A structure equipped with a fuel cell system, wherein the structure comprises: a skirt configured to form an accumulation space between a bottom of the structure and the ground, an air supplier configured to supply off-gas, which is discharged from the fuel cell system, to at least one space selected from the group consisting of the accumulation space and an internal space of the skirt, and a pressure discharger configured to discharge pressure accumulated in the accumulation space to outside of the skirt from a lower end of the skirt, and wherein lift is imparted to the structure by supplying a predetermined amount of the off-gas from the air supplier to at least one space selected from the group consisting of the accumulation space and the internal space of the skirt.

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.

A rotor assembly for generating vehicle thrust. The rotor assembly includes a rotor hub with a plurality of rotor blade assemblies coupled thereto. Each rotor blade assembly includes a metallic bearing race, a composite rotor blade and a split collet assembly. The split collet assembly includes two circumferentially distributed collet members each having an inner inboard conical seat configured to mate with a radially outwardly extending conical feature of the bearing race and an inner outboard conical seat configured to mate with a radially outwardly extending conical feature of the rotor blade. The split collet assembly also includes an outer sleeve having an inner conical surface that mates with outer conical surfaces of the collet members to maintain the collet members in a circumferential orientation around the bearing race and the rotor blade such that the split collet assembly provides a centrifugal force load path therebetween.

The invention discloses a hovercraft using single ducted fan with vectoring propulsion, including a hull and a single ducted fan arranged on the hull, wherein the single ducted fan comprises barrel shaped shell and oar-blade component arranged in chamber of the shell, a first air outlet is disposed on one side of shell towards the tail end of the hull, diversion rudders enabling to block the first air outlet are disposed on the shell, two first air guide all connected with chamber of the shell is disposed on both sides of the shell, a second air outlet towards external of the single ducted fan is disposed on the first air guide, and the second air outlet and the first air outlet are arranged in reverse or with an included angle greater than 0 degree.

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.

A hovercraft including imaginary longitudinal, transverse and vertical axes; a propulsion system (12), configured to generate airflow; a base (50) and, a skirt (13) wherein the skirt (13) further including air permeable regions (130) and at least two set of outflow nozzles (220); wherein the air permeable regions (130) and the set of outflow nozzles (20, 21) are in fluid communication; wherein each set of nozzles (20, 21) comprises, at least, one outflow nozzle (22), said outflow nozzle (22) including two opposing ends, a first end (221) and a second end (222); the hovercraft further including actuating means (30) suitable to control the opening of at least one end (221 or 222) of the nozzles (22) managing the passage of airflow through the end (221 or 222). The technical features and functionalities described herein are applicable to the field of hovercrafts. More particularly, to controllable outflow nozzles and controlling systems for hovercrafts.

Systems and methods are provided for preventing headwind debris from collecting on travel direction-facing housing surfaces of a vehicle by creating protective “air cushions” in front of the travel direction-facing housing surfaces. These air cushions may divert headwind air away from the travel direction-facing housing surfaces, ensuring that headwind debris does not collect on them. Examples may create these protective air cushions by propelling high pressure air through perforated surfaces in a contrary direction to headwind.

Systems and methods are provided for preventing headwind debris from collecting on travel direction-facing housing surfaces of a vehicle by creating protective “air cushions” in front of the travel direction-facing housing surfaces. These air cushions may divert headwind air away from the travel direction-facing housing surfaces, ensuring that headwind debris does not collect on them. Examples may create these protective air cushions by propelling high pressure air through perforated surfaces in a contrary direction to headwind.

A lifting fan for hovercraft of the present disclosure comprises an upper shroud that is higher in its center and lower on its outer side, an air inlet part formed in the center of the upper shroud, a lower shroud that is higher in its center and lower on its outer side, a rotating shaft coupled to the center of the lower shroud, a plurality of blowing blades formed between the upper shroud and the lower shroud, a blowing passage formed with an inclination between the upper shroud, the lower shroud, and the plurality of blowing blades, and an air outlet part formed on the outer side of the upper shroud, on the outer side of the lower shroud, and at distal ends of the plurality of blowing blades, and thus has the effect of being excellent in the efficiency of air flow and of reducing the amount of noise and vibration generated in the process in which the air introduced through the air inlet part is discharged through the air outlet part by way of the inclined blowing passage.

A lifting fan for hovercraft of the present disclosure comprises an upper shroud that is higher in its center and lower on its outer side, an air inlet part formed in the center of the upper shroud, a lower shroud that is higher in its center and lower on its outer side, a rotating shaft coupled to the center of the lower shroud, a plurality of blowing blades formed between the upper shroud and the lower shroud, a blowing passage formed with an inclination between the upper shroud, the lower shroud, and the plurality of blowing blades, and an air outlet part formed on the outer side of the upper shroud, on the outer side of the lower shroud, and at distal ends of the plurality of blowing blades, and thus has the effect of being excellent in the efficiency of air flow and of reducing the amount of noise and vibration generated in the process in which the air introduced through the air inlet part is discharged through the air outlet part by way of the inclined blowing passage.