Amphibious vehicle drive train

Abstract

A drive train for an amphibious vehicle provided with a propellor disengaging mechanism aft of the transfer case, thus allowing the output drive shafts to be continuously driven at all times. The drive train includes a motor attached to a transmission which is attached to a transfer case. The attachments are accomplished by rotatably coupled drive shafts. The drive train transfers rotational movement from the motor to the transmission, then to a transfer case where it is output to the various drive shafts enabling the vehicle to be propelled on land and in water.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A drive train for an amphibious vehicle having wheels capable of propelling the vehicle on land and a propeller capable of propelling the vehicle in water, the drive train comprising: 
 a motor providing a rotary output;    a transfer case selectively rotatably coupled with the motor and having at least one wheel drive output and a propeller drive output, wherein the propellor drive output is driven directly from inside the transfer case; and    an engaging mechanism coupled with the motor and selectively movable by a vehicle operator between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein the motor rotates the propeller when the engaging mechanism is in the engaged position and wherein the motor does not rotate the propeller when the engaging mechanism is in the disengaged position.    
     
     
         2 . The drive train of  claim 1 , wherein the engaging mechanism is located outside the transfer case.  
     
     
         3 . The drive train of  claim 2 , wherein the engaging mechanism is located between the transfer case and the propeller.  
     
     
         4 . The drive train of  claim 3 , further including a first drive shaft intermediate and coupled with the motor and the transfer case, a second drive shaft intermediate and coupled with the propeller drive output and the engaging mechanism and a propellor drive shaft extending from the engaging mechanism for selectively rotating or not rotating the propellor.  
     
     
         5 . The drive train of  claim 4 , wherein the propellor drive output from the transfer case is continuously rotating when the first drive shaft is rotating.  
     
     
         6 . The drive train of  claim 5 , further including a transmission coupled with the motor intermediate the motor and the transfer case, wherein the first drive shaft is intermediate and coupled with the transmission and the transfer case and wherein the transmission is operable by the vehicle operator to selectively couple and uncouple the first drive shaft with the rotary output of the motor.  
     
     
         7 . The drive train of  claim 6 , further including a third drive shaft intermediate and coupled with the motor and the transmission, whereby the transmission is spaced apart from the motor via the third drive shaft.  
     
     
         8 . The drive train of  claim 1 , further including a third drive output from the transfer case for driving a second set of wheels.  
     
     
         9 . The drive train of  claim 1 , further including a speed increasing gear box having a rotary output which is faster than a rotary input, wherein the gear box is intermediate the transfer case and the propellor.  
     
     
         10 . A drive train for an amphibious vehicle having wheels capable of propelling the vehicle on land and a propellor capable of propelling the vehicle in water, the drive train comprising: 
 a motor;    a first drive shaft coupled with the motor;    a transfer case coupled with the first drive shaft opposite the motor and having at least one wheel drive output and a propellor drive output, wherein the propellor drive output is driven directly from within the transfer case and wherein the first drive shaft provides a drive input to the transfer case; and    an engaging mechanism located between the transfer case and the propellor, the engaging mechanism allowing a vehicle operator to selectively engage and disengage the propellor from the propellor drive output.    
     
     
         11 . The drive train of  claim 10 , wherein the first drive shaft is selectively coupled with the motor via a transmission.  
     
     
         12 . The drive train of  claim 11 , wherein the wheel drive output and the propellor drive output rotate when the first drive shaft rotates.  
     
     
         13 . The drive train of  claim 12 , wherein the transfer case further includes a second wheel drive output.  
     
     
         14 . The drive train of  claim 10 , further including a second drive shaft intermediate and coupled with the propellor drive output and the engaging mechanism, wherein the first drive shaft is selectively coupled with the motor via a transmission.  
     
     
         15 . The drive train of  claim 14 , wherein the transmission is selectively coupled with the motor via a third drive shaft, whereby the transmission is spaced apart from the motor via the third drive shaft.  
     
     
         16 . A drive train for an amphibious vehicle having wheels capable of propelling the vehicle on land and a propellor capable of propelling the vehicle in water, the drive train comprising: 
 a motor;    a first drive shaft coupled on one end with the motor;    a transmission coupled with an end of the first drive shaft opposite the motor;    a second drive shaft coupled on one end with the transmission;    a transfer case coupled with an end of the second drive shaft opposite the transmission and having at least one wheel drive output and a propellor drive output;    a third drive shaft coupled on one end with the propellor drive output of the transfer case for rotating the propellor; and    an engaging mechanism located between the transmission and the propellor, the engaging mechanism allowing a vehicle operator to selectively engage and disengage the propellor from the motor.    
     
     
         17 . The drive train of  claim 16 , wherein the propellor drive output is driven directly from within the transfer case and wherein the second drive shaft provides a drive input to the transfer case.  
     
     
         18 . The drive train of  claim 16 , wherein the engaging mechanism allows a vehicle operator to selectively engage and disengage the propellor from the propellor drive output.  
     
     
         19 . The drive train of  claim 16 , wherein the engaging mechanism is located between the transfer case and the propellor.  
     
     
         20 . The drive train of  claim 16 , further including a speed increasing gear box having a rotary output which is faster than a rotary input, wherein the gear box is intermediate the transfer case and the propellor.