1. An amphibious vehicle, the vehicle comprising:
a hull (2) which accommodates the vehicle crew, and a flow duct (10) which is guided through the hull (2) and has a water jet drive (12), which is arranged therein, for driving the amphibious vehicle (1) during travel on water, wherein at least one end (11) of the flow duct (10) is designed to be closable via an anti-mine element (14) during travel on land.
2. The amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein both ends (11, 13) of the flow duct (10) are designed to be closable via anti-mine elements (14) during travel on land.
3. The amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the anti-mine element (14) is of plate-like design.
4. The amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the anti-mine element (14) is movable between an anti-mine position and a throughflow position.
5. The amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a frame (15) for supporting the anti-mine element (14) during action of a mine.
6. The amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the end (11, 13) of the flow duct (10) is surrounded by the frame (15).
7. The amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the frame (15) has a flange surface (22) for connection to the flow duct (10).
8. The amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a seal (20, 21) for sealing off the frame (15) from the anti-mine element (14).
9. The amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a driving device (16) for moving the anti-mine element (14), which driving device is designed in particular as a spindle drive.
10. The amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 9, further comprising an electronic control unit for controlling the movement of the anti-mine element (14).
11. The amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a monitoring device for detecting the position of the anti-mine element (14) and producing a warning signal in the event of misalignment of the anti-mine element (14).
12. The amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flow duct (10) runs from a lower side of the hull (2) to a rear of the hull (2).
13. A method for operating an amphibious vehicle (1), the method comprising:
providing a hull (2) that accommodates a crew of the vehicle, and a flow duct (10) that is guided through the hull (2) and has a water jet drive (12), which is arranged therein, for driving the amphibious vehicle (1) during travel on water, with an anti-mine element (14) that selectively closes an end (11) of the flow duct (10) during travel on land.
14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the amphibious vehicle (1) is designed as claimed in claim 1.
15. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a producing a signal by a sensor for closure when it is detected that the amphibious vehicle (1) is on land.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the vehicle is a military amphibious vehicle.
17. The amphibious vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a military amphibious vehicle.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. Motorised vehicle with at least three wheels which comprises:
means for balancing by inclination of at least the part of its chassis which supports the driving cab;
at least one sensor for speed, acceleration andor inclination;
means for controlling the said balancing means automatically when the information provided by the said sensor is lower than a main threshold; and
switching means in order to authorise the deactivation of the automatic control of the said balancing means, when the information which is provided by the said sensor is higher than the said main threshold.
2. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the said balancing means are controlled automatically, firstly when the vehicle starts, and until the information provided by the said sensor has reached the said main threshold, and, secondly when, with the vehicle in motion, the information provided by the said sensor is higher than a main descending threshold, and, whilst decreasing, the said information reaches the said main descending threshold, the said balancing means then being controlled automatically for as long as the said information remains lower than the said main descending threshold, and until the said vehicle stops.
3. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein it also comprises means for limitation and means for locking of its inclination, which firstly limit the angle of inclination of the inclinable elements to a maximum value, such that the vehicle does not tilt either when at a standstill or when travelling, and secondly prevent the vehicle from straightening when the angle of inclination is thus limited.
4. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the information which is provided by the said sensor is higher than the said main threshold, the automatic control of the said balancing means is deactivated automatically.
5. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein, the information which is provided by the said sensor is higher than the said main threshold, the said balancing means are controlled automatically in a vehicle driving-assistance mode.
6. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein it additionally comprises means for positioning relative to the vertical level, or to a position which is very close to the vertical level, of at least its inclinable part, as well as means for controlling automatically the said means for positioning to the vertical level, when the information which is provided by the said sensor is lower than a vertical maintenance threshold.
7. Vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the said means for positioning relative to the vertical level, or to a position which is very close to the vertical level, are controlled automatically, firstly when the vehicle is started, and until the information provided by the said sensor has reached the said vertical maintenance threshold, and secondly, when, with the vehicle in motion, the information which is provided by the said sensor is higher than a descending vertical maintenance threshold, and the said information provided reaches, whilst decreasing, the said descending vertical maintenance threshold, the said means for positioning relative to the vertical level or in a position very close to the vertical level then being controlled automatically for as long as the said information remains lower than the said descending vertical maintenance threshold, and until the said vehicle stops.
8. Vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the said means for positioning relative to the vertical are controlled automatically when the vehicle reverses.
9. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a manual vertical position switch, in order to command the said positioning means automatically to the vertical level, or to a position which is very close to the vertical level.
10. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein it comprises means for locking the inclinable part of the said vehicle in a vertical position, or very close to the vertical level, when the said vehicle is at a standstill.
11. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a torsion bar which is integral with a steering control unit which limits the rotation of the wheels relative to the movement of the said steering control unit.
12. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein it comprises means for partial separation of the wheels from the steering control unit of the vehicle, over a previously determined steering angle, and means for automatic control of the said partial separation means, and in that the said partial separation means are controlled automatically or are deactivated automatically, according to whether the information provided by the said sensor is respectively higher or lower than a previously determined partial separation threshold.
13. Vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the said partial separation means and the said means for automatic control of the said partial separation means consist of a torsion bar which is integral with the steering control unit.
14. Vehicle according to claim 1, comprising a driver’s seat which is contained in a driving cab with dimensions such that it can accommodate only a single person in the width direction, wherein each side of the driving cab is equipped with an access door, in that the said driving cab comprises a mobile roof panel, and in that each access door and the said roof panel open and close either independently from one another, or simultaneously, two or three of them at a time.