; the flat bottom deck of the float 110 is
used as a walkway; the main lower deck has an opening 118 in it
(shown in FIG. 15) so that there is sufficient headroom for walking
on the float deck; and storage spaces, seats and/or bunks are
provided in the side spaces, above 112. In FIG. 15, no cans are
shown in the deck, but preferably the structure of this deck is
like that illustrated in FIG. 12. The hole 118 is framed by lumber
(or metal), 120, glued with epoxy putty or cement to the deck
structure.
When a rodlike element is used to go thru and clamp the cans of a
row together, it may be a screw-threaded rod (three-sixteenth inch
and one-quarter inch threaded rods have been thus utilized by the
inventor); or it may be an elongated, headed bolt having one
screw-threaded end-- or a rod having only its ends threaded. In any
event, a nut is screwed tightly on each screw-threaded end of the
element, tightly clamping the nested ends of the cans together.
FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an optional type of main-deck structure
that may be made in any of the forms of the invented boat. This
comprises: upright cans 60'; adhesive putty 122 and 124 that glues
their tops and bottoms to sheets of metal mesh, 126 and 127;
stucco, 128, of any of the above described types, on at least the
top piece of mesh, 126; a lower tier of elongated gas-containing
tubular articles, 130, which may be rows of sealed pipes or jointed
and sealed short cans; and, below 130, layers of mesh, stucco and
optional rubber sheeting of the above-described types. If desired,
this general form of wall structure may be used in making any of
the decks of the invented craft or partitions of the general type
indicated at 132 in FIG. 13. This wall as shown in FIG. 13
comprises two staggered upright tiers of tubular articles (rows of
sealed pipes or jointed and sealed short cans).
The wall structures illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 also optionally
may be used in either decks or walls. In FIG. 8, two similar types
of corrugated, sealed, gas-containing cans, 134 and 135, are shown.
These may be either pipes or the shorter cans that are glued and
jointed in a tubular article (or row). They may be made by
extrusion of dense plastic or metal; but as shown they comprise
pieces of corrugated aluminum or galvanized iron, of the type that
is commonly sold in sheets or rolls as roofing, that have been
curvingly bent, with their joined edged brazed, soldered or
epoxy-glued as indicated at 136 or 137. To each end of the
resulting tube an end cap, comprising a tube-bordering flange, is
brazed, soldered or epoxy-glued. The flange 138 of can 135 is
rectangular; and the flange 140 of can 134 is in the form of a
disk. Other shapes of flanges may be utilized. For example, where
the cans are to be joined in an arcuate wall the contacting areas
of each pair of the flanges are preferably a straight line
(somewhat like the line of square-flange contact 142, but making an
angle with the mesh 144 that is not a right angle), and the mesh
and the bordering lines 146 of mesh and flange then are in the
desired arc.
Preferably, the contacting edges of the pairs of flanges are
epoxy-glued, with the cement or putty covering their lines of
contact. Alternatively, the flanges may be overlapped and bolted
(or riveted) and/or glued together. The bolts 148, extended thru
the mesh before stucco is applied to it, tightly clamp it against
the flanges.
After the mesh is stuccoed foamed-plastic liquids are poured thru a
closable hole into the spaces around the cans and bolts. It is the
inventor's intention to thus form insulating, wall-strengthening
foamed plastic between imperforate skins in all the spaces around
the cans and small-diameter filler elements that are indicated in
the drawings. The gas in any of the disclosed cans (for example,
air or helium) optionally may be pressurized.
In FIG. 9 (a view in section along a plane that is parallel to the
axes of the tubular articles shown), the gas-containing cans 16,
shown as partly broken away, may be elongated or short. The end
caps and flanges 150 are shown as optionally attached to the two
parallel sheets of mesh, 152, by epoxy putty 154 and/or bolts 156.
