GB2461844A

GB2461844A - A two wheeled planing amphibian with retractable wheels

Info

Publication number: GB2461844A
Application number: GB0811416A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Timothy Gibbs
Original assignee: Gibbs Technologies Ltd
Current assignee: Gibbs Technologies Ltd
Priority date: 2008-06-20
Filing date: 2008-06-20
Publication date: 2010-01-20
Anticipated expiration: 2028-06-20
Also published as: CA2728415C; EP3098098A1; GB2461844B; US20200290416A1; KR20170038099A; AU2019203594A1; AU2009261736A1; GB2478394A; AU2017200127A1; JP2011524835A; GB2478395A; US20110269355A1; JP2016179817A; GB201102650D0; CN111301077A; RU2555253C2; CN102099208A; GB201102652D0; AU2015200894A1; US11364756B2

Abstract

A two wheeled planing amphibian 10 has a hull 20, bow 24, front wheel 30 and rear wheel 40. Front suspension 32 and rear suspension 42 are retractable, separately or simultaneously. Front wheel 30 may retract vertically or rotationally. Steering is by handlebars (50, Fig 1), link (54, Fig 1), and forks 36. The front wheel 20 is located outside the hull in both protracted and retracted positions. In another embodiment of the invention the underside of hull 20 is continuous in both land mode and marine mode along and across its centreline from the bow to the rearmost underside point on the hull along the centreline; or from the forwardmost underside point on the hull when it is planing at its lowest speed to the rear. In another embodiment of the invention there are no wheel closures attached to the hull. A wheel bay (22, Fig 2a), which is open at its top side, may be provided to allow rear wheel retraction.

Description

Amphibian The present invention relates to a two wheel amphibian.

A number of arrangements for amphibians having two wheels have been proposed. For example as known from GB 2 254 831 to Buchanan or, US 6 540 569 to Gong. In both of these known arrangements the front wheel is arranged to retract into a compartment in the hull which is closed by a retractable wheel cover in order to enable planing of the amphibian. Without such wheel covers, the water would impact on the rearward side of the wheel compartment thereby dramatically increasing drag and preventing planing.

However, the use of wheel covers has been found to be problematic since the mechanisms which actuate the covers, and the covers themselves, can become jammed with mud or weeds. Furthermore, because of the high impact forces experienced on the underside of the hull during planing, wheel covers can easily be lost or broken.

In an alternative known arrangement, for example as disclosed in DE 198 31 324 to Lehrberger, the hull is arranged to split along its centreline to reveal both the front and rear wheels. As above, this arrangement is susceptible to becoming jammed with mud and weeds. In addition, this arrangement results in a cumbersome and difficult to ride configuration in land mode.

The present invention provides a two wheel planing amphibian for use on land and water, comprising: a hull; a front wheel mounted to the amphibian by a front suspension assembly; a rear wheel mounted to the amphibian by a rear suspension assembly; at least one wheel retraction mechanism for moving the front and rear wheels between a deployed position for use of the amphibian on land, and a retracted position for use of the amphibian on water; wherein the front wheel is located outside the hull in both the deployed and retracted positions.

The arrangement of the present invention is advantageous since there is no requirement for moveable hull components which may become jammed. Furthermore, because there is no need for wheel covers, there is less likelihood of hull failure.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the following figures in which: Fig 1 shows a schematic elevation of a two wheeled amphibian in its land mode configuration; Fig 2 shows a schematic elevation of the two wheeled amphibian of Fig 1 in its marine mode configuration; Fig 2a shows a schematic plan view of the stern of the amphibian of Fig 1.

Fig 3 shows a first alternative marine mode configuration; and Fig 4 shows a second alternative marine mode configuration Figure 1 shows an amphibian 10 which has a hull 20, and front and rear wheels 30, 40. The front and rear wheels 30, 40 are shown in their deployed position for use of the amphibian on land 14 in its land mode.

The front wheel 30 is mounted to the amphibian 10 by a front suspension assembly 32, and the rear wheel 40 is mounted to the amphibian 10 by a rear suspension assembly 42. A steering assembly 52 comprising handle bars 50 and steering connection link 54 is operatively connected to the front suspension 32 to allow a rider to steer the amphibian 10. A seat 12 is also provided.

The front suspension 32 comprises a front connection link 38 which is connected to front fork 36 at pivot 34.

The front connection link 38 passes through the hull 20 via watertight sealed bearings (not shown) which allow the front connection link 38 to rotate but which seal the hull 20 against water ingress. The front wheel 30 is carried for rotation by the front fork 36.

The rear suspension 42 comprises a rear trailing arm 46 which is mounted at pivot point 44 to the amphibian 10. The opposite end of the trailing arm 46 carries rear wheel 40 for rotation.

The front and rear suspensions are each provided with a wheel retraction mechanism (not shown) which may be arranged to retract both the front and rear wheels at the same time.

