IP Library Granted Patent US 12673657
Granted Patent B2
US 12673657 · App. 18/255,024 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Ground-effect hovercraft vehicle with retractable wings

Inventor: Enrique Jose Rivas Pinilla (San Isidro de Abona, ES)
B60V1/11B60V1/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12673657
App. No.
18/255,024
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A ground-effect amphibious hovercraft vehicle having a system of retractable wings ( 8 ), which are retracted (parking mode) by retracting arms ( 17 a and 17 b ) of both wings by a head ( 19 ). At the same time, the vehicle acts as a ground-effect hovercraft vehicle when the wings ( 8 ) are extended (flight mode), which is done by extending the arms ( 17 a and 17 b ) of both wings by the head ( 19 ). The head ( 19 ) is extended/retracted using a cylinder ( 22 ) moved by a drive motor ( 18 ), which may be an electric motor, a hydraulic motor or a mechanical motor, or manually using cables and pulleys.

Claims (8)

1 . A hovercraft comprising retractable wings ( 8 ) having extender/retractor arms ( 17 a and 17 b ) connected by means of a retracting/extending head ( 19 ), wherein the head ( 19 ) is extended/retracted by a cylinder ( 22 ), and is mobilized by a drive motor ( 18 ), wherein the retractable wings ( 8 ) are mounted on a wing mechanism box ( 20 ), wherein the wing mechanism box is installed between base plates ( 15 a and 15 b ), together with a structural reinforcement ( 14 ) under a chassis or fuselage of the hovercraft, wherein when the extender/retractor arms ( 17 a and 17 b ) of the retractable wings ( 8 ) are extended flight mode), the hovercraft is configured in ground effect hovercraft mode, and when the extender/retractor arms ( 17 a and 17 b ) of the retractable wings ( 8 ) are retracted (parking mode), the hovercraft is configured in amphibious hovercraft mode.

2 . The hovercraft according to claim 1 , wherein the retracting/extending head ( 19 ) allows extension/retraction of the extender/retractor arms through hinge axes ( 21 a and 21 b ) of a right wing and hinge axes ( 21 c and 21 d ) of a left wing of the retractable wings.

3 . The hovercraft according to claim 1 , wherein the retracting/extending head ( 19 ) and the structural reinforcement ( 14 ) further comprises front and rear beams ( 25 and 26 ), upper adjustment and rolling rollers ( 24 a and 24 b ), and lower adjustment and rolling rollers ( 24 c and 24 d ) which maintain the retractable wings' load.

4 . The hovercraft according to claim 1 , wherein the wing mechanism box ( 20 ) comprises an upper adjustment and rolling roller ( 30 a ) and a lower adjustment and rolling roller ( 30 b ).

5 . The hovercraft according to claim 1 , wherein the retractable wings ( 8 ) further comprises flaps, improving the lift, and ailerons ( 11 ), which together with a rudder ( 4 b ), facilitate and have greater control of turns, and wherein a “winglet” devices ( 13 ) eliminates the effects of turbulence that could be generated in the wings.

6 . The hovercraft according to claim 1 , wherein the wing mechanism box ( 20 ) comprises a drive pinion ( 27 ) that is driven by motor and reducer, a receiving pinion ( 28 ), which is integrally joined to the front beam ( 25 ), which performs oscillation sliding in a guide ( 29 ).

7 . The hovercraft according to claim 1 , wherein the drive motor ( 18 ) is selected from the group consisting of electric, hydraulic, mechanical, and manual motor.

8 . The hovercraft according to claim 1 , wherein the drive motor ( 18 ) comprises cables and pulleys.