US 11,697,407 B2
Utilizing an air flow assembly with intermittent thruster capabilities
William Keith DuBose, Pensacola, FL (US); Richard Kent deValcourt, Covington, LA (US); Robert Austin Stringer, Slidell, LA (US); and Robert Moore, Lacombe, LA (US)
Assigned to Textron Systems Corporation, Hunt Valley, MD (US)
Filed by Textron Systems Corporation, Hunt Valley, MD (US)
Filed on Aug. 11, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/399,477.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/064,628, filed on Aug. 12, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0048492 A1, Feb. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. B60V 1/15 (2006.01)
CPC B60V 1/15 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An air-cushion vehicle (ACV), comprising:
a vehicle frame;
a fan supported by the vehicle frame; and
an air flow assembly supported by the vehicle frame, the air flow assembly being constructed and arranged to control air flow provided by the fan, the air flow assembly including:
a volute having a central chamber, a vehicle lift duct, and a vehicle thruster duct,
a set of guide members disposed between the central chamber and the vehicle thruster duct, and
linkage coupled to the set of guide members, the linkage being constructed and arranged to transition the set of guide members between a closed configuration in which the set of guide members closes an opening between the central chamber and the vehicle thruster duct and an opened configuration in which the set of guide members opens the opening between the central chamber and the vehicle thruster duct;
wherein the volute includes a first curved periphery portion and a second curved periphery portion which define a spiral; and
wherein the set of guide members, when in the closed configuration, defines an arc that connects the first curved periphery portion and the second curved periphery portion to further define the spiral for laminar air flow from the central chamber into the vehicle lift duct.