U.S. patent number 3,643,600 [Application Number 05/029,141] was granted by the patent office on 1972-02-22 for ground-effect transportation system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Bertin & Cie. Invention is credited to Jean Henri Bertin.
United States Patent |
3,643,600 |
Bertin |
February 22, 1972 |
GROUND-EFFECT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
Abstract
A ground effect transit system in which an air cushion vehicle
moves over a track having a guiding upright which is laterally
offset with respect to a bearing track surface. The vehicle is
provided on each side with a retractable guiding device in the form
of an inverted U straddling the upright when the device is in its
operative position, so that the vehicle may then be guided
selectively from its port side, or from its starboard side, or from
both its port and starboard sides. Such a device is useful for
marshalling the tracked air cushion vehicle.
Inventors: |
Bertin; Jean Henri
(Neuilly-sur-Seine, FR) |
Assignee: |
Bertin & Cie (Plaisir,
FR)
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Family
ID: |
21847471 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/029,141 |
Filed: |
April 16, 1970 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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782968 |
Dec 11, 1968 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Apr 16, 1969 [FR] |
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6911817 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
104/23.2;
104/244.1; 104/130.02; 104/134 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60V
3/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60V
3/00 (20060101); B60V 3/04 (20060101); B61b
013/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;104/23FS,134,244.1,88,130 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: LaPoint; Arthur L.
Assistant Examiner: Keen; D. W.
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation-in-part of my copending patent application
Ser. No. 782,968 filed on Dec. 11, 1968.
Claims
I claim:
1. A ground effect transportation system comprising:
a track of generally concave dihedral design having (i) a generally
horizontal, upwardly facing bearing surface and (ii) at least one
prismatic extension protruding upwardly from said bearing surface
to a free top edge parallel thereto and having two opposite though
closely adjacent, mutually backed outer guide surfaces facing
laterally away from each other, said bearing surface and said
extension being laterally offset with respect to each other whereby
said track is of generally L-shaped cross section with said bearing
surface and said extension forming respectively the horizontal and
the vertical arms of the L, and
a ground effect machine comprising (i) a body portion movable over
said bearing surface in substantially frictionless wheelless
engagement therewith through a support cushion formed against said
bearing surface, said body portion being in a laterally offset
location with respect to said extension and having a port side and
a starboard side, one of which is adjacent to said extension and
the other remote therefrom, and (ii) two like guiding devices
located respectively at said port side and at said starboard side
of said body portion and each selectively controllable to a fully
operative position astride said prismatic extension over said free
top edge thereof, in substantially frictionless wheelless
cooperation with both said guide surfaces through opposite, guide
cushions formed against said guide surfaces, each of said guiding
devices having at least one guide surface engaging section which is
selectively projectable in one direction from the respective one of
said body portion sides toward the guide surface to set the
corresponding guiding device into said fully operative position
thereof, and retractable in the opposite direction whereby said
corresponding guiding device is no longer in said fully operative
position thereof.
2. System as claimed in claim 1, wherein each retractable guiding
device section is arranged for being extended into said operative
position and retracted therefrom, over said free edge of said
prismatic extension.
3. System as claimed in claim 1, wherein each retractable guiding
device section is arranged for being extended into said operative
position and retracted therefrom, by a rotation movement about an
axis substantially level with and parallel to said free edge of
said prismatic extension.
4. System as claimed in claim 1, wherein each retractable guiding
device section is arranged for being extended into said operative
position and retracted therefrom, by a translation movement
substantially perpendicular to said prismatic extension.
5. System as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said guiding
devices further comprises another guide surface engaging section
which is fixed with respect to the corresponding one of said body
portion sides.
6. System as claimed in claim 5, wherein said guiding device
section which is projectable and retractable, is arranged to
undergo a rotation movement about an axis substantially level with
and parallel to said free edge.
