| 摘要 |
<p>995,127. Vehicles guided and supported by gaseous cushions. HOVERCRAFT DEVELOPMENT Ltd. Nov. 8, 1961 [Aug. 9, 1960], No. 27618/60. Headings B7K and B7L. A vehicle is maintained in spaced relationship to a prepared track by gaseous cushions. In Fig. 1, gaseous curtains from ports 3, 5, 9 create and contain air cushions to support and guide vehicle 2 relative to track 1. Various forms of track and vehicle are given in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 7, not shown, whilst in Figs. 5 and 6, not shown, the vehicle is suspended from a divided, overhead track. Flexible curtains may be used adjacent the supply ports, Fig. 16, not shown. The cushions extend over the major portion of the vehicle's length and are contained at the front and rear by gaseous curtains. For highspeed vehicles, Fig. 8, a subdivided cushion 50 is contained by a continuous gaseous curtain and a small cushion 52 at the front of vehicle is at a pressure higher than the maximum stagnation pressure that could occur on movement of the vehicle. The vehicle is guided on vertical walls by cushions on small pads 56 which may be deflectable, Fig. 14, not shown, to avoid contact with the track on curves. In Figs. 11, 12, not shown, four pads are attached to the vehicle to produce high-pressure cushions, a V- shaped track being used to combine the supporting and guiding cushions. In Fig. 13, not shown, the guiding surfaces of the track slope inwards from the top to prevent the vehicle lifting off the track; and in Fig. 15, not shown, the main vehicle body is pivotally mounted on short end sections embracing the track. In Fig. 17, the vehicle has retractable wheels 90, 95 for manoeuvring the vehicle at a terminus, and has air brakes 96, a reversible propeller and brakes on wheels 90 to bring the vehicle to rest. Track brakes may also be applied. The vehicle may be propelled by a propeller, jet propulsion, or a linear induction motor, the energy for which may be picked up from a conductor rail by flexible members which can augment or replace one or more of the air curtains.</p> |
