CA1182498A - Air cushion vehicles - Google Patents
Air cushion vehiclesInfo
- Publication number
- CA1182498A CA1182498A CA000396625A CA396625A CA1182498A CA 1182498 A CA1182498 A CA 1182498A CA 000396625 A CA000396625 A CA 000396625A CA 396625 A CA396625 A CA 396625A CA 1182498 A CA1182498 A CA 1182498A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- buoyancy tank
- chine
- gunwale
- attached
- members
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 238000007747 plating Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 31
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 15
- 239000003351 stiffener Substances 0.000 claims description 20
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 5
- 229910000838 Al alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920000136 polysorbate Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 208000037656 Respiratory Sounds Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 241001302210 Sida <water flea> Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000001154 acute effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000004411 aluminium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910001234 light alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 206010037833 rales Diseases 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60V—AIR-CUSHION VEHICLES
- B60V1/00—Air-cushion
- B60V1/18—Body structure
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Title: "Air Cushion Vehicles"
Bow and side deck structures forming a part of the rigid body structure of an Air Cushion Vehicle include a tubular circular section gunwale member and a tubular circular section chine member supported outwardly from a buoyancy tank structure which forms the base of the rigid body structure by frame members to which they are attached by welding. The bow and side deck structures are completed by hull plating attached to the gunwale, chine and frame members.
The buoyancy tank structure may include unstiffened extruded deep I-section beams.
Title: "Air Cushion Vehicles"
Bow and side deck structures forming a part of the rigid body structure of an Air Cushion Vehicle include a tubular circular section gunwale member and a tubular circular section chine member supported outwardly from a buoyancy tank structure which forms the base of the rigid body structure by frame members to which they are attached by welding. The bow and side deck structures are completed by hull plating attached to the gunwale, chine and frame members.
The buoyancy tank structure may include unstiffened extruded deep I-section beams.
Description
DESCRIPTI0~
~itle: "Air Cushion Yehicles"
~ HIS I~YEN~I0~ relates to air cushion vehicles (A~C.V.) and is particularly concerned with structure forming a part of the rigid body of an A.C.V.
~ istorically, amphibious A~C.V.Ils have generally come out of an aircraft background so that 3t~1ctural design and manufacture has followed aircraft practices with spars, fra~es, stiffeners and skins usually being fastened to each other by mechanical rastening techniques such as rivetting or bolting. mis adds to both the weight and cost of the A.C.V.
A particular disadvantage of this practice i8 to ba found in manufacture of an A~C.V. having a continuou31y curved planform at the bow with the structure sloping downwardly and inwardly from the gunwale to the chine. ~rame members projecting radially from attachment to the forward end of the buoyancy tank structure ha~e to be individually formed to connect with gunwale and chine spar members because their angles of projection continuously change around the bow. ~urthermore, stiffeners disposed between the frame me~bers and extending between attachment at their end~ to the gunwale and chine spar members, have to be individually cropped at their ends 90 as to be suitably angled for matching with the gunwal~ and chine spar members.
A~other disadvantage is that the buoyancy tank structur0 i~
costly and time-con~uming to manufacture. ~eam members providing the mzin structural strength of the buoyancy ta~k are fabricated from sheet material joined by mechanical ~a~tening techniques and suitably stiffened. Panels, usually of sandwich con~truction, attach~d to the be&m members, have to be s0aled with suitable seala~t~ so as to ~top the ingres~ of water into the buoyancy tank structure.
~ he present invention aims to provide a lightweight structure which i~ able to withstand high impact loading whilst being inexpensive to manufacture in comparison with previous amphibious A.C~V. structures.
According to the present invention an amphibious air cushion vehicle has a xi~id body structure including a rigid base formed as a 9~
bouyancy ta~k structure, a bow structure attached to and extending outwardly from one end of the buoyancy tanX structure, side deck structures attached to and extending outwardly from each longitudinal sida of the buoyancy tank structure 9 the bow s-tructure and side deck structures each comprising a tubular circular section gunwale member and a tubular circular section chine member, each supported outwardly from the buoyancy tank structure by frame members spaced from each other along the length of the gunwale and chine members and attached there-to by welding, and hull plating attached to and supported by the gunwale, chine, and frame members.
Preferably, the chine membèr extends in a continuous curve around the bow structure and along the full length of the longitudinal sides of the A.C.V. However, the gunwale member, whilst extending in a continuous curve around the bo~ structure, may extend along only part of the length of the longitudinal sides of,the A.C.V., ana the side deck ~truc-ture may be of reduced depth aft of the termination of the gullwale member.
The buoyancy tank ~tructure of the A.C.V. preferably comprises a plurality of unstiffened extruded beams of deep I-section extending transvsrsely of the buoyancy tank structure and based from each other throughout the length of the buoyancy tank structure, tank plating being attached to the beams to form a closed box structure.
Preferably, the ends of the extruded beams project outwardly of the tank plating forDing the closed longitudinal sides of the buoyancy tanX
structure, and at least in the forward half of the buoyancy tank structure the ends of the beams are attached to the frame members of tha sids deck structure.
At least around the bow structure stiffener members may be disposed between each pair of frame member~ so as to extend between welded attachment at their ends to the gunwale and chine members. ~t the position of each stiffener member two further stiffeners may extend on0 from the gunwale member and one from the ohine member inwardly towards tha central buoyancy tank structure and another stiffener member attached by welding to the eentral buoyancy tank structure may extend between the innermost ends of the two further stiffener members.
The tank plating preferably comprises a plurality of extruded ~tiffened plau~ 3eam-welded together a1org their 1Ongltudinal edges.
The tank plating may be attached to the extruded baams of the buoyancy tank structure by welding or mechanical fa3tening means, but preferably is attached by welding at the bottom of the buoyancy tank structure and by mechanical fastening means at the top of the buoyancy tank structure.
Preferably the chine and gunwale members, the frame members 9 the stiffeners, the hull plating and the tank plating, are manufactured from light alloy, a weldable aluminium alloy suited for marine use being preferred.
The invention will now be further described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-~ igure 1 is a perspective view of an A.C.V. in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention shown broken away in a number of places to re~al feature~ of the A.COV. rigid body structure;
Figure 2 i9 a trans~erse cross-section through the A.C.V. rigid body s-tructure along line X ~ X of ~igure l;
Figure 3 is a transverse cross-section through!the A.C.V. rigid body struchLre along line Y - Y of Figure l;
~ igure 4 i9 a top plan of a segment of the bow ~tructure of the A.C.Y. shown in Figure 1 at one side of the ~.C.V. longitudinal centreline;
~igure 5 i~ a sec-tion on line A - ~ in Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a section On line ~ - ~ in Figure 4~
Referring first to Figures 1, 2 and 3 o~ the drawings, an amphibious A.C.V. 10 has a rigid body s-tructure 11 manufactured principally from a weldable aluminium alloy which i~ suitable for uee in a marine environmen-t. ~ flexible skirt 12 of known bag and finger~
construction~ shown in broken line in ~igure 1 extending along only a part of one of the longitudinal ~ides of the A.C.V. 10, e~tsnds arovnd and depends downwardly from the rigid body struc-tllre 11 to contain a cushion of presg~rised air that in operation is fsrmed between a ground ~urface and the underside of the rigid body structure 11.
During operation the A.C~VD iS propelled by two ducted propellers 13 located at -the rear of the rigid body struc-ture 11.
~he rigid body structure 11 include~ a rigid base formed as a buoyancy tank structure 14, a bow ~tructure 15 a-ttached to and extending outwardly from one end of -the buoyancy tank structure 14, and side deck qtructures 16 attached to and e~tending outwardly from each longitudinal side of the buoyancy tanX structure 14.
The buoyancy tank structure 14 c:omprises a plurality of unstiffened extruded beams 17 of deep I-section, which extend transversely of the buoyancy ta~k structure 14 and are spaced from each other throughout the length of the buoyancy tank structure. In this embodiment tank plating lS forming the upper and lower surfaces of the buoyancy tank structure 14 comprises length~ of extruded aluminium plank stiffened by integral T-section stiffeners 19 which project from one side of the plank, leng-ths of extruded plank being Ream-welded together along their longi~udinal edges to form the tank plating 18.
~he ta~k plating 18 forming the top surface of the buoyancy tank structure 14 i8 attached to the e~truded beams 17 by rivetting through the flanges of the T-section stiffeners 19 of the extruded plank and the flanges of the I-section extruded beams 17, whilst the tank plating 1~ forming the bo-ttom surface of the buoyancy tank structure 14 is attached to the extruded beams 17 by wellding. ~he longitudinal sides of the buoyancy tanX structure are closed by pieces of plating extending between welded attachment to the extruded beams 17 which pierce the closed longitudinal aides and project outwardly therefrom.
The extruded beam~ 17 projecting from the forward portion of the longitudinal sides of the buoyancy tank structure are cut square and are attached to frame members 20 of deep section wh~ch project outwardly from the end~ of the extruded beams 17 to support a tubular circular section gun~rale member 21 and a tubular circular section chine member 22 ~elded, respectively, to the top and bottom outer corners of each fra~ member 20. Aft of the rearmost frame member 20a the projeoting ends of the e~trudea bea~ 17 are tapered by inclining their lower edge~ upwardly to meet with the upper edge at the end o~
each beam which i~ attached by welding to the tubular chine member 22.
The tubular chine member 22 extends over the u11 length of each longitudinal side o~ th0 A.C.V., whereas the tubular gunwale member 21 terminates at a sufficient distance aft of the rearmost frame member
~itle: "Air Cushion Yehicles"
~ HIS I~YEN~I0~ relates to air cushion vehicles (A~C.V.) and is particularly concerned with structure forming a part of the rigid body of an A.C.V.
~ istorically, amphibious A~C.V.Ils have generally come out of an aircraft background so that 3t~1ctural design and manufacture has followed aircraft practices with spars, fra~es, stiffeners and skins usually being fastened to each other by mechanical rastening techniques such as rivetting or bolting. mis adds to both the weight and cost of the A.C.V.
A particular disadvantage of this practice i8 to ba found in manufacture of an A~C.V. having a continuou31y curved planform at the bow with the structure sloping downwardly and inwardly from the gunwale to the chine. ~rame members projecting radially from attachment to the forward end of the buoyancy tank structure ha~e to be individually formed to connect with gunwale and chine spar members because their angles of projection continuously change around the bow. ~urthermore, stiffeners disposed between the frame me~bers and extending between attachment at their end~ to the gunwale and chine spar members, have to be individually cropped at their ends 90 as to be suitably angled for matching with the gunwal~ and chine spar members.
A~other disadvantage is that the buoyancy tank structur0 i~
costly and time-con~uming to manufacture. ~eam members providing the mzin structural strength of the buoyancy ta~k are fabricated from sheet material joined by mechanical ~a~tening techniques and suitably stiffened. Panels, usually of sandwich con~truction, attach~d to the be&m members, have to be s0aled with suitable seala~t~ so as to ~top the ingres~ of water into the buoyancy tank structure.
~ he present invention aims to provide a lightweight structure which i~ able to withstand high impact loading whilst being inexpensive to manufacture in comparison with previous amphibious A.C~V. structures.
According to the present invention an amphibious air cushion vehicle has a xi~id body structure including a rigid base formed as a 9~
bouyancy ta~k structure, a bow structure attached to and extending outwardly from one end of the buoyancy tanX structure, side deck structures attached to and extending outwardly from each longitudinal sida of the buoyancy tank structure 9 the bow s-tructure and side deck structures each comprising a tubular circular section gunwale member and a tubular circular section chine member, each supported outwardly from the buoyancy tank structure by frame members spaced from each other along the length of the gunwale and chine members and attached there-to by welding, and hull plating attached to and supported by the gunwale, chine, and frame members.
Preferably, the chine membèr extends in a continuous curve around the bow structure and along the full length of the longitudinal sides of the A.C.V. However, the gunwale member, whilst extending in a continuous curve around the bo~ structure, may extend along only part of the length of the longitudinal sides of,the A.C.V., ana the side deck ~truc-ture may be of reduced depth aft of the termination of the gullwale member.
The buoyancy tank ~tructure of the A.C.V. preferably comprises a plurality of unstiffened extruded beams of deep I-section extending transvsrsely of the buoyancy tank structure and based from each other throughout the length of the buoyancy tank structure, tank plating being attached to the beams to form a closed box structure.
