Surface effect sea train

Abstract

A multiple unit surface effect vehicle movable through an aquatic environment is provided including connected units and lift fans. The multiple unit surface effect vehicle may further include a coupling system and/or a plurality of skirt portions connecting one of the connected units with another of the connected units. The multiple unit surface effect vehicle includes the connected units connected to form a continuous movable unit movable in an aquatic environment. Each connected unit includes a forced air containment chamber defined within each of the connected units. The forced air containment chambers of each of the connected units are connected to form a continuous pressurized air cushion. The lift fans force air into the forced air containment chamber to pressurize the continuous pressurized air cushion.

1 . A multiple unit surface effect aquatic vehicle, comprising:
 a plurality of connected units forming a continuous movable unit movable in an aquatic environment, each connected unit including a forced air containment chamber portion defined within the connected unit, the forced air containment chamber portions of the connected units being connected to form a continuous pressurized air cushion; and   a plurality of lift fans affixed to at least one of the connected units, the lift fans forcing air into the forced air containment chamber portion of at least one of the connected units to pressurize the continuous pressurized air cushion.   
     
     
         2 . The multiple unit surface effect aquatic vehicle, wherein the continuous pressurized air cushion is a single continuous pressurized air cushion. 
     
     
         3 . A multiple unit surface effect aquatic vehicle, comprising:
 a plurality of connected units forming a continuous movable unit movable in an aquatic environment, each connected unit including a forced air containment chamber portion defined within the connected unit, the forced air containment chamber portions of the connected units being connected to form a continuous pressurized air cushion;   a plurality of lift fans affixed to at least one of the connected units, the lift fans forcing air into the forced air containment chamber portion of at least one of the connected units to pressurize the continuous pressurized air cushion; and   a coupling system attaching a front end of one of the connected units with a back end of another of the connected units such that the forced air containment chamber portion of the one of the connected units communicates with the forced air containment chamber portion of the other of the connected units to form the continuous pressurized air cushion.   
     
     
         4 . The multiple unit surface effect aquatic vehicle according to  claim 3 , wherein
 each of the connected units has twin hulls, and   the coupling system includes a pitch hinge connector having a plurality of connecting units affixed to a hull of a first connected unit and a corresponding hull of a second connected unit, the connecting units each including a plurality of tension connectors in parallel relationship with one another and connecting the first unit and the second unit, and a hinge disposed between the tension connectors.   
     
     
         5 . The multiple unit surface effect aquatic vehicle according to  claim 4 , wherein the hinge includes a concave receiving portion attached to the first connected unit and a ball protruding portion affixed to the second connected unit, the ball protruding portion being held adjacent the concave receiving portion with the tension connectors. 
     
     
         6 . The multiple unit surface effect aquatic vehicle according to  claim 4 , further comprising a lower fanned connector skirt connected between the first connected unit and the second connected unit, at least one of the first and the second connected units including a skirt-receiving portion angled at a lower section of the twin hulls. 
     
     
         7 . The multiple unit surface effect vehicle according to  claim 6 , further comprising an upper connector skirt connected between the first connected unit and the second connected unit, at least one of the first and the second connected units including a skirt-receiving portion angled at an upper section of the twin hulls. 
     
     
         8 . The multiple unit surface effect aquatic vehicle according to  claim 3 , wherein the coupling system comprises a retractable hinge pin system including a pin inserting portion integrally attached to one of the connected units and a pin receiving portion integrally attached to another of the connected units, the pin receiving portion having a pair of concave receiving sections, the pin inserting portion having a plurality of retractable pins extendable into and retractable from the concave receiving section of the pin receiving portion of the retractable hinge pin system. 
     
     
         9 . A multiple unit surface effect aquatic vehicle, comprising:
 a plurality of connected units forming a continuous movable unit movable in an aquatic environment, each connected unit including a forced air containment chamber portion defined within the connected unit, the forced air containment chamber portions being connected forming a continuous pressurized air cushion;   a plurality of lift fans affixed to at least one of the connected units, the lift fans forcing air into the forced air containment chamber portion of at least one of the connected units to pressurize the continuous pressurized air cushion; and   a plurality of skirt portions each connecting at least one of the connected units with at least another of the connected units and defining a forced air skirt chamber between the one of the connected units and the other of the connected units, the forced air skirt chambers of each of the skirt portions communicating with the forced air containment chamber portions of each of the connected units connected together with a skirt portion to form the continuous pressurized air cushion.   
     
     
         10 . The multiple unit surface effect aquatic vehicle according to  claim 9 , further comprising a coupling system including a coupler connecting an intermediate portion of one connected unit with the intermediate portion of another connected unit. 
     
     
         11 . The multiple unit surface effect aquatic vehicle according to  claim 10 , wherein the coupler comprises:
 an elongated portion having opposing ball ends, and   a plurality of ball sockets, one ball socket being attached to the one connected unit and another ball socket being attached to the other connected unit, the ball ends being receivable into the ball sockets.   
     
     
         12 . The multiple unit surface effect aquatic vehicle according to  claim 10 , wherein the coupling system includes a double link coupling unit in parallel relationship with a coupler, the double link coupling unit including three elongated portions connected together to form a right triangle and a plurality of coupling sockets, at least one coupling socket being attached to one of the twin hulls of one of the connected units and at least two coupling sockets being attached to a corresponding one of the twin hulls of another of the connected units, a ball end of at least one of the elongated portions being receivable into each one of the coupling sockets, the coupler including a single elongated portion having a plurality of ball ends receivable into a plurality of ball sockets, one of the coupler ball sockets being attached to the other twin hull of the one connected unit and another of the coupler ball sockets being attached to the corresponding other twin hull of the other connected unit. 
     
     
         13 . The multiple unit surface effect aquatic vehicle according to  claim 10 , wherein the coupling system comprises a retractable hinge pin system including a pin inserting portion integrally attached to one of the connected units and a pin receiving portion integrally attached to another connected unit, the pin receiving portion having a pair of concave receiving sections, the pin inserting portion having a plurality of retractable pins extendable into and retractable from the concave receiving section of the pin receiving portion of the retractable hinge pin system. 
     
     
         14 . A multiple unit surface effect aquatic vehicle, comprising:
 a plurality of connected units that together form a continuous movable unit movable in an aquatic environment, each connected unit including twin hull sections and including a forced air containment chamber portion defined within the connected unit, the forced air containment chamber portions of each of the connected units being connected forming a continuous pressurized air cushion;   a plurality of lift fans affixed to at least one of the connected units, the lift fans forcing air into the forced air containment chamber portion to pressurize the single continuous pressurized air cushion; and   a coupling system including a convex male portion protruding from each of the twin hull sections of a front end of one of the connected units, a concave female portion provided at each of the twin hull sections of a back end of another of the connected units, and a hinge affixing the front end of the one of the connected units with the back end of the other of the connected units such that the connected units are connected with each other and movable with respect to one another.   
     
     
         15 . The multiple unit surface effect aquatic vehicle according to  claim 14 , wherein the hinge comprises a retractable hinge pin system including a pin inserting portion integrally attached to one of the connected units and a pin receiving portion integrally attached to another connected unit, the pin receiving portion having a pair of concave receiving sections, the pin inserting portion having a plurality of retractable pins extendable into and retractable from the concave receiving section of the pin receiving portion of the retractable hinge pin system. 
     
     
         16 . The multiple unit surface effect aquatic vehicle according to  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of corner fenders affixed to edges of the pin inserting portion and/or the pin receiving portion. 
     
     
         17 . The multiple unit surface effect aquatic vehicle according to  claim 15 , further comprising an alignment aid including a jutting portion extending from one of the connected units and a reception portion indented within another of the connected units. 
     
     
         18 . The multiple unit surface effect aquatic vehicle according to  claim 14 , wherein one of the connected units is hinged together with another of the connected units such that an opening defining an entrance of the forced air containment chamber portion of the one connected unit continuously overlaps an entrance of the forced air containment chamber portion of the other connected unit.