Utility vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10988187-B2
Application number	US-201916377676-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 8, 2019
Priority date	Apr 10, 2018
Publication date	Apr 27, 2021
Grant date	Apr 27, 2021

Abstract

A utility vehicle is described having front and rear passenger area, and an HVAC system provides treated air to both front and rear areas. The front area includes a tunnel extending longitudinally rearwardly, and a low profile duct extends within the tunnel to communicate treated air to the rear passenger area. The frame has been modified to mount a drive shaft carrier bearing to maximize the area under the tunnel for hose routing. The frame has been modified to maximize the ingress area for the foot of the rear passenger. The frame has been modified to better seal the vehicle when doors are utilized.

First claim

What is claims is:

1. A utility vehicle, comprising:
a longitudinally extending frame having a longