Vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10399401-B2
Application number	US-201815864209-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 8, 2018
Priority date	Sep 20, 2012
Publication date	Sep 3, 2019
Grant date	Sep 3, 2019

Abstract

A utility vehicle with ergonomic, safety, and maintenance features is disclosed. A vehicle is also disclosed with improved cooling, suspension and drive systems. These features enhance the utility of the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A utility vehicle, comprising:
a frame extending along a centerline of the utility vehicle;
a plurality of ground engaging members operably coupled to the frame;
a drivetrain assembly supported by the frame;
a suspension assembly operably coupled to the ground engaging members and including upper control arms, lower control arms, and shock absorbers; and
a steering assembly configured to move the ground engaging members, a portion of the steering assembly being positioned between the upper control arms at approximately the centerline and being elevated relative to the lower control arms, and the steering assembly including a steering shaft extending between a forward end and a rearward end, and both the forward and rearward ends of the steering shaft are positioned longitudinally rearward of the shock absorbers, wherein at least one of the upper control arms or the lower control arms is configured to inhibit overturning of the ground engaging members when the steering assembly is at full lock and the suspension assembly is at full jounce.

2. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the steering assembly includes an operator control, the steering shaft operably coupled to the operator control, a gearbox assembly operably coupled to the steering shaft, and tie rods operably coupled to the gearbox assembly.

3. The utility vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the gearbox assembly is positioned between the upper control arms.

4. The utility vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the steering assembly further includes a transfer case operably coupled to the steering shaft and a power steering device operably coupled to the transfer case.

5. The utility vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the steering shaft is laterally spaced apart from the centerline, the power steering device is positioned along the centerline, and the transfer case extends between the steering shaft and the power steering device.

6. The utility vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the power steering device, the gearbox assembly, and a portion of the transfer case are positioned along the centerline to increase a travel of the suspension assembly.

7. The utility vehicle of claim 4 , wherein a portion of the steering assembly is positioned forward of the shock absorbers.

8. The utility vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the power steering device, the gearbox assembly, and the tie rods are positioned forward of the shock absorbers.

9. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a length of the tie rods is approximately 21 inches.

10. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a differential positioned between the lower control arms and below the portion of the steering assembly between the upper control arms.

11. A utility vehicle, comprising:
a frame extending along a centerline of the utility vehicle;
an operator area supported by the frame and including at least one seat;
a plurality of ground engaging members operably coupled to the frame and including front ground engaging members and rear ground engaging members;
a drivetrain assembly supported by the frame and including at least an engine, a transmission operably coupled to the engine, and a front differential operably coupled to the engine;
a front suspension assembly operably coupled to the ground engaging members and including upper control arms, lower control arms, and shock absorbers, and the front suspension assembly is generally positioned around the front differential and defines an envelope forward of the operator area; and
a steering assembly configured to move the ground engaging members, and a portion of the steering assembly is supported within the envelope, wherein the portion of the steering assembly includes a power steering unit.

12. The utility vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the power steering unit is positioned above the upper control arms.

13. The utility vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the steering assembly includes tie rods operably coupled to the front ground engaging members, and each of the tie rods extends between a laterally-inner end and a laterally-outer end, and the laterally-outer end of each of the tie rods is positioned longitudinally forward of an axis of rotation of the front ground engaging members.

14. The utility vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the tie rods are generally perpendicular to the centerline.

15. A utility vehicle, comprising:
a frame extending along a centerline of the utility vehicle;
a plurality of ground engaging members operably coupled to the frame;
a drivetrain assembly supported by the frame;
a suspension assembly operably coupled to the ground engaging members and including upper control arms, lower control arms, and shock absorbers; and
a steering assembly configured to move the ground engaging members, a portion of the steering assembly being positioned between the upper control arms at approximately the centerline and being elevated relative to the lower control arms, and the steering assembly includes an operator control, a steering shaft operably coupled to the operator control, a gearbox assembly operably coupled to the steering shaft, tie rods operably coupled to the gearbox assembly, a transfer case operably coupled to the steering shaft, and a power steering device operably coupled to the transfer case.

16. The utility vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the steering shaft is laterally spaced apart from the centerline, the power steering device is positioned along the centerline, and the transfer case extends between the steering shaft and the power steering device.

17. The utility vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the power steering device, the gearbox assembly, and a portion of the transfer case are positioned along the centerline to increase a travel of the suspension assembly.

18. The utility vehicle of claim 15 , wherein a portion of the steering assembly is positioned forward of the shock absorbers.

19. A utility vehicle, comprising:
a frame extending along a centerline of the utility vehicle;
an operator area supported by the frame and including at least one seat;
a plurality of ground engaging members operably coupled to the frame and including front ground engaging members and rear ground engaging members;
a drivetrain assembly supported by the frame and including at least an engine, a transmission operably coupled to the engine, and a front differential operably coupled to the engine;
a front suspension assembly operably coupled to the ground engaging members and including upper control arms, lower control arms, and shock absorbers, and the front suspension assembly is generally positioned around the front differential and defines an envelope forward of the operator area; and
a steering assembly configured to move the ground engaging members, and a portion of the steering assembly is supported within the envelope, wherein the steering assembly includes tie rods operably coupled to the front ground engaging members, and each of the tie rods extends between a laterally-inner end and a laterally-outer end, and the laterally-outer end of each of the tie rods is positioned longitudinally forward of an axis of rotation of the front ground engaging members.

20. A utility vehicle, comprising:
a frame extending along a centerline of the utility vehicle;
a plurality of ground engaging members operably coupled to the frame;
a drivetrain assembly supported by the frame;
a suspension assembly operably coupled to the ground engaging members and including upper control arms, lower control arms, and shock absorbers; and
a steering assembl

Assignees

• Polaris Inc

Inventors

• Schlangen Adam J
• Raska Jason K

Classifications

• B62D3/02

  mechanical · CPC title

• B60K11/04

  Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds · CPC title

• B60G9/022

  the axle having an imaginary pivotal point · CPC title

• B62D1/163

  Part of the steering column replaced by flexible means, e.g. cable or belt · CPC title

• B60K17/346

  the transfer gear being a differential gear · CPC title