GB2224698A

GB2224698A - A wheeled amphibious vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2224698A
Application number: GB8825445A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leon Bernard Denny; Edward Brooks
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-10-28
Filing date: 1988-10-31
Publication date: 1990-05-16
Also published as: GB8825445D0

Abstract

A wheeled amphibious vehicle comprises wheels 10, 11 which are the vehicle's flotation elements. The vehicle may comprise a wheeled frame 12, driving means carried by the frame for driving the wheels so as to propel the vehicle, and characterised in that the wheels, in use, support the frame clear of the water. The amphibious vehicle may be a pleasure craft with the frame carrying a seat arrangement and the driving means being a foot-operable pedal drive system and/or a motor. Alternatively the vehicle may be a ferry with a loading platform. The flotation wheels are formed of reinforced plastics material having projections for propulsion. <IMAGE>

Description

A WHEELED AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLE Field of the Invention This invention relates to amphibious vehicles and its objects include the provision of an improved form of pleasure craft, and also the provision of an improved form of utilitarian amphibious vehicle for use in, for example, ferrying operations.

Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a wheeled amphibious vehicle, the wheels of which are the vehicle's flotation elements.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an amphibious vehicle comprising a wheeled frame, driving means carried by the frame for driving the wheels so as to propel the vehicle, characterised in that the wheels are flotation elements which, in use, support the frame clear of the water.

According to a further aspect of the Invention, there is provided a pleasure craft in the form of an amphibious vehicle comprising a wheeled frame, driving means carried by the frame for driving the wheels so as to propel the vehicle, characterised in that the wheels are the vehicle's sole flotation means.

As applied to a pleasure craft, the vehicle preferably has two wheels arranged for rotation about a common axis with clutch means provided to permit independent rotation of the wheels. The frame preferably carries a seating arrangement and the driving means may comprise a foot-operable pedal drive system arranged for operation by a person or persons sitting on the seat carried by the frame.

In an alternative arrangement, the driving means is a motor which may either be the sole driving means for the vehicle or which may be arranged to augment the pedal drive system.

In a further form of the invention, the vehicle may be a four-wheeled vehicle with two wheels located on each side of the frame with the wheels arranged for rotation about front and rear common axes.

The wheels are preferably formed from reinforced plastics material, the dimensions of the flotation chambers within the wheels being such as to provide the required degree of flotation of the vehicle.

In a further form of the invention, a vehicle for use as a ferry has a platform for the carriage of passengers or goods, driving means mounted on the platform for driving a plurality of wheels so as to propel the vehicle, the wheels being flotation elements which, in use, support the platform clear of the water.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a part sectioned end view of a wheeled vehicle, Figure 2 is a sectional view taken at right angles to Figure 1 of the vehicle, and Figure 3 illustrates one of the wheels of the vehicle.

Brief Description of the Drawings The particular form of vehicle shown in the drawings is a pleasure craft for use at, for example, seaside holiday resorts, the craft comprising two hollow wheels, 10 and 11 and a frame 12 extending between the two wheels 10 and 11, the wheels 10 and 11 acting as flotation elements with the buoyancy thereof such that, when the vehicle is in the water, the wheels 10 and 11 serve to support the frame 12 clear of the water.

The wheels 10 and 11 are formed from plastics material reinforced with glass fibres, each wheel 10, 11 being of generally octagonal form but with circular rims in the form of end discs 13 which permit the vehicle to be driven over, for example, a beach or other reasonably level area. The corners of the octagonal body 14 of each of the wheels 10, 11, are provided with projecting propulsion formations 15 which are removably connected to the body 14 and the outer surfaces of which are flush with the rim of the disc 13. The propulsion elements 15 assist in providing forward thrust as rotation of each wheel 10, 11 is effected.The octagonal body 14 of each wheel 10, 11 is provided with a central octagonal opening 16 with spokes 17 radiating inwardly from four of the corners of said octagonal opening 16 and with the inner ends of the spokes 17 connected to bearings 18 with the bearings 18 carried by shafts 19 on which the wheels 10 and 11 are mounted. As can be seen from Figure 1, there are inner and outer spaced bearings 18 on each of the shafts 19 and the spokes 17 are arranged in two sets of four. The shafts 19 form extensions of members 20 which form part of the frame 12 extending between the wheels 10 and 11. As can be seen from Figure 1, each frame member 20 is of generally L-shape with one limb of the L providing the shaft 19 and with the other limbs 21 of the L-shaped members 20 connected to support rods 22 which terminate in bearings which support the two ends of a transverse cranked bar 23.The L-shaped frame members 20 are also inter-connected by two transverse frame members 24 and 25 which serve as seat support bars to support a seat 26.

