U.S. patent application number 09/963140 was filed with the patent office on 2003-03-27 for integrated utility personal vehicle.
Invention is credited to Gong, Shao-Wei.
Application Number | 20030060095 09/963140 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25506799 |
Filed Date | 2003-03-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030060095 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gong, Shao-Wei |
March 27, 2003 |
INTEGRATED UTILITY PERSONAL VEHICLE
Abstract
A utility vehicle integrated a motorcycle and a motorized
watercraft within a hull is presented. It can be set in a
motorcycle status or a motorized watercraft status. The two
statuses of the vehicle shares a driving power source, and a
driving power shifting control system is used to shift the driving
power to either one of the two statuses with rider's choice. A
steering system also is used to control the move directions for
both the motorcycle status and the motorized watercraft status. The
hull of the vehicle is formed by a front hull with a front wheel
cabinet and a rear hull with a rear wheel cabinet, and it is sealed
to make the vehicle buoy on the water surfaces as a motorized
watercraft. The wheels of the vehicle can be pushed out with the
open of the wheel cabinet doors to stand as a conventional
motorcycle, or can be pulled back and hide in the wheel cabinets
with the close of the wheel cabinet doors. Therefore, the vehicle
can be ridden as a typical conventional motorcycle on roads or as a
typical conventional motorized watercraft on water surfaces
Inventors: |
Gong, Shao-Wei; (Cookeville,
TN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Shao-Wei Gong
881 Spring Valley Road
Cookeville
TN
38501
US
|
Family ID: |
25506799 |
Appl. No.: |
09/963140 |
Filed: |
September 24, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
440/12.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60F 3/0007 20130101;
B60F 3/0084 20130101; B60F 3/003 20130101; B63B 34/10 20200201;
B62K 13/00 20130101; B62M 7/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
440/12.5 |
International
Class: |
B63H 001/00 |
Claims
Having presented my invention, I claim:
1. An utility personal vehicle integrating a motorcycle and a
motorized watercraft comprises a hull; at least a front steering
wheel; at least a rear driving wheel; at least a water jet
propeller; at least an internal combustion engine mounted within
said hull; a driving power shifting control system; a steering
system; a braking system; a front wheel extending suspension
support system; a rear wheel extending suspension support system;
whereby the said vehicle can be set in a motorcycle status to run
as a motorcycle on roads or in a motorized watercraft status to run
as a motorized watercraft on water surfaces.
2. The vehicle according to claim 1 within said internal combustion
engine generates driving power and other utility power for both
said motorcycle status and said motorized watercraft status;
3. The vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said hull is formed by
a front hull with a front wheel cabinet and a rear hull with a rear
wheel cabinet, and which is sealed; whereby, the said vehicle can
buoy on water surfaces as a motorized watercraft.
4. The vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said driving power
shifting control system further comprises a motorcycle power
shifting control to transmit the said driving power generated by
said engine to rotate said driving wheel when the said vehicle is
set in the motorcycle status
5. The vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said driving power
shifting control system further comprises a motorized watercraft
power shifting control to transmit the said driving power generated
by said engine to rotate said water jet propeller when the said
vehicle is set in the motorized watercraft status.
6. The vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said steering system
further comprises a motorcycle steering control that controls the
moving directions of the said vehicle in the motorcycle status by
turning said steering wheel.
7. The vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said steering system
further comprises a motorized watercraft steering control that
controls the moving directions of the said vehicle in the motorized
watercraft status.
8. The vehicle according to claims 1 and 7 wherein said steering
system further comprises a motorized watercraft steering which uses
a steering wheel with a rounded rope to turn the steering
nozzles.
9. The vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said front wheel
extending suspension support system can push said front wheel out
to a proper position and allow said front wheel to run as a front
wheel of a motorcycle when the said vehicle is in the motorcycle
status.
10. The vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said front wheel
extending suspension support system can pull said front wheel back
to a proper position and to make the said vehicle to run smoothly
on the water surfaces when the said vehicle is in the motorized
watercraft status.
11. The vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said rear wheel
extending suspension support system can push said rear wheel out to
a proper position and allow said rear wheel to run as a rear wheel
of a motorcycle when the said vehicle is in the motorcycle
status.
12. The vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said rear wheel
extending suspension support system can pull said rear wheel back
to a proper position and to make the said vehicle to run smoothly
on the water surfaces when the said vehicle is in the motorized
watercraft status.
13. The vehicle according to claim 3 within said front wheel
cabinet further comprises a door, which can be opened to let the
said front wheel extending suspension support system push the front
wheel out of the front wheel cabinet and then stand to run as a
front wheel of a motorcycle when the said vehicle is in the
motorcycle status.
14. The vehicle according to claim 3 within said front wheel
cabinet comprises a door which can be closed after the said front
wheel extending suspension support system pull the said front wheel
back in the front wheel cabinet to make the said vehicle to run
smoothly on the water surfaces when the said vehicle is in the
motorized watercraft status.
15. The vehicle according to claim 3 within said rear wheel cabinet
comprises a door which can be opened to let the said rear wheel
extending suspension support system push the rear wheel out of the
rear wheel cabinet and then stand to run as a rear wheel of a
motorcycle when the said vehicle is in the motorcycle status.
16. The vehicle according to claim 3 within said rear wheel cabinet
comprises a door which can be closed after the said rear wheel
extending suspension support system pull the said rear wheel back
in the rear wheel cabinet to make the said vehicle to run smoothly
on the water surfaces when the said vehicle is in the motorized
watercraft status.
17. The vehicle according to claims 13 and 15 within said front
door and rear door further comprise a connection that uses an
elastic rope to achieve the proper degree of the freedom to open
and close the door.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention is related to the personal transport vehicles
that are typically used to ride people to their desired places by
running both on land roads and on water surfaces. It also relates
to the amusement apparatus of motorized watercrafts that are
typically used to ride people on water surfaces for the amusements
of water sports
[0002] It is known that motorcycle is one of the important
transport vehicles on the road. Because of its smaller volume and
lighter weight, it is more fuel economic and space save than
passenger cars. It is also much nimbler and less restriction of
road condition than personal car; therefore, it is popular as the
cross-country utility sports vehicle. Motorized watercraft is a
recently popular transport apparatus on the water surfaces. With
some similar characteristics of motorcycle, it has the name of the
"water motorcycle". It is quite popular as one of the water
amusement utility sports gears. Although the motorcycle and the
motorized watercraft have something in common, they are two totally
different transport equipments in different application categories.
If a motorcycle can possess the capability of motorized watercraft
running on water surfaces and if a motorized watercraft can possess
the capability of motorcycle running on roads, it should be a
useful and attractive development. It is noted that to design a
boat driven by a land vehicle or a land vehicle can run on the
water surface have been recognized for a long time. A number of
inventions comprise the close known prior arts and embodiments,
which have presented a variety of methods to use the power of land
vehicles to propel boats, or adopt some technique of motorcycle in
watercraft design:
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 3,965,843;
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,601;
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,636,176;
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,056;
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,682,832;
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,317;
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,156.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 3,965,843 to Smith presented a device
receiving motive power from a source which may be individuals,
bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles, etc., and which was
particularly used for transportation over water.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,601 to Yoo presented a boat to
temporarily carry a vehicle, and said vehicle was arranged to drive
a propeller shaft of the boat.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 4,636,176 to Capilla presented a boat
propelled by a motorcycle, which had a portable ramp to get the
motorcycle on and off.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,056 to Patino presented a motorcycle
propelled boat, which was particularly designed to mount a
motorcycle and to use a drive belt of special designed rear potion
of boat that underneath the rear wheel of motorcycle to receive the
driving power from said motorcycle.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 5,682,832 to Millard presented a floatation
device for snowmobiles for the safety of emergency of breaking
through the ice when traveling on a frozen body of water.
[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,317 to Pereira presented a hydro ski
watercraft that had a motorcycle suspension. The said suspension
made the watercraft safer to ride over rough and choppy water at a
high speed.
[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,156 Radke, et al. presented a snowmobile
powered watercraft that had a pair of forward pontoons mounted to
the front suspension in place of conventional skis and a U-shaped
rear pontoon mounted to the aft portion of the snowmobile body.
[0017] With the investigation, it shows that there are no such
apparatuses in prior arts and existing product inventories, which
have integrated the general advantages of the two different
transport technologies of motorcycle and motorized watercraft. The
aforesaid related inventions do not integrate the characteristics
and functions of the two different transport technologies of
motorcycle and motorized watercraft together into one vehicle. The
design methodologies of aforesaid related inventions are not to
develop an integrated transport vehicle based on when it runs on
water surfaces it is a typical conventional motorized watercraft.
The design methodologies of aforesaid related inventions are not to
develop an integrated transport vehicle based on when it runs on
roads it is a typical conventional motorcycle. The aforesaid
related inventions do not integrate the two different physical
embodiments of motorcycle and motorized watercraft into one
physical embodiment; thus, they must be separated to run on roads
or on water surfaces. It is therefore an object of this invention
to develop an apparatus to possess the integrated advantages of a
motorcycle and a motorized watercraft, and at the same time, to
keep the individual characteristics of the two transport vehicles
when it is used differently on roads and on water surfaces as a
motorcycle or a motorized watercraft.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] In this invention, a new personal transport vehicle is
developed based on the integration of the technologies of
motorcycle and motorized watercraft. It is characterized by
providing some significant features of development with the
adoptions and promotions of the advantages of both the motorcycle
and the motorized watercraft. In general, the invention is to ride
people to desired place over land roads or over water surfaces, and
to provide people an amusement utility sports gear.
[0019] One of the features is to provide an apparatus that
integrates a motorcycle and a motorized watercraft. The integrated
structure can be shifted into a motorcycle status or a motorized
watercraft status with the rider's choice to run as a motorcycle on
roads, or to run as a motorized watercraft on water surfaces. When
it runs, the motorcycle status and the motorized watercraft status
are never interfered each another. When one of the two statuses is
in working status, the other is disconnected.
[0020] One of the features is to provide a structure of hull that
integrates the basic structure of a motorcycle and the basic
structure of a motorized watercraft. The integrated structure can
be shifted into a motorcycle status or a motorized watercraft
status with the rider's choice.
[0021] Another feature is to provide a mechanical system that
integrates the mechanical system of a motorcycle and the mechanical
system of a motorized watercraft. The integrated mechanical system
can be shifted into a motorcycle status or a motorized watercraft
status with the rider's choice.
[0022] Still another feature is to provide at least one power
source, such as, an internal combustion engine, to the apparatus as
the driving power. The driving power from the power source can be
shifted to drive the driving wheel in the motorcycle status or to
drive the waterjet propeller in the motorized watercraft status
with the rider's choice.
[0023] The invention with its organization, working method, manner
of operation, and utilization can be best understood by making
reference to the following description of the drawings and the
depictions of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 is a bird view of an embodiment of the invention.
[0025] FIG. 1a is a bird view of an embodiment of the invention in
the motorcycle status.
[0026] FIG. 1b is a bird view of an embodiment of the invention in
the motorized watercraft status.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the
invention.
[0028] FIG. 2a is a front view of an embodiment of the invention in
the motorcycle status.
[0029] FIG. 2b is a front view of an embodiment of the invention in
the motorized watercraft status.
[0030] FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the invention.
[0031] FIG. 4 is the side view of the power source of engine and
the driving power shifting control system of an embodiment of the
invention.
[0032] FIG. 5 is the mechanism diagram of the driving power
shifting control system of an embodiment of the invention in the
motorized watercraft status.
[0033] FIG. 6 is the mechanism diagram of an embodiment of the
driving power shifting control system of an embodiment of the
invention in the motorcycle status.
[0034] FIG. 7 is the top view of the mechanical system of an
embodiment of the invention.
[0035] FIG. 8 is the wheel suspension extension support of an
embodiment of the invention.
[0036] FIG. 8a is the front wheel suspension extension support of
an embodiment of the invention in both the motorcycle status and
the motorized watercraft status.
[0037] FIG. 8b is the rear wheel suspension extension support of an
embodiment of the invention in both the motorcycle status and the
motorized watercraft status.
[0038] FIG. 9 is the steering control system of an embodiment of
the invention.
[0039] FIG. 9a is the steering control of an embodiment of the
invention in the motorcycle status.
[0040] FIG. 9b is the steering control of an embodiment of the
invention in the motorized watercraft status.
[0041] FIG. 10 is the mechanism diagram of the steering system in
the motorized watercraft status of an embodiment of the
invention.
[0042] FIG. 11 is the mechanism diagram of the front and rear wheel
cabinet gates of an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0043] The basics of the invention can be understood with reference
from FIG. 1 to FIG. 3. FIG. 1 shows the bird view of an embodiment
of the invention. FIG. 1a shows that the invention can be ridden as
a conventional motorcycle. FIG. 1b shows that the invention can be
driven as a conventional motorized watercraft. In the bird view of
FIG. 1a and FIG. 1b, the front hull (100), the rear hull (110), the
steering control nozzles (18) and (18a), the front wheel (50), and
rear wheel (40) can be found. FIG. 2 is the front view of the
embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2a shows the invention in the
motorcycle status. In this status, the doors of the front and rear
wheel cabinets are opened and the wheels are pushed out to the
designated extending position. Since FIG. 2a is the front view,
only the front hull (100), the front wheel (50) and front wheel
cabinet (101) can be seen. In FIG. 2b, the invention is used as a
motorized watercraft. In this status, the wheels are drawn back in
the front and rear wheel cabinets (101) and (111), and the doors
(124) and (124a) of the front and rear wheel cabinets are closed.
Also, since FIG. 2b is the front view and front door (124) is
closed, here, the front and rear wheel cabinets (101) and (111),
and the door (124a) of rear wheel cabinet cannot be seen.
[0044] FIG. 3 is the top view of the embodiment of the invention.
In FIG. 3, the front hull (100) and the rear hull (110) form the
hull of the invention. The top view of the embodiment of the
invention is the same when it is in the motorcycle status or in the
motorized watercraft status.
[0045] FIG. 4 shows that the driving power from the power source
(1) transfers through the output shaft (2) to the driving power
shifting control system (3) with the said embodiment of the
invention. Here, at least an internal combustion engine (1) is used
as the power source. The driving power is controlled by the
shifting folk (4) to the motorcycle status through shaft (27) to
turn the chain gear (28), or to the motorized watercraft status
through shafts (12 and 12a) to turn the chain gears (13 and 13a).
In this view, Shaft (12) and Chain gear (13) are hiding behind
Shaft (12a) and Chain gear (13a).
[0046] FIG. 5 is the mechanism diagram that demonstrates how the
driving power shifting control system works with the embodiment of
the invention. In FIG. 5, the invention is in motorcycle status.
The driving power generated by the internal combustion engine (1)
with the embodiment flows through the connecting shaft (2) to the
power shifting control system (3). In the power shifting control
system, the shifting control folk (4) push the gear (10) with
sliding tube (21) along the guiding way of key pin (20) to put the
gear (22) to contact with gear (23), and then to turn the shaft
(24) to rotate the bevel gear pair (25) and (26). Then, the bevel
gear (26) will turn the shaft (27) to rotate the chain gear (28).
Finally, the chain gear (28) drives the driving wheel (40) to run
through the chain rope (29) and the chain gear (30). Please note
that the lock pin (5) will lock the shifting control system in the
motorcycle status to keep the system stable.
