CA1048346A - Amphibious vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

An amphibious vehicle is provided with a wheel drive which can be pivoted downwardly to press against the ground and upwardly for water propulsion.

Description

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The invention relates to an amphibious vehicle having an undercarriage with a watertight bottom qhell and at least one pair of bottom wheels~ prefexably a forward pair and a rear pair~
pre~erably powered3 and a propulsion device which is operable while the vehicle i9 afloat.
In known amphibious vehicles, a drive shaft i~ provided, leading from themDtor to the rear of the vehicleg with a propeller operating like a ship's ~rew, powered by the motor while the vehicle is afloat. This propeller propulsion~ however is only capable of working in the ~ater, and may become unusable when it comes in contact with seaweed, reeds or other material, which wraps around the drive shaft; such plants often grow on the water'~ edge and the slopes of river banks and mu t be traversed during cross country driving. Such propeller~ are unsuitable for ~
propul~ion in mire or bog. ~:
Therefore, the cross country capability of known amphibious vehicles in the sloping areas near the shores o~ river~
and sea~ i5 for the most part not guaranteed, because the rear of ~he vehicle is still a~loat when the front wheels are in contact with the solid ground. In very boggi~h ground~ a fro~t wheel drive of the ~mphibious vehicle is not in position to move the vehicle forward onto the bank, i~, on account of the floating condition o~ the rear half of the vehicle, the necessary ground pressure is still not provided for the front ~heels and also for the same reason the front wheels still cannot find any hold, or grind a~ay the slope of the ba~k~
An object o~ the invention is an Lmproved vehicle having an effective propulsion while the vehicle i5 afloat and capable of surmounting ~teep or non-uniform river bank slope : , . . , :
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without difficul~y, and capable o~ pa~sing through the border area between solid grvund and water, i~e. mire or bog.
According to the invention the propulsion device has a rihbed wheel drive revolving around a horizontal axi~, the wheel drive, with the aid of pivvt means at the rear o~ the vehicle, being height adjustable between a lower position pressed against the ground and an upper po~ition partially immersed in the water.
A wheel drive profiled with transverse ribs operate~
like a paddle when in i~ upwardly pivo~ed state during water t~avel. optImum propulsion effect can be achieved by adjustment of the immersion depth, w~erebyQnly the bottom part of the wheel dkive ~hoves the water awayO The ~heel drive is mounted acxoss essentially the entire breadth of the vehicle, somewhat like a paddle steamer with rear driva. Ability to cross mire and/or slope~ o riverbanks is obtained ~ith this construction~ with the wheel drive pressed downward against the earth, wi~h the aid o~ it~ pivot meanæ, upon approach to the ba~k, so that according to the size of the angle of the slope, the wheel drive may come in contact with the ground eithe~ ~irst o~ all, or simultaneously ~ith the front wheels of the vehicle, and in ei~her case an effective support and distributio~ of ground support preæsure of the vehicle is achieved. During movement in mire, the wheel drive w~ich is effective pre~erably over the breadth of the vehicle serves simultaneously as a support and propulsion device.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wheel drive which extends essentially across the entire br~adth of the vehicle is divided into section~, and each wheel section may be controllable independently, as to its speed o rotation and it~

- 2 -dir~ction of rotation. Such an apportioned arrangemen~ o~ ~he the wheel drive simplifies moun~i~g and main~enance, and aids in swinging around and m~king turns in water. Otherwise, swinging axound in the water can be effected by ~teering the front wheels.
If wheel sections are mounted on pivot arms independ-~ntly of each other, the vehicle can be easily adapted to the ground irregularities, e.g. by oblique movement along the slope of the bank, so that the vehicle is supported at any moment by ~he biased pivot arms with the wheel ~ections pressed again~t the ground independently of each other. Wh el axms and drive wheel sectiQnS independent of each other also achieves greater maneuverability during flotation .
Besides providing support of a vehicle during travel on slopes of rivexban3cs, or during travel on an irregular boll:tom, the described structure iæ also basically sound for motsr vehicles which use a chain or caterpillar drive, with the aid of the wheel drive ~rrangement, for overland travel in mountains, or over snow and ice, or to produce a propul~ion ~or boggy ground during an almost ~loating condition. The range o~ e~ects of the selected apportioned w~eel drive can be regulated a~
desired.
Preferably the pivot arms are height adjustable at the rear area of the undercarriage by means of hy~raulic cylinders supported on the undercarriage. ~he pres~ure of ~he wheel drive against ~he ground can be adjust~ble with the aid of mechanical or pneumatic spring devices operating on he pivot arms. During overland travel of the vehicle, in ca~e of overrunning or spinning of the front ~heel~, the wheel drive can be connected ~o that then a four-wheel drive is available.

