| 摘要 |
1,065,799. Air-cushion vehicles; endlesstrack vehicles. SOC. DES FORGES ET ATELIERS DU CREUSOT. Oct. 16, 1963 [Oct. 16, 1962], No. 40838/63. Headings B7H and B7K. In an air-cushion vehicle including a platform 1 supported by downwardly open compressedair chambers, compressed-air leakage is reduced either by single flexible band 8 which runs in endless-track fashion on a frame 12 beneath the platform 1 with its bottom run bearing against the ground below the compressed-air chambers, or by a plurality of such bands 26 (Figs. 8, 11, not shown) which bear against the ground between and/or at the lateral extremities of the chambers. The platform 1 (Fig. 1) is connected by side members 2 to a horizontal cross-member 3 (Fig. 2) carrying end walls 5 and sidewalls 4 defining a downwardly open chamber divided by partitions 6 into compressed-air chambers 7 (Fig. 4). By means of springs 18 the platform 1 bears upon the ends of a frame 12 which is located beneath the platform by sliding pivots 16, 17 and comprises longitudinal box-like members 13 connected by transverse members 14 and carrying at each end spindles 11 supporting pulleys 9 and drums 10 for the flexible band 8. Each transverse member 14 carries a flexible sealing e'ement 14b engaged by the adjacent endwall 5. Grooves 8b in the flexible band 8 are engaged by ribs 4a on the sidewalls 4 and by collars 9a on the pulley 9, and further grooves 8d in the band are engaged by the partitions 6. A horizontal member 19 extending between the longitudinal members 13 carries tongues 19 guiding the top run of the band 8. In Fig. 8 (not shown) flexible bands 26 on each side of the vehicle run on rollers 36 carried by the longitudinal members 35 of the frame 12, and flexible scaling elements 37 extend between the members 35 and the horizontal cross-member 3. In Fig. 11 (not shown) further flexible bands 39 are disposed along longitudinal partitions 40 dividing pressure chambers 30. The flexible bands comprise a hard plastic portion carrying a relatively soft portion for engagement with the ground, and may include a central metal portion. The vehicle may include additional load bearing wheels and the drums between the rollers of the multiple-band constructions may be formed by inflatable flexible envelopes. The flexible bands may include inflatable elements. |
