Ground effect craft

Abstract

A ground effect craft having a ground effect wing, a plurality of sponsons, and a control system is disclosed. The ground effect wing may include a fore ground effect wing and an aft ground effect wing. The ground effect wing may generate a stabilizing moment on at least one sponson to stabilize the ground effect craft. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to the body. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to each other. The dynamic coupling may permit the sponsons to move relatively independent of the body and each other, thereby stabilizing the ground effect craft. The ground effect craft may include a stabilizing wing.

1 . An assembly for use on a craft including a body, the assembly comprising:
 a first sponson;   a second sponson;   a first control system configured to dynamically couple the body of the craft to the first sponson; and   a second control system dynamically coupling the first sponson to the second sponson.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first control system is configured to at least partially isolate movement of the first sponson or the second sponson relative to the body in pitch or heave. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the second control system is configured to at least partially isolate movement of the first sponson relative to the second sponson in pitch or heave. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of any preceding claim, further comprising a first aerodynamic lift surface. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first aerodynamic lift surface comprises a membrane. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the first control system comprises a supporting member configured to couple the body to a first control link. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the second control system comprises a supporting member coupling the first sponson to a second control link. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the first control system comprises an inverse u-shaped member. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the first control system comprises a spring configured to connect the first sponson to a frame of the body. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the first control system comprises a spar configured to support the body when the first aerodynamic lift surface provides less lift than a threshold lift, wherein the threshold lift supports a portion of the weight of the body. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of any preceding claim, further comprising a second aerodynamic lift surface coupled to the second control system. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein an angle of the second aerodynamic lift surface is adjustable. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 11  or  12 , wherein the second aerodynamic lift surface is configured to deflect responsive to an aerodynamic pressure change. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of any preceding claim, further comprising a folding mechanism configured to enable the first sponson to move inwardly towards a centerline of the body of the craft. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the folding mechanism comprises an actuator configured to rotate with a control arm. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the second control system comprises a folding mechanism comprising a connection, wherein a segment of the second control system rotates about the connection relative to at least one of the first sponson or the second sponson. 
     
     
         17 . A craft comprising a body and comprising the assembly of any one of the preceding claims. 
     
     
         18 . A ground effect craft comprising:
 a lift surface;   a first sponson;   a second sponson; and   a dynamic seal configured, when there is relative airflow across the lift surface, to maintain or increase pressure under the lift surface during movement of at least one of the first sponson or the second sponson.   
     
     
         19 . The ground effect craft of  claim 18 , wherein the dynamic seal comprises an end plate configured to entrap air under the lift surface, the end plate being substantially adjacent to a portion of at least one of the first sponson or the second sponson. 
     
     
         20 . The ground effect craft of  claim 18 , wherein the dynamic seal comprises a seal between the first sponson or the second sponson and the lift surface. 
     
     
         21 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 18  to  20 , wherein the dynamic seal is configured to move with the first sponson or the second sponson relative to the lift surface. 
     
     
         22 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 18  to  21 , wherein the dynamic seal comprises a membrane. 
     
     
         23 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 18  to  22 , wherein the dynamic seal comprises a break-away connection. 
     
     
         24 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 18  to  23 , wherein the first sponson comprises a generally vertical stabilizing surface configured to mitigate pressure loss from the lift surface. 
     
     
         25 . A ground effect craft comprising:
 a body;   a first sponson;   a second sponson;   a first ground effect wing; and   a second ground effect wing connected to at least one of the first sponson or the second sponson, wherein the second ground effect wing is configured to entrap air between the second ground effect wing and a planetary surface, and wherein the second ground effect wing comprises a first side and a second side tapered towards a longitudinal centerline of the body aft of a leading edge of the second ground effect wing.   
     
     
         26 . The ground effect craft of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 a control system dynamically coupling the first sponson and the second sponson, wherein the second ground effect wing is coupled to the control system.   
     
     
         27 . The ground effect craft of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 wherein the second ground effect wing is dynamically coupled to at least one of the first sponson or the second sponson.   
     
     
         28 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 25  to  27 , wherein the second ground effect wing comprises a dynamic seal between the second ground effect wing and at least one of the first sponson or the second sponson. 
     
     
         29 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 25  to  28 , wherein the second ground effect wing comprises a first panel and a second panel overlapping at least a portion of the first panel. 
     
     
         30 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 25  to  29 , wherein the second ground effect wing is configured to deflect responsive to an aerodynamic pressure change. 
     
     
         31 . A ground effect craft comprising:
 a body;   a ground effect wing comprising a ground effect wing flap, wherein the ground effect wing flap comprises a first side and a second side tapered towards a longitudinal centerline of the body aft of a connection of the ground effect wing flap to the ground effect wing.   
     
     
         32 . The ground effect craft of  claim 31 , wherein the ground effect wing is connected to the body. 
     
     
         33 . The ground effect craft of  claim 31  or  32 , wherein the ground effect craft comprises a dynamic seal between the ground effect wing and at least one of a first sponson or a second sponson. 
     
     
         34 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 31  to  33 , wherein the ground effect wing flap comprises a first panel and a second panel overlapping at least a portion of the first panel. 
     
     
         35 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 31  to  34 , wherein the ground effect wing flap is configured to deflect responsive to an aerodynamic pressure change. 
     
     
         36 . A ground effect craft comprising:
 a ground effect wing configured to entrap air between the ground effect wing and a planetary surface; and   a mid-flap configured to extend from the ground effect wing at a location between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the ground effect wing, the mid-flap being configured to alter a center of pressure of the ground effect wing.   
     
     
         37 . The ground effect craft of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 a dynamic seal configured to maintain or increase pressure under the mid-flap during movement of at least one of a first sponson or a second sponson.   
     
     
         38 . The ground effect craft of  claim 36  or  37 , wherein the mid-flap comprises a first panel and a second panel overlapping at least a portion of the first panel. 
     
     
         39 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 36  to  38 , wherein the mid-flap is configured to deflect responsive to an aerodynamic pressure change. 
     
     
         40 . A method of stabilizing a ground effect craft comprising:
 generating a first aerodynamic lifting force via a first ground effect wing; and   altering a center of pressure of the ground effect wing using a mid-flap between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the ground effect wing.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising controlling the pitch of the ground effect craft via an aft flap of the first ground effect wing. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40  or  41 , wherein the mid-flap is configured to deflect responsive to an aerodynamic pressure change. 
     
     
         43 . The method of any one of  claims 40  to  42 , further comprising directing air to a second ground effect wing by controlling a movement of at least a portion of the first ground effect wing. 
     
     
         44 . A ground effect craft comprising:
 a body connected to a first aerodynamic lift surface;   a sponson dynamically coupled to the body; and   a second aerodynamic lift surface;   wherein the first aerodynamic lift surface is configured to move relatively independent of the sponson and the second aerodynamic lift surface.   
     
     
         45 . The ground effect craft of  claim 44 , wherein the second aerodynamic lift surface is at least partially aft of the first aerodynamic lift surface. 
     
     
         46 . The ground effect craft of  claim 44  or  45 , wherein the sponson includes a greater lateral surface area towards the aft of the sponson. 
     
     
         47 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 44  to  46 , wherein a center of lateral resistance of the sponson is proximate to the center of gravity of the sponson. 
     
     
         48 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 44  to  47 , further comprising a stabilizing wing. 
     
     
         49 . The ground effect craft of  claim 48 , wherein the stabilizing wing is configured to generate a moment on the body greater than a moment generated by the first aerodynamic lift surface on the body. 
     
     
         50 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claim 48  or  49 , wherein the stabilizing wing is coupled to the sponson. 
     
     
         51 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 48  to  50 , wherein the stabilizing wing comprises an anhedral wing. 
     
     
         52 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 48  to  51 , wherein a center of pressure of the stabilizing wing is aft of the longitudinal center of gravity of the body. 
     
     
         53 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 48  to  52 , wherein the stabilizing wing comprises a reverse delta shape. 
     
     
         54 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 48  to  53 , wherein the stabilizing wing comprises a flexible or semi-flexible material configured to permit folding of a wing surface. 
     
     
         55 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 48  to  54 , wherein the stabilizing wing comprises a wingtip spoiler. 
     
     
         56 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 44  to  55 , wherein the second aerodynamic lift surface is configured to stabilize the body when the first aerodynamic lift surface generates sufficient lift to generate a moment on the body. 
     
     
         57 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 44  to  56 , wherein the second aerodynamic lift surface is configured to stabilize the body when the sponson strikes a perturbation of a planetary surface. 
     
     
         58 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 44  to  57 , wherein the second aerodynamic lift surface is configured to generate a moment on the sponson greater than a moment of the first aerodynamic lift surface on the body. 
     
     
         59 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 44  to  58 , wherein a portion of the second aerodynamic lift surface is configured to rotate to change an angle of the portion relative to the second aerodynamic lift surface. 
     
     
         60 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 44  to  59 , wherein the second aerodynamic lift surface is configured to rotate to change an angle of the second aerodynamic lift surface. 
     
     
         61 . A ground effect craft comprising:
 a first aerodynamic lift surface configured to dynamically control airflow to a second aerodynamic lift surface configured to entrap air.   
     
     
         62 . The ground effect craft of  claim 61 , wherein the second aerodynamic lift surface is at least partially aft of the first aerodynamic lift surface. 
     
     
         63 . The ground effect craft of  claim 61  or  62 , wherein the second aerodynamic lift surface is at least partially isolated from the first aerodynamic lift surface. 
     
     
         64 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 61  to  63 , wherein a moment generated by the second aerodynamic lift surface increases when a body increases an angle of attack, wherein the body is connected to the first aerodynamic lift surface. 
     
     
         65 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 61  to  64 , wherein the second aerodynamic lift surface is configured to increase lift at the second aerodynamic lift surface when at least a portion of the first aerodynamic lift surface increases a height above a planetary surface. 
     
     
         66 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 61  to  65 , wherein a moment generated by the second aerodynamic lift surface increases when a sponson increases pitch, wherein the sponson is connected to the second aerodynamic lift surface. 
     
     
         67 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 61  to  66 , wherein the first aerodynamic lift surface comprises a flap configured to move to control airflow to the second aerodynamic lift surface. 
     
     
         68 . The ground effect craft of  claim 67 , wherein the flap is configured to deflect responsive to an aerodynamic pressure change. 
     
     
         69 . The ground effect craft of any one of  claims 61  to  68 , wherein the first aerodynamic lift surface is configured to control a center of pressure of the ground effect craft through the movement of at least a portion of the first aerodynamic lift surface by directing airflow towards the second aerodynamic lift surface.