Re: GEV Physics and GEVs for engineers

Roger Books wrote:

> On 30-Oct-01 at 04:50, KH.Ranitzsch@t-online.de
(KH.Ranitzsch@t-online.de)
> wrote:
> >
> > For a highly mobile force, it might make sense to have engineering
> > vehicles that use Ground-effect mobility for fast movement. But they
> > would need auxiliary tracks/wheels for actual work - complex and
likely
> > to be expensive.
> >
>
> Unless...
>
> You use portable grav units powered off the GEV.  The engineer
> hops out, places the grav units at predisgnated positions, and
> flips the switch.  The Disabled GEV rises into the air and is
> slowly towed home.  Decelleration would be fun to watch.  :)
>
> Roger Books

Hiding wheels/tracks under the skirts of an air cushion vehicle is not
as
difficult as people make it sound.  According to an episode of TLC's
"Extreme
Machines" the SRN-4 hovercraft, used as a Channel ferry, is equipped
with
hydraulic jacks to raise the vehicle up off of the ground for inspection
and
maintenance of the skirt and plenum.  They do not have wheel trucks on
the
ends of these jacks, because they have no need for them, but there is no
reason that it would be difficult.

The only sticking point for a tracked hovercraft hybrid is how to raise
the
skirts off of the ground, but furling sails is a similar problem that
has been
solved.  Once you have picked your preferred method of raising the
skirts, you
either put the air cushion between the tracks, or the tracks under the
skirt.
In both cases the powerplant of the hybrid vehicle has a power train
that can
power the lifting fan(s) and tracks, with an option for driving both
(someone
will find a good use for that feature).