Amphibious vehicle

Abstract

Amphibious vehicle has at least one system which is actuated or has its mode of operation changed when the vehicle changes from land mode to water mode or vice versa. The vehicle comprises sensor means which produce an output signal which varies in relation to the proportion of the mass of the vehicle which is buoyantly supported by a body of water. The sensors may sense the position of a wheel relative to the body of the vehicle. This may be achieved by checking the position of a suspension member. The sensor means may comprise a linear sensor or a rotary sensor. The sensor may comprise a potentiometer. Control means may average the output of the sensor over time. Where several sensors are used, control means may process output signals from each sensor to provide an overall output signal. A water presence sensor, such as a thermistor, may be used to provide a second control signal.

1 . An amphibious vehicle adapted for use on land and on water, the vehicle having at least one system which is actuated or has its mode of operation changed when the vehicle changes from a land use mode to a water borne mode or vice versa, characterised in that the vehicle further comprises sensor means adapted such that in use it produces an output signal which varies in relation to the proportion of the mass of the vehicle which is buoyantly supported by a body of water.  
     
     
         2 . An amphibious vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the sensor means comprises at least one sensor adapted to sense the position of a wheel of the vehicle relative to the body of the vehicle.  
     
     
         3 . An amphibious vehicle according to  claim 2 , in which the wheel is mounted to the vehicle body by a suspension assembly and the at least one sensor is adapted to sense the position of a component of the suspension assembly relative to the vehicle body.  
     
     
         4 . An amphibious vehicle according to  claim 3 , in which the at least one sensor comprises a linear sensor connected between a component of the suspension assembly and the vehicle body.  
     
     
         5 . An amphibious vehicle according to  claim 3 , in which the at least one sensor comprises a rotary sensor connected between the suspension component and a point about which the component pivots as the wheel moves relative to the vehicle body.  
     
     
         6 . An amphibious vehicle according to  claim 4  in which the at least one sensor means comprises a potentiometer, whose output signal is related to sensor travel.  
     
     
         7 . An amphibious vehicle according to any  claim 2  in which the sensor means comprises control means adapted to average the output signal of the at least one sensor over time.  
     
     
         8 . An amphibious vehicle according to  claim 2  in which the sensor means comprises at least two sensors, each sensor being adapted to provide an output signal representative of the position of a respective wheel of the vehicle relative to the body of the vehicle, and control means adapted to process the output signals of each of the sensors to provide an overall output signal indicative of the proportion of the mass of vehicle which is buoyantly supported by a body of water.  
     
     
         9 . An amphibious vehicle according to  claim 8 , in which control software is used to analyse signals from different sensors and to determine acceptable mismatch situations.  
     
     
         10 . An amphibious vehicle according to  claim 9 , in which the control software is fault tolerant.  
     
     
         11 . An amphibious vehicle according to  claim 1  in which the vehicle further comprises control means adapted to activate or to change the mode of use of the at least one system in response to the output signal of the sensor means.  
     
     
         12 . An amphibious vehicle having a body, and a plurality of wheels, each wheel being connected to the body of the vehicle by a respective suspension assembly so as to be movable relative to the vehicle body, characterised in that the vehicle further comprises at least one sensor, the or each sensor being adapted to monitor the position of a corresponding wheel relative to the vehicle body and to produce an output signal which varies in relation to the position of the wheel relative to the vehicle body, and a control adapted to process the or each sensor output signal such that, in use, the control provides an overall output signal which varies in relation to proportion of the mass of the vehicle which is buoyantly supported by a body of water in which the vehicle is operating.  
     
     
         13 . An amphibious vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , in which a system of the vehicle is actuated or has its mode of use change only when the output signal indicates that substantially 100% of the vehicle's mass is buoyantly supported.  
     
     
         14 . An amphibious vehicle having a body, and a plurality of wheels, each wheel being connected to the body of the vehicle by a respective suspension assembly so as to be movable relative to the vehicle body, characterised in that the vehicle further comprises at least one sensor adapted to produce an output signal which varies in relation to the load supported by a respective wheel and its associated suspension assembly as the vehicle enters a body of water.  
     
     
         15 . An amphibious vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the output signal comprises a primary output signal and the vehicle comprises a further sensor means for producing a secondary output signal indicative that the vehicle is in water.  
     
     
         16 . An amphibious vehicle as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising a control system adapted to monitor the primary and secondary output signals and to actuate, or change the mode of use of, a system of the vehicle when both the primary and secondary output signals indicate that the vehicle is afloat.  
     
     
         17 . An amphibious vehicle as claimed in  claim 15  in which the further sensor means comprises a water presence detector.  
     
     
         18 . An amphibious vehicle as claimed in  claim 17 , in which the water presence detector comprises a thermistor.  
     
     
         19 . (canceled)