Amphibious vehicle with retractable wheels
OwnerSebastiano Berardiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An amphibious vehicle with retractable wheels that revolves through the sides of hull between a retracted position inside an enclosure and a ground engaging position. The vehicle has three wheels on each side or a set of caterpillar tracks. A hatch panel closes hermetically the enclosure on each side so the water can be removed from them in order to make the vehicle lighter and more buoyant. A sliding propeller used to propel the vehicle while in water. With the wheels inside and the hatch panel closed, the vehicle can attain high speed with a great maneuverability. This vehicle is very suitable for transportation in remote areas with lakes or rivers to cross.
Claims19
An amphibious vehicle comprising:
- (a) a buoyant hull having two sides and a bottom, each of said two sides being provided with an enclosure having a side opening in one of said sides for storing a ground traction means able to revolve through said side opening, while said vehicle is in water, between a retracted position and a ground engaging position about a longitudinal axis, each of said side opening being coverable by a side hatch panel, said hull having hydrodynamic side surfaces when said hatch panels cover said openings,
- (b) a means to move said hatch panels between a covered or uncovered position;
- (c) a water propulsion means for propelling and steering said vehicle in water;
- (d) a ground propelling means comprising:
- a means to drive said ground traction means,
- a means to revolve each of said ground traction means between said position inside said enclosure in said hull and a ground engaging position for land cruising,
- a means to lock said ground traction means in said ground engaging position for land cruising, and
- a means to steer said vehicle on land.
An amphibious vehicle comprising:
- (a) a buoyant hull having two sides, each of said two sides being provided with an enclosure for storing a ground traction means able to revolve between a retracted position and a ground-engaged position about a longitudinal axis and linked to said vehicle by a longitudinal shaft, said enclosure being hermetically covered by a sliding panel moving downward and upward to cover or uncover said location, thereby giving said hull a hydrodynamic surface,
- (b) a means to move said sliding panels,
- (c) an in water propelling means comprising a sliding unit that is lowered when said vehicle is in water and raised when said vehicle is on the land, said sliding unit comprising:
- a first hydraulic piston to move said sliding unit,
- a first hydraulic motor supplied by a hydraulic pump driven by an engine, and
- a propeller driven by said first hydraulic motor,
- (d) a ground propelling means comprising:
- a second hydraulic piston to revolve each of said ground traction means around its longitudinal axis from a position inside said location in said hull to a position for land cruising, said sets of wheels revolving back into said location after returning into water,
- a pin to lock said longitudinal shaft in said position for land cruising,
- a second hydraulic motor driving each of said traction means to move said vehicle on the land, said second hydraulic motor being linked to said traction means by a gear assembly wherein two gears meshed together, said two gears being separated from each other when said traction means are revolved in order to not interfere with said revolving,
- a valve lowering, stopping or reversing the flow of hydraulic fluid affecting the rotation of said second hydraulic motor on one of said sides of said hull, thereby creating a speed differential between said sides;
- (e) a pump to remove water in said enclosures after a sliding panel is closed, thereby making said vehicle lighter and more buoyant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.