Abstract: Embodiments of amphibious vehicles are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the amphibious vehicle includes a body that defines a buoyant hull. The buoyant hull includes a bottom, and a pair of lateral sides. The bottom extends downward at the lateral sides to form a pair of pockets, and each pocket is open to atmosphere through an upper side of the hull and is closed at a lower end by the bottom of the hull. In addition, the amphibious vehicle includes a plurality of wheels mounted to the lateral sides of the body, and a pair of tracks disposed about the wheels.

Abstract: An amphibious vehicle includes: an engine; at least one land traveling device; at least one water propelling device; a power distribution device configured to distribute power outputted from the engine between land travel power to be supplied to the at least one land traveling device and water propulsion power to be supplied to the at least one water propelling device; a slippage-amount detection device configured to detect a slippage amount of the at least one land traveling device relative to ground; and a controller configured to adjust at least the land travel power, of the land travel power and the water propulsion power, on the basis of the slippage amount detected by the slippage-amount detection device.

Abstract: Provided is an amphibious vehicle capable of maintaining stable vehicle posture by pitching control during cruising on water and also reducing wave drag caused by waves on water. The amphibious vehicle according to the present invention is characterized by being provided with: a vehicle body (11) capable of moving on sea and land; a front flap (14A) with one end portion secured to a lower end portion of the vehicle body (11) in such a manner that a principal surface is inclined with respect to a front surface (11a) of the vehicle body (11); and a rear flap (14B) with one end portion secured to a lower end portion of a rear surface (11b) of the vehicle body (11).

Abstract: A sidewall planing boat includes: a body; sub-bodies; and a power device; wherein the two sub-bodies are mounted on a front portion of the body and are symmetrically provided at two sides of the body; bottom surfaces of the sub-bodies are lower than a bottom surface of the body; wherein rigid sidewalls are symmetrically mounted on side surfaces of the body, rigid sub-sidewalls are symmetrically mounted on side surfaces of the sub-body; portions of the sidewalls and the sub-sidewalls which extend to a bottom of the sidewall planing boat are inserted into water for forming three lifting areas with front openings with the bottom; wherein the power device is mounted on the body and/or the sub-bodies. With the foregoing structure, water resistance of the sidewall planing boat is decreased and a sailing speed in increased.

Abstract: This invention relates to an amphibious vehicle and especially to an amphibious vehicle having twin internal combustion engines propelling the vehicle in water with a pair of water jet drives and propelling the vehicle on land with one of the same engines having an electric generator powering a pair of electric motors each coupled to a track assembly. Each electric motor and each air brakes are controlled separately to steer and brake the track assemblies.

Abstract: A trim vane assembly for amphibious armored vehicles and having a trim vane movable along a generally horizontal path between a deployed position in which the trim vane extends rearward from the vehicle and a stowed position in which the trim vane is positioned beneath the amphibious vehicle. In the retracted position, the trim vane movable is flush against or received within the vehicle bottom such that the trim vane supplements the belly armor. Similarly, the trim vane extends from or overlaps with the bottom of the vehicle when extended into the deployed position to provide continuous bottom face of the vehicle extending from the front of the vehicle to the end of the trim vane. Conventional trim vanes are rotated between a vertical orientation against the rear of the vehicle and a horizontal position extending from the rear of the vehicle reducing viscous drag.

Abstract: An amphibian operable in land and marine modes includes a hull, having a discontinuity, and a retractable wheel or track drive assembly at least partially located in the discontinuity. A wheel or track drive of the at least one retractable wheel or track drive assembly is retracted above a lowest point of the hull when operating in marine mode, and the wheel or track drive is protracted below the lowest point when operating in land mode. The hull is a planing V hull having a forward bow section defining a frontal bow surface/area across a beam of the hull. The discontinuity is provided in the forward bow section, and the wheel or track drive of the retractable wheel or track drive assembly is located ahead of and in front of at least a portion of the frontal bow area when protracted.

Abstract: Amphibious construction equipment comprising a working unit supported on a pair of elongate, parallel, buoyant pontoons (2) each of which carries a caterpillar track (3) driven by sprockets mounted on an axles (5), the axles (5) being positioned at or towards the ends of each pontoon (2) on its upper surface, wherein each axle (5) is driven by at least one hydraulic motor (4), all the motors (4) being powered by a single hydraulic pump (7), the motors (4) on each pontoon (2) being arranged such that they run synchronously as to both direction and rate but not necessarily in the same direction or at the same rate as the motors (4) on the other pontoon (2).

Abstract: A kit for conversion of a snowmobile for use as a personal watercraft by replacement of the skis with steerable flotation ‘device’ and addition of outrigger flotation ‘device’ to suspend the track in the water while providing flotation to the chassis, along with the flotation provided by the steerable flotation ‘device’. The kit installs to the snowmobile without removing the track or engine drive, and without interference with operator control systems. Wheels may be included in keels of some hulls to allow for ease of access and egress from water to land.

