TECHNICAL FIELD:

This utility model relates in general to an amphibious vehicle capable of travel on land and water, and more particularly to an amphibious vehicle in which a conventional automotive transaxle drive arrangement is adapted to drive at least one pair of road wheels and a marine propulsion means.

BACKGROUND OF THE UTILITY MODEL:

In the Philippines, several means of transportation have been used due to the mountainous terrain and the scattered geography of the islands. Trains, buses, jeepneys, taxis, and motorized tricycles are commonly available in major cities and towns.

The jeepney is a widely used means of public transportation in the country nowadays. It started right after World War II when the American troops sold and given surplus military jeeps to the local Filipinos. They pimped the jeeps to accommodate several passengers, added metal roofs and decorated the vehicle with vibrant colors. Since then, it had evolved in many forms, shapes and sizes.

Scooters and Motorized tricycles or more commonly known as auto rickshaws are also used for public transport that easily fit narrow streets in barangays and in small towns and in many countries in the world. Also known as a three-wheeler, Samosa, tempo, tuk-tuk, trishaw, bajaj, tricycle, mototaxi, or baby taxi in popular parlance, an auto rickshaw is a usually three-wheeled cabin cycle for private use and as a vehicle for hire. It is a motorized version of the traditional pulled rickshaw or cycle rickshaw. Auto rickshaws are an essential form of urban transport in many developing countries, and a form of novelty transport in many Eastern countries.

Currently, there are different variants of a mounted car/cart into a motorcycle, e.g., those with sidecars, and center cars. Sidecars are usually installed at the right side of the motorcycle by means of clips or bolts and can accommodate up to 4 persons.

The center cars, on the other hand, are those where by the motorcycle is mounted at the front center of the two-wheel center car.

In view of the limitation of auto rickshaws, that is, for land use only, there is a need to provide for public, a vehicle that can also travel on water, such as, in rivers, lakes, or even in flooded areas.

Amphibious vehicles are known to have capability of providing transportation either in water or on land. Useful in areas with many bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, swamps, and the like. An amphibious vehicle allows its operator to travel across land and, upon reaching the edge of a body of water, proceed into the water and continue on. This kind of vehicle will be very useful particularly in flood prone area in a country. SUMMARY OF THE UTILITY MODEL:

The primary object of the present utility model therefore is to provide an amphibious wheeled vehicle that is capable to travel on land and in water. Another object of this the present utility model is to provide an amphibious wheeled vehicle having engine that propels said vehicle in land and in water.

Still an object of this utility model is to provide an amphibious wheeled vehicle wherein said engine is engage with a transmission that is connected to the drive shaft of the wheels.

Yet, an object of this utility model is to provide an amphibious wheeled vehicle wherein a transfer gear is connected to said transmission to divert the power from drive shaft to the propeller.

Another object of this utility model is to provide an amphibious wheeled vehicle having a water sealed fiberglass body can travel on the road and can continue it course even on flooded area.

These and other objects and advantages will come to view and be understood upon a reading of the detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the amphibious wheeled vehicle according to the present utility model;

Figure 2 is a rear left perspective view with body in dotted lines to show the engine and drive assembly thereof;

Figure 3 is a rear right perspective view with body in dotted lines to show the engine and drive assembly; Figure 4 is a left side view with body in dotted lines to show the engine and drive assembly;

Figure 5 is a right side view with body in dotted lines to show the engine and drive assembly; and

Figure 6 is bottom rear perspective view showing a clear construction of relevant parts thereof.

With reference to the several views of the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate same parts throughout, the present utility model for an amphibious wheeled vehicle is generally designated a reference numeral 10.

Said amphibious wheeled vehicle 10 comprises a unitary fiberglass vehicle body 11 , being provided with a pair of opposing drive rear wheels 12 rotatably supporting the center of gravity of said vehicle body 11 , at least one front wheel 13 coupled to a maneuverable means (not shown) inside said vehicle body 1 1 , a prime mover 14 disposed at the rear inside portion of said vehicle body 1 1 , a transmission assembly 15 being driven by said prime mover 14 through a pair of opposing chain and sprocket drive combinations 16a and 16b, a drive assembly 17 engaged with said transmission assembly 15 and is connected to a differential gear box 18, a pair of opposing axles 19, 19a outwardly connecting said differential gear box 18 to said drive rear wheels 12. As shown in the drawing, the transmission assembly 15 is also provided with a transfer chain drive 20 that is connected to a transfer gear box 21. A propeller shaft 22 protrudes from said transfer gear box 21 and extends rearwardly therefrom and is fixedly connected at the end portion thereof with a propeller 23 which makes the amphibious vehicle 10 runs on water.

Said prime mover 14 can actually be an internal combustion engine or an electric motor.

The vehicle body 1 1 is defined by a hull member 24, roof 25 being supported by vertical members 26, a front opening 27 adapted to accommodate a wind shield "W", a pair of side openings 28, and a rear window 29 provided thereof.

One of the pair of opposing chain and sprocket drive combination 16a is defined by a head sprocket 30 and a tail sprocket 30a being rotatably driven by a drive chain 31. Said head sprocket 30 is rotatably connected to a head shaft 32 which protrudes outwardly from said prime mover 14. The tail sprocket 30a, on the other hand, is coupled to one end of an intermediate shaft 33 that is rotatably supported by bearing means (not shown) which is in turn is secured to said vehicle body 1 1. The opposing end of said intermediate shaft 33 is connected with an intermediate sprocket 34 which is engaged with an input sprocket 35 by means of a transmission chain 37. Said input sprocket 35 is keyed to an input shaft 36 that drives the transmission assembly 15.

The drive assembly 17 consists of drive sprocket 38 keyed to the output shaft 38a a protruding outwardly from said transmission assembly 15 and a driven sprocket 39 being rotatably connected by said drive sprocket 38 through a drive chain 40 provided therefore. Said driven sprocket 39 is connected to said differential gear box 18 which in turn is connected with the opposing axles 19, 19a of said drive rear wheels 12.

To activate the propeller shaft 22 and the propeller 23 when the amphibious vehicle 10 is on water, the power in said transmission assembly 15 is transferred to the transfer gear box 21. Said transmission assembly 15 is provided with a protruding transfer shaft 41 where said transfer chain drive 20 is connected. Said transfer chain drive 20 is defined by a transfer drive sprocket 42 keyed to said protruding transfer shaft 41 and engaged with a transfer driven sprocket 43 through a transfer chain 42a. Said transfer driven sprocket 43 connected to a transfer input shaft 44 of said transfer gear box 21. As can be seen from the drawings, said transfer gear box 21 is provided with a propeller shaft 22 that extends rearwardly therefrom and rotatably connected to said propeller 23 which makes the amphibious vehicle 10 runs on water.