Description
In this copending application is described a ground effect
transportation system which comprises:
On the one hand, a dissymmetrical track having a base section with
an upwardly facing bearing surface and an extension with two
opposite laterally facing guiding surfaces projecting upwardly from
said base section, said extension being laterally offset with
respect to said base section, and
On the other hand, a ground-effect machine movable along said track
with the interposition of a fluid cushion formed against said
bearing surface, said machine comprising a body portion borne on
said fluid cushion and a guiding device mechanically attached to
said body portion and projecting outside to a laterally offset
location with respect thereto, said guiding device extending
astride said extension and comprising oppositely acting means
respectively engaging said opposite guiding surfaces.
An object of the present invention is to improve such guiding
device to the effect of rendering it retractable, the machine being
then guided by other means which may be conventional.
Another object of this invention is to permit switching of the
machine from one track to another, as for marshalling purposes.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a controllable
guiding system which may be substituted to or operated in
conjunction with conventional guiding means.
In the accompanying drawings:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic part sectional plan view of an embodiment
of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a section on the line II--II of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3 to 5 are sectional views similar to FIG. 2 illustrating
three further embodiments of the invention;
FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrammatic plan views illustrating
transportation systems by which a vehicle according to the
invention can be transferred from one track to another;
FIGS. 8a to 8g are sectional views of the track taken on the lines
VIIIa--VIIIa to VIIIg--VIIIg of FIG. 6; and
FIGS. 9a to 9f are sectional views of the track taken on the lines
IXa--IXa to IXf--IXf of FIG. 7.
In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle 101 is
supported above the upper surfaces 103a, 103b of the track 103 by
pressure fluid cushions 104 having flexible peripheral walls 105.
The track 103 is provided with upwardly projecting guide extensions
or rails 107 and 110a, 110b arranged centrally and laterally
respectively of the track 103, and the vehicle is provided with
central and lateral guide means which cooperate with said guide
rails. The central guide means provided on the vehicle comprises a
central inverted U-shaped longitudinal channel 102 provided on each
of its inner walls with pressure fluid cushions 106a, 106b.
In accordance with the present invention the vehicle 101 is
provided also with guide means 108a, 108b, provided with pressure
fluid cushions 106c, each adapted to be extended on one side of the
vehicle to cooperate with the laterally disposed guide rails 110a,
110b respectively.
The guide means 108a, 108b are arranged with guide elements grouped
in pairs, and said guide means on opposite sides of the vehicle may
be arranged offset relative to each other or disposed opposite,
that is in alignment with each other as shown.
The guide means 108a, 108b are mounted on the vehicle 101 by means
of telescopic members 111a, 111b carried by support means 112a,
112b respectively, whereby each of said guide means can be moved
into an operative position, as shown in full lines on the left-hand
side of FIG. 2, in which it cooperates with the respective guide
rail, or into an inoperative position, as shown in broken lines on
the right-hand side of FIG. 2, in which it is housed within the
body of the vehicle below the floor thereof. The telescopic members
111a, 111b may be in the form of hydraulic or pneumatic rams and
preferably means for controlling the operation of said members are
provided in the cabin of the vehicle. It will be understood that
member 111a or 111b for moving the guide means 108a or 108b into
operative or inoperative position will be operated when the vehicle
is on a section of the track which has no lateral guide rail on
that section of the track and whilst the vehicle is being guided by
a central guide rail or a guide rail on the other side of the
track.
In accordance with a modification the guide elements of the guide
means may be arranged so that one is fixed and the other movable by
the members 111a, 111b with the fixed element cooperating with the
inner surface of the guide rail and the movable element movable
into or out of its operative position. Such a modification is
illustrated in FIG. 3.