Preferably, the ends of the extruded beams project outwardly of the tank plating forDing the closed longitudinal sides of the buoyancy tanX
structure, and at least in the forward half of the buoyancy tank structure the ends of the beams are attached to the frame members of tha sids deck structure.
At least around the bow structure stiffener members may be disposed between each pair of frame member~ so as to extend between welded attachment at their ends to the gunwale and chine members. ~t the position of each stiffener member two further stiffeners may extend on0 from the gunwale member and one from the ohine member inwardly towards tha central buoyancy tank structure and another stiffener member attached by welding to the eentral buoyancy tank structure may extend between the innermost ends of the two further stiffener members.
The tank plating preferably comprises a plurality of extruded ~tiffened plau~ 3eam-welded together a1org their 1Ongltudinal edges.
The tank plating may be attached to the extruded baams of the buoyancy tank structure by welding or mechanical fa3tening means, but preferably is attached by welding at the bottom of the buoyancy tank structure and by mechanical fastening means at the top of the buoyancy tank structure.
Preferably the chine and gunwale members, the frame members 9 the stiffeners, the hull plating and the tank plating, are manufactured from light alloy, a weldable aluminium alloy suited for marine use being preferred.
The invention will now be further described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-~ igure 1 is a perspective view of an A.C.V. in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention shown broken away in a number of places to re~al feature~ of the A.COV. rigid body structure;
Figure 2 i9 a trans~erse cross-section through the A.C.V. rigid body s-tructure along line X ~ X of ~igure l;
Figure 3 is a transverse cross-section through!the A.C.V. rigid body struchLre along line Y - Y of Figure l;
~ igure 4 i9 a top plan of a segment of the bow ~tructure of the A.C.Y. shown in Figure 1 at one side of the ~.C.V. longitudinal centreline;
~igure 5 i~ a sec-tion on line A - ~ in Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a section On line ~ - ~ in Figure 4~
Referring first to Figures 1, 2 and 3 o~ the drawings, an amphibious A.C.V. 10 has a rigid body s-tructure 11 manufactured principally from a weldable aluminium alloy which i~ suitable for uee in a marine environmen-t. ~ flexible skirt 12 of known bag and finger~
construction~ shown in broken line in ~igure 1 extending along only a part of one of the longitudinal ~ides of the A.C.V. 10, e~tsnds arovnd and depends downwardly from the rigid body struc-tllre 11 to contain a cushion of presg~rised air that in operation is fsrmed between a ground ~urface and the underside of the rigid body structure 11.
During operation the A.C~VD iS propelled by two ducted propellers 13 located at -the rear of the rigid body struc-ture 11.
~he rigid body structure 11 include~ a rigid base formed as a buoyancy tank structure 14, a bow ~tructure 15 a-ttached to and extending outwardly from one end of -the buoyancy tank structure 14, and side deck qtructures 16 attached to and e~tending outwardly from each longitudinal side of the buoyancy tanX structure 14.
The buoyancy tank structure 14 c:omprises a plurality of unstiffened extruded beams 17 of deep I-section, which extend transversely of the buoyancy ta~k structure 14 and are spaced from each other throughout the length of the buoyancy tank structure. In this embodiment tank plating lS forming the upper and lower surfaces of the buoyancy tank structure 14 comprises length~ of extruded aluminium plank stiffened by integral T-section stiffeners 19 which project from one side of the plank, leng-ths of extruded plank being Ream-welded together along their longi~udinal edges to form the tank plating 18.
~he ta~k plating 18 forming the top surface of the buoyancy tank structure 14 i8 attached to the e~truded beams 17 by rivetting through the flanges of the T-section stiffeners 19 of the extruded plank and the flanges of the I-section extruded beams 17, whilst the tank plating 1~ forming the bo-ttom surface of the buoyancy tank structure 14 is attached to the extruded beams 17 by wellding. ~he longitudinal sides of the buoyancy tanX structure are closed by pieces of plating extending between welded attachment to the extruded beams 17 which pierce the closed longitudinal aides and project outwardly therefrom.
The extruded beam~ 17 projecting from the forward portion of the longitudinal sides of the buoyancy tank structure are cut square and are attached to frame members 20 of deep section wh~ch project outwardly from the end~ of the extruded beams 17 to support a tubular circular section gun~rale member 21 and a tubular circular section chine member 22 ~elded, respectively, to the top and bottom outer corners of each fra~ member 20. Aft of the rearmost frame member 20a the projeoting ends of the e~trudea bea~ 17 are tapered by inclining their lower edge~ upwardly to meet with the upper edge at the end o~
each beam which i~ attached by welding to the tubular chine member 22.
The tubular chine member 22 extends over the u11 length of each longitudinal side o~ th0 A.C.V., whereas the tubular gunwale member 21 terminates at a sufficient distance aft of the rearmost frame member
2~a as ~3 neces~ary to provide a bay 23 for hou~ing a diesel engine tnot shown~, which drives a lift fan (not ~hown) positioned forward of . 35 the engine bay 23 between 'ch0 frame member~ 20. Over the length of the engine bay 23 the tubular gunwale member 21 i9 supported above the tubular chine member 22 by pillar members 21~o _ 5 _ : ` ~hat part of the 3ide deck structure 16 extending forward of the rear end of the engine bay 23 is comprised by the projectlng ends of the extruded beams 17 and the tubular chine and gunwale members 21 and 22, respectively, and forward of the engine bay 23 further comprises the frame members 23. ThiB part of the side dack structure 16 is completad by the addition of hull plating 25 extending be-tween welded attachment to the tubular gunwale and. chine members 21 and 22, respecti~ely, hull plating 26 attached along an outer edge by welding I to the tubular gunwale member 21 and e~tending inwardly over the topt 10 edges of the frame members 20 to attachmen-t with the wall 28 of a cabin 29, and hull plating 27 extending from welded attachment along an outer edge to the tubular chine member 22 inwardly to welded attachment with the lower longit;udinally extending edga of the tank plating 18 forming the bottom surface of buoyancy tanX structure 14~ SLitable hatches 15 (not shown) are provided in thelhull plating 26 for servicing and removal of t:he A.C.V. lift fan~!and lift fan diesel engines (not shown)~
Aft of the rear end of the engine bay 23, the side deck structure 16 i9 comprised by the pro~ecting tapered ends of the extruded beams 17 and the tubuLar chine member 22, and i8 completed by the addition of 20 hull plating 30 which extends from welded attachment along an outeredge to the tubular chine member 22 inwardly over the top~ of the extruded bea~s 17 to attachment with the wall 28 of the cabin 29.
Heferring now particularly to ~igures 4, 5 and 6, the gunwale and chine members 21 and 22, respectively, extend from merger of the bow structure 15 with the side deck st~uctures 16 in a continuous curve matching the curved planform of the bow structure. The curvature o~
ths chine member 22 is such that it 19 disposed i-nwardly of the gunwale member 21 when the bow structura is viewed in plan 80 that the bow structure slopes downwardly and inwardly from the gu~wale member 21 to the chine ~mber 22. It will be appreciated that ~hilst the gunwale and chine members 21 and 22, respectively~ are illustrated as being of one contimlous length they will~ in practica~ ea~h be manufactured by welding together ~ number of lengths of tube. ~rame members 31 project radially outw~rdly from welded attach~en-t on tha front end of the buoyancy tanX structIre 11~ and ~re welded to the gunwale and chine member~ 21 and 22, respectively. The bow 8tructure i8 completed by hull plating 32 extending between welded attachmen-t to the gunwale and r chine members 21 and 22, respectively; by hull plating 33 e~tending between welded attachment to the chine member 22 a~d the front edge of the tank plating 18 forming the bottom surface of the buoyancy tank st~cture 14; and by hull plating 34 extendin~ between welded attachment to gunwale member 21 and the ~ront edge of the tank plati~g 18 forming the top surface of the buoyancy tank structure 14. The hull plating 33t 34, and 35, is also welded along the edges of the frame members 31.
~he frame member 31 on the longitudinal centreline of the A.C.V.
and the first two frame members 31 at each side of the longitudinal centreline, are each braced by three channel section members 35, one of which is attached to one ~ide of the frame member 31 by welding along portions of the lengths of the edges of the side flanges Gf the member 35, whilst 1.he other two members 35 are located one at either side of 1 15 the frame member 31, eaGh having one end attached by welding to the ! frame membe~ 31 and extending outwardly at an acute angle therefrom to an opposite end which is similarly attached -to the chine member 22.
