Amphibious transport system

An amphibious transport apparatus includes forward and aft ends, a pair of spaced apart pontoons including tracks, and a transversely extending structure, which can include a platform, that spans between the pontoons and connects the pontoons together. The amphibious transport apparatus further includes a sled vessel that can be used to transport materials or personnel. The sled can be releasably attached to the amphibious transport apparatus with tow bar and a pivotal connection. Said tow bar can be rotatable between an upper storage position wherein the tow bar engages the vessel away from said pivotal connection and above a terrain surface, and a lower towing position. A towing position of said amphibious craft and sled can be defined by the sled connected to the amphibious craft at the releasable pivotal connection, with the amphibious craft being self propelled with said tracks for engaging the underlying terrain and with the sled in the lower towing position so that the sled bottom drags along on the underlying terrain during movement of the amphibious transport apparatus and sled. A trailer for loading and unloading the sled can also be provided. The amphibious craft can push the sled onto the trailer during loading.

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REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for transporting personnel and/or equipment in a marsh or swamp environment using an amphibious tow vehicle and a sled of improved configuration. In one embodiment, the method of the present invention enables loading and unloading of the sled from a trailer, wherein the amphibious track vehicle can be used as part of the method during loading and/or unloading of the sled to the trailer or transport vehicle. In one embodiment, the present invention includes an amphibious vehicle, sled and transport trailer.

2. General Background of the Invention

Amphibious marsh craft are commercially available and have been in use for transporting personnel and equipment to remote aquatic locations such as in marshy areas or in swamps, or in areas that are prone to flooding. Examples of such track amphibious vehicles can be seen for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,433,634; 4,961,395; and 5,899,164, naming inventor John B. Coast. Each of the above discussed patents are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

A problem that exists with such amphibious craft is that they have very little storage space for the placement of equipment or materials thereon. These vehicles are limited in square footage that can be used for cargo because the pontoons of the vehicles have tracks that move around the pontoons. The track area is thus not suitable for placement of articles or personnel to be transported. Such amphibious track vehicles have only limited suitability for operations of tasks such as sandblasting, painting, or the like, because the platforms are elevated above and located in between the pontoons and tracks. Because these amphibious craft float on pontoons, they require some elevation for the operator's platform to be above the water surface. Too much weight could submerge the operator's station or engine or controls or other components.

The amphibious track vehicle is able to tow a sled even when crossing a body of water, such as a lake or river. When crossing a lake or river, if too much weight is loaded onto the amphibious vehicle, the vehicle becomes inefficient. The amphibious craft has two pontoons and if the craft is needed to carry too much weight, the craft is inefficient in water. The amphibious vehicle/craft has a maximum load carrying capacity of about 2,000 pounds.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus and method of the present invention solves the problems confronted in the art in a simple and straightforward manner. What is provided is an amphibious transport apparatus and method that includes a trailer in the form of a sled. In some embodiments an amphibious transport apparatus includes both a sled and a trailer for the sled. The amphibious craft preferably has forward and aft ends, a pair of spaced apart pontoons, and a transversely extending structure that spans between the pontoons and connects the pontoons together. The transversely extending structure can include a platform having a user's control station and a transom in front of the aft end of said amphibious craft.

A sled vessel can preferably releasably attach to the amphibious transport apparatus. The sled vessel preferably has a bottom, side walls extending up from the bottom, forward and aft rakes, and a tow bar pivotally attached to the vessel at one of the rakes, wherein a releasable connection, e.g., a pivotal connection, can enable the tow bar to releasably attach to the amphibious craft at said transom. In one embodiment, a movable ramp can be opened or closed at a rake.

The releasable connection can include a first connecting part on the amphibious craft and a second connecting part on the tow bar. The tow bar can be rotatable between an upper storage position wherein the tow bar engages the vessel away from the pivotal connection and a lower towing position.