In this modification, the vehicle is supported on the track 103 by
pressure fluid cushions 104 and is provided with a central guide
means 102, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and is provided
with guide means 108c, 108d on the two opposite sides of the
vehicle. In each of the guide means 108c, 108d one of the guide
elements 106c is fixed to the body of the vehicle so as to be
maintained in fixed operative relationship with the inner surface
of a lateral guide rail 110a and the other guide element 106c is
movably mounted on the body of the vehicle so as to be movable into
and out of operative relationship with the outer surface of said
guide rail 110a. The movable guide element is mounted on an arm
which is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis 180 so as to be
movable into an operative position, shown in full lines, on the
right of FIG. 3, or into an inoperative position shown in full
lines on the left of the Figure.
FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate modified forms of ground effect vehicles
according to the invention, which are provided with movable guide
means arranged only at the sides of the vehicle, i.e., without
central guide means as in the embodiments of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.
In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, the vehicle is provided on
each of its sides with guide means 126, 126a of inverted
substantially U-shape having pressure fluid cushions 122 adapted to
cooperate with guide rails 125, 133 on a track 123. Said guide
means 126, 126a are movable vertically between operative and
inoperative positions respectively as shown on the left and
right-hand sides of the Figure respectively. The vertical movement
of said guide means between the operative and inoperative positions
is effected by means of screw jacks 127 carried by mounting members
128 fixed to the body of the vehicle. As will be understood, with
this construction the guide means can be turned about the vertical
axis of the jack so as to be housed within the body of the vehicle
when said guide means are in the upper inoperative position as
shown at the right-hand side of the Figure.
In the modified arrangement shown in FIG. 5, the laterally disposed
guide means 129, 129a provided with pressure fluid cushions 125a
are mounted on the outer end of the piston rod of an hydraulic or
pneumatic ram 391 carried on a mounting block 392 fixed to the body
of the vehicle. The guide means 129, 129a are thus rotatable about
a horizontal axis 390 and axially slidable from an operative
position to an inoperative position shown in full and broken lines
respectively at the left-hand side of FIG. 5. The operation of the
hydraulic or pneumatic ram 391 is controlled by control means
preferably situated in the cabin of the vehicle and suitable
locking means 393 are preferably provided for locking the guide
means in the inoperative position.
The method of operating a ground-effect vehicle having both central
and lateral guide means on a track including a main line and a
branch line as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8a to 8g will now be
described.
The main line, where it joins the branch line is made up at A (FIG.
6) of the two track sections 115 (FIG. 8a) and 116 (FIG. 8b).
The track section 115 consists of a single central guide rail 107
and the section 116 includes an extension of the central guide rail
107 and lateral side rails 110a and 110b substantially parallel to
the central guide rail 107. The track section indicated at B (FIG.
6) has no central guide rail but includes continuations of the two
lateral guide rails 110a, 110b (FIGS. 8c, 8d) with the guide rail
110a curving away from the guide rail 110b to a branch line D (FIG.
6). The main track portion indicated at C includes a section 117
(FIG. 8a) having a central guide rail 107 and a continuation of the
lateral guide rail 110b parallel with guide rail 107. The branch
line section D (FIG. 6) of the track includes portions 119 and 120
(FIGS. 8f, 8g), the portion 119 of the track shown in FIG. 8f
includes a continuation of the lateral guide rail 110a and the
portion 120 of the track includes additionally a central guide rail
107.
The operation of a ground-effect vehicle according to the invention
without central guide means on a track illustrated in FIG. 6 is as
follows:
Assuming the vehicle 1 is travelling towards section A of the track
in the direction of the arrow F and it is required to continue on
the main track to the section C, the guide means on the port side
of the vehicle are moved into operative position before it reaches
section A. The vehicle is then guided towards section A by the
central guide rail 107 and when it reaches section A the port side
guide means comes into cooperative relationship with guide rail
110b and the central guide means moves out of cooperative
relationship with the central guide rail 107, so that the vehicle
is then guided to section C of the track by guide rail 110b only.
When the vehicle reaches section C of the track it is guided
initially by both guide rails 107 and 110b and finally by the
central guide rail 107 only, whereupon the port guide means are
moved back into their inoperative position.
