A high speed actuation system for protracting and retracting a retractable wheel and/or track drive assembly of an amphibian includes an actuator, at least one retractable wheel and/or track drive assembly comprising at least one wheel and/or track drive supported directly or indirectly by a suspension assembly and movable between a protracted and retracted positions, an energy source for providing power to the actuator, and a controller that controls in amount the power provided by the energy source to the actuator such that the time of actuation to retract the at least one retractable wheel and/or track drive assembly from a protracted position to a retracted position, or to protract the at least one retractable wheel and/or track drive assembly from a retracted position to a protracted position, is less than 5 seconds.

A tracked, amphibious vehicle, comprising at least two, spaced, elongated pontoons disposed generally parallel to one another. A platfofin structure can be supported by and structurally connects the pontoons, the platform structure including a transom, a lowermost generally horizontally extending panel above a free clearance area under a bottom panel and between the pontoons through which terrain and debris can pass. A hydraulic drive system can propel the vehicle, said drive system including left and right hydraulic motors mounted on the pontoons. At least one series of longitudinally spaced bogie wheels for supporting said vehicle can be mounted along the bottom of the pontoons. A continuous, endless belt can encircle each pontoon and engages the bogie wheels. Ground-engaging cleats assembled on the outer surface of each belt and covering the pontoon bottom provide traction to the vehicle. Gearing interfaces the motor with the endless belts. A supplemental, marine drive assembly includes: a hydraulic motor having a rotary device, shaft, with an axis, a propeller shaft having an axis wherein the motor axis and propeller axis are aligned, a universal joint connecting the hydraulic motor to the transom, and a housing including a sleeve that contains the propeller shaft, a first vertical plate connected to the sleeve and a second vertical plate connected to the sleeve below the first plate.

Aspects of the present disclosure generally pertain to an amphibious vehicle (or amphibian) that is viable on land as well as on water. Aspects of the present disclosure more specifically are directed toward an amphibious vehicle that employs hydrofoils and other features, for example, for efficient cruising when in water. The amphibious vehicle may be embodied as a personal amphibious vehicle.

A seal connector device (1) for achieving a temporary fluid-tight connection between a rotating shaft (17) rotatably connectable to a structure and said structure, wherein the seal connector device (1) comprises said rotating shaft (17) which defines a rotational axis (S-S); a sealing disc (19) extending radially from said rotating shaft (17); at least one first cylinder-piston assembly (100) comprising a cylinder (9) and a piston (21) slidable into said cylinder (9), said piston (21) having a sealing surface (22) facing the sealing disc (19), and the sealing disc (19) having a sealing counter-surface (34) facing the sealing surface (2), said sealing surface (22) being suitable for abutting against said sealing disc (19); said piston (21) being configured to be selectively operated between: a sealing position in which the sealing surface (22) of the piston (21) is at a minimum distance or in contact with the seal ing counter-surface (34) of the disc (19), in order to achieve a temporary fluid-tight connection between the rotating shaft (17) and the structure, preventing a fluid to flow between the sealing surface (22) of the piston (21) and the sealing counter-surface of the disc (19); and a non-sealing position, in which the sealing surface (22) is moved away from the sealing counter-surface (34) of the disc (19) whereby a fluidic seal is absent between the rotating shaft (17) and the structure.

The present invention relates to an amphibious vehicle comprising a vehicle frame and a cab supported by said vehicle frame, said cab being connected to said vehicle frame via hinge means so as to allow tilting of said cab about said hinge means between a closed position and an open position, wherein said vehicle comprises a sealing arrangement comprising sealing means arranged to provide liquid tight sealing between the cab and the vehicle frame in said closed position, wherein in the closed position, the sealing arrangement is arranged to provide a confined space for protecting components of said vehicle enclosed inside said space.

A vehicle includes, an engine including a crankshaft, a crankcase which is configured to accommodate the crankshaft therein, and a centrifugal clutch which is arranged coaxially with the crankshaft, and a propeller shaft to which rotational power output from the engine and changed in speed is transmitted, the propeller shaft passing through the crankcase and intersecting the crankshaft in plan view, at least a part of the propeller shaft being located between the centrifugal clutch and a support wall portion of the crankcase configured to support the crankshaft and above a lower end of the centrifugal clutch.

The present invention provides, with reference to FIG. 1, 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. 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.

Method and apparatus for a floatable and collapsible cart having a storage compartment formed by a framed assembly with waterproof material mounted thereon. Floatation material is disposed in the bottom of the storage compartment and front and rear ground contacting wheels are provided below and in line with the opposite sides of the storage compartment which may be converted between a folded position and an unfolded position. Objects may be loaded into the storage compartment and pulled by a user on the surface of the water between a boat and the seashore and then rolled along the seashore. A pull cord is provided for pulling the wagon.

An amphibian (1) for use on land and water, comprising: a hull having a planing surface (2), and at least one retractable suspension apparatus (4) movable from a vehicle supporting position to a retracted position, comprising for each wheel (5), upper and lower suspension arms (8, 9) that are pivotably connected at inboard ends to a support structure within the hull; and are pivotably connected at outboard ends to a suspension upright (7). Upright (7) extends from a first, upper connection past a second, lower connection to a location (10) for a wheel hub mounting. The suspension upright when deployed in land use extends externally of the hull across a side face (2A) of the planing surface; while lower suspension arm (9) remains above the top of planing surface (2) throughout use of the amphibian on land. This suspension arrangement allows the hull to have no cutouts in its planing surface.

A tracked, amphibious vehicle, comprising at least two, spaced, elongated pontoons disposed generally parallel to one another. A platform structure can be supported by and structurally connects the pontoons, the platform structure including a transom, a lowermost generally horizontally extending panel above a free clearance area under a bottom panel and between the pontoons through which terrain and debris can pass. A hydraulic drive system can propel the vehicle, said drive system including left and right hydraulic motors mounted on the pontoons. At least one series of longitudinally spaced bogie wheels for supporting said vehicle can be mounted along the bottom of the pontoons. A continuous, endless belt can encircle each pontoon and engages the bogie wheels. Ground-engaging cleats assembled on the outer surface of each belt and covering the pontoon bottom provide traction to the vehicle. Gearing interfaces the motor with the endless belts. A supplemental, marine drive assembly includes: a hydraulic motor having a rotary device, shaft, with an axis, a propeller shaft having an axis wherein the motor axis and propeller axis are aligned, a universal joint connecting the hydraulic motor to the transom, and a housing including a sleeve that contains the propeller shaft, a first vertical plate connected to the sleeve and a second vertical plate connected to the sleeve below the first plate.