Importance

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Abstract

Three aspects are disclosed of an airstream control system for a hovercraft that includes a platform and a lift gas chamber beneath the platform. Firstly, the system includes an impeller for receiving air at an inlet and discharging pressurized air at an outlet as an airstream. The impeller is positioned above an orifice of the lift gas chamber. The impeller is supported along a first axis transverse to the airstream and about which the impeller is rotatable by a first axis frame that is rotatable about a pair of first axis supports fixed to the platform. The impeller is further supported along a second axis transverse to the airstream and about which the impeller is rotatable by a second axis frame that is attached to the first axis frame and that comprises a first arm supporting a first point of the impeller and extending upstream of the impeller. A first channel arrangement fixed to the platform can receive the first arm of the second axis frame so as to allow a higher degree of tilting of a main axis of the impeller from vertically downward than in the absence of the first channel arrangement. Secondly, the system may include an arrangement to substantially seal the orifice or the lift gas chamber downstream of the impeller from upward flow of air. Thirdly, the system may include a stator positioned downstream of the impeller to prevent various airflow problems when the impeller is titled at 90 degrees from vertically downward.

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First Claim