Amphibious vehicle

• US 3,905,323 A
• Filed: 10/29/1974
• Issued: 09/16/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph A. Kacere
• Original Assignee: Joseph A. Kacere
• Inventors: Kacere, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blix, Trygve M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): O'Connor, Gregory W.
• Application Number:
  US05/518,281
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• Field of Search: 115/1R,20,19 280/205,206,207,208 180/10,21,79.2B,30,31,42,52
• US Class Current: 114/39.23
• CPC Class Codes: B60F 3/00 Amphibious vehicles, i.e. vehicles capable of travelling both on land and on water; Land vehicles capable of travelling under water buoyant wheels B60B ; equipment forming part of, or attachable to vessels, facilitating transport over land B63C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 1/047 with spherical hull or hull in the shape of a vertical ring freely movable rolling hoops, e.g. gyro wheels for exercising A63B19/02
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 1/38 characterised solely by flotation properties, e.g. drums

Abstract

An amphibious vehicle comprises a frame having two sections pivotally affixed to each other for rotation about a vertical pivotal axis. A first hollow sphere is rotatably mounted in one section of the frame for rotation about a first horizontal axis. A second hollow sphere is mounted in the other section of the frame on a second horizontal axis. A third hollow sphere is rotatably mounted around the second sphere for rotation about the second horizontal axis. A power source in the first sphere rotates the first sphere about the first axis. A control system in the second sphere is coupled to the power source of the first sphere for controlling the power source and pivotal movement of the second and third spheres relative to the first sphere for steering the vehicle.

Claims

1. An amphibious vehicle, comprising a frame having two sections pivotally affixed to each other for rotation about a substantially vertical pivotal axis;

a first hollow sphere rotatably mounted in one section of the frame for rotation about a first substantially horizontal axis;

a second hollow sphere mounted in the other section of the frame on a second substantially horizontal axis;

a third hollow sphere rotatably mounted around the second sphere for rotation about the second horizontal axis;

power means in the first sphere for rotating the first sphere about the first axis; and

control means in the second sphere coupled to the power means of the first sphere for controlling the power means and pivotal movement of the second and third spheres relative to the first sphere for steering the vehicle.

2. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first pair of hollow cylindrical compartments extending in opposite diametrical relation from and opening into the first sphere coaxially with the first axis for access to the first sphere and a second pair of hollow cylindrical compartments extending in opposite diametrical relation from and opening into the second sphere coaxially with the second axis for access to the second sphere, a pair of opposite diametrical holes formed through the third sphere, and the second pair of hollow cylindrical compartments passing through the holes of the third sphere.

3. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a tire type tread diametrically affixed around the third sphere and a tire type rim diametrically affixed around the first sphere.

4. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power means includes an axle coaxial with the first axis, and rotatably mounted in the first sphere, motor means mounted on the axle and coupling means coupling the motor means to the first sphere.

5. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising roller means mounting the third sphere on the second sphere for rotation thereabout around the second axis.