US 12,252,247 B2
Ground effect flight vehicle
Ahmet Erdem Kazakli, Aalsmeer (NL); and Tadao Deniz Ozistek, Aalsmeer (NL)
Assigned to Speeder Systems Holding B.V., Aalsmeer (NL)
Appl. No. 18/032,470
Filed by SPEEDER SYSTEMS HOLDING B.V., Aalsmeer (NL)
PCT Filed Oct. 12, 2021, PCT No. PCT/NL2021/050618
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 18, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/086321, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 28, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2026721 (NL), filed on Oct. 21, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0382525 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. B64C 35/00 (2006.01); B60V 1/14 (2006.01); B64C 29/00 (2006.01); B64C 39/12 (2006.01); B64D 27/24 (2024.01)
CPC B64C 35/006 (2013.01) [B60V 1/14 (2013.01); B64C 29/0025 (2013.01); B64C 29/0033 (2013.01); B64C 39/12 (2013.01); B64D 27/24 (2013.01); B64C 35/001 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A ground effect vehicle, comprising:
a fuselage;
a wing assembly comprising a main wing and forward wings;
a hull for enabling floatation of the vehicle; and
an engine assembly equipped to provide an airflow which is directable in one of multiple directions, a first direction of the multiple directions which is arranged to generate lift for vertical take-off purpose, and a second direction of the multiple directions which is for horizontal cruise flight in and out of ground effect, the engine assembly further comprising a forward propulsion set located inside the fuselage or on the forward wings, an aft propulsion set comprising one or more tiltable propulsion engines located on the main wing, and a secondary thruster or thrusters to control three-dimensional motions of the vehicle;
wherein the shape of the hull creates a complete or partial air cushion to hover the vehicle just above the sea surface/ground at zero forward speed or below take-off speed when the propulsion sets are blowing air in the second direction, wherein the complete or partial air cushion is created by the aft propulsion set blowing air under the main wings;
wherein the vehicle further comprises apertures to enable passing of air propelled by one or more tiltable propulsion engines when the airflow departing from the one or more tiltable propulsion engines is directed in the first direction;
wherein during cruise flight when the forward wings and/or the airflow departing from one or more engines is directed in the second direction, said second direction of the airflow departing from one or more engines is tuneable so as to arrange for controlling movement of the vehicle in roll/pitch and yaw directions; and
wherein the apertures are closable so as to prevent airflow from a lower side to an upper side of the vehicle so as to optimize horizontal cruise flight of the vehicle.