An adjustable hovercraft

Abstract

This utility model provides an adjustable hovercraft, including a hovercraft body. A propulsion component is slidably disposed on the bottom of the hovercraft body along the direction of a plumb bob. The propulsion component has at least two working positions. When it is in the first working position, the height of the propulsion component is higher than the lowest point of the hovercraft body. When it is in the second working position, the height of the propulsion component is lower than the lowest point of the hovercraft body, making it more efficient in water travel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of hovercraft, and more specifically, to an adjustable hovercraft. Background Technology

[0002] A hovercraft is a type of vessel that uses the support force of air to lift off the water surface. As soon as it appeared, it attracted the attention of the shipbuilding industry worldwide. Hovercrafts use the high-pressure air cushion effect between the bottom of the ship and the water surface to partially or completely lift the hull for high-speed navigation. The high-pressure air cushion is formed by pressing air into the bottom of the ship, with a flexible skirt around the bottom to restrict the air from escaping, and using air pressure to lift the hull.

[0003] In the existing technology, hovercraft are equipped with two sets of pneumatic components. One set of pneumatic components generates a vertically downward lifting force to form an air layer that separates the hull from the water or land. The other set of pneumatic components generates a thrust force, which moves the hull forward using a rearward fan, thereby enabling the hovercraft to move.

[0004] However, existing hovercraft rely on air propellers for thrust. When traveling on water, air has a much lower density than water. According to the principles of physics, the thrust generated by a propeller is related to the density of the medium; the lower the density, the greater the thrust load coefficient of the propeller. This means that more work needs to be done to propel the same mass of hovercraft, resulting in lower efficiency. Furthermore, the air propeller generates high waves on the water surface, which consumes kinetic energy. Some of this energy is not effectively converted into propulsion for the hovercraft, further reducing propulsion efficiency.

[0005] Therefore, improvements are needed to existing hovercraft to overcome the aforementioned shortcomings. Utility Model Content

[0006] The main purpose of this application is to provide an adjustable hovercraft that is more efficient at navigating on water.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, in a first aspect, this application provides an adjustable hovercraft, including a hovercraft body, characterized in that a propulsion component is slidably disposed on the bottom of the hovercraft body along a plumb line, the propulsion component having at least two working positions, wherein when it is in the first working position, the height of the propulsion component is higher than the lowest point of the hovercraft body, and when it is in the second working position, the height of the propulsion component is lower than the lowest point of the hovercraft body.

[0008] Optionally, a mounting frame is slidably disposed on the hovercraft body, the propulsion component is fixedly disposed on the bottom of the mounting frame, and a drive mechanism for driving the mounting frame to slide is disposed on the hovercraft body.

[0009] Optionally, the mounting bracket has two components, and each mounting bracket has a propulsion component at its bottom, with the two propulsion components fixed together by a connecting rod.

[0010] Optionally, a telescopic frame is fixedly installed on the hovercraft body, the propulsion assembly is fixedly installed at the bottom of the telescopic frame, and the telescopic frame is provided with a locking structure to lock it in at least two working positions.

[0011] Optionally, the telescopic frame has two components, and each telescopic frame has a propulsion component at its bottom, with the two propulsion components fixed together by a connecting rod.

[0012] Optionally, the propulsion component is a propeller or a jet pump.

[0013] Optionally, the hovercraft body includes an inflatable hull and a ring-shaped lifting airbag fixedly disposed on the outer edge of the bottom of the inflatable hull, and the propulsion component is located in the cavity surrounded by the lifting airbag.

[0014] Optionally, the inflatable hull is provided with an inflation assembly for inflating the airbag.

[0015] Optionally, a power unit is also provided at the stern of the inflatable hull.

[0016] Optionally, the power assembly includes a propeller, a power motor for driving the propeller to rotate, and a fairing disposed outside the propeller.

