An Improved Automobile for use on Land and Water.

摘要

15,078. Rech, J. July 1. B o a t s combined with motor road vehicles ; boats, transporting on land.-A combined m o t o r vehicle and boat is provided with h a detachable hullshaped casing and interlocking transmission mechanism arranged so that the road wheels are disconnected from the motor when a propulsive effort is applied to the propeller and vice versa. Fig. 1 shows the arrangement of the vehicle with the working parts enclosed by a detachable casing d, which is preferably provided with a keel and is of maximum width opposite the driver's seat, although the shape and construction may be varied. Angle-bars bare provided at intervals for strengthening purposes, also the central portion of the casing is provided with side extensions h which reach to the level of the driver's seat and are secured at their ends to the bonnet m and the passenger compartment f. These side members may be detachable, and may be made water-tight by means of india-rubber or other packing. The front axle preferably is cranked to pass below the casing, while the rear axle passes through the casing and is provided with suitable stuffing-boxes. The screw-propeller w is mounted on a shaft carrying a friction disk v, which is connected to the motor by reversing the movable member p of a friction clutch in the road transmission gear. In suitable cases, the propeller may be in the centre of the car at the same level as the rear axle, and may be driven by bevel-gearing therefrom. A suitable lock w2 prevents rotation of the propeller when the vehicle runs on land. The front steering-wheels are made of solid metal disks, or the spokes are covered with sheet metal in a known manner, so that the wheels will act as rudders to the floating vehicle when operated by the usual steering-gear. A hinged extension z2 of the exhaust pipe is turned upwards to project above the water level when the vehicle floats.