Amphibious vehicle

Abstract

A sit-astride amphibious vehicle configuration which supports a high performance envelope both on land as well as in water. The vehicle has a planing hull and four retractable wheels. Handlebars provide for directional control in both modes of operation. Each road wheel is retractable by pivoting through at least 45° so as to maximize ground clearance when in the land mode of operation and to minimize drag at substantial lean angles when in the marine mode of operation. While a jet drive may remain directly connected to the engine at all times, the driven wheels are only connected during land mode via a speed-change transmission. The entire power train is supported by a frame that is separable from the hull which in turn has a detachable top deck portion, whereby such configuration simplifies the construction, repair and servicing of the vehicle.

1 - 115 . (canceled) 
     
     
         116 . A sit-astride amphibious personal watercraft vehicle, comprising:
 a planing hull that includes a peripheral planar edge that is disposed above a waterline when the vehicle is supported in water;   at least four wheels, each of which is movable between an extended land mode location and a retracted water mode location, two of the wheels being front steerable wheels, which are, at least in the land mode of the vehicle, connected to handlebars which can be operated by a driver to steer the vehicle;   an engine which in the land mode of the vehicle is connected to at least one of the wheels to drive the wheel;   marine propulsion means to propel the vehicle on water; and   a seat configured for accommodating the driver astride the vehicle and completely above said waterline.   
     
     
         117 . An amphibious vehicle as claimed in  claim 116 , wherein:
 the engine drives the marine propulsion means to propel the vehicle on water.   
     
     
         118 . An amphibious vehicle as claimed in  claim 116 , comprising additionally:
 a speed change transmission giving the vehicle in forward motion on land a plurality of different gear ratios between the engine and the driven wheel(s).   
     
     
         119 . An amphibious vehicle as claimed in  claim 116 , wherein:
 all of the four wheels are each pivoted about an axis running fore and aft along the vehicle when moved between the land mode and the water mode locations thereof.   
     
     
         120 . An amphibious vehicle as claimed in  claim 117 , comprising additionally:
 a speed change transmission giving the vehicle in forward motion on land a plurality of different gear ratios between the engine and the driven wheel(s).   
     
     
         121 . An amphibious vehicle as claimed in  claim 117 , wherein:
 all of the four wheels are each pivoted about an axis running fore and aft along the vehicle when moved between the land mode and the water mode locations thereof.   
     
     
         122 . An amphibious vehicle as claimed in  claim 118 , wherein:
 all of the four wheels are each pivoted about an axis running fore and aft along the vehicle when moved between the land mode and the water mode locations thereof.   
     
     
         123 . An amphibious vehicle as claimed in  claim 120 , wherein:
 all of the four wheels are each pivoted about an axis running fore and aft along the vehicle when moved between the land mode and the water mode locations thereof.   
     
     
         124 . An amphibious vehicle as claimed in  claim 116 , wherein:
 the two front steerable wheels in land mode locations thereof are located on opposite sides of the vehicle, spaced apart transversely across the vehicle by a first track width;   the two other wheels of the four are not connected to the handlebars to be steered thereby and are located at the rear of the vehicle on opposite sides of the vehicle, spaced apart transversely across the vehicle by a second track width greater than the first track width.   
     
     
         125 . An amphibious personal watercraft vehicle comprising:
 a seat configured for sitting astride and on top of the vehicle;   a planing hull;   at least four wheels, each of which is movable between an extended land mode location and a retracted water mode location two of the wheels being front steerable wheels, which are, at least in the land mode of the vehicle, connected to handlebars which can be operated by a driver to steer the vehicle;   marine propulsion means to propel the vehicle on water; and   an engine for driving at least one of said wheels and said marine propulsion means.   
     
     
         126 . An amphibious vehicle as claimed in  claim 125 , comprising additionally:
 a speed change transmission giving the vehicle in forward motion on land a plurality of different gear ratios between the engine and the driven wheel(s).   
     
     
         127 . An amphibious vehicle as claimed in  claim 125 , wherein:
 all of the four wheels are each pivoted about an axis running fore and aft along the vehicle when moved between the land mode and the water mode locations thereof.   
     
     
         128 . An amphibious vehicle as claimed in  claim 125 , wherein:
 all of the four wheels are each pivoted about an axis running fore and aft along the vehicle when moved between the land mode and the water mode locations thereof.   
     
     
         129 . An amphibious vehicle as claimed in  claim 126 , wherein:
 all of the four wheels are each pivoted about an axis running fore and aft along the vehicle when moved between the land mode and the water mode locations thereof.   
     
     
         130 . An amphibious vehicle as claimed in  claim 125 , wherein:
 the two front steerable wheels in land mode locations thereof are located on opposite sides of the vehicle, spaced apart transversely across the vehicle by a first track width;   the two other wheels of the four are not connected to the handlebars to be steered thereby and are located at the rear of the vehicle on opposite sides of the vehicle, spaced apart transversely across the vehicle by a second track width greater than the first track width.   
     
     
         131 . An amphibious vehicle as claimed in  claim 125 , wherein:
 a separate spring and damper unit is provided for each wheel.   
     
     
         132 . An amphibious vehicle as claimed in  claim 125 , wherein:
 a track rod is mounted to extend transversely across the vehicle; the track rod is mounted by mounting means which allow the track rod to be slid along the axis thereof transversely across the vehicle by rotation of the handlebars; the track rod is pivotally connected at one end to a first front wheel and is pivotally connected at a second end to a second front wheel; and the front wheels are pivotally mounted on supporting suspension arrangements for steering rotation under control of the track rod.