WHEEL-RETRACTION APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLE

摘要

A sprung support for wheel on an amphibious vehicle, the wheel having a lower vehicle supporting position and an upper retracted position. The wheel is supported on axle (15) rotatable in support (16) to be driven through shaft (10). The support (16) is attached to the vehicle body (2) by upper links (11) and longer lower links (12) and is sprung by torsion bar (35). Steering of the wheel is by movement of a steering shaft (30), through a steering link (32) rotating support (16) about axis through joints (20 and 21). The wheel is moved up to the retracted position in a chamber (13), where its axle (15) is substantially vertical by rotation of torsion bar (35) by power drive (36) rotating upwardly the links (12) and links (11).