A towing position of the amphibious craft and sled can be defined by the sled connected to the amphibious craft with first and second connecting parts, the amphibious craft preferably being self propelled with the tracks engaging the underlying terrain and with the sled bottom dragging on the underlying terrain during movement together of the amphibious craft and sled.

In one embodiment, in the lower towing position the second connector portion is preferably above the sled vessel bottom.

In one embodiment, the sled vessel has a length and the rakes have a combined length that is preferably about half the length of the sled vessel.

In one embodiment, the tow bar preferably attaches to the amphibious craft at a position in between the pontoons.

In one embodiment, the sled bottom is preferably lined with a polymeric layer of material.

In one embodiment, the sled bottom and part of the rakes are preferably lined with a layer of polymeric material.

In one embodiment, at least a part of the sides of the sled are preferably lined with a layer of polymeric material.

In one embodiment, at least part of the bottom and at least part of the rakes is preferably covered with a layer of polymeric material.

In one embodiment, the amphibious craft has a length and the sled has a length that is preferably greater than the length of the amphibious craft.

In one embodiment, the amphibious craft has a towing capacity and the sled when connected to the amphibious craft with the first and second connectors preferably generates a drag on the amphibious craft that is less than half of the towing capacity.

In one embodiment, the amphibious craft has a towing capacity and the sled when connected to amphibious craft with said first and second connectors preferably generates a drag on the amphibious craft that is less than twenty five percent of said towing capacity.

In one embodiment, the amphibious craft has a towing capacity and the sled when connected to the amphibious craft with the first and second connectors preferably generates a drag on the amphibious craft that is less than ten percent of said towing capacity.

In one embodiment, the amphibious craft has forward and reverse mobility and wherein the amphibious craft preferably pushes the sled when in reverse, as part of the method.

In one embodiment, the amphibious craft and sled are so configured in the connected position that the amphibious craft is preferably able to push the sled into a body of water wherein the amphibious craft is above the sled is in a higher position on land while the sled bottom is in a lower position on a water surface of said body of water.

In one embodiment, the amphibious craft and sled are so configured in the connected position that the amphibious craft is preferably able to push the sled upwardly and upon the bed of an inclined trailer wherein the amphibious craft is below the sled bottom, engaging an underlying terrain (the earth) while the sled bottom is at a higher position engaging the bed of the inclined trailer.

In one embodiment, the amphibious craft and sled are so configured in the connected position that the amphibious craft is preferably able to push the sled upwardly and upon the bed of an inclined trailer wherein the amphibious craft is below the sled on an underlying terrain (earth's surface) while the sled is in a higher position resting or sliding on the bed of the inclined trailer. In an embodiment of the method, a method of transporting personnel and or equipment to a remote locale that includes marsh, wetland and/or water, comprises the steps of:

a) providing an amphibious craft having a pair of forward and aft ends, spaced apart pontoons, a transverse platform that spaces the pontoons apart with an operator's control station provided on the platform and the platform having a transom in front of said aft end, endless tracks around each pontoon and a drive system that drives the tracks relative to the pontoon, said drive system enabling the craft to travel in forward or reverse directions;

b) providing a sled having a bottom, side walls, forward and aft rakes and a cargo deck that has an area greater than the area of said platform;

c) connecting the sled to the amphibious craft with a tow bar that is pivotally attached to the sled and pivotally attached to the transom of the amphibious craft to define a connected position;

d) selectively pulling or pushing the sled with amphibious craft when in said connected position;

e) wherein the connected position is so configured that the sled can be pushed when the sled bottom is selectively either above the amphibious craft or below the amphibious craft; and

f) filling the sled cargo deck with personnel and/or equipment to be transported.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises the step of providing a trailer having a bed that is preferably movable between an inclined loading position and a travel position, wherein in step “e” the trailer bed is in the inclined loading position and further comprising the step of the amphibious craft pushing the sled upon the bed.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises placing a layer of polymer on the bottom of the sled.

In one embodiment of the method, in step “c” the tow bar can be pivoted above the top of the sled.