Addition~l stiffener members are disposed be-tween each pair of frame members 31 being comprised, as is shown in ~igure 6~ by a stiffener member 36 extending between welded attacbment at its ends to the ~wale member 21 and the chine mem~er 22, a stiffener member 37 having one end attached by welding to the chine member 22 a~d extending inwardly to have its other end simil æly attached to the lower forw~rd end of a ~tiffener 3~ which is welded to the front end of the buoyancy tank st~ucture 14y and a stiffensr 39 extending between an end which is ad~acent to the ~unwale member 21 and an end ~hich is adjacent to the upper end of the sti~fener 38, the stiffaner 39 being attached by welding to the underside of the hull plating 34.
~ row of skirt attachment hinge members 40 (reference Figures 5 and 6) are attached around the hull plating 32 of the bow structuIe 15 - at a position below the gunwale member 21~ and similar skirt attachment hinge membaxs (not ~hown) are attached to the hull plating 25 of the side deck stxuctuxes 16 at a position just above the chine member 22.
~hese hinge members 40 pro~ide means for attachment of the ~lexible . 35 skirt 12 to the ~.C.V. in a manner simllar to that described in ~.K.
Patent Specification No. 969,235 or ~.X. Patent Specification No.
1,571,640~
9~
Vne advantage of the present ~nvention is that although the frame members 31 ana the stiffeners 37 pro~ject at different angles from the front end of the buoyancy tank struclture 14, the frame members 31 are provided with standard notches for recei~ing the tubular circular section gunwale and chine members 21 and 22 9 respectively. Also, that end of each stiffener member 37 which mates with the chine member 22, and the ends o~ each s-tiffener member 3~ have standard profiles to suit the curvature of the gunwale and chine members. Thi9 results in a saving on the manufacturing cost of the frame and sti~fener members, and the time required to build the bow struoture is considerably reduced, giving further cost saving.
A further advantage is that an ~.C.Y. rigid body st~cture in accordance with the present invention lend~ itself to use of welding so that mechanically fastened joints are reduced7 giving a saving in both weight and cost.
A~ added ad~antage of the present invention is that because the chine member is of tubular circular section it provides a smooth corner around whicb the skirt may fold as it flexes during operation o the A.C~V., and when it collapses as the ~.C.V~ sets down at the e~d of aQ
operation. This reduce~ the rate of wear aQd damage brought about by the s~irt coming into contact with sharp edges o~ the structure.
Aft of the rear end of the engine bay 23, the side deck structure 16 i9 comprised by the pro~ecting tapered ends of the extruded beams 17 and the tubuLar chine member 22, and i8 completed by the addition of 20 hull plating 30 which extends from welded attachment along an outeredge to the tubular chine member 22 inwardly over the top~ of the extruded bea~s 17 to attachment with the wall 28 of the cabin 29.
Heferring now particularly to ~igures 4, 5 and 6, the gunwale and chine members 21 and 22, respectively, extend from merger of the bow structure 15 with the side deck st~uctures 16 in a continuous curve matching the curved planform of the bow structure. The curvature o~
ths chine member 22 is such that it 19 disposed i-nwardly of the gunwale member 21 when the bow structura is viewed in plan 80 that the bow structure slopes downwardly and inwardly from the gu~wale member 21 to the chine ~mber 22. It will be appreciated that ~hilst the gunwale and chine members 21 and 22, respectively~ are illustrated as being of one contimlous length they will~ in practica~ ea~h be manufactured by welding together ~ number of lengths of tube. ~rame members 31 project radially outw~rdly from welded attach~en-t on tha front end of the buoyancy tanX structIre 11~ and ~re welded to the gunwale and chine member~ 21 and 22, respectively. The bow 8tructure i8 completed by hull plating 32 extending between welded attachmen-t to the gunwale and r chine members 21 and 22, respectively; by hull plating 33 e~tending between welded attachment to the chine member 22 a~d the front edge of the tank plating 18 forming the bottom surface of the buoyancy tank st~cture 14; and by hull plating 34 extendin~ between welded attachment to gunwale member 21 and the ~ront edge of the tank plati~g 18 forming the top surface of the buoyancy tank structure 14. The hull plating 33t 34, and 35, is also welded along the edges of the frame members 31.
