The present invention relates to a vessel having a superstructure that is movable to increase and/or reduce space in one of at least two zones on the deck of the vessel. The invention further relates to an amphibious vehicle having motive pods that move in an athwartship direction and then downwardl
The present invention relates to a vessel having a superstructure that is movable to increase and/or reduce space in one of at least two zones on the deck of the vessel. The invention further relates to an amphibious vehicle having motive pods that move in an athwartship direction and then downwardly when the motive pods are deployed. The invention further provides for a ramp arrangement for a vessel that allows for an increased amount of deck space, and facilitates ingress and/or egress from the vessel by cargo or passengers.
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1. An amphibious vessel comprising a. at least one hull;b. at least one or more deployable motive pods, each motive pod associated with a hull recess in the hull, and movable between i. a deployed position in which the amphibious vessel is movable on the motive pods over land; andii. a stowed positi
1. An amphibious vessel comprising a. at least one hull;b. at least one or more deployable motive pods, each motive pod associated with a hull recess in the hull, and movable between i. a deployed position in which the amphibious vessel is movable on the motive pods over land; andii. a stowed position in which the motive pods are stowed for use while the amphibious vessel is travelling over water;c. at least one or more deployment mechanisms configured for moving the one or more deployable motive pods between their deployed position and their stowed position, each deployment mechanism comprising i. a first arm and an associated first actuator together configured to linearly translate the motive pod in an athwartship direction between a proximal condition in which the motive pod is at least partially received into said hull recess; anda distal condition in which the motive pod is located distally of the proximal condition and external to the hull recess;ii. a second arm, a first end of which is pivotably connected at or towards a second end of the first arm, with said motive pod pivotably connected to a second end of the second arm, an associated second actuator configured to rotate the second arm on a plane substantially parallel to a vertical plane running along the vessel's longitudinal axis to move the motive pod, between a lower position, when the first arm is at its distal condition, in which the lowest point of the motive pod is lower than the hull, and an upper position in which the motive pod is located in a position suitable for lateral movement into the hull recess. 2. An amphibious vessel as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one motive pod includes a track arrangement. 3. An amphibious vessel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second arm is configured to move a motive pod pivotally about a pivot axis. 4. An amphibious vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first arm comprises a moving member movable on a guide arrangement. 5. An amphibious vessel as claimed in claim 4, wherein the moving member comprises end stop formations for preventing the moving member moving out of the guide arrangement. 6. An amphibious vessel as claimed in claim 1 wherein deployment mechanism comprises a locking mechanism for locking the moving member in position. 7. An amphibious vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second arm comprises an aligning mechanism for aligning the motive pod with the hull recess for movement into its stowed position as the second arm is moving from its lower position to its upper position. 8. An amphibious vessel as claimed in claim 7, wherein the aligning mechanism is configured for aligning the motive pod in a suitable position for use in its deployed position as the second arm is moving from its upper position to its lower position. 9. An amphibious vessel as claimed in claim 7, wherein the aligning mechanism comprises a. a stop member;b. a sliding elongate member; andc. a receiving formation configured for sliding connection with the sliding elongate member. 10. An amphibious vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the amphibious vessel comprises a control system for controlling the steering of the amphibious vehicle on land. 11. An amphibious vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the steering of the amphibious vehicle on land is controlled by controlling the drive to at least one motive pod. 12. An amphibious vessel as claimed in claim 11, wherein the hull recess covers are movable by a moving mechanism between a covered position and an uncovered position. 13. An amphibious vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one hull is a plurality of demi-hulls. 14. An amphibious vessel as claimed in claim 13, wherein a pair of hull recesses present to an outer side of each demi-hull. 15. An amphibious vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hull recesses are disposed at least partially above the waterline of the amphibious vessel when the vessel is moving through water. 16. An amphibious vessel as claimed in claim 15, wherein the hull recesses are disposed above the waterline of the amphibious vessel when the vessel is moving through water, to thereby ensure that the motive pods are not submerged when the vessel is moving through water. 17. An amphibious vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the amphibious vessel comprises a flushing system for flushing water from a fresh water source through the hull recesses. 18. An amphibious vessel as claimed in claim 17, wherein the flushing system comprises at least one or more nozzles suitable for spraying at least one motive pod with water from a fresh water source when a fresh water source is connected. 19. An amphibious vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one or more motive pods comprises a suspension arrangement for operably at least partially reducing forces acting on the hull structure by dissipating and/or damping the energy of forces acting on the motive pod. 20. An amphibious vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motive pods comprises a quick release mechanism, whereby the motive pods are at least partially disengageable from the deployment mechanism, to allow the motive pods to be manually manoeuvred from the hull recesses. 21. An amphibious vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the amphibious vessel further comprises a. a ramp arrangement extending at least partly between a plurality of demi-hulls, i. the ramp arrangement presenting at least one or more outer surfaces;ii. the ramp arrangement being moveable at least between a retracted position in which the vessel is rendered seaworthy, and a deployed position in which the ramp arrangement facilitates ingress and egress from the vessel;b. wherein when the ramp arrangement is in its retracted position, the outer surface of the ramp arrangement is configured to complement the configuration of the partly formed demi-hulls to form a seaworthy outer hull configuration presenting a plurality of fully formed demi-hulls. 22. An amphibious vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vessel comprises at least one superstructure configured to at least in part translate relative to said hull between a first condition and at least one other position (herein after “second condition”), a. wherein said at least one superstructure in said first condition at least in part defines a first zone suitable for accommodating at least one person and/or vehicle,b. and wherein said at least one superstructure in said second condition at least in part defines a second zone suitable for accommodating at least one person and/or vehicle.
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