[0017] This utility model provides an adjustable hovercraft, which, compared with the prior art, has the following advantages: by setting up a liftable propulsion component, when traveling on land, the propulsion component rises, relying on the original air propeller for thrust. When traveling on water, since the original air propeller is inefficient, the propulsion component is lowered into the water, thus cooperating with the air propeller to increase efficiency. In addition, in the combined force state, that is, the air propeller and the underwater propeller work simultaneously, the air propeller easily exerts a downward force on the bow, which can easily sink the bow into the water. By setting up the underwater propeller, through power distribution, the stern output is low, raising the bow and keeping the hull in the optimal thrust line, preventing the bow from sinking. Moreover, the underwater propeller can also be used independently for propulsion according to specific situations. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, are used to provide a further understanding of the application and to make other features, objects, and advantages of the application more apparent. The illustrative embodiments and descriptions of this application are used to explain the application and do not constitute an undue limitation of the application. In the drawings:

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the present invention. Figure 3 .

[0022] The components include: 1. Hovercraft body; 2. Mounting frame; 3. Propulsion assembly; 4. Linkage rod; 5. Power assembly; 6. Inflatable assembly; 7. Inflatable hull; 8. Lifting airbag. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0024] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate for the embodiments of this application described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0025] In this application, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "rear," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "middle," "vertical," "horizontal," "lateral," and "longitudinal" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for the purpose of better describing this application and its embodiments, and are not intended to limit the indicated device, element, or component to having a specific orientation, or to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation.

[0026] Furthermore, in addition to indicating location or positional relationship, some of the aforementioned terms may also have other meanings. For example, the term "above" may also be used in some cases to indicate a certain dependency or connection relationship. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0027] In addition, the term "multiple" should mean two or more.

[0028] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other. This application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0029] Example 1:

[0030] like Figures 1-3 As shown, an adjustable hovercraft includes a hovercraft body 1. A propulsion component 3 is slidably disposed on the bottom of the hovercraft body 1 along the direction of a plumb bob. The propulsion component 3 has at least two working positions. When it is in the first working position, the height of the propulsion component 3 is higher than the lowest point of the hovercraft body 1. When it is in the second working position, the height of the propulsion component 3 is lower than the lowest point of the hovercraft body 1.

[0031] Therefore, during the use of this hovercraft, when it is traveling on land, the propulsion component 3 rises to the first working position, at which point it relies on the original air propeller for propulsion. When it is traveling on water, the propulsion component 3 descends to the second working position, at which point it relies on the original air propeller and the underwater propulsion component 3 for propulsion together, improving efficiency. In addition, the height of the propulsion component 3 in the water can be adjusted according to different center of gravity distributions or driving environments, thereby adjusting the distribution of air propeller thrust and underwater propeller thrust, making the travel more efficient.

[0032] In this embodiment, a mounting frame 2 is slidably mounted on the hovercraft body 1. The mounting frame 2 is typically a mast. The propulsion component 3 is fixedly mounted on the bottom of the mounting frame 2. The hovercraft body 1 is provided with a drive mechanism that drives the mounting frame 2 to slide. The specific structure of the drive mechanism is not the focus of this invention. For example, a screw lifting structure can be used. A screw sleeve is fixedly mounted on the mast, and a screw that cooperates with the screw sleeve is rotatably mounted on the hovercraft body 1. The screw is driven to rotate by a motor. By driving the screw to rotate by the motor, the vertical height of the screw sleeve is adjusted, thereby adjusting the height of the mast and realizing the height adjustment of the propulsion component 3.

[0033] To improve stability, there are two mounting brackets 2, and each mounting bracket 2 is provided with a propulsion component 3 at its bottom. The two propulsion components 3 are fixed together by a connecting rod 4.

[0034] It should be noted that the propulsion component 3 is a propeller or a jet pump. Of course, other propulsion structures known in the prior art can also be used here. In this utility model, a propeller structure is preferred, which includes an underwater propeller body, a propulsion motor that drives the underwater propeller body to rotate, and a power supply that supplies power to the propulsion motor.