Abstract: An underwater traveling vehicle includes: a vehicle body 2; an endless track means 3 which is rotatably mounted to the vehicle body 2; a drive means which is provided in the vehicle body 2 so as to drive the endless track means 3; and a thruster 4 which is provided in the vehicle body 2.

Abstract: An amphibious vehicle has retractable road wheels to allow planing over water. Power to the road wheels is disconnected automatically as the wheels are retracted. This may be achieved through a cable attached to a suspension rocker arm to disconnect a dog clutch attached to the input shaft of a differential as the wheels are retracted; and vice versa. The system may be fitted to a steered axle or to any suitable retractable suspension system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing propulsion to naval vehicles by using one or more suspended belt drives to consistently engage the water proximate to the surface using a variety of belts with multiple attachments, tires, or variable lugs. The drive belt system incorporates the use of a linear air bearing surface to minimize the belt friction of the drives. This invention also involves the use of open-bottomed enclosures to insulate the propulsion system from adverse water conditions that might otherwise prevent the belt drives from consistently and efficiently engaging the water.

Abstract: A ship employing a buoyant propulsion system. A preferred such ship comprises a superstructure, a backbone, and a sub-structure. The backbone supports the superstructure. The sub-structure depends from the backbone and adapted to float the backbone and the superstructure above liquid water. The sub-structure includes one or more buoyant propulsion units. Each buoyant propulsion unit comprises an endless track having a plurality of associated paddle members and is adapted for elongate rotary motion of at least portions of the associated paddle members through the water. Each buoyant propulsion unit further comprises a race-roller-bearing assembly for transmitting load imposed by the superstructure to the track. Preferably, the one or more buoyant propulsion units are adapted to float the backbone and the superstructure substantially above the water.

Abstract: The amphibious vehicle is a motorized vehicle capable of travel on land as well as in the water. The amphibious vehicle has a boat-like hull, and a caterpillar track assembly mounted along each side by hinges. The tracks are arranged so that they can be rotated between a lowered position, where they support the amphibious vehicle and provide traction and propulsion during land operation, and a raised position, where they rest vertically on or above the hull's deck during marine operation. With the caterpillar track assemblies in the raised position, the caterpillar track assemblies are fully removed from the water to improve performance and maneuverability. Additionally, with the tracks in their upright position the overall width of the amphibious vehicle is narrowed to facilitate trailering. The tracks employ hydraulic motors in a direct drive configuration for propulsion, reducing weight and complexity of the tracks.

Abstract: A vehicle adapted to operate on dry land, in soft terrain, and while floating. The vehicle includes a chassis formed by two interconnected pontoon sections sized such that the chassis and equipment will float. The pontoons are fitted with a track system providing propulsion to the vehicle. The chassis a plurality of spuds that are deployed to a position extending below the bottom of the pontoons so as to stabilize the vehicle for operations while floating.

Abstract: An amphibious vehicle comprising: a chassis (10), which has a hull-like structure and comprises supporting wheels (11) and driving wheels (13-14) for tracks (12) of the rubber-clad type, a fore buoyancy reserve (21) and an aft buoyancy reserve (22) which are obtained by means of a corresponding fore element (21′) and aft element (22′) which are permanently applied by means of watertight welds (CS) to the chassis. A power plant (MP) comprises an internal-combustion engine and two hydraulic pumps (41′-41″) which, by virtue of corresponding delivery circuits (42′-42″), feed first hydraulic motors (44′-44″) for simultaneous or selective driving of tracks for propulsion and steering on land and second hydraulic motors (45′-45″) for simultaneous or selective rotation of hydrodynamic propulsion and steering propellers.

Abstract: A recreational vehicle which has a body which may be configured for land use or as a boat haul, the vehicle also having a pair of non interconnected spaced apart front wheels, an endless track located rearwardly of an intermediate of the spaced apart front wheels, a motor operatively connected to a drive at least the endless track and optionally the front wheels. The vehicle is able to handle most types of snow and land conditions and can be configured to operate in water if so desired.

Abstract: A floating track device for releasably attaching to a drive mechanism of a vehicle for supporting, floating, moving and steering the same on a traveling surface which may be a ground, snow, water, marsh, ice and the like. The device includes a plurality of generally elongated floating members adjacently releasably secured to each other via respective securing members to form at least one endless belt member, and a retaining member for releasably linking the belt member to the drive mechanism, each of the plurality of floating members transverse to the belt member and has an inner surface and an outer surface, the latter forming an external corrugation of the belt member for traction on any different traveling surface, especially on water by pushing on the same. The belt member to adapted to weight support the powered vehicle on the traveling surface.

Abstract: A recreational vehicle which has a body which may be configured as a boat hull, a pair of spaced apart front wheels, an endless track located rearwardly of the spaced apart front wheels, drive means operative to drive at least the endless track, a steering means connected to the spaced apart front wheels. The vehicle is able to handle most types of snow and land conditions and can also be configured to operate in water.