WO1997012768A1

WO1997012768A1 - Vehicle, especially amphibious vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO1997012768A1
Application number: PCT/HU1996/000055
Authority: WO
Inventors: János KOVÁCS
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-10-05
Filing date: 1996-09-30
Publication date: 1997-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 1998-04-05
Also published as: AU7141696A; HU9502906D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle, especially amphibious vehicle for traffic on mainland, water or swamp, comprising a frame (2) and at least one wheel (3, 4). The essence of the invention lies in that the quotient (m/V) of the whole vehicle mass (m) and the volume (V) of the wheel (3, 4) and/or that of at least one additional supporting unit (6-9) is smaller than 1000 kg/m3, preferably 300-500 kg/m3, when the vehicle is on the water.

Description

Vehicle, especially Amphibious Vehicle

The invention relates to a vehicle, especially an amphibious vehicle for traffic on mainland, water or swamp.

Background ofthe Invention

Generally the vehicles are not capable for a traffic both on mainland and water or swamp as well, except the so called "amphibious vehicle" which mostly serves mili¬ tary purposes {see e.g. "Mύszaki Lexikon" (Technical Encyclopedia), Publisher: Akademia Kiadό, Budapest, 1972, Volume II, page 536}. These vehicles are normal cars or trucks when they travel on land, but they float on the water, and are provided with a propeller driven by tbe engine of the vehicle. The bottom part of the vehicle body sinks into the water and owing to its hydraulic resistance this type of vehicle can provide a relatively low speed on the water compared to the vehicles running on the land. The same problem is to be taken into consideration at the air-cushion and double-body ships (catamaran-type) because in their standing position or at lower speeds a part of the ship body sinks into the water, that is why their acceleration needs a lot of energy.

Disclosure of the Invention

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved vehicle, espe- cially amphibious vehicle which eliminates these drawbacks, that is, it has a simple construction, relatively lower hydraulic resistance and higher speeds on water, and needs lower energy for its acceleration on water, compared to the known vehicle.

A further object to be solved by the invention lies in that the vehicle known in the prior art should be reconstructed to an "amphibious" vehicle in a relatively simple manner.

According to the invention as claimed, the object was solved by a vehicle, especially amphibious vehicle comprising a frame and at least one wheel mounted to the frame. The essence of the invention lies in that - in on water floating state - the quotient (m/V) of the whole vehicle mass (m) and the volume (V) of the wheel and/or that of at least one additional supporting unit is smaller than 1000 kg/m³, preferably 300-500 kg/m .

Further features and embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

Brief Description ofthe Drawings

The invention is described in detail below with reference to drawings which illustrate only a few specific embodiments ofthe claimed vehicle, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the first embodiment;

Figure 2 is a bottom view ofthe vehicle illustrated in Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate side and bottom view of the second embodiment, respectively;

Figure 5 is a bottom view of a third embodiment;

Figures 6 and 7 are further variants ofthe vehicle shown in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a side view of a fourth embodiment;

Figures 9 and 10 show a bicycle according to the invention in side and bot¬ tom view, respectively;

Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a motorcycle according to the invention in side and bottom view, respectively;

Figures 13 and 14 show a truck according to the invention in side and bottom view, respectively;

Figures 15 and 16 illustrate a ship according to the invention in side and bot¬ tom view, respectively; and Figures 17 and 18 show a further embodiment of the invention in side and bottom view, respectively.

Detailed Description of a few Embodiments

The first embodiment of the invention (Fig. 1 and 2) is a special amphibious auto- mobile 1 comprising a frame 2 (including car body), front steered wheels 3 and rear driven wheels 4. The front wheels 3 can also be driven in a known manner (like at the cross-country vehicle).

According to the invention the frame 2 (with the vehicle body) is fully above a water level 5 when the automobile 1 is floating or swimming on the water. Therefore the wheels 3, 4 are dimensioned in such a manner in this embodiment, that the quotient (m/V) of the whole vehicle mass m and the volume V of the wheels 3 and 4 should be smaller than 1000 kg/m³, preferably 300-500 kg/m³, when the automobile is on the water.