Assuming the vehicle is travelling towards section A of the track
in the direction of the arrow F and it is desired to turn the
vehicle onto the branch line of the track, that is onto section D,
the starboard guide means of the vehicle are moved into their
operative position so that as the vehicle approaches section A it
is guided only by the central guide rail 107 and as it passes over
section A of the track the starboard guide means come into
cooperative relationship with the lateral guide rail 110a, and the
central guide mean move out of cooperative relationship with the
central guide rail 107. The vehicle thus continues to be guided by
guide rail 110a towards section D of the track. As the vehicle
moves into section D of the track it is guided initially by both
the central and lateral guide rails 107 and 110a respectively and
finally the starboard guide means move out of cooperative
relationship with the lateral guide rail 110a, whereupon they are
moved out of their operative position and the vehicle continues
along the branch line guided by the central guide rail 107
only.
It will be understood that when the vehicle is travelling in the
opposite direction to that indicated by arrow F from section D of
the track to section A, the starboard guide means will be moved
into operative position, prior to reaching track section D, so that
the vehicle will be guided by guide rail 110a to track section A
after which the vehicle will be guided only by the central guide
rail 107 and the starboard guide means moved to their inoperative
position.
In the case of a track vehicle having only lateral guide means on a
track illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 9a to 9f having track sections G,
H, J and K, the track section G includes a continuous main line
track portion 130 (FIG. 9a) having a lateral guide rail 125 on one
side only and a portion 131 (FIG. 9b) having substantially parallel
lateral guide rails 125, 133 on opposite sides of said track. The
track section G leads to a main line section J and a branch line
section K. The track section leading to the branch line section K
passes through a track section H which includes a continuation of
the lateral guide rails 125, 133 (FIG. 9c) curving towards section
K, and track section K has a portion 134 (FIG. 9e) containing only
the continuation of guide rail 133 and portion 135 (FIG. 9f)
containing the lateral guide rail 125 on the opposite side of the
track parallel to guide rail 133, said guide rail 133 ending at
section K whilst the guide rail 125 continues along the branch
line.
The operation of a ground-effect vehicle according to the invention
over the track illustrated in FIG. 10 is as follows:
Assuming the vehicle is travelling towards section G of the track
in the direction of the arrow F', the guide means on the port side
of the vehicle are in their operative positions and cooperate with
guide rail 125. If the vehicle is to continue along the main line
of the track, that is towards section J, the guide means on the
port side of the vehicle are kept in their operative position and
the guide means on the starboard side retained in the inoperative
position. If, however, the vehicle is to be turned onto the branch
line, that is towards section K, the guide means on the starboard
side of the vehicle are moved into operative position before the
vehicle reaches section G of the track. When the vehicle reaches
that portion of section G of the track, where the two guide rails
run parallel to each other, the guide means on the port side of the
vehicle are moved out of their operative position so that the
vehicle is guided by said starboard side guide means along guide
rail 133. When the vehicle is approaching section K of the track
the guide means on the port side of the vehicle are again moved
into their operative position so that when the vehicle reaches
section K of the track said guide means will come into operative
relationship with guide rail 125 whereupon the guide means on the
starboard side of the vehicle will be again moved into their
inoperative position, the vehicle continuing to be guided along the
branch line of the track by guide rail 125.
It will be understood that when the vehicle is travelling in the
direction opposite to that indicated by arrow F', that is from the
section K to section G of the track, the guide means on the part
and starboard sides of the vehicle will be moved into and out of
their operative positions in the reverse sense, that is the guide
means on the port side of the vehicle will be moved into operative
position as the vehicle approaches section K of the track, the
guide means on the starboard side will be moved in inoperative
position at section K of the track and when the vehicle passes the
end of guide rail 133 at section G the port guide means will again
be moved into inoperative position and the starboard guide means
moved back into their operative position to cooperate with guide
rail 125.
* * * * *