The VEHICLE WITH TRAVELING WAVE THRUST MODULE APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS include force or forces applied to an arc-like flexible sheet-like material to create a deformed crenated strip fin with strained-deformations. The strained-deformations take on a sinusoid-like form that express the internal energy state of the flexible sheet-like material after it has been configured into a crenated strip fin. After being incorporated into a mechanism with couplings that prevent the crenated strip fin from returning to its un-strained state, the strained-deformations persist. Actuators may be used to sequentially rotate vertebrae attached to the fins causing the travel of sinusoid-like deformations along the fins. The fin, fin actuator or actuators, power source and central controller may be incorporated into a thrust module. Two thrust modules coupled to a central body via roll actuators and flexible coupling members may form a vehicle with exceptional maneuverability.

The present invention presents a vehicle that is capable of utilizing different methods of movement by rotating its propellers to accommodate air, ground, or water locomotion. The present invention includes being able to change the direction of the thrust mechanism, so that it creates thrust in the direction of flight, but it is hinged to provide full protection to the blades in the ground modality. In the case of the water implementation, these propellers are also used to provide horizontal thrust to the vessel.

An amphibious platform vehicle-vessel to support and to move hydraulically operated and controlled earth-moving and lifting equipment, such as excavators and cranes, on solid ground, semi-solid or marshy ground, shallow water, and deeper water. The modular units can be transported to a worksite on separate trailers and assembled and reconfigured on site. Two compartmented pontoon units are mounted to an adaptive cross member that can accommodate different types of moving-lifting equipment through different mounting flanges, and to auxiliary cross members. Propulsion is provided through amphibious cleats on drive chains in chain tracks driven by dual-motor driving drums and over a tension-adjusting passive chain roller, surrounding a sealed pontoon shell internally reinforced with bulkhead partitions, beam shell-bottom stiffeners, and pressed-angle shell-bottom stiffeners. An extendable auxiliary float can be extended outward from each compartmented pontoon for increased stability in floating operations.

A convertible ducted fan engine having a shroud, a drive shaft connected to a mechanical fan, and a rotational drive motor configured to rotate the mechanical fan. An embodiment includes a linear drive motor configured to translate the drive shaft and mechanical fan in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shroud. The convertible ducted fan engine includes a fluid-propulsion configuration in which the mechanical fan rotates freely with respect to the shroud to produce thrust through fluid flow, and a drive-wheel configuration in which the shroud rotates about the rotational axis.

Spiral drive mechanism, particularly for mechanical vehicles, land and water machines, comprises of deformable spiral (1) of spindle shape, on one side resting on a rocker arm (2) with bearing, attached to the vehicle through a moving joint, through an axle (3) that moves the front part of the spiral in vertical, longitudinal and transverse axis. On the other side, it rests on a pendulum-moving driving axle of the vehicle (4), propelling rotating motion of the spiral and thus causing movement of the vehicle.

A power train for an amphibian operable in land and marine modes includes a prime mover having an integral speed change transmission, at least a first land propulsion unit, at least a first marine propulsion unit, and a power transmission unit including a drive member configured to couple the prime mover to the at least first marine propulsion unit, wherein the prime mover is arranged to drive the at least first land propulsion unit through/via the integral speed change transmission in the land mode, and the prime mover is arranged to drive the at least first marine propulsion unit through/via the power transmission unit in both the marine mode and the land mode.

A retractable wheel and/or track drive assembly for an amphibian comprising an actuator, a retraction linkage assembly movable between a protracted position and a retracted position, a suspension assembly at least partially connected to the retraction linkage assembly and movable between a protracted position and a retracted position, and at least one wheel and/or track drive, wherein when the retraction linkage assembly and the suspension assembly are protracted then the retraction linkage and/or suspension assembly supports and/or holds at least one wheel and/or track drive in a ground engaging position for use on land.

This cooling device for an amphibious vehicle includes: a heat exchanger mounted in the amphibious vehicle; a coolant introduction passage through which cooling air or cooling water can be introduced from the outside to the heat exchanger as a coolant; a cooling air discharge passage through which the cooling air having passed through the heat exchanger can be discharged to a cooling air discharge portion communicating with the outside; and a cooling water discharge passage through which the cooling water having passed through the heat exchanger can be discharged to a cooling water discharge portion communicating with the outside. The cooling air discharge passage and the cooling water discharge passage are formed such that at least the cooling air discharge portion and the cooling water discharge portion are independent of each other.

An airboat rudder that results in increased turning force on the airboat while also being easily controlled by the airboat driver is disclosed. Airboats can be configured to run on both water and dry ground. Many times, somewhat dry mud and some types of grass are very difficult to run over and will cause an airboat to get stuck. One way of getting an airboat free is to oscillate the one or more airboat rudders from a hard right hand turn to a hard left hand turn. Doing so creates lateral forces on the airboat from both directions at different times causing the back of the airboat to move to the side and slightly forward as well. The airboat rudder disclosed herein increases the amount of lateral force generated on the airboat without increasing the horsepower of the airboat engine, which is highly desirable.

An amphibious multi-terrain water planing vehicle including: a. a hull having a top, a bottom, a front end, a rear end, a first side and a second side; b. at least one track frame, in exemplary embodiments a pair of track frames, mounted to the hull; c. a sole propulsion and water planing device including at least one continuous rotatable track having an outside surface and an inside surface, in exemplary embodiments a pair of continuous rotatable tracks, mounted to the at least one track frame, in exemplary embodiments each of the pair of continuous rotatable tracks mounted to each of the pair of track frames; the at least one continuous rotatable track, in exemplary embodiments the pair of continuous rotatable tracks not vertically adjustable relative to the hull wherein the vehicle when transitioning from land to water and vice versa requiring no modification, and wherein the vehicle is able to plane on water from a stand still position.