The lower seat support bar 25 is connected directly to the associated L-shaped member 20 whereas the upper seat support bar 24 is connected to the two L-shaped members 20 by connecting bars 27. The cranked bar 23 is also supported in additional bearings 28 carried by frame members 29 extending downwardly from the lower seat support bar 25.

The transverse cranked bar 23 serves as a pedal bar so that, in the manner of a pedal cycle, a person sitting or reclining on the seat 26 can place his or her feet on the crank portions 30, 31 of the cranked bar 23 and propel the vehicle by means of a pedalling action. Rotation of the cranked bar 23 is transmitted to the shafts 19 by a chain and sprocket drive system which a chain and sprocket provided at each end of the cranked bar 23. Thus, the two chains 32 are entrained around sprocket wheels 33 carried by stub shafts at the end of the cranked bar 23 and the chains 32 serve to drive input elements of clutch assemblies 34. Each clutch assembly 34 has a manually operable control element 35 movable between drive and freewheel positions.When the clutch control elements 35 are both in the drive positions and the cranked bar 23 is rotated, the two wheels 10 and 11 are driven in unison and the craft is propelled forwardly. When it is required to steer the craft, one or other of the clutch control elements 35 is moved into Its freewheel position so that one only of the wheels is driven. This provides a very simple and effective form of steering control.

As explained above, the primary application of the vehicle as shown in the drawing is as a pleasure craft for use at the seaside and the craft thus includes a canopy or sun shade 36 which extends above the seat 26 and is supported from the frame 12 by canopy supports 37.

The vehicle shown in the drawings is a foot power operated vehicle which can be driven either over the land or over the sea and, when being driven over the sea, the wheels 10 and 11 provide the sole flotation means for the vehicle and support the frame 12 clear of the water level. If required, a shelf may extend downwardly from the lower seat support bar 25 beneath the cranked bar 23 so that persons sitting on the seat 26 can rest their feet on this shelf. The pleasure craft is shown as totally pedal operated. It may, however, be alternatively or additionally provided with a small motor, the output from which is transmitted to the two clutch assemblies 34 which can be controlled to propel and steer the vehicle.

As opposed to having a single pair of wheels which are arranged for rotation about a common axis, the frame may carry two or more pairs of wheels arranged for rotation about parallel axes. If desired, one pair of wheels only may be driven though, if required, each pair of wheels can be driven.

Each clutch assembly will then be in the form of an overrunning clutch to facilitate driving of the wheels from both front and rear seat arrangements.

On a large scale, the vehicle may be in the form of a ferry which is provided on each side with a series of hollow wheels, one or more pairs of which are arranged to be driven.

Although, as described above, the hollow wheels of the vehicle may be the only parts of the vehicle which contact the water, the frame 12 may be provided with one or more stabiliser elements which, in use, are disposed below the frame 12 and act to prevent inadvertent tipping of the frame 12.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A wheeled amphibious vehicle, the wheels of which are the vehicle's flotation elements.

2. An amphibious vehicle comprising a wheeled frame, driving means carried by the frame for driving the wheels so as to propel the vehicle, characterised in that the wheels are flotation elements which, in use, support the frame clear of the water.

3. A pleasure craft in the form of an amphibious vehicle comprising a wheeled frame, driving means carried by the frame for driving the wheels so as to propel the vehicle, characterised in that the wheels are the vehicle's sole flotation means.

4. A pleasure craft according to Claim 3, in which the vehicle has two wheels arranged for flotation about a common axis with clutch means provided to permit independent rotation of the wheels.

5. A pleasure .craft according to claim 4, in which the frame carries a seating arrangement and the driving means comprises a foot-operable pedal drive system arranged for operation by a person or persons sitting on the seat carried by the frame.

6. An amphibious vehicle according to claim 2 or a pleasure craft according to claim 3, in which the driving means is a motor, which may either be the sole driving means for the vehicle or which may be arranged to augment a pedal drive system.

7. An amphibious vehicle according to claim 2, in which the vehicle has four wheels with two wheels located on each side of the frame with the wheels arranged for rotation about front and rear common axes.

8. An amphibious vehicle or pleasure craft according to any one of the preceding claims, the wheels of which are formed from reinforced plastics materials and in which the dimensions of the flotation chambers within the wheels are such as to provide the required degree of flotation of the vehicle.

9. A vehicle for use as a ferry having a platform for the carriage of passengers or goods, driving means mounted on the platform for driving a plurality of wheels so as to propel the vehicle, the wheels being flotation elements which, in use, support the platform clear of the water.

10. A pleasure craft or other amphibious wheeled vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.