Platform for use in moving loads horizontally

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This invention concerns a ground effect vehicle for use in moving loads horizontally. Such vehicle comprises in accordance with the invention a load carrying structure having on its bottom surface a plurality of flexible inflatable members each defining within its periphery a space closed at its upper part, bounded around its sides by said member and open at its lower part, and means for introducing fluid into each said space to form a cushion of pressurised fluid therein and produce a ground effect support for said vehicle.

The fluid introduced into the spaces will usually be air and the size and number of the spaces will be chosen so that for the sort of load the vehicle is designed to carry a pressure of the order of 2j to 5 pounds per square inch (0.175 to 0.35 kg per square cm) suffices to give the desired ground effect. For stability the inflatable members are distributed about a vertical axis through the centre of gravity of the structure.

The inflatable members themselves may be in the form of annular flexible tubes and a very convenient ready made form of such member is a pneumatic tyre inner tube. All that is necessary is that the tubes should be supported sufficiently to take the slack out of them before the whole platform is under load, and generally the same inflation pressure will be used in each.

Suitable pressures for the ground effect can readily be obtained from a compressed gas bottle by the aid of pressure reducing and controlling means but for longer periods of movement a gas compressor may be used. Such means for supplying the gas under pressure may be mounted on the vehicle itself, or on the surface over which the vehicle is to be moved provided connection is made by flexible pipes so that within limits horizontal movement of the vehicle is not prevented. Generally speaking the same pressure will be supplied to the space in each inflatable member to produce the ground effect, though provision may be made to supply gas at different pressures to different inflatable members on the one vehicle. It will be clear that to obtain stability there must usually be a minimum of three inflatable members but more may be used.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings which by way of example illustrate a ground effect vehicle suitable for the support of a motor vehicle.

Figure 1 is a perspective view from below, and

Figure 2 is a side view of the ground effect vehicle in use .

In the illustrated example the ground effect vehicle is a rigid skeleton platform structure comprising two longitudinal beams 11 of a length to suit the wheelbase of a motor vehicle 12 and spaced apart by crosspieces 13 to suit the track of the motor vehicle. In this example it is assumed that the platform structure is built of wood but it may be made of metal or composite if preferred.

On the underside at the corners are secured four annular flexible members 14 in the form of pneumatic tyre inner tubes, the platform being solid over these members.

These only need to be inflated sufficiently to take out the slack before the platform is under load, say 4 or 51bs per square inch (0.2Ô or 0.35 kg per square cm.). It is preferred that the tubes 14 should be sealed to the underside of the platform but since any lateral load on the tubes when the platform is in use is very small, such sealing is easily effected with an adhesive such as rubber solution.

From the underside of the platform an air nozzle 15 opens into the centre of the free space defined within the periphery of each tube 14· In this example to obtain the ground effect all the nozzles are supplied from a compressed air bottle 16, means being provided for controlling the supply and reducing it to a suitable pressure.

These means here comprise a primary control and reducing valve 17 at the bottle, whence a flexible pipe 1Ô leads to two further control and reducing valves 19, 21 respectively controlling the supply through pipes 22 to the spaces within the tubes 14- at the front of the platform and through pipes 23 to the spaces within the tubes 14 at the rear of the platform. This enables different pressures to he used to provide the ground effect according to the lonitudinal distribution of the vehicle weight but such a refinement can usually be dispensed with, the same pressure being supplied to all four spaces.

For a very large vehicle although the general form of the platform must still suit the wheel disposition, It may be desirable to provide more than four inflatable members, say eight, two at each corner, or six arranged four at the corners and two halfway along either side, especially if ordinary sized inner tubes are used.

A support for a motor vehicle is only an example, and the shape of the platform and number and distribution of the tubes will be suited to the size and shape of the load envisaged. For loads larger than motor vehicles the platform may be of metal or even concrete. For smaller loads metal or wood are suitable.

A supply for a compressed, air bottle can only operate for a limited period. If longer periods are to be provided for an air compressor may be used. The supply whether by bottle or compressor may be mounted on the platform, thus dispensing with the need for flexible pipes and avoiding . any limit from this cause on the distance the platform can be moved.

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS