GB2393691A

GB2393691A - Amphibious vehicle having extendable stabilising elements

Info

Publication number: GB2393691A
Application number: GB0222902A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick Hugh Betts
Original assignee: PRIMERA CONSULTANCY AND DESIGN
Current assignee: PRIMERA CONSULTANCY AND DESIGN
Priority date: 2002-10-02
Filing date: 2002-10-02
Publication date: 2004-04-07
Also published as: GB0222902D0

Abstract

A vehicle (10, Fig 1) comprises a hull 100, an engine, one or more driven tractive elements (110, Fig 4) and one or more driven propulsive elements (120, Fig 1). The sides of the hull comprise one or more regions 210 and 220 hingeably connected to the hull such that the hinged regions can move from a first position substantially parallel to the sides of the hull to a second position which is rotatably displaced from the sides of the hull. One or more inflatable members (130, Fig 3) may be located between the hinged regions and the sides of the hull and in use the inflation of these inflatable members may move the hinged regions from the first position to the second position.

Description

- 1 VEHICLE

The present invention relates to vehicles, and in particular to vehicles that are capable of operation on water and on 5 land.

Amphibious vehicles are vehicles that are capable of operating on the water and on land, with sets of driven wheels to drive the vehicle on land and a propeller to drive 10 the machine when on water. Such vehicles find application in landing craft, which can transport personnel and equipment from a boat to shore and then onwards on land. In order to be able to use roads, the maximum width of an amphibious vehicle is limited, for example to 8 feet 3 inches in the 15 United Kingdom. Furthermore, in order to maximise the load space of the vehicle, the sides of the vehicle tend to be vertical. These two factors combine to cause a significant disadvantage as when the vehicle is on water the relatively narrow, upright cross-section of the vehicle leads to 20 instability, especially in crosswinds.

According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle comprising a hull, an engine, one or more drivable tractive elements and one or more drivable propulsive 25 elements, wherein the sides of the hull comprises one or more regions hingeably connected to the hull such that the hinged regions can go from a first position substantially parallel to the sides of the hull to a second position which is rotatably displaced from the sides of the hull.

The extensions increase the width of the vehicle, making it more stable when on water. The extensions may be retracted

l - 2 when the vehicle returns to land to enable the vehicle to traverse roads. Furthermore, there is a beneficial increase in the surface area that may be used to carry a cargo.

s Preferably one or more inflatable members are located between the hinged regions and the sides of the hull. In use, the inflation of the inflatable members may move the hinged region from the first position to the second position.

10 The inflation of the inflatable members will reduce the amount of water entering the cavities between the hull and the hinged region. The inflation will also advantageously increase the buoyancy of the vehicle when on water.

15 The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following Figures in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic depiction of a cross-section of a vehicle according to the present invention; 20 Figure 2 shows a schematic depiction of a second cross section of a vehicle according to the present invention; Figure 3 shows a schematic depiction of the lateral extension used in the present invention; and 25 Figure 4 shows a schematic depiction of a side view of a vehicle according to the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a schematic depiction of a cross section an amphibious vehicle according to the present invention. As is 30 conventional, the vehicle 10 comprises a hull 100, a plurality of wheels 110, one or more propellers 120 and an engine (not shown) that is used to drive the wheels and the

! propeller(s). The vehicle further comprises lateral extensions 200 that are hingeably connected to each side of the hull. The lateral 5 extensions 200 comprises first section 210 and second section 220. The first section is hingeably connected to the hull by first connector 215 (see Figure 2)and to the second section 220 by second connector 225. The other end of the second section is moveably connected to the hull.

Referring to Figure 3, when the vehicle enters water, the lateral extensions can be deployed, for example by pushing the first section of each extension away from the hull of the vehicle until the second section is substantially parallel to 15 the hull (a stop can be provided on the hull to 1lmit the travel of the second section). The deployment of the lateral extensions widens the profile of the vehicle's hull, increasing the stability of the vehicle on the water and providing additional deck area for the vehicle. For example, 20 the vehicle may be 8 feet wide (in order to use roads) when the extensions are not deployed, and 12 feet wide when the extensions are deployed.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the 25 vehicle is provided with one or more inflatable bladders 130 that are located within the cavity formed between the hull and each of the lateral extensions. By inflating the bladder(s) the cavities can be filled and the buoyancy and stability of the craft increased. The inflating of the 30 bladder(s) may be used as the mechanism by which the lateral extensions are deployed.

( When the vehicle returns to land, the bladder(s) are deflated and the lateral extensions retracted to the original position shown in Figure 1, such that the vehicle is able to traverse roads. Additionally, the deflation of the bladder(s) can be 5 used to create a partial vacuum that causes the lateral extensions to retract to their original position.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the lateral extensions may be deployed and retracted using, for 10 example, hydraulic cylinders. The advantage of using an inflatable bladder is that the inflated bladder also serves to fill the cavity that is formed by the deployment of the lateral extensions. Thus, if hydraulic cylinders are used to deploy and retract the lateral extensions it will be 15 necessary that the hinged connections are sealed against water ingress, for example using a neoprene seal, and that the ends of the extensions also have a seal against water ingress. It will be readily understood that other mechanisms could be used to deploy and retract the lateral extensions, 20 for example a pneumatic cylinder, a rack and pinion drive, etc. and that the nature of the mechanism is not essential to the present invention.

Alternatively, a plurality of bladders could be provided that 25 are not used to activate the extensions but when inflated occupy the cavity formed by each extension to minimise water ingress into the cavity.

As shown in Flqure 3, the hull of the vehicle may have a 30 cathedral hull. The wheels 100 (see Figure 4) may be retractable to position 110' such that when in the water the drag on the vehicle can be reduced be retracting the wheels

( - 5 within the hull. The controls for this feature may be linked to the controls used to deploy the lateral extensions to simplify the transition from land to water (and vice versa). In an alternative embodiment the wheels may be 5 replaced with caterpillar tracks. It will be readily understood that the lateral extensions could extend along the entire side of the vehicle (or a substantial portion thereof) or that a number of discrete lateral extensions could be located on each side of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising a hull, an engine, one or more 5 drivable tractive elements and one or more drivable propulsive elements, wherein the sides of the hull comprises one or more regions hingeably connected to the hull such that the hinged regions can go from a first position substantially parallel to the sides of the hull to a second position which 10 is rotatably displaced from the sides of the hull.

2. A vehicle according to claim l, wherein one or more inflatable members are located between the hinged regions and the sides of the hull.

3. A vehicle according to claim 2, wherein, in use, the inflation of the inflatable members moves the hinged region from the first position to the second position.

20

4. A vehicle as described hereinbefore and with reference to Figures 1 to 4.