~he frame member 31 on the longitudinal centreline of the A.C.V.
and the first two frame members 31 at each side of the longitudinal centreline, are each braced by three channel section members 35, one of which is attached to one ~ide of the frame member 31 by welding along portions of the lengths of the edges of the side flanges Gf the member 35, whilst 1.he other two members 35 are located one at either side of 1 15 the frame member 31, eaGh having one end attached by welding to the ! frame membe~ 31 and extending outwardly at an acute angle therefrom to an opposite end which is similarly attached -to the chine member 22.
Addition~l stiffener members are disposed be-tween each pair of frame members 31 being comprised, as is shown in ~igure 6~ by a stiffener member 36 extending between welded attacbment at its ends to the ~wale member 21 and the chine mem~er 22, a stiffener member 37 having one end attached by welding to the chine member 22 a~d extending inwardly to have its other end simil æly attached to the lower forw~rd end of a ~tiffener 3~ which is welded to the front end of the buoyancy tank st~ucture 14y and a stiffensr 39 extending between an end which is ad~acent to the ~unwale member 21 and an end ~hich is adjacent to the upper end of the sti~fener 38, the stiffaner 39 being attached by welding to the underside of the hull plating 34.
~ row of skirt attachment hinge members 40 (reference Figures 5 and 6) are attached around the hull plating 32 of the bow structuIe 15 - at a position below the gunwale member 21~ and similar skirt attachment hinge membaxs (not ~hown) are attached to the hull plating 25 of the side deck stxuctuxes 16 at a position just above the chine member 22.
~hese hinge members 40 pro~ide means for attachment of the ~lexible . 35 skirt 12 to the ~.C.V. in a manner simllar to that described in ~.K.
Patent Specification No. 969,235 or ~.X. Patent Specification No.
1,571,640~
9~
Vne advantage of the present ~nvention is that although the frame members 31 ana the stiffeners 37 pro~ject at different angles from the front end of the buoyancy tank struclture 14, the frame members 31 are provided with standard notches for recei~ing the tubular circular section gunwale and chine members 21 and 22 9 respectively. Also, that end of each stiffener member 37 which mates with the chine member 22, and the ends o~ each s-tiffener member 3~ have standard profiles to suit the curvature of the gunwale and chine members. Thi9 results in a saving on the manufacturing cost of the frame and sti~fener members, and the time required to build the bow struoture is considerably reduced, giving further cost saving.
A further advantage is that an ~.C.Y. rigid body st~cture in accordance with the present invention lend~ itself to use of welding so that mechanically fastened joints are reduced7 giving a saving in both weight and cost.
A~ added ad~antage of the present invention is that because the chine member is of tubular circular section it provides a smooth corner around whicb the skirt may fold as it flexes during operation o the A.C~V., and when it collapses as the ~.C.V~ sets down at the e~d of aQ
operation. This reduce~ the rate of wear aQd damage brought about by the s~irt coming into contact with sharp edges o~ the structure.
Claims (10)
1. An amphibious air cushion vehicle having a rigid body structure including a rigid base formed as a buoyancy tank structure, a bow structure attached to and extending outwardly from one end of the buoyancy tank structure, side deck structures attached to and extending outwardly from each longitudinal side of the buoyancy tank structure, the bow structure and side deck structure each comprising a tubular circular section gunwale member and a tubular circular section chine member each supported outwardly from the buoyancy tank structure by frame members spaced from each other along at least a part of the length of the gunwale and chine members and attached thereto by welding, and hull plating attached to and supported by the gunwale, chine and frame members.
2. An A.C.V. as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the tubular circular section chine member extends in a continuous length around the bow structure and along the complete length of each longitudinal aide of the rigid body structure.
3. An A.C.V as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 , wherein the tubular circular section gunwale member extends in a continuous length around the bow structure and along a part of the length of each longitudinal side of the rigid body structure.
4. An A.C.V. as claimed in Claim 19 wherein the buoyancy tank structure comprises a plurality of unstiffened extruded beams of deep I-section extending transversely of the buoyancy tank structure and spaced from each other throughout the length of the buoyancy tank structure, and tank plating attached to the beams to form a closed box structure.