[0047] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the invention in the motorized
watercraft status. The mechanism diagram of FIG. 6 demonstrates how
the driving power is shifted to driving the water jet propellers
(17) and (17a) to propel the invention as a motorized watercraft on
water surfaces. The driving power generated by the internal
combustion engine (1) flows through the connecting shaft (2) to the
power shifting control system (3). In the power shifting control
system, the shifting control folk (4) push the gear (10) to contact
gear pair (11), and then to rotate chain gear (13) by shaft (12).
The chain gear (13) will then to drive the jet propeller (17)
through chain rope (14), chain gear (15) and shaft (16). In the
invention, at least one propeller has to be used. In the said
particular embodiment of the invention two symmetric propellers are
used. The driving power through the shaft (12) will goes into two
branches. One branch goes to chain gear (13), and the other branch
goes through the gear pair (18) and (19) to rotate the chain gear
(13a). The chain gear (13a) will then to drive the jet propeller
(17a) through chain rope (14a), chain gear (15a) and shaft (16a).
In FIG. 6, the projection of the water intake nozzle in the drawing
has been turned 90 degrees for the best demonstration of the water
jet propeller. Please note that Parts (18) and (18a) are the
steering nozzle, and Parts (19) and (19a) are the corresponding
pivots. Also, the lock pin (5) will lock the shifting control
system in the motorized watercraft status to keep the system
stable.
[0048] FIG. 7 depicts the basics of the mechanical system and
arrangement of the embodiment of the invention. Here, Part (45) is
the front wheel suspension connecting support that holds the front
wheel (50) with the front suspension fork. Part (35) is the rear
wheel suspension connecting support that holds the rear wheel (40)
with the rear suspension fork. Pointed objects (100) and (101) are
the front hull and the front wheel cabinet. Pointed object (110)
and (111) are the rear hull and the rear wheel cabinet. Object
(120) is the front wheel cabinet gate system of the embodiment of
the invention, and object (120a) is the rear wheel cabinet gate
system. Part (60) is the fuel tank.
[0049] From FIG. 7, one can see that the driving power generated by
the engine (1) first pours into the power shifting control system
(3) through connecting shaft (2). The system (3) can shift the
driving power either to the motorcycle status or to the motorized
watercraft status with each one at a time; therefore, the power
will be shifted to go with one of the two ways of system (3)
following rider's choice.
[0050] If the rider chooses to ride the invention as a motorcycle,
after the shift control folk is arranged at the predetermined
motorcycle position, the driving power will go out of the power
shifting system (3) through shaft (27), and then the power will
turn the chain gear (28) to rotate the driving wheel (40) with
chain rope (29) and chain gear (30).
[0051] If the rider choose the way to ride the invention as a
motorized watercraft, after the shift control folk is arranged at
the predetermined motorized watercraft position, the driving power
will go out of the power shifting system (3) through shafts (12)
and (12a) to two channels to run the two water jet propellers. One
channel of the power will turn the chain gear (13) to rotate the
water jet propeller (18) with chain rope (14), chain gear (15) and
shaft (16). The other channel of the power will turn the chain gear
(13a) to rotate the water jet propeller (18a) with chain rope
(14a), chain gear (15a) and shaft (16a). Here, the parts (18) and
(18a) are the steering nozzles of the embodiment of the
invention.
[0052] FIG. 8 depicts the wheels of the embodiment of the invention
in both the motorcycle and the motorized watercraft statuses.
[0053] FIG. 8a shows the front wheel in both the motorcycle and the
motorized watercraft statuses. The top drawing describes the front
wheel in motorized watercraft status in this status, the front
wheel suspension extension support system pulls up the front wheel
and holds it in the front wheel cabinet. The bottom drawing
describes the front wheel in motorcycle status. In this status, the
front wheel suspension extension support system pushes down the
wheel out of the cabinet and holds it at the designated position to
work as a motorcycle front wheel.