In the first embodiment the whole mass of the automobile 1 was 1000 kg, so the whole internal hollow volume ofthe wheels 3 and 4 was selected to 3 m³, that is each of the wheels 3 and 4 had an internal hollow volume of 500 dm . We used for the wheels 3 and 4 tyres (tires) having the following external dimensions: diame¬ ter: 1,26 m; width: 0,6 m.

By the above dimensioning the wheels 3 and 4 such an amphibious automobile 1 can be made according to the invention which can run on the land without any problems, but it can also be used on water or swamp, if necessary. Because the frame 2 (and the car body) is always above the water surface 5, this automobile 1 can be accelerated easier and can reach higher speeds than the traditional vehicles.

Figures 3 and 4 show a further embodiment of an automobile 1 which differs from the vehicle according to Figure 1 and 2 in that it is provided with additional support¬ ing units, that is, a front supporting unit 6, a rear supporting unit 7, two middle sup¬ porting units 8 between the wheels 3 and 4 and in the present case further five-five intermediate supporting units 9 arranged below the frame 2 between the front and rear supporting units 6, 7 and the middle supporting units 8 (Fig. 3). The supporting units 6-9 are formed as hollow drums filled with compressed gas, preferably air, and they are freely rotatably connected to the frame 2. Each own rotation axis of said supporting units 6-9 is designated with dash and dot line in Figure 4.

The supporting units 6-9 are made as inflatable rolls of flexible material, preferably suitable synthetics or rubber. Instead of compressed gas the hollow body of the sup¬ porting units 6-9 can be filled with other light materials having a density smaller than that of water, e.g. granular polystyrene. On the other hand, the supporting units 6-9 can be made as solid rolls or wheels of light synthetic materials.

According to the invention the volume V of the wheels 3 and 4 and that of the sup- porting units 6-9 is dimensioned in such a way that the quotient (m/V) of the whole vehicle mass m and this volume V should be smaller than 1000 kg m³, preferably 300-500 kg/m³. In this embodiment the whole mass m of the vehicle was 2000 kg, therefore the volume V of the wheels 3 and 4, and that of the supporting units 6-9 was dimensioned about 3,3 m\ so the value ofthe quotient (m/V) was 300 kg/m³.

It is to be noted that when the automobile 1 (Figure 3) is floating on tbe water, only the lower part of the wheels 3 and 4 and the supporting units 6-9 are sinking into the water (below the water level 5). Because the front wheels 3 are steered and the rear wheels 4 (or all the wheels 3, 4) are driven, the automobile 1 can move on water similarly as on the land. After accelerating the automobile 1 (e.g. at a speed of 30-40 krn/h) the freely rotating supporting units 6-9 (together with the whole automobile 1) emerge from the water and thereby tbe hydraulic resistance of the vehicle has been reduced. (In this state the relative water level was designated with 5'). That is why the supporting units 6-9 are arranged in a common plane which is with a distance T higher than the bottom plane ofthe wheels 3 and 4 (Figure 3).

In Figure 5 a further embodiment of the invention can be seen which differs from the vehicle of Figure 4 in that here the supporting units 9 have been left off, and the sup¬ porting units 6-8 are adjustable or expandable in transverse direction to a longitudinal axis ofthe automobile 1 (as indicated with broken lines). Maybe that each of the sup¬ porting units 6-8 is composed of two coaxial wheels and their track distance can be adjusted in a known manner. Thereby the stability and the loading of the vehicle can be increased.

With amphibious vehicle it can happen that one of the supporting units, made as flexible inflatable tyre, becomes damaged when the vehicle is on the water. In order to prevent a submergence of the vehicle and to improve its stability, two further em¬ bodiments of the automobile 1 are provided with additional safety supporting units (Figures 6 and 7).