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The wheel drive can take the form of drive wheel pairs on the undercarriage. By use of hydraulic power, the d~iv~g engine can be mounted in the best position for land travel and or water travel~ e. g. mounted in the ~ront, the mid-section, or the rear, according to which structure and which application for the vehicle come most into question.
Circum~erential ribs may be arranged on the wheel drive or wheel drive sections, which ribs e~sentially increase the propulsion effect of the transverse rib8 while ~he vehicle i~
a~loat. The drive wheels are preferably hollow bodies of steel or plastic.
In a preferred embodiment, the wheel drive comprises sev6ral individually detachab~y mounted wheel sections, which preferably are ru~ber or plastic tires with a strongly defined rib profile, preferably a herringbone rib profile. In the top rest position, these wheel sectio~s can project at the rear ve~icle end, whereby they serve as a bumper.
The invention will be ~urther understood by reference to the embodiment shoun in the drawings.
FIGURE 1 is a side view of the vehicle of the invention arranged for land travel.
FIGURE 2 shows the vehicle arranged for driving while afloat.
F,IGUR~ 3 shows the vehicle during travel up a ~lope of a riverbank.
FIGURE 4 shc~s the vehicle arranyed ~or o~road txavel .
FIGTlRE 5 is a rear view of the vehicle arra~ged as in FIÇ;U~E 1.

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~4i~3~6 FXGU~E 6 is an enlarged diagrammatic representation :
of the pivot means and drive wheel section6 at the rear of the vehicle.
A vehicle for rapid overland travel and for floating travel according to the invention7a~ shown in the drawings, has an undercarriage or vehicle frame with bottom wheels and a water-tight ~looring shell. On ~hell 10 are mounted front bottom wheels 12 and rear bottom wheel~ 13, on a suspension (which is not ~hown) having guide rods 11 (FI~. 6) on bo~h sides.
Preferably the front wheel pair 12 is driven. The engine is arranged in a de~ired po~ition within the watertight vehi~le shell 10 and driv~s the ~ront wheels in a suitable manner through hydraulic controlæ (not shown), so ~hat no movab}e links need to be provided except ~or hydraulic lines.
A~ the rear of the vehicle is a wheel drive, for example extendi~g across the entire vehicle breadth. In the embodiment in FIGU~E 5 the wheel drive is apportioned into ~our wheel sections 16, the wheel sections consisting e.g. o~
inflatable rubber tires, w~ich have a well de~ined xib profile -~
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17, preferably in a herringbone pattern. The wheel drive, in the pOBition showm in FIGURES 1 ~d 2, is similar to a paddle-w~eel o~ a boat~ The ribs 17 have a h~g~ profile, as sho~n in FIGURE 6, so that ~he ~rive w~eel~ can provide e~fective propul-sion while the vehide is afloat or in snow ox bog. Furthermore, the ribs 17, a~ shown in side vi~w in FIGURE 6~ can be inclined forward, or the front sides o~ the ribs ~an be essentially ; ~
radial, or in planes parallel to ~he radial.
Instead of using individual inflat~ble tires of rubber or soft plastic (for good adherence in ice and snow), the .~' . ;' ~' ,

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1~4~ 6 invention can also b~ realized with other typ~s of dxive wheels, e.g~ with hollow cylinders of steel or pla~tic with ribs thereon, which provide ~ood results both when the vehicle i~ a~loat and in overland travel. The propul~ion during water travel i~ :
improved if the work of the ribs i~ apportioned between predeter-mined wheel section~. Circumferential ribs or radial ridges may be provided on a continuous drive wheel, or on drive wheel sections.
The wheel drive 15 can be mounted b~ mean~ of pivot arms 189 which are articula~ed to undercarriage 10 by mean~ of pin~ 19.
In the embodiment shown in FIG~RE5 5 an~ 6, two independent pivot arms 18 are articulated on u~dercarriage 10, each pivot arm supporting a transverse axle 20, on each of which are rotatably mounted two dxive wheel sections 16. A piston rod 22 of an hydraulic cylinder 23 engages with each pivot arm 18 by mean~ of a hinge pin 21, and the pivot eye is mounted to pivot on a pivot pin 24 on undercarriage 10. FIGURE 6 show a pivo~ arm 18 in top position, with the drive wheel~ mounted thereon~ in the com- -~
pressed state o hydraulic cylinder 23, corresponding to the 20 rest po~ition in ~I~URE 1. FIGUR~ 6 al~o shows the ~econd pivot æm~ 18 in a bottom lowered position~ w~ich i5 obtained with hydraulic cylinder 23, extended, corresponds to the drive position shown in FIGURE 3.
Preferably9 on each axle 20 are mounted two dri~e wheel sections 16, the wheel pair 16a being powered independently from the wheel pair 16b (FIGunE 5), through hydraulic geaxing (not shown), w~ich during overland travel drives the front wheels synchronou~ly.
In ~lotation per~ormance, a3 in FIGURE 2, pivot arms 18 are pivo~ed upward into a sui~able posikion in whi¢h optimum propul~ion occurs. The best position for propulsion depends on the dep~h o~ submersion of the vehicle and al80 upon the speed of rotation, or peripheral velocity, of the drive wheels provided with rib ~rofile 17. The maximum obtainable top end pogition i5 S0 determined that even with remarkably great depth of the floating vehicle, the depth of submersion o drive w~eels 16 can be individually regulated. While the vehicle is afloat, steering of the vehicle is poæsible through different depths of submersion of drive wheels 16a or 16b and/or through dif~erent rotation speed and/or direction of rotation. -~
Thus, a vehicle ~or conveyance of freight or passen-gers is provided, suitable not only for rapid land travel and ~;~
for travel in water, but also useful in overland travel between solid ground and boggy ground, i.e. on swampy or boggy ground or on slopes of riverbanks or the like. The drive wheel~
arrangement ac~ording to the invention allows advantageous ,; additional possibilities of use, e.g. for special vehicle~ in ice or snow and for travel on mountainsides.
Wheels which can be pivoted vertically and which have strongly defined ribbing are especially suitable for the drive wheels arrangement. The wheel drive can be embodied in one . ~ . -~, .: .
unit or a plurality o~ u~itsg and the wheels can be driven separately on one common axle, or each section can be operated ~ -by itself, i.e. driven and also pivoted. ~he wheel, or wheel pair, can be raised and lowered with the aid o~ mechanical or hydraulic devices. Thus the vehicle can be raised by the wheel ~`
drive arrangement at the rear. The ~heel drive can also be suspended, and also pressed to the gxound to provide support and an effective propulsion.

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The drive o~ the drive wheel~ can be achieved by mechanical or hydraulic mean~ ~nd can be ~ynchronized with the front wheel drive. When the vehicle i~ afloat7 the drive of the wheel drive can be effected independently from the ront wheel drive.
During land travel, the upwardly pivoted wheels of so~t rubber or soft pla~tic or in the form of ~ir tires serve as a bumper. Drive of the front wheels sufice~ for land travel, if desired in the form of an hydraulic individual wheel drive.
In land travel as shown in FIGURE ~ the wheel drive can be used in connection with the front wheel drive to provide a four-wheel drive, especially duri~g climbing up slopes o~ :
riverbanks ~nd swampy hillockæ. The drive wheels are pre~sed again~t the ground by means of the hydraulic cylinderæ. This compxe~sion pressure can be regulated by a mechanical or pneumatic spring, and the irregularities of the ground can be -~
ab~orbed. In the water, the wheel drive arr~ngement is pi~oted : as in normal land travel into its topmost position for propulsion, and is driven with greater velocity, whereby the ribbing ef~ects 20 the propulsion acting as paddles~ The drive can be applied at ~ ~:
the most suitable position~ for land and water travel by use of an hydraulic control ~or the fronk wheels and the whcel drive at the rear, and the engine can be at the ~ront, in the middle, or at the rear. The invention i~ not limited to the described cmbodiments.

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Claims (16)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A vehicle having cross-country driving capability comprising an under carriage having front and rear pairs of ground wheels, at least one of said pairs being driven, a vehicle body mounted on said undercarriage, auxilliary drive means comprising thrust roll means extending substantially across the width of the vehicle at its rear and being divided into two similar drive roll sections, each of said drive roll sections being rotatably mounted on a transverse axis on independently operable pivot arms pivotally mounted on said vehicle, said drive roll sections and said pivot arms being independently movable between an upper position and a lower position wherein said drive roll sections are biased against the ground at a position rearward from the rear pairs of ground wheels.

2. An amphibious vehicle comprising:
an undercarriage having a watertight bottom shell and front and rear pairs of ground wheels, at least one of said pairs being driven, a vehicle body mounted on said undercarriage, auxilliary drive means comprising thrust roll means extending substantially across the width of the vehicle at its rear and being divided into two similar drive roll sections, each of said drive roll sections being rotatably mounted on a transverse axis on independently openable pivot arms pivotally mounted on said vehicle, said drive roll sections and said pivot arms being independently movable between a lower position wherein said drive roll sections are biased against the ground at a position rear-ward from said rear pairs of ground wheels and an upper position wherein said sections are partially covered by said vehicle body, said drive roll sections being of a rubber-like material and having a ribbed pattern thereon.

3. Vehicle as in claim 1 or 2 wherein the drive roll sections are independently controllable as to speed and direction of rotation.

4. Vehicle as in claim 1 or 2, wherein the drive roll sections comprise a plurality of wheels.

5. Vehicle as in claim 1 or 2, wherein pivoting of said pivot arms is achieved by hydraulic cylinder means articulated to the undercarriage of the vehicle.

6. Vehicle as in claim 1 or 2, wherein the degree of pressure of the drive roll sections against the ground is adjustable by mechanical or pneumatic means operating on the pivot arms.

7. Vehicle as in claim 1 ox 2, wherein the drive roll sections are controlled in synchronization with the ground wheels.

8. Vehicle as in claim 1 or 2, wherein the drive roll sections are provided with an hydraulic drive.

9. Vehicle as in claim 1 or 2, wherein each drive roll section comprises wheels having transverse and circumferential ribbing provided on them.

10. Vehicle as in claim 1 or 2, wherein each drive roll section comprises hollow wheels of steel or plastic.

11. Vehicle as in claim 1 or 2, wherein each drive roll section comprises rubber tires with a herringbone rib profile.

12. Vehicle as in claim l or 2, wherein the drive for each drive roll section is in rest position when the pivot arms are in the upper position.

13. Vehicle as in claim l or 2, wherein each drive roll section comprises soft plastic wheels or air tires projecting at the rear of the vehicle when in the upper position, and serving as a bumper.

14. Vehicle as in claim 1 or 2, wherein one or each drive roll section is driven hydraulically from lines which pass through the undercarriage.

15. Vehicle as in claim 1, in which each drive roll section is partially covered by the vehicle body when in the upper position.

16. Vehicle as in claim 15, in which the vehicle body covers approximately the top front quarter of the circumference of the drive roll sections in the upper position.