[0054] FIG. 8b shows the rear wheel in both the motorcycle and the
motorized watercraft statuses. The top drawing describes the front
wheel in motorized watercraft status. In this status, the rear
wheel suspension extension support system pulls up the real wheel
and holds it in the rear wheel cabinet. The bottom drawing
describes the rear wheel in motorcycle status. In this status, the
front wheel suspension extension support system pushes down the
wheel out of the cabinet and holds it at the designated position to
work as a motorcycle rear wheel.
[0055] FIG. 9 demonstrates an embodiment of the steering system of
the invention. The front wheel is arranged as the steering wheel. A
steering shifting control system is used to transfer the steering
motion generated by the rider with the handle bar to the motorcycle
steering wheel or to the watercraft steering nozzle.
[0056] FIG. 9a shows the invention in the motorcycle status. Once
the control folk (90) move the connecting gear (74) with the
sliding tube (73) following the guiding way of key (72) to contact
with gear (75), the steering rotation generated by the rider at the
steering handle bar (70) can pass through the shaft (71), sliding
tube (73), and connecting gear (74) to gear (75) to turn the front
wheel support fork (48). Thereby, the front wheel (50) steering can
be achieved. Here, the lock pin (91) will lock the steering control
system in motorcycle status to keep the system stable.
[0057] FIG. 9b shows the invention in the motorized watercraft
status. Once the control folk (90) move the connecting gear (74)
with the sliding tube (73) following the guiding way of key (72) to
contact with gear (76), the steering rotation generated by the
rider at the steering handle bar (70) can pass through the shaft
(71), sliding tube (73), and connecting gear (74) to gear (76) to
turn the controlling wheel of water jet steering nozzle (78) with
the shaft (77). In this way, the water jet steering nozzles (18)
and (18a) can be rotated by rope (80) to achieve the steering
capability of the motorized watercraft. Also, the lock pin (91)
will lock the steering control system in motorized watercraft
status to keep the system stable.
[0058] FIG. 10 is the mechanism diagram of the invention in the
motorized watercraft status. The motion generated by the rider goes
through shaft (77) and control wheel (78) to turn the rope around
control wheel (78) to pull the steering nozzles (18) and (18a) to
rotates around pivots (19) and (19a) respectively. In this
embodiment of the steering system, the rope (78) will connect the
nozzles (18) and (18a) to form a close loop; thus, the rotation of
the steering control wheel will turn to the rotation of the
steering nozzles.
[0059] FIG. 11 is the mechanism diagram of the wheel cabinet gate
system (120). When the invention is in the motorcycle status, the
doors of the front wheel cabinet and rear wheel cabinet must be
opened to let the wheel suspension extension supports push out the
front and rear wheel out. Therefore, the wheels can stand as the
conventional wheels of a motorcycle. When the invention is in the
motorized watercraft status, the doors of the front wheel cabinet
and rear wheel cabinet must let the wheels suspension extension
supports pull back the front and rear wheels in the cabinets, and
then the doors must be closed to reduce the water resistance as
large as possible. Therefore, the invention can work well on the
water surface just as a typical conventional motorized
watercraft.
[0060] Since the basic structure and mechanisms of the front and
rear gates are the same, here, only the front door of the wheel
cabinet is shown. In FIG. 11, an electric motor (121) will turn the
linear head (122) to open or close the door body (124) through the
connection (123). The top drawing in FIG. 11 shows the door in
open, and the bottom drawing shows the door in close. Here, pointed
object (125) is the guiding slot of the door body. The view of FIG.
11 is from inside to outside. View F shows the connection (123).
For the consideration of the mobility of the door body, an elastic
rope is used here to increase the degree of the freedom of the
connection to achieve the smooth movement of the door. In the rear
door, for better understanding, the part corresponding to the front
door is marked the same number followed with an extra a. For
example, the electric motor with the rear gate is marked (121a)
corresponding to the electric motor (121) in the front gate.
* * * * *