Seal for air cushion vehicle

摘要

An improved seal is provided for an air cushion vehicle which has side hulls and a wet deck therebetween. The improved seal includes a flexible sheet like device which is connected to the wet deck and which extends between the side hulls so as to present a forward surface. A plurality of elongated flexible panels are connected to the air cushion vehicle and extend downwardly across the forward surface of the flexible sheet like device, and elongated panels laterally overlap one another so as to provide a continuous field barrier across the vehicle. With this arrangement the panels cooperatively flex and slide with respect to one another to discretely respond to wave actions, thereby minimizing drag and wear capabilities of the seal.