In one embodiment of the method, in step “c” the tow bar can be pivoted below the bottom of the sled.

In one embodiment of the method, in step “c” the tow bar connector is preferably a universal joint.

In one embodiment, the amphibious craft can have a maximum load carrying capacity of about 2,000 pounds.

In one embodiment, the sled vessel can have a load carrying capacity of about 2,000-5,000 pounds.

In one embodiment, the sled vessel preferably has a load carrying capacity of about 3,500 pounds.

In one embodiment, the sled vessel can have a greater length than the length of the amphibious craft.

In one embodiment, a load carrying capacity of the sled vessel is preferably greater than a load carrying capacity of the amphibious craft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-20show a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral10. Amphibious transport system10employs an amphibious vehicle11which can be a tow vehicle in one embodiment of a method of the present invention. The amphibious vehicle (designated generally by the numeral11in the drawings) can be a double pontoon tracked vehicle. Such amphibious tow vehicles are known such as can be seen and described in the above listed John B. Coast patents, each hereby incorporated herein by reference. In general, such amphibious vehicles11have spaced apart pontoons12,13. Each pontoon12,13typically is fitted with an endless belt or track14. A transverse, elevated platform15as shown inFIG. 2connects to the pontoons12,13and spaces them apart. The transverse platform15can have an operators station16or cabin, an engine, and hydraulic components (seeFIGS. 1-2).

In a preferred embodiment, a connecting part/ball/hitch17is provided at the aft or stern end portion of amphibious vehicle11(seeFIG. 3). As shown inFIGS. 1-13for example, a sled or load carrying buoyant hull20of improved configuration is provided. The sled20has a bottom21that can include a central, generally flat section22. The bottom21also can include forward rake23and aft rake24. The sled20has sidewalls25,26, forward edge55and an interior27that can be used to contain personnel and/or equipment to be transported. The interior27preferably has a floor18that can be used as a work platform for holding equipment, supplies, or personnel. Sled20can be of welded metal (e.g., aluminum) construction. Personnel can walk upon floor18when accessing equipment or performing jobs such as maintenance. Transportable equipment can include, for example: motors, pumps, blasting equipment, tools, pipe, paint, or the like.

Sled20preferably has a tow bar30connected to forward rake23as shown inFIGS. 1-13. Tow bar30can have a connecting part or eyelet31and a universal joint or swivel at32(seeFIGS. 3 and 11 and 19-20). This arrangement of connecting part/eyelet31and universal joint or swivel32enable articulation between the amphibious tow vehicle11and sled20.

The tow bar30has a first arm or strut33and a second arm or strut34. The arms, struts33,34connect to transverse edge35of sled20as shown inFIGS. 5, 7, 11for example. A similar transverse edge36is provided at the aft or stern end of sled20and can be fitted with receiver or hitch60as shown inFIG. 12. Hitch60can be fitted with a commercially available ball, eyelet or other hitch that enables connection to a second sled20wherein amphibious craft11pulls both first and second sleds20, one behind the other. Spaced apart gussets/plates/eyelets37,38can be provided on edge35. A pinned or pivotal connection can be formed between each arm/strut/bar33,34and a gusset or plate or eyelet37,38as shown inFIGS. 5, 11. A pinned connection or pivot39,40can be formed using a locking pin. Such locking pins are commercially available.

Sled20bottom21can be fitted with a polymer layer/layer of material41such as plastic or other low friction material. Such a polymer layer41(seeFIG. 18) can extend from side to side between side walls25,26and forward to aft, extending to and covering forward rake23(at edge35) to and covering and aft rake24(at edge36).

