Abstract: An amphibious vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle includes a land motive device and a marine motive device. An engine is positioned within the vehicle to provide power to the land motive device and the marine motive device. A directing device operatively connected to the engine directs engine power selectively to one of the land motive device, the marine motive device, and the combination of the land motive device and the marine motive device. An engine management arrangement defines sets of various engine operating parameters. One set determines engine operation when the engine power is directed to the land motive device. Another determines engine operation when the engine power is directed solely to the marine motive device. An operator actuable control arrangement is also included that has a steering wheel and a brake pedal usable by an operator to control the vehicle both when it is in a land motive configuration and when it is in a marine motive configuration.

Abstract: An amphibious vehicle is disclosed of the type in which the ground engaging wheels are retracted during marine operation. The vehicle has, among other things, an arrangement in which the side surfaces of the tires act to provide a primary water seal when ground engaging wheels are retracted. Such amphibious vehicle also includes a secondary securing mechanism for locking the wheel suspensions in their retracted positions, and means for filling a space between two parts of the suspension with a hydrophobic substance, such as a grease, whenever the wheels are retracted.

Abstract: An amphibious vehicle is disclosed designed to have its ground engaging wheels retracted in response to manual switch activation only if there is a detection of sufficient thrust by the marine motive device to impart motion to the vehicle. The vehicle includes a land motive device and a marine motive device. An engine is positioned within the vehicle to provide power to the land motive device and the marine motive device. The ground engaging wheels are part of the land motive device. A directing device operatively connected to the engine directs engine power selectively to one of the land motive device, the marine motive device, and the combination of the land motive device and the marine motive device. An operator actuable switch is positioned within the vehicle for manual activation to switch the vehicle between land operation and marine operation. A pressure sensor also is provided to determine when the marine motive device provides sufficient thrust to impart motion to the vehicle.