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US 5,765,497 AGranted
Bow vane with integral suspension fairings
AssigneeUnited Defense, L.P.
InventorsMark Anthony Thomas, George Oliver Haskin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides an amphibious vehicle that integrates suspension fairing with a movable bow vane. This integration, allows the suspension fairings to be stored between the bow vane and the hull of the vehicle during land use and to be automatically deployed during water use. The suspension fairing uses a deployment system connected with the bow vane deployment system, so that they are deployed and retracted as an integral system.
Claims18
An amphibious vehicle, comprising:
- a hull;
- a suspension system supporting the hull;
- a bow vane;
- means for moving the bow vane towards and away from the hull, mechanically connected between the bow vane and the hull;
- a first suspension fairing, comprising:
- a first plate;
- a first hinge mechanically connected the first plate;
- and
- a second plate mechanically connected to the first hinge;
- a first rotary actuator mechanically connected between the first plate of the first suspension fairing and the bow vane;
- a second suspension fairing, comprising:
- a first plate;
- a first hinge mechanically connected the first plate;
- and
- a second plate mechanically connected to the first hinge;
- and
- a second rotary actuator mechanically connected between the first plate of the second suspension fairing and the bow vane.
14 more elements
A method for converting an amphibious vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- moving a bow vane forward from a hull of the amphibious vehicle;
- rotating a first suspension fairing from a position between the bow vane and the hull to a position behind where the first suspension fairing is mechanically connected to the bow vane;
- and
- rotating a second suspension fairing from a position between the bow vane and the hull to a position behind where the second suspension fairing is mechanically connected to the bow vane.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.