A polymer layer of material, or plastic layer, or layer of low friction material (e.g., UHMW polyurethane or Teflon®) can be provided on side or side wall25as layer42(seeFIGS. 8, 16-17). Similarly, side or side wall26can provide layer of material at43which can be a polymer layer, plastic layer or layer of low friction material (seeFIGS. 4, and 6, 10-11). Fasteners such as screws or other threaded fasteners can be used to secure the layers41,42,43to the sled20. Sled20can thus slide upon layer41. Each of the sides or side walls25,26can be fitted with a longitudinal rib or bumper44,45. The side wall25has longitudinal rib or bumper44. The side wall26has longitudinal rib or bumper45. Layers41,42,43can be between about ⅛ and ¾ inches thick.

In the figures, e.g., inFIGS. 9-17, there can be seen a trailer50which can be used to transport sled20. Trailer50preferably has a lowered travel position51and an inclined position or loading position52. Such a trailer50is commercially available, including a trailer bed or platform53with an upper surface54and wherein bed53is preferably movable. Expandable cylinders68(e.g., hydraulic cylinders or pneumatic cylinders or a rack and pinion arrangement) can be used to elevate bed53between an elevated or inclined position52(seeFIGS. 14-16) and a flat or travel position51(seeFIGS. 9, 11, 17).

The tow bar30can be stored in an upper, storage or transport position49using a gusset, plate or padeye56and locking pin57as shown inFIGS. 5, 11. Another gusset or plate or padeye58is spaced from the gusset/plate/padeye56and can be used to lock the bar30in an upper position49with locking pin59. Each of the bar arms33,34has a gusset/plate/padeye61,62as shown. In order to secure the tow bar30in an upper, transport position49, a user can place a locking pin57or59through gusset plate or padeye56or58and through the gusset or plate or padeye61or62on the tow bar30(seeFIGS. 5, 11). This transport position49of the tow bar30can be seen inFIG. 5.

FIGS. 14-17 and 19-20illustrate a loading of sled20upon trailer50and more particularly upon a trailer50bed or platform53having upper surface54. InFIG. 14, the amphibious vehicle11is shown connected to sled20. Trailer50has been placed in the loading or inclined position52. InFIG. 15-17, the amphibious vehicle11has pushed sled20so that the bottom21of sled20engages upper surface54of trailer bed or platform53.

Notice inFIG. 19that the tow bar30forms an acute angle69with a horizontal plane71. InFIG. 19, tow bar30is lower at its attachments to sled20at pivots39,40and higher at its attachment to vehicle11at hitch17. In this position, if a horizontal plane is defined as zero degrees, tow bar30forms an angle with horizontal of between about −10 and −60 degrees (seeFIG. 19). InFIG. 19, the sled20and vehicle11are both resting on the earth's surface72. InFIGS. 14-17, as the amphibious vehicle11moves toward trailer50, the tow bar30forms an increasingly larger acute angle with horizontal, beginning with an initial angle69of about −10 to −60 degrees to a final angle70of about 20-60 degrees (seeFIG. 20). The sled20forms an acute angle of about 20-60 degrees with a horizontal plane71once the sled is positioned upon the trailer50bed53and the trailer50moved to the travel position51(FIGS. 17 and 20) and wherein the amphibious vehicle11remains upon the surface of the earth at72or like underlying surface (seeFIGS. 17 and 20).

The sled20is pushed by vehicle11onto the trailer50bed53while bed53is in inclined position52. The bed53can then be lowered toward the travel position51and preferably when the tow bar30is connected to the sled20(seeFIGS. 17 and 20), thus preventing the sled20from sliding off of the trailer50bed53. Once the angle of the trailer bed53with respect to horizontal71has been reduced (see travel position51,FIG. 17), the tow bar30can be disconnected from the sled20using the disconnectable pin connection at39,40. If sled20is mistakenly disconnected from amphibious vehicle11before loading to position52is completed (e.g. theFIG. 16position), the sled20could possibly shift positions or possibly slide relative to the trailer bed30.

In one embodiment, one of the rakes23or24includes a ramp65that is movable between elevated and lowered positions. Ramp65is hinged to sled20at hinge66. Ramp65can be secured in the closed position using closure pins67or other closure device, latch or lock(s). The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention:

PARTS LIST