Side-by-side all terrain vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10450006-B2
Application number	US-201715494296-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 21, 2017
Priority date	Feb 11, 2011
Publication date	Oct 22, 2019
Grant date	Oct 22, 2019

Abstract

A side by side vehicle is disclosed having a vehicle frame having frame tubes extending from a front to a rear. A vehicle seat frame is positioned in a mid portion of the frame, and positions a seat frame at a raised position relative to the frame tubes. A powertrain is positioned rearward of the vehicle seat frame and is coupled to the vehicle frame. Side by side seats are supported by the seat frame; and one or more storage units are positioned under the side by side seats. The side by side vehicle also has a rear suspension comprising at least one rear alignment arm coupled to each side of a rear of the vehicle frame, where the alignment arms are coupled to the vehicle frame at front and rear connection points. A distance between the front connection points is greater than a distance between the rear connection points, and at least a portion of the powertrain is positioned between the front connection points of the alignment arms.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A side by side vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle frame including frame tubes extending generally longitudinally;
a vehicle seat frame positioned in a mid portion of the frame, and positioned at a raised position relative to the frame tubes;
side by side seats supported by the seat frame;
a powertrain supported by the vehicle frame, the powertrain including an engine and a transmission; and
a rear suspension comprising at least one rear alignment arm coupled to each of left and right sides of a rear of the vehicle frame, the alignment arms being coupled to the vehicle frame at front and rear connection points, wherein a distance between a front right connection point and a front left connection point of the rear suspension is greater than a distance between a rear right connection point and a rear left connection point, and the engine and transmission are positioned rearward of the vehicle seat frame and at least one of the rear left and right connection points being longitudinally aligned with a portion of the transmission, a portion of the frame extending rearward of the rear connection points.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the connection points of the alignment arms are positioned along lines of rotation relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and the lines of rotation are at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the alignment arms are defined by upper and lower alignment arms and a wheel hub connects the two upper and lower alignment arms.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the alignment arms are defined as having generally parallel first and second sides and a third side extending between the first and second sides, with the hubs attached to a front outside corner of the alignment arms.

5. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the alignment arms extend outwardly and rearwardly from the frame at an acute angle.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the hubs are skewed relative to the alignment arms and extend outwardly at an angle transverse to the longitudinal axis.

7. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein a prop shaft is connected between the hubs and a differential.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the prop shaft extends rearwardly.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein a shock absorber is coupled to the lower alignment arm.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the shock absorber is positioned rearward of the prop shaft.

11. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein a torsion bar is coupled to the lower alignment arm.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the torsion bar comprises a transverse bar portion and longitudinal bar portions, and in that the transverse bar portion extend rearwardly of the shock absorber and the longitudinal bar portions extending forwardly and outside of the shock absorbers.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the torsion bar is coupled to the lower alignment arm.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein a link arm extends downwardly from each longitudinal bar portion, and couples to the lower alignment arm.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the link arm and the shock absorber are coupled together at the lower end thereof.

16. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the transmission of the powertrain is positioned between the front right and left connection points of the alignment arms.

17. The vehicle of claim 1 , further including a front differential.

18. A side by side vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle frame;
a vehicle seat frame coupled to the vehicle frame;
a powertrain positioned rearward of the vehicle seat frame and coupled to the vehicle frame;
side-by-side seats supported by the seat frame; and
a rear suspension comprising at least one rear alignment arm coupled to each left and right side of a rear of the vehicle frame, the alignment arms each being coupled to the vehicle frame at front and rear connection points, wherein a distance between a front right connection point and a front left connection point is greater than a distance between a rear right connection point and a rear left connection point, and wherein at least a portion of the powertrain is positioned between the front right and front left connection points of the alignment arms.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 , further including a tow-hitch mount rearward of the rear connection points.

20. The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the tow-hitch mount is a squared tube.

21. The vehicle of claim 18 , further including a torsion bar arm linking the alignment arms of the rear suspension.

22. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the vehicle seat frame is positioned at a raised position relative to the vehicle frame.

23. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the vehicle seat frame is coupled to a longitudinal mid portion of the vehicle frame.

Assignees

• Polaris Inc

Inventors

• Kinsman Anthony J
• Morison Angus M
• Hollman Keith A
• Schlangen Adam J
• Peterson Shawn D
• Ripley Richard D
• Erspamer Brent A
• Schiebel Steven M

Classifications

• B62D33/02

  Platforms; Open load compartments {(flat wagons including posts or standards B61D3/08)} · CPC title

• B60N2/015

  Attaching seats directly to vehicle chassis · CPC title

• B60N2/012

  The seat support being a part of the vehicle body or chassis · CPC title

• B60G2300/124

  Quads · CPC title

• B60G2300/13

  Small sized city motor vehicles · CPC title