In Figure 6 each of supporting units 6 and 7 is completed with two lateral safety sup¬ porting units 10. In Figure 7 one safety supporting unit 11 is arranged in front of the supporting unit 6 and an other one behind the rear supporting unit 7. These safety supporting units 10, 11 are freely rotatably (around their own axis) arranged on the frame 2 and are formed as flexible inflatable rolls, which will be filled with com¬ pressed air in case of an emergency. So by means of the lateral supporting units 10 the supporting units 6 and 7 can be "expanded" laterally. By means of said support- ing units 10 and 1 1 the stability and loading capacity of the vehicle can further be in¬ creased.

Figure 8 shows a further embodiment of the invention. It differs from the automobile 1 according to Figure 3 in that the supporting units 6 and 7 are freely rotatably con¬ nected to the frame 2 in such a manner that their relative height can be adjusted e.g. by means of a hydraulic working cylinder (not illustrated). The basic position of the supporting units 6 and 7 is marked with solid lines, from which they are sinkable into their lower position (marked with broken lines) for decelerating the automobile 1. This effect, in combination with the normal braking effect of the wheels 3 and 4, provide a more effective braking of the automobile 1 on water. The braking effect can further be assisted by means of brake plates 12, each of them is tiltably connected to the frame 2 through a pivot 13 and tiltable from its horizontal basic position to a vertical braking position around the pivot axis by means of e. g. a hydraulic working cylinder 14. The tyres o the wheels 3 and 4 are provided with special patterning and, if necessary, the supporting units 6 and 7, too. Furthermore, the free rotation of the supporting units 6 and 7 can also be decelerated by means of an additional brake (not illustrated). The term "automobile" is to be understood in broader sense, including cars, motor-lorries, busses, etc.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a further embodiment ofthe amphibious vehicle according to the invention which is a special bicycle 15. It has a traditional frame 16; front and rear wheels 17 and 18, and a pedal drive. According to the invention the bicycle 15 is provided with additional supporting units 19-22. The first supporting unit 19 is ar¬ ranged in front of the wheel 17, the second supporting unit 20 is behind the rear wheel 18; the third supporting units 21 have disc-like form and are arranged on both sides of the wheels 17, 18; and the fourth supporting units are formed as wheels and arranged in the middle region ofthe bicycle 15. Each of these supporting units 19-22 are freely rotatably connected to the frame 16, and made as flexible inflatable rolls or wheels filled with compressed air. The supporting units 19-20 are dimensioned as discussed above. When running on land, the supporting units 19-22 can be dis¬ mounted from the bicycle.

In the sense o the invention a tricycle can be rebuilt to an amphibious vehicle in a similar manner (not illustrated).

In Figures 1 1 and 12 show an amphibious motorcycle 23 according to the invention. (Similar elements have been designated with the same reference numbers as in Fig¬ ures 9 and 10). The whole mass (m) of the motorcycle 23 was 500 kg, so the whole hollow volume (V) of the wheels 17 and 18 and the supporting units 19-22 was di¬ mensioned to about 1,5 m .

According to our experiments, this motorcycle 23 can move on water safely even with two persons. In its floating position the water level was designated with 5 (Fig. 1 1). A tricycle driven by motor can be rebuilt according to the invention similarly.

A further embodiment ofthe invention can be seen in Figures 13 and 14, which is an amphibious truck 24 comprising a prime mover 25 and at least one trailer 26 being hinged to the prime mover 25. The prime mover 25 has steered and driven front wheels 27 and driven rear wheels 28. The front and rear wheels ofthe trailer 26 were marked with 29 and 30, respectively. According to the invention both the prime mover 25 and said at least one trailer 26 are provided with supporting units 31, 32, 33 and 34, 35, 36, respectively. The sup¬ porting units 31-36 are arraged as freely rotatable flexible wheels or rolls and they are filled with compressed air.

In Figure 13 it can be seen that a common bottom plane of the wheels 27, 28, 29, 30 lies with a distance T deeper than a common bottom plane of the supporting units 31- 36. The distance T can be chosen in this embodiment about 5-25 cm. In Figure 13 the truck 27 can be seen in standing position (floating on the water). By this arrangement the truck 27 or similar vehicles (omn i busses, camions) can move on water without any reloading.

