Amphibious vehicle
Amphibious vehicle 10 has both land propulsion capability as well as marine propulsion capability. At least two axles with wheels 12 are spaced apart along the length of the vehicle. At least one intermediate axle with retractable wheel(s) 14 is positioned between the other axles. This additional axle may improve manoeuvrability over rough ground. Wheel(s) 14 may be retracted on water and/or on land. Wheels 12 may also be retractable. One or more axles may be driven, full time or selectively. The vehicle may plane on water, and may have a vee type hull ( 11 FIG. 2 ). Marine propulsion may be by means of a jet drive. Wheel(s) 14 may retract vertically or through arcs around a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Skid steer may be used. Mudguards, a vehicle roof, and retraction guides for the wheels (slides 16 , FIG. 2 ) may be fitted. Pairs of slides may provide roof supports. A forward control driving position may be provided.
1. An amphibious vehicle for use on land and on water, comprising land propulsion means and marine propulsion means, wherein the vehicle is adapted to plane on water and wherein the land propulsion means comprises at least two axles spaced apart along the length of the vehicle and at least one intermediate axle positioned therebetween, the at least one intermediate axle supporting at least one wheel being retractable independently of said at least two spaced apart axles to a position above the vehicle waterline for use of the vehicle on water and/or on land.
2. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least two axles spaced apart along the length of the vehicle each support at least one wheel which may be retracted above the vehicle waterline for use of the vehicle on water and/or on land.
3. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein one or more of the axles are driven axles.
4. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 3 wherein drive to one or more of the axles is selective.
5. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1 comprising a vee type hull.
6. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the marine propulsion means comprises at least one jet drive.
7. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the spaced apart axles is provided at a first proximal or front end of the vehicle and at least one of the spaced apart axles is provided at a second distal or rear end of the vehicle.
8. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one intermediate axle is provided towards the rear of the vehicle.
9. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one intermediate axle is provided towards the front of the vehicle.
10. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 2 wherein the at least one supported wheel of the at least one intermediate axle is provided in line with the supported wheels of the at least two spaced apart axles along a longitudinal axis running fore and aft along the vehicle.
11. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 2 wherein the at least one supported wheel of at the least one intermediate axle is not in line longitudinally with the supported wheels of the at least two spaced apart axles.
12. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one intermediate axle comprises an plurality of intermediate axles each supporting at least one wheel and being retractable independently of the or each other intermediate axle and/or the other axles of the vehicle.
13. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 12 wherein the supported wheels of the plurality of intermediate axles are provided in line with one another along a longitudinal axis running fore and aft along the vehicle.
14. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 12 wherein the supported wheels of the plurality of intermediate axles are not in line longitudinally with one another.
15. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the land propulsion means are powered by a mechanical transmission.
16. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the land propulsion means are powered by an electric transmission.
17. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the land propulsion means are powered by a hydraulic transmission.
18. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the land propulsion means are powered by a transmission comprising mechanical and hydraulic elements.
19. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 18 wherein the hydraulic elements comprise hydraulic wheel motors.
20. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one intermediate axle is retractable substantially vertically.
21. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one intermediate axle is retractable about one or more axes running fore and aft along the length of the vehicle, so that each intermediate axle retracts in an arc about said axes.
22. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 21 wherein the retracted position of the axis of the at least one intermediate axle is substantially perpendicular to its protracted position.
23. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one intermediate axle is retracted by means of threaded drives.
24. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one intermediate axle is retracted by means of hydraulic rams or pneumatic rams.
25. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 24 wherein the hydraulic rams or pneumatic rams also provide vehicle suspension springing.
26. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 24 wherein the hydraulic rams or pneumatic rams also provide vehicle suspension damping.
27. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one intermediate axle has guide elements which locate in tubes attached to a main vehicle structure which guide the retraction of the at least one intermediate axle.
28. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 27 wherein the tubes are attached to each other in pairs across the width of the vehicle by attachment elements.
29. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one intermediate axle has guide elements which locate in slides attached to a main vehicle structure which guide the retraction of the at least one intermediate axle.
30. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 29 wherein the slides are attached to each other in pairs across the width of the vehicle by attachment elements.
31. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 28 wherein a vehicle cover or roof is attached to the attachment elements.
32. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wheel or wheels of the at least one intermediate axle has a mudguard fitted above.
33. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 32 wherein the mudguard is attached so as to retract with the at least one intermediate axle.
34. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the vehicle is provided with a forward control driving position.
35. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the, some or each of the at least one intermediate axle supporting at least one wheel may be independently retracted in or for use of the vehicle on land.
36. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the, some or each of the at least one intermediate axle supporting at least one wheel may be used to steer the vehicle.
37. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the, some or each of the at least one intermediate axle supporting at least one wheel may be stopped or braked in order to steer the vehicle.
38. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the, some or each of the at least one intermediate axle supporting at least one wheel may be reversed in order to steer the vehicle.
39. An amphibious vehicle for use on land and on water, comprising land propulsion means, marine propulsion means, at least two wheels spaced apart along the length of the vehicle and at least one intermediate wheel positioned therebetween, wherein the at least one intermediate wheel is retractable in use of the vehicle on water and/or on land independently of said at least two spaced apart wheels and wherein the vehicle is adapted to plane on water.
40. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 39 wherein the at least two wheels spaced apart along the length of the vehicle are retractable in use of the vehicle on water and/or on land.
41. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 39 wherein each retractable wheel is retractable independently of each other retractable wheel in use of the vehicle on water and/or on land.
42. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 39 wherein each pair of retractable wheels is retractable independently of each other retractable wheel or pair of retractable wheels in use of the vehicle on water and/or on land.