GB703792A - Improvements in or relating to flotation devices for amphibious vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

703,792. Amphibious vehicles. STRAUSSLER, N. P. S. Sept. 24, 1952 [Sept. 25, 1951], No. 22372/51. Class 113(2) In a collapsible hull for amphibious motor driven vehicles of the kind having a continuous wall or skirt 3 of impervious flexible material secured by its lower margin to the body or to decking 1 extending from the vehicle body 2 to provide a watertight enclosure to afford buoyancy to the vehicle, means for extending the skirt and maintaining it in extended position comprise continuous upper and lower stiffening frames 4, 5, and a plurality of collapsible struts each of which comprises an intermediate member 7 pivoted at 9 intermediate its ends to the lower frame 5 and upper and lower members 6, 8 pivoted at their outer ends to the upper frame at 9a and at 10 to a port fixed to the vehicle body and pivoted at 11, 12 at their inner ends to the intermediate member 7 for movement about axes which are located one on either side of the axis of the strut in its erected position in which stops 14, 15 come into engagement. Fluid pressure operated piston rods 24 act simultaneously and directly on the lower members 8 of the struts for initially moving them to positions where thereafter the struts and skirt move under gravity to their collapsed positions. Means for erecting the hull comprise inflatable envelopes 16 each secured at its upper end to the lower frame. 5 and at its lower end to a base 18 fixed to decking 1, the base having valves whereby the envelopes can be inflated and deflated.