Amphibious vehicle

Amphibious vehicle having a pedal assembly coupled to propelling devices. On land the vehicle is propelled by at least one wheel driven by the pedals. The wheel has vanes for use in water. Floats keep the vehicle afloat in water. The pedal assembly is adjustable on the vehicle frame to raise them above the water when afloat. In a second embodiment a separate propeller machanism is coupled to the pedal assembly for use in water.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The objective of this invention is an amphibious vehicle provided with the 
structure of a bicycle or motor-cycle. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This amphibious vehicle has some features of its own both in respect of the 
construction and of its handling which provide a fundamental advantage for 
its use in areas of recreation, close to the coast and/or in aquatic zones 
such as rivers, reservoirs, etc. 
As pointed out already, the vehicle has the structure of a bicycle, with a 
front wheel and a back wheel which is fitted with resistant elements 
created by spokes which each have an enlargement, as a minimum at the end 
in the form of a blade in order to effect the partial propulsion of the 
vehicle in the water when pedalled. 
The structure or frame has, in the area of the wheels, laterally protruding 
resistant arms each of which conveniently holds the foldable floats which 
are able to keep the vehicle afloat. 
The rear wheel has four or more propulsion blades. 
The pedal system can be conveniently displaced or fixed in position, 
depending on whether the vehicle is being moved on land or by water. 
According to one solution, the pedal system can be moved and fixed in 
place, according to the use to which the vehicle is to be put. The pedal 
movement system is regulated by a mechanism made up of movable part, in a 
"U" shaped cross section along a flat and lower thickened section of the 
structure in the part which actually locks the pedal in to the vehicle. 
This U-shaped moveable part forms a solid part with the shaft of the pedal, 
the movement of the said part being limited by a series of end stops on 
the thickened section of the chassis. 
The locking system of the said part requires the coupling to the said part 
of a bolt which is introduced through an opening in the thickened section 
so as to fix the position of the pedal according to the vehicle use. 
With this pedal movement mechanism, there must be one or more tensors for 
the chain, which, according to the different positions of the pedals, 
regulate and tighten the chain so as to ensure an optimal operation of the 
vehicle. 
Another solution assembles the pedal shaft in an articulated support, along 
an axis which is parallel to the pedal shaft, to the vehicle structure. 
This support rotates around the shaft by means of an operating control, so 
as to allow the pedals to be raised and lowered in relation to the 
structure of the vehicle. 
The pedal shaft has two parallel plates, one for the transmission chain to 
the drive wheel and the other designed to operate one or more drive 
propellers by means of a second chain. 
Likewise, the mount of the pedal shaft is articulated at one end to the 
vehicle structure, with the said pedal shaft being fitted in the other end 
of the mount, while, at a middle point, the said mount is connected to a 
drive control. 
The mount of the pedal shaft is made up of two parallel plates articulated 
along an intermediate transverse shaft across the vehicle structure. 
Between the said plates there is, joined at one end, a mounting bushing 
for the pedal shaft. 
The propeller mount is fitted so as to be able to rotate on the pedal 
shaft. 
The operating control consists of a nearly vertical rod fitted so as to 
rotate in the vehicle structure. 
The rod has, from its bottom end, a threaded portion which is fitted into a 
threaded hole in the pedal shaft mount. This shaft rises or falls, with 
the pedals and plates, when the rod is turned in one direction or the 
other. 
In the normal position, the propeller or propellers are located below the 
pedal shaft and are fitted in a perpendicular arm connected to the 
propeller mount so that the turning action of the pedals is transmitted to 
the propellers which are placed alongside the rear wheel. 
The propeller support mount is connected to its other, upper, end by a 
lever provided in the structure close to the handlebar, by means of a bar, 
so as to raise or lower the propellers by turning the mounting with the 
lever. 
Each of the floats is connected with the structure of the vehicle by means 
of an upper folding arm, articulated at one end on the float and, at the 
other, on the structure. 
Likewise, the float is connected to the vehicle structure by a lower fixed 
arm, articulated at one end to the float at a point within the 
articulation point of the top arm, and by the other to the vehicle 
structure at a point below the articulation point of the said larger arm. 
As is to be expected, it is possible to add other means of propulsion such 
as a combustion or electric motor, or the fitting at the rear, close to 
the seat, of a rotary part which can join with wind force in the vehicle 
drive.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Vehicle 1 is made up of a structure (2) and two wheels (3 and 4), of which 
the latter has some radial portions (5) like blades which assist directly 
in the propulsion of the vehicle when in the water. 