5. An A.C.V. as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the ends of the beams project outwardly of tank plating forming the closed longitudinal sides of the buoyancy tank structure.
6. An A.C.V. as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the ends of the beams in the forward half of the buoyancy tank structure are attached to the frame members of the side deck structure.
7. An A.C.V. as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein the ends of the beams in the rear half of the buoyancy tank structure are tapered towards their ends.
8. An A.C.V. as claimed in Claim 1, wherein at leapt around the bow structure stiffener members disposed between each pair of frame members extend between welded attachment at their ends to the gunwale and chine members.
9. An A.C.V. as claimed in Claim 8, wherein at the position of each of said extending stiffener member two further stiffener members extend one from the gunwale member and one from the chine member inwardly towards the central buoyancy tank structure and another stiffener member attached by welding to the central buoyancy tank structure extends between the innermost ends of said two further stiffener members.
10. An A.C.V. as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the tank plating comprises a plurality of extruded stiffened planks seam-welded together along their longitudinal edges.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8105517 | 1981-02-20 | ||
| GB8105517 | 1981-02-20 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1182498A true CA1182498A (en) | 1985-02-12 |
Family
ID=10519865
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000396625A Expired CA1182498A (en) | 1981-02-20 | 1982-02-19 | Air cushion vehicles |
Country Status (8)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4397366A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0059065B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS57151462A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU543613B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1182498A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3276419D1 (en) |
| HK (1) | HK47089A (en) |
| SG (1) | SG22289G (en) |
Families Citing this family (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3517862A1 (en) * | 1985-05-17 | 1986-11-20 | Blohm + Voss Ag, 2000 Hamburg | CATAMARAN WATER VEHICLE |
| US7000546B1 (en) * | 1992-11-25 | 2006-02-21 | Textron Inc. | Underwater mine countermeasure warfare system |
| US5277117A (en) * | 1992-11-25 | 1994-01-11 | Textron, Inc. | Underwater mine countermeasure warfare system |
| US6216599B1 (en) * | 1999-06-04 | 2001-04-17 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Ground effect transport system |
| US8051935B2 (en) * | 2008-07-01 | 2011-11-08 | Weber State University | Hovercraft and methods of manufacture and use of same |
| RU189391U1 (en) * | 2019-02-21 | 2019-05-21 | Николай Семенович Наливайкин | Inflatable boat frame |
| RU195458U1 (en) * | 2019-11-12 | 2020-01-29 | Общество с ограниченной ответственностью Торговая компания "Аэросани" | VEHICLE TWIN SCREW FRAME |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3598077A (en) * | 1969-10-20 | 1971-08-10 | John Van Veldhuizen | Flexible bow construction |
| FR2306857A1 (en) * | 1975-04-11 | 1976-11-05 | France Etat | AIR CUSHION VEHICLE STRUCTURE |
-
1982
- 1982-02-16 DE DE8282300789T patent/DE3276419D1/en not_active Expired
- 1982-02-16 EP EP82300789A patent/EP0059065B1/en not_active Expired
- 1982-02-17 US US06/349,609 patent/US4397366A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1982-02-18 AU AU80604/82A patent/AU543613B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1982-02-19 CA CA000396625A patent/CA1182498A/en not_active Expired
- 1982-02-19 JP JP57024661A patent/JPS57151462A/en active Granted
-
1989
- 1989-04-08 SG SG222/89A patent/SG22289G/en unknown
- 1989-06-07 HK HK470/89A patent/HK47089A/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| SG22289G (en) | 1989-07-14 |
| US4397366A (en) | 1983-08-09 |
| JPH0143665B2 (en) | 1989-09-21 |
| EP0059065A3 (en) | 1984-08-29 |
| JPS57151462A (en) | 1982-09-18 |
| AU8060482A (en) | 1982-08-26 |
| DE3276419D1 (en) | 1987-07-02 |
| HK47089A (en) | 1989-06-16 |
| EP0059065A2 (en) | 1982-09-01 |
| AU543613B2 (en) | 1985-04-26 |
| EP0059065B1 (en) | 1987-05-27 |
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Legal Events
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| MKEC | Expiry (correction) | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |