All-terrain vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10793181-B2
Application number	US-201815895495-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 13, 2018
Priority date	Feb 13, 2018
Publication date	Oct 6, 2020
Grant date	Oct 6, 2020

Abstract

An ATV is shown having a steering system comprised of a power steering unit having drive and driven pitman arms coupled to a drag link. The drive pitman arm is laterally offset from a vehicle centerline and is driven by the power steering unit. An alternate power steering system includes a pack and pinion subassembly coupled to a power steering motor, which then couples to steering arms of the ATV.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of making multiple widths of all-wheel drive vehicles, comprising the steps of:
providing a frame having a front portion and a rear portion;
providing a power train and coupling the power train to the frame, the power train comprising a primary motive unit, a transmission, a front final drive, a rear final drive and couplings between the transmission and the front and rear final drives;
providing a plurality of front and rear suspension components of different lengths;
providing a plurality of front and rear half shafts of different lengths;
selecting sets of front and rear suspension components and front and rear half shafts to define a measured distance from a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle;
providing front and rear wheels, where a distance measured from outside the front and rear wheels is different for the different sets;
providing front knuckles coupling the front wheels to the selected front suspension components; and
providing steering stops usable with all of the plurality of front suspension components of different lengths.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
providing a power steering unit;
providing a plurality of steering arms of different lengths; and
selecting a steering arm to cooperate with the set of front and rear suspension components and front and rear half shafts.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
providing the plurality of front and rear suspension components of different lengths includes providing first front and rear suspension components having a first length and providing second front and rear suspension components having a second length; and
providing the plurality of front and rear half shafts of different lengths includes providing first front and rear half shafts having a first length and providing second front and rear half shafts having a second length, wherein, together, the first front and rear suspension components and the first front and rear half shafts provide a first width vehicle and, together, the second front and rear suspension components and the second front and rear half shafts provide a second width vehicle, where the first width is less than the second width.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein on the first width vehicle, the first front and rear half shafts sweep rearwardly to define a first wheelbase of the first width vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein on the second width vehicle, the second front and rear half shafts sweep forwardly to define a second wheelbase of the second width vehicle, wherein the first wheelbase is less than the second wheelbase.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the steering stops are comprised of a first stop member positioned on each of the front right and left suspension; and a second stop member positioned on each of the right and left knuckles; wherein the first and second stop members cooperate to provide extreme rotational positions.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein one of the first and second stop members is defined as an upstanding post.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the other of the first and second stop members is defined as an arcuate slot in which the upstanding post rotates, the arcuate slot includes stop surfaces profiled for contacting sides of the upstanding post, wherein the upstanding post contacts different stop surfaces of the arcuate slot for the first and second vehicle.

9. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first width vehicle has a maximum width in the range of 45-51″.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first width vehicle has a maximum width of 48″.

11. The method of claim 3 , wherein the second width vehicle has a maximum width in the range of 52-58″.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second width vehicle has a maximum width of 55″.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the frame is defined by upper and lower longitudinally extending tubes.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the front and rear suspension components are defined by upper and lower A-arms extending generally transversely from the frame.

15. An all-terrain vehicle (ATV), comprising:
a frame;
ground engaging members supporting the frame, including front and rear ground engaging members;
front right and left suspension;
a front wheel steering mechanism comprising right and left knuckles pivotally coupled to the respective front right and left suspension;
a power steering unit coupled to the frame, the power steering unit including an output shaft which is laterally offset from a vertical centerline of the vehicle;
right and left steering arms coupled to respective right and left knuckles, and a linkage coupling the output shaft to the steering arms, where the right and left steering arms are substantially the same length;
the linkage comprising:
a drive pitman arm coupled to the output shaft at a first end, and coupled to one of the front right or left steering arms at a second end;
a driven pitman arm coupled to the drive pitman arm by way of a drag link;

wherein the steering arms are coupled to the drive and driven pitman arms at a first location, and the drag link is coupled to the drive and driven pitman arms at a second location.

16. The ATV of claim 15 , wherein the power steering unit output shaft is laterally offset on a left hand side of the vertical centerline of the vehicle.

17. The ATV of claim 15 , wherein the front right and left suspension each includes an upper and lower A-arm, and the upper A-arm is defined by front and rear tubular members, wherein the rear tubular member is jogged upwardly to prove clearance over the steering arms.

18. The ATV of claim 15 , wherein the front wheel steering mechanism further comprising a steering post coupled to the power steering unit, and further comprising a riser block coupled to the steering post and a steering actuation member coupled to the riser block, the riser block being movable forwardly and rearwardly to adjust the position of the steering actuation member.

19. The ATV of claim 18 , wherein the steering actuation member is a handle bar.

20. The ATV of claim 15 , wherein the first location is intermediate a point of rotation for the drive and driven pitman arms and the second location.

21. An all-terrain vehicle (ATV), comprising:
a frame;
ground engaging members supporting the frame, including front and rear ground engaging members;
front right and left suspensions;
front wheel steering mechanisms including right and left knuckles pivotally coupled to the respective front right and left suspension;
a power steering unit coupled to the frame, the power steering unit including an output shaft which is coupled to the right and left knuckles for steering;
a first stop member positioned on each of the front right and left suspension; and
a second stop member positioned on each of the right and left knuckles;
wherein the first and second stop members cooperate to provide extreme rotational positions, and one of the first and second stop members is defined as an upstanding post and the other of the first and second stop members is defined as an arcuate slot in which the upstanding post rotates.

22. The ATV of claim 21 , wherein the arcuate slot includes stop surfaces profiled for contacting sides of the upstanding post.

23. The ATV of claim 22 , wherein the upstanding post is in the profile of a shark fin.

24. The ATV of claim 23 , wherein the front right and left suspension each includ

Assignees

• Polaris Inc

Inventors

• Bennett Jeffrey D
• Lovold Ryan K
• Ragland Parry G

Classifications

• F01N13/00

  Exhaust or silencing apparatus characterised by constructional features · CPC title

• B62K25/04 Primary

  for mounting axles resiliently on cycle frame or fork (for sidecars, forecars or the like B62K27/06) · CPC title

• B60G3/20

  all arms being rigid · CPC title

• B62D5/04

  electrical, e.g. using an electric servo-motor connected to, or forming part of, the steering gear · CPC title

• B62K21/00

  Steering devices · CPC title