From each of the chassis of wheels 3 and 4, there emerge one or more 
lateral arms (6) with floats (7) on their ends. 
Each of these arms has an articulation which makes it possible to fold the 
said floats and which holds them in place when a securing element is 
inserted in the holes (8) in the arms. 
The structure of vehicle 1 may include a hinge 9 which makes it possible, 
if necessary, for the chassis to be collapsed and folded. 
Two positions of the pedals (10) are shown in FIG. 1. The lower position 
(11) occurs when the vehicle is running on the road, while the top 
position (12) occurs when the vehicle is in the water. 
The vehicle may have a gear change (13), as well as a case (14) on the 
handlebars (15) and an instrument panel (16). 
The position of the vehicle chain (17) is determined according to the 
position of the plate, although it is also subject to the position of the 
tensors, shown by way of example by the references 18 and 19 of FIG. 4, 
one, no. 18, arranged on the vehicle chassis and close to the rear wheel, 
with no. 19 on the chassis at a point beyond the rear wheel. 
The way of moving the pedal (10) in position is with an element or part 
(20) forming part of some area of the chassis; the bottom of this part is 
flat and, to it is coupled a runner (21) of U-shaped cross section. The 
pedal shaft is part of this runner (21). 
The positioning of the pedal is fixed by way of a bolt (22) which couples 
in a hole (23) in part (20). The pedal assembly is removed in FIGS. 2 and 
4 for the purpose of illustration. 
According to the position of the pedal, the tensors (18) and (19) will be 
in the position required to ensure that the chain is adequately tightened 
and excellent transmission is achieved. 
FIGS. 6 and 8, and in particular the former, show amphibious vehicle 101 
with a structure 102, particularly that of a bicycle, with a front wheel 
103 and a rear wheel 104, and where the bars, 105, are twin and parallel. 
The rear wheel, 104 has some radially placed resistant elements, not shown, 
each of which widens towards its end in the manner of a blade, and which 
are intended for the partial propulsion of the vehicle. 
The pedal shaft, 106, is fitted in a mounting, 107, according to a shaft 
108 parallel to the said pedal shaft, and to the vehicle structure. 
The mounting 107 turns on the shaft 108 by means of an operating control 
109, making it possible to raise and lower the pedals in relation with the 
structure of the vehicle. The pedal shaft is fitted in the end 110 of the 
mount, while, at an intermediate point 111, there is a protruding threaded 
rod 112 attached, which is coupled by a threaded section 113 which serves 
as a nut and which constitutes the actual operating control. 
The mount 107 of the pedal shaft 106 is made up of two parallel plates 114, 
with two parallel discs, 115 and 116, fitted to the said shaft, one for 
the transmission chain 117 of the drive wheel 104, and the other for the 
operation by means of a second chain 118 of at least one propeller, 119. 
The propeller or propellers 119 are located under the pedal shaft 106, 
fitted in the ends of an arm, 120 which is perpendicular to the mount 121, 
and connected with it in such a way that the rotation of the pedals is 
transmitted to the propellers which are placed in parallel planes 
alongside the rear wheel. 
The propeller mount 121 is connected by its end, at the top, 122, by a 
lever, 123, on the structure close to the handlebars, by way of a bar 124 
so that, when the lever is operated, the propellers are raised or lowered. 
Each of the wheels has a pair of floats 125, each of which is connected to 
the structure by an upper folding arm 126, articulated at one of its ends 
127 to the float 125, and by the other to the structure. 
The float is also connected with the structure by way of a bottom fixed arm 
129, articulated at its other end 130 to the float, while the other end, 
131, articulates it to the structure. 
FIG. 8 shows in detail the characteristics of the articulation 132 of the 
fold made, as required, in the arm 126, which is made up of two poritons 
133 and 134, male-female, which are connected by a pin or rivet, not 
shown. 
These two portions, 133 and 134, when in the straight position, are 
connected by way of a bush 135 on the outside which is impeded in its 
axial movement in one direction, by the increase in thickness, 136, shown 
on part 133. 
As already pointed out, both the floats and the folding system are shown 
clearly in FIG. 8, with the two positions which can be adopted when each 
of the floats is folded. 
Having thus sufficiently described the nature of the invention, as well as 
its practical design, it must be recorded that the foregoing 
specifications are susceptible of modifications of detail which do not 
affect the fundamental principles.