Alternatively, the wheel retraction mechanism comprises a front wheel retraction assembly and a rear wheel retraction assembly so that the front and rear wheels may be deployed or retracted independently. In one example wheel retraction is achieved by the use of hydraulic struts which may form part of the suspension systems. The struts may be constructed according to the Applicant's patent, US 6 886 837 B2, and may have an intermediate pivot mounting similar to that disclosed in US 6 945 832 B2.

Figure 2 shows the amphibian 10 with the front and rear wheels 30, 40 in the retracted position for use of the amphibian on water 16 in its marine mode.

As can be seen, the front wheel 30 has been retracted to a position in front of the bow 24 and above the waterline 16 by the articulation of the front fork 36 about pivot 34.

Because the front wheel 30 must not foul the bow 24 as it moves, or while it is at rest, the front fork 36 is provided with a hydraulically controlled telescoping rod with extends as the front wheel 30 is retracted. This telescoping rod may form part of the front suspension. The front wheel 30 is held in this position by the retraction mechanism.

The rear wheel 40 is retracted to a position above the waterline by articulation of the rear trailing arm 46 about pivot point 44. The rear wheel 40 is held in this position by the retraction mechanism which may be locked in place, for example, by a strut locking peg according to GB 2 397 344 B. The hull 20 comprises a rear wheel bay 22 located in the stern (Fig 2a) . In this example, the rear wheel 40 is partially positioned within the rear wheel bay 22 in both the land mode and marine mode configurations. In an alternative example (not shown) the hull may extend over the rear wheel in the land and/or marine mode configurations.

Alternatively, the rear wheel may be located aft of the stern 23 in the land and/or marine mode configurations.

Whilst in the above the term land mode is generally associated with the wheels in the deployed position, and marine mode is generally associated with the wheels in the retracted position, it will be understood that the wheels may be deployed when the amphibian is in water. For example, on entry or exit of the amphibian into or out of the water.

An alternative arrangement of a two wheeled amphibian 10' is shown in Figure 3. In this example, the front fork 36' is shaped so as to fit over the bow 24 when the front wheel 30 is in the retracted position.

A still further example of a two wheeled amphibian 10' is shown in Figure 4. In this example the front wheel 30 is mounted to the amphibian 10 1 by chassis assembly 58 which has a projection portion 56 extending over the bow 24. The front wheel 30 is constrained to vertical deployment and retraction by the front suspension (not shown) Alternatively, the front wheel may be mounted on an articulating fork as described above with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

Each of the amphibians 10, 10', 10'' described above comprise a power unit, such as a petrol or diesel engine, which is adapted to drive the amphibian in both its land mode and marine mode. The power unit may drive one or both of the wheels in land mode, and may also drive a water propulsion device, such as a water jet drive or propeller, in marine mode. Alternatively, the water drive power unit and land drive power unit may be separate. Suitable power take off(s) and gearing are provided.

Although the front and rear wheels have been described in the above as single unitary components, it should be understood that the front and/or rear wheel may comprise two or more individual wheels mounted in close proximity on a common axle such that the two or more wheels effectively form a single wheel.

Any of the features of any example may be combined with any other feature from any of the examples.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A two wheel planing amphibian for use on land and water, comprising: a hull; a front wheel mounted to the amphibian by a front suspension assembly; a rear wheel mounted to the amphibian by a rear suspension assembly; at least one wheel retraction mechanism for moving the front and rear wheels between a deployed position for use of the amphibian on land, and a retracted position for use of the amphibian on water; wherein the front wheel is located outside the hull in both the deployed and retracted positions.
2. A two wheel planing amphibian for use on land and water, comprising: a hull; a front wheel mounted to the amphibian by a front suspension assembly; a rear wheel mounted to the amphibian by a rear suspension assembly; at least one wheel retraction mechanism for moving the front and rear wheels between a deployed position for use of the amphibian on land, and a retracted position for use of the amphibian on water; wherein the underside of the hull is continuous in both land mode and marine mode along and across its centreline from the bow to the rearmost underside point on the hull along the centreline.
3. A two wheel planing amphibian for use on land and water, comprising: a hull; a front wheel mounted to the amphibian by a front suspension assembly; a rear wheel mounted to the amphibian by a rear suspension assembly; at least one wheel retraction mechanism for moving the front and rear wheels between a deployed position for use of the amphibian on land, and a retracted position for use of the amphibian on water; wherein the underside of the hull is continuous in both land mode and marine mode along and across its centreline from the forwardmost underside point on the hull which intersects the waterline when the amphibian is planing at its lowest speed, to the rearrnost underside point on the hull along the centreline.
4. A two wheel planing amphibian for use on land and water, comprising: a hull; a front wheel mounted to the amphibian by a front suspension assembly; a rear wheel mounted to the amphibian by a rear suspension assembly; at least one wheel retraction mechanism for moving the front and rear wheels between a deployed position for use of the amphibian on land, and a retracted position for use of the amphibian on water; wherein there are no wheel covers attached to the underside of the hull.