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US 12,097,733 B2Granted
Amphibious vehicle
OwnerSteve E Ticeinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Aspects of the present disclosure generally pertain to an amphibious vehicle (or amphibian) that is viable on land as well as on water. Aspects of the present disclosure more specifically are directed toward an amphibious vehicle that employs hydrofoils and other features, for example, for efficient cruising when in water. The amphibious vehicle may be embodied as a personal amphibious vehicle.
Claims18
A personal amphibious vehicle for land and water transport, the personal amphibious vehicle comprising:
- a chassis including a lower body, an upper portion, a forward portion, an aft portion, and a vehicle user interface, the chassis configured for land travel and as a watercraft;
- a traction drive mounted to the chassis, the traction drive including at least three road wheels, the traction drive configured to propel, stop, and steer the personal amphibious vehicle on land;
- a water drive mounted to the chassis, the water drive including at least two water thrusters, the water drive configured to propel and steer the personal amphibious vehicle in water;
- a forward lifting hydrofoil configured to lift the forward portion of the chassis while hydrofoiling;
- an aft lifting hydrofoil configured to lift the aft portion of the chassis while hydrofoiling;
- and
- a plurality of hydrofoil struts, each mounted to the chassis and to at least one of the forward lifting hydrofoil and the aft lifting hydrofoil, the plurality of hydrofoil struts each configured to dynamically transition between a deployed state and a stowed state, said deployed state being where at least one of the forward lifting foil and the aft lifting foil is positioned in an extended position below the lower body of the chassis, and said stowed state being where the at least one of the forward lifting foil and the aft lifting foil is positioned in a retracted position above the extended position, relative to chassis;
- and
- wherein at least one of the water thrusters of the water drive are configured to exhaust thrust proximate a leading edge of at least one of the forward lifting foil and the aft lifting foil.
6 more elements
An amphibious vehicle comprising:
- a chassis including a lower body, an upper portion, a forward portion, an aft portion, and an amphibious vehicle user interface, the chassis configured for land travel and as a watercraft;
- a traction drive mounted to the chassis, the traction drive configured to propel, stop, and steer the amphibious vehicle on land;
- a water drive mounted to the chassis, the water drive including at least two water thrusters, the water drive configured to propel and steer the amphibious vehicle in water;
- a forward lifting foil configured to hydrofoil in water, and to lift the forward portion of the chassis while hydrofoiling;
- an aft lifting foil configured to hydrofoil in water, and to lift the aft portion of the chassis while hydrofoiling;
- and
- a plurality of hydrofoil struts each mounted to the chassis and to at least one of the forward lifting foil and the aft lifting foil, the plurality of hydrofoil struts each configured to dynamically between a deployed state and a stowed state, said deployed state being where at least one of the forward lifting foil and the aft lifting foil is positioned in an extended position below the lower body of the chassis, and said stowed state being where the at least one of the forward lifting foil and the aft lifting foil is positioned in a retracted position above the extended position, relative to chassis;
- and
- wherein at least one of the water thrusters of the water drive are configured to exhaust thrust proximate a leading edge of at least one of the forward lifting foil and the aft lifting foil.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.