Patent · US Expired

Amphibious walking vehicle

US4218988A · kind A · utility

2Cited by
4References
10Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 1, 1978
Grant dateAug 26, 1980
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 1, 1998

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB62D57/00
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An amphibious walking vehicle having a mobile and stable structure which moves at a constant speed whether the vehicle is on land or on water. In the water the vehicle floats and is driven by a conventional propeller system. However, when on land the vehicle moves on pontoons which are successively moved ahead while the decks and superstructures which carry the payload are shifted from the stationary pontoon. The decks rest on an inboard or center pontoon and a pair of independent outboard pontoons which are connected to operate together. The amphibious walking transporter has a gear drive system which sequentially moves the center or inboard pontoon ahead while the outboard pontoons are stationary while carrying the payload, and vice versa. Each pontoon is successively moved by a gear system, including a sequential half-gear system and gear racks in combination with an ovate chain drive connected to a motor or engine through a chain drive floating shaft and rocker arms. A conventional dual propeller system is geared to the engine for amphibious use of the transporter.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.