Figures 15 and 16 show a further embodiment ofthe amphibious vehicle according to the invention which is formed as a ship 37 being able to run on the land or swamp. This ship 37 is provided with front steered wheels 38, rear driven wheels 39 and ad¬ ditional supporting units 40, 41, 42 which are freely rotatably connected to body of the ship 37. As it can be seen in Figure 15 the wheels 38 and 39 as well as the sup¬ porting unit 40-42 are arranged and dimensioned in such a manner that their parts sinking into the water (below the water level 5) keep the ship body above a water level 5. There is a distance T between the lower plane of the wheels 38 and 39 as well as the common lower plane of the supporting units 40-42 (similarly as in the previous embodiments).

In Figure 15 the ship 37 can be seen in its floating position (or at lower speed) in which a part of the supporting units 40-42 is sinking into the water, too. It should be clear for a skilled person in the art that at higher speeds only a part of the wheels 38, 39 is sinking into the water, because the ship 37 has emerged from the water, thereby the hydraulic resistance of the ships 37 can be reduced. In a given case the front wheels 39 can also be driven. The wheels 38, 39 and the supporting units 40-42 can be provided with a special profile to improve the transfer of the driving and braking energy. Other ships having two ship bodies (catamaran-type ships) can be rebuilt to an amphibious vehicle according to the invention similarly. Finally, Figures 17 and 18 illustrate a special embodiment of the invention which is an aeroplane (airplane) 43 being able to land on the water or swamp, too. As known, to build a traditional landing path on the land for aeroplanes is a very complicated and costly task.

According to the invention the aeroplane 43 is provided with supporting units 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 which are freely rotatably arranged on the body frame under fuselage and/or air wings thereof (Fig. 17). As to the dimensioning of the supporting units 44- 49 according to the invention, following can be said:

If the whole mass (m) of the aeroplane 43 is about 100.000 kg, then the whole hollow volume (V) of the supporting units 44-49 should be more than 200 m³. These sup¬ porting units 44-49 rise the whole body and air wings of the aeroplane 43 from the water during landing, floating and starting (see Figure 17).

Preferably the supporting units 44-49 are made as flexible inflatable wheels or rolls which can be pulled into cavities of the fuselage or air wings (e. g. similarly as the known landing wheels 50, see Figure 18) at higher speeds. Thereby the air resistance thereof can be reduced. At landing e.g. close to the water the supporting units 44-49 are pushed out and filled with compressed air, so they assist a "soft" landing. In a given case each of the supporting units 44-49 can be provided with an additional brake to improve the braking effect of the aeroplane at landing when the supporting units 44-49 already are in connection with the water.

One of the most important advantage of the invention is that the known vehicles running on land can easily be reconstructed to amphibious vehicles according to the invention, which can move on water or swamp, too, without any limitations. This is of great importance from the view of transport of people and goods, especially in the agriculture. Further advantage of the invention is in that the vehicle can move on water much quicker and cheaper, owing to the reduced hydraulic resistance, than the known ships having ship-body sinking partly into the water. Anyway, landing on the water seems to be much more simple and inexpensive than on land. Using the de¬ scribed trucks, a great part of the goods transport could be carried out on water, and because these trucks can run on land, too, the cost intensive and time consuming har¬ bour discharging and reloading could be eliminated.

A further advantage ofthe invention is in that the known and used vehicles can be re¬ constructed in a relatively simple manner to the claimed amphibious vehicle by amending the existing wheels and/or equipping them with the supporting units ac¬ cording to the invention.

It is to be noted that the above embodiments are examples only, they do not limit the scope of the protection, in contrast the invention as claimed can be realized in many other forms including further modifications and combinations thereof.

