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Apparatus and method of controlling amphibious vehicle

  • US 10,343,472 B2
  • Filed: 02/17/2017
  • Issued: 07/09/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An amphibious vehicle comprising:

  • an engine configured to generate power;

    a first propeller driven by the engine and configured to generate a propulsion force on land;

    a second propeller driven by the engine and configured to generate a propulsion force on water;

    a power distributor configured to distribute the power from the engine to the first propeller and the second propeller according to a power distribution signal;

    a transmission configured to change a shift ratio of the power distributed to the first propeller according to a transmission control signal and comprising;

    a power branching unit connected to a transmitting shaft connected to the power distributor;

    a hydraulic transmitter including a hydraulic element rotating along with a first shaft being rotated by the power branching unit;

    a mechanical transmitter rotating along with a second shaft being rotated by the power branching unit; and

    a power coupler configured to combine hydraulic power generated by the hydraulic transmitter and mechanical power generated by the mechanical transmitter and configured to output the combined power to a transmission output shaft; and

    a controller configured to apply the power distribution signal to the power distributor and to apply the transmission control signal to the transmission,wherein the controller is configured to execute one of a land mode, in which the power is supplied only to the first propeller to control traveling of the amphibious vehicle on land, a water mode, in which the power is supplied only to the second propeller to control the traveling of the amphibious vehicle on the water, and a transition mode, in which the power is supplied to both the first propeller and the second propeller to control the traveling of the amphibious vehicle in a transition region, andwherein the hydraulic transmitter is configured to generate and transmit a transmission input torque signal to the controller for the controller to determine an overload caused by an obstacle while the amphibious vehicle travels in the water mode or the transition mode.

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