Patent ID: 7530866
Filing Date: 2009-05-12
Classification: B60F,B63B

Abstract:
1. An amphibious vehicle adapted for use on land and on water including: a vehicle body; at least one trim tab, for adjusting the trim of the amphibious vehicle when it is in a marine mode, the at least one trim tab connected to the vehicle body and movable relative to the vehicle body between a retracted position and any one of a range of operational positions; and a control system for controlling the position of the at least one trim tab, the control system including detecting means for detecting at least one mode change event and tab actuation means for moving the at least one trim tab relative to the vehicle body, the control system being adapted to automatically move the at least one trim tab either into the retracted position or into any one of a range of operational positions according to the mode change event detected, wherein the mode change event, detectable by the detecting means, is a first mode change event indicative of an onset of transition into a marine mode from a terrestrial mode and the control system is adapted to move the at least one tab into one of a range of operational positions on detection of the said first mode change event wherein the detecting means are capable of detecting selection of reverse propulsion in a marine mode, and the control system is adapted to automatically move the at least one trim tab into the retracted position on detection of the selection of reverse propulsion; and wherein the detecting means are capable of detecting a selection of forward propulsion when the vehicle is moving in the reverse direction in a marine mode, and the control system is adapted to automatically move the at least one trim tab into any one of a range of operational positions on the selection of forward propulsion.