Reference Characters

automobile frame (front) wheel (rear) wheel , 5' water level (additional front) supporting unit (additional rear) supporting unit (additional middle) supporting unit (additional intermediate) supporting unit 0 (safety) supporting unit 1 (safety) supporting unit 2 brake plate 3 pivot hydraulic working cylinder 5 bicycle frame front wheel rear wheel (additional) supporting unit (additional) supporting unit 1 (additional) supporting unit (additional) supporting unit motorcycle truck prime mover trailer front steered wheels rear driven wheels front wheels rear wheels 1 (additional) supporting unit (additional) supporting unit (additional) supporting unit (additional) supporting unit (additional) supporting unit (additional) supporting unit ship steered wheels driven wheels

(additional) supporting unit

(additional) supporting unit aeroplane (airplane)

(additional) supporting unit

(additional) supporting unit landing wheels distance

Claims

1. Vehicle, especially amphibious vehicle, comprising a frame and at least one wheel mounted to the frame, characterized in that - in floating state of the vehicle (1; 15; 23; 24; 37; 43) on water - a quotient (m/V) of the whole vehicle mass (m) and the volume (V) of the wheel (3, 4) and/or that of at least one additional supporting unit (6- 11 ; 19-22; 31-36; 44-49), is smaller than 1000 kg/m³, preferably 300-500 kg/m³.

2. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the supporting units (6-11; 19-22; 31-36; 40-42; 44-49) are formed as wheels or rolls being freely rotatably embedded on the frame (2; 16).

3. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the supporting units (6-11; 19-22; 31-36; 40-42; 44-49) are formed at least partly as hollow drums or wheels and their internal chamber is filled with compressed air.

4. A vehicle as claimed in any of the Claims 1 to 3, wherein at least two wheels (3,4; 17, 18; 27, 28, 29, 30; 38,39) and at least two supporting units (6-11; 19-22; 31-36;

44-49) are provided, wherein said wheels are arranged in longitudinal direction of the vehicle along a first common bottom plane, and said supporting units are arranged in longitudinal direction of the vehicle along a second bottom plane, which is arranged with a distance (T) upper than the first plane.

5. A vehicle as claimed in any of the Claims 1 to 4, wherein said vehicle is an am¬ phibious automobile (1) having two steered wheels (3) and at least two driven wheels (4), wherein the first supporting unit (6) is arranged in front of the wheels (3), the second supporting unit (7) is arranged behind the wheels (4) and the third and pref¬ erably fourth supporting units (8, 9) are arranged between said first and second sup- porting units (6, 7).

6. A vehicle as claimed any of the Claims 1 to 5, wherein said vehicle is an amphibi¬ ous truck (24) comprising a prime mover (25) and preferably at least one trailer (26) being hinged to said prime mover (25), wherein both said prime mover (25) and at least one trailer (26) are provided with said supporting units (31, 32, 33; 34, 35, 36).

7. A vehicle as claimed in any of the Claims 1 to 4, wherein said vehicle is an am¬ phibious bicycle (15) or tricycle, preferably motorcycle (23) being provided with the supporting units ( 19, 20, 21 , 22).

8. A vehicle as claimed in any ofthe Claims 1 to 3, wherein said vehicle is an aero¬ plane (43) being suitable for landing on water or swamp, which is provided with said supporting units (44-49) under its fuselage and/or air wings.

9. A vehicle as claimed in any of the Claims 1 to 4, wherein said vehicle is a ship (37) suitable for running on land or swamp, comprising a pair of steered wheels (38) and driven wheels (39) and the supporting units (40, 41, 42), furthermore, a body of said ship (37) is fully emerged from water by means of said supporting units (40-42).

10. A vehicle as claimed in any of the Claims 1 to 9, wherein said supporting units (6, 7, 8; 19, 20, 22; 31-35; 40-42) are wheels or rolls being adjustable or expandable in transverse direction to longitudinal axis ofthe vehicle.

1 1. A vehicle as claimed in any of the Claims 1 to 10, wherein said supporting units (44-46) are formed as flexible inflatable wheels or rolls which can be driven into cavities ofthe vehicle body when they are down at higher speeds ofthe vehicle.

12. A vehicle as claimed in any ofthe Claims 1 to 11, wherein the supporting unit (6- 8; 19-22; 31-35; 40-42; 44-46) is provided with own brake for assisting the decelera¬ tion ofthe vehicle especially on water.