And the flanges at the wall-interior junction of pairs of the cans
are epoxy-glued and/or bolted together. In the top part of this
figure, the wall-interior end caps of four juxtaposed cans are
shown as joined by a single bolt, 158. The end caps of one pair of
coaxial cans have semicircular cutout or drilled-out recesses that
fit around half of the bolt and join in a circle with like recesses
of the other pair of coaxial cans. These end caps are further
fastened together by epoxy or other strong putty, 160.
FIGS. 18 and 19 show another way of sealing the cans and attaching
them to spaced skins, this method being of especial use in
connection with elongated cans in an upright wall, such as an outer
or interior sidewall of the craft. The can 162 indicated in FIG. 19
is at first open at its top, and resting on deck wire-mesh 164,
which is supported and glued on the imperforate plate 166 of metal
or plywood. While the can is held in position and its top is open,
epoxy or other strong, dense glue is poured thru it, and around it,
forming the imperforate seal, 168, which strongly attaches the can
to the mesh and plate and seals the bottom of the tube. After the
desired number of upright tubes are placed in the wall in the
general arrangement indicated in FIG. 18, the upper ends of these
cans are sealed and attached to an imperforate sheet of plastic,
plywood or metal. One way of achieving this upper seal is to
heavily coat this sheet with epoxy or other strongly adhesive putty
and press the sheet down on the open can top. Another way is to
weld a metal plate over the open tops. If desired, a layer of
wire-reinforced stucco 170 and/or an outer skin of sheet rubber may
be added to either the top or the bottom of this wall.
FIG. 20 illustrates a method of strongly connecting the end caps of
cans of the same diameter. Preferably the cans of a row (or of a
pair) are held in aligned, horizontal position on a fixture that
may be rotated on its horizontal axis. Their end caps may be
slightly spaced apart as here indicated; or optionally they may be
jammed together. In either event, while they are thus aligned they
are strongly and permanently connected by brazing, soldering,
welding or gluing them solidly together. Alternatively: the
adjacent end caps of each pair of the aligned cans are slightly
apart; they are supported in small teflon-lined molds that are
horizontally and rigidly connected together, forming part of a
stationary fixture, with a narrow mold sealingly looping around
each can joint of the row; and epoxy or other strong cement is
poured (by hand or machinery) into the tops of the molds and
between the cans. After the mounds of glue, 172, have hardened, the
row is taken from the fixture. If the cans are brazed, welded or
soldered together the jig holding them horizontally aligned is
preferably turned beneath the union-forming flame or electric heat
by an automatically operated electric motor.
Each of the vehicles shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and FIGS. 13 and 14
preferably comprises a plurality of balloons, 174, in the upper
part of a load carrying space. In FIG. 2, such balloons optionally
may also be located in the tops of spaces 7. Although they may be
spherical, they preferably comprise round-ended cylindrical,
lightweight envelopes of balloon cloth, plastic or the like,
containing helium or hydrogen mixed with a small percentage of
combustion-inhibiting gas. Preferably they are much shorter than
the fore-and-aft length of the vehicle, with a plurality of the
cylindrical envelopes arranged in end-to-end relation in a row
extending from the bow to the stern. These vehicle-stabilizing
balloons lessen the tendency of the craft to roll and pitch in
waves or air turbulence.
For amphibious or ice-traversing use of the vehicle, a wheel or
skid may be mounted in or on the lower part of each of the
floats.
Within the scope of the subjoined claims, various changes may be
made in the specific disclosed structure. For instance, the middle
portions of the outer sidewalls of the vehicle may be parallel and
straight, instead of curved as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 13; and in
this event, the stern is preferably still pointed and streamlined.
More room in the craft is obtained by this change.
In the claims: the word "can" is used to signify any sealed,
elongated or short, tubular article of any cross-sectional shape or
material; the word "stucco" to mean cement that is mixed or unmixed
with aggregate, whether the cement that is Portland cement, epoxy
or other resinous glue mixed with powder or other aggregate, epoxy
or other putty, or the like; the word upright signifies
substantially vertical or slanting; and unless qualified the word
"gas" means pure gas or any mixture of gases, and the term "foamed
plastic" signifies any synthetic or latex-containing foamed
plastic.
* * * * *