Retractable Lateral Floaters for Amphibious Vehicle Water Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Amphibious vehicles face stability issues on water while being restricted from having an arbitrarily wide body for road travel, posing safety concerns for diverse passenger ages, including young children and old people.

Innovation Solution

The integration of retractable lateral floaters on each side of the vehicle, made from lightweight and buoyant materials, which can be deployed for increased stability on water and retracted for road travel, reducing the vehicle's width to comply with road regulations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the vehicle body is made wider to increase stability on water, then stability on water is improved, but the vehicle cannot comply with road width regulations for land travel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability on waterVSAvoidvehicle width

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the vehicle width adjustable through retractable floaters. The floaters can be extended laterally when on water to increase stability, and retracted when on land to comply with road width regulations. This dynamic adjustment allows the vehicle to optimize its width for different operating environments, resolving the contradiction between water stability and road compliance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the vehicle into a main hull and separate retractable floaters. The floaters are distinct components that can be independently deployed or retracted. This segmentation allows the vehicle to maintain a compact width for road travel while being able to extend its effective width for water stability when needed, thus resolving the contradiction between the two operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If retractable floaters are added to the vehicle, then stability on water is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability on waterVSAvoidvehicle structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retractable floaters serve multiple functions: they provide stability on water when extended, and can be retracted to maintain a compact profile for road travel. The same structural components that provide buoyancy and stability also serve as the retraction mechanism's attachment points. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving improved water stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances safety and stability on water without compromising land travel capabilities, ensuring compliance with road width regulations and providing improved confidence for passengers across age groups.

Implementation Method 1

at least one floater extending laterally from each of a left side and a right side of the hull

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentUS11772439B2Amphibious vehicle with retractable floaters

Publication Date: 2023.10.03 TAILLEFER ROBERT

AI summary

There is provided an amphibious vehicle for use on land and water comprising lateral floaters which increases the stability of the vehicle when in water. While on land, the lateral floaters may be retracted within the body of the vehicle to reduce the width of the vehicle.