The present invention relates to a method for moving a heavy object into a confined space. The method comprises providing the heavy object in an initial position, the heavy object having an underside resting on a ground surface and comprising an inducible gas-cushion arrangement which in its inactive state causes the underside of the heavy object to maintain contact with the ground surface; activating the inducible gas-cushion arrangement by forming a gas cushion between the underside of the heavy object and the ground surface, the gas cushion generating a lifting force causing the underside of the heavy object to lose contact with the ground surface; moving the heavy object relative to the confined space until the underside of the heavy object at least levels with the supporting surface of the confined space; and moving the heavy object into its final position utilizing the lifting force of the gas-cushion.

The invention relates to a control system for an air cushion vehicle (400) for the purpose of improving maneuverability of the air cushion vehicle. The system includes four propeller towers (401-404), propellers installed at the propeller towers, and mounting seats for mounting the propeller towers to the air cushion vehicle. In the system, an edge portion (442) located closest to a side wall N of the air cushion vehicle in the mounting seat is located closer to the ground than an opposite edge portion (446) in relation to a pivot point in the mounting seat, providing a tilt (450) of the propeller in response to rotation of the mounting seat at the pivot point, and in response to the rotation of the mounting seat, the propeller tower directs an air flow (452) produced with the propeller over the side wall of the air cushion vehicle and, due to the tilt of the propeller, partly downwardly relative to a horizontal plane defined by the ground, the air flow exerting a force (462) that lifts the side wall of the air cushion vehicle upwardly from the ground.

The present application pertains to systems and methods for storing and generating power. In one embodiment the system pertains to a first storage reservoir near the surface of a body of water and configured to store a fluid which has a lower density than water. A second storage reservoir is located below the surface of the body of water and configured to store a fluid which has a higher density than water. A pump, generator, and the first and second reservoir are operatively connected such that power is stored by displacing the fluid which has a higher density than water in the second storage reservoir by pumping the fluid which has a lower density than water in the first storage reservoir to the second storage reservoir. Power is generated or discharged by allowing the fluid which has a lower density than water in the second storage reservoir to return to the first storage reservoir. The fluid which has a higher density than water may be in liquid form.

A transportation system is disclosed. The transportation system has a vehicle that is self-powered and configured to generate an air cushion on a trackless lane having a substantially flat surface. The vehicle is configured to move over the substantially flat surface on the air cushion. The transportation system also has a guidance system configured to guide the vehicle between peripheries of the trackless lane.

In one aspect there is provided an air caster comprising a platform to support a load above a surface, a skirt, wherein said skirt cooperates with said platform to define an interior volume, at least one air inlet to allow air to enter said interior volume, at least one air exit to allow air to exit said interior volume, and a skirt stabilizer operable to create a substantially airtight seal between the skirt and the surface, said airtight seal being formed circumferentially around said at least one air exit when the air caster is in a resting state.

The invention relates to a control system for an air cushion vehicle (400) for the purpose of improving maneuverability of the air cushion vehicle. The system includes four propeller towers (401-404), propellers installed at the propeller towers, and mounting seats for mounting the propeller towers to the air cushion vehicle. In the system, an edge portion (442) located closest to a side wall N of the air cushion vehicle in the mounting seat is located closer to the ground than an opposite edge portion (446) in relation to a pivot point in the mounting seat, providing a tilt (450) of the propeller in response to rotation of the mounting seat at the pivot point, and in response to the rotation of the mounting seat, the propeller tower directs an air flow (452) produced with the propeller over the side wall of the air cushion vehicle and, due to the tilt of the propeller, partly downwardly relative to a horizontal plane defined by the ground, the air flow exerting a force (462) that lifts the side wall of the air cushion vehicle upwardly from the ground.

A transportation system is disclosed. The transportation system has a vehicle that is self-powered and configured to generate an air cushion on a trackless lane having a substantially flat surface. The vehicle is configured to move over the substantially flat surface on the air cushion. The transportation system also has a guidance system configured to guide the vehicle between peripheries of the trackless lane.

An amphibious air cushion vehicle includes an air cushion supported hull configured for travel on water and smooth land; a deck supported by the hull; and a dual-rail cargo system having tracks arranged longitudinally on along the hull cargo deck from an aft end. The tracks include (1) guide rails and rollers providing for guided sliding movement of palletized cargo along the tracks, and (2) locks for locking pallets in position during transport, The track is configured at the aft end for an unloading operation in which the locks are disengaged and the palletized cargo slides off the aft end onto underlying land as the vehicle is moving forward thereon. The track may be the one track of a single-track variant, or one of a pair of tracks in a two-track variant.

A mine sweeping vehicle includes an arm mechanism and a detector integrated to the arm mechanism. The detector scans the underground by an orbital movement. The mine sweeping vehicle includes at least one data recording element for delivering position information of a mine, the position information of the mine is detected by a detector and provided by a positioning system, and the position information of the mine is delivered to a display element.

A mine sweeping vehicle includes an arm mechanism and a detector integrated to the arm mechanism. The detector scans the underground by an orbital movement. The mine sweeping vehicle includes at least one data recording element for delivering position information of a mine, the position information of the mine is detected by a detector and provided by a positioning system, and the position information of the mine is delivered to a display element.