[0035] To reduce friction when traveling on the ground, the hovercraft body 1 includes an inflatable hull 7 and a ring-shaped lifting airbag 8 fixedly installed on the outer edge of the bottom of the inflatable hull 7. The propulsion component 3 is located in the cavity surrounded by the lifting airbag 8. When traveling on the ground, only the lifting airbag 8 is in contact with the ground, and the contact area is small, thereby reducing friction. The inflatable hull 7 is provided with an inflation component 6 for inflating the lifting airbag 8. The inflation component 6 includes a rotating propeller and a lifting motor that drives its rotation.

[0036] Preferably, the stern of the inflatable hull 7 is also provided with a power assembly 5, which includes a propeller, a power motor that drives the propeller to rotate, and a deflector disposed outside the propeller. The power assembly 5 is an air propeller. In this embodiment, three sets are provided. The three sets of propellers work together to enable the hovercraft to travel at high speed and accelerate rapidly.

[0037] Example 2:

[0038] No illustration is provided. The difference from Embodiment 1 is that the structure for controlling the lifting and lowering of the propulsion component 3 is different. In this embodiment, a telescopic frame is fixedly installed on the hovercraft body 1, and the propulsion component 3 is fixedly installed at the bottom of the telescopic frame. The telescopic frame is provided with a locking structure to lock it in at least two working positions. There are two telescopic frames, and the bottom of each telescopic frame is provided with the propulsion component 3. The two propulsion components 3 are fixed together by a connecting rod.

[0039] It should be noted that the telescopic frame can adopt a sleeve structure, which includes an outer sleeve fixed to the hovercraft body 1 and an inner sleeve fixed to the propulsion component 3. The inner sleeve slides relative to the outer sleeve, and the locking structure can be multiple locking holes opened on the outer sleeve and elastic locking pins set on the inner sleeve to cooperate with the locking holes.

[0040] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. An adjustable hovercraft, comprising a hovercraft body, characterized in that, A propulsion assembly is slidably disposed on the bottom of the hovercraft body along the plumb line. The propulsion assembly has at least two working positions. When it is in the first working position, the height of the propulsion assembly is higher than the lowest point of the hovercraft body. When it is in the second working position, the height of the propulsion assembly is lower than the lowest point of the hovercraft body.

2. The adjustable hovercraft as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The hovercraft body is slidably provided with a mounting frame, the propulsion component is fixedly provided at the bottom of the mounting frame, and the hovercraft body is provided with a drive mechanism for driving the mounting frame to slide.

3. An adjustable hovercraft as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The mounting bracket has two parts, and each mounting bracket has a propulsion component at its bottom. The two propulsion components are fixed together by a connecting rod.

4. An adjustable hovercraft as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The hovercraft body is fixedly equipped with a telescopic frame, the propulsion assembly is fixedly installed at the bottom of the telescopic frame, and the telescopic frame is equipped with a locking structure to lock it in at least two working positions.

5. An adjustable hovercraft as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The telescopic frame has two components, and each telescopic frame has a propulsion component at its bottom. The two propulsion components are fixed together by a connecting rod.

6. An adjustable hovercraft as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The propulsion component is a propeller or a jet pump.

7. An adjustable hovercraft as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The hovercraft body includes an inflatable hull and a ring-shaped lifting airbag fixedly disposed on the outer edge of the bottom of the inflatable hull. The propulsion component is located in the cavity surrounded by the lifting airbag.

8. An adjustable hovercraft as described in claim 7, characterized in that: The inflatable hull is equipped with an inflation component for inflating the airbags.

9. An adjustable hovercraft as described in claim 7, characterized in that: The inflatable hull is also equipped with a power unit at its stern.

10. An adjustable hovercraft as described in claim 9, characterized in that: The power assembly includes a propeller, a power motor that drives the propeller to rotate, and a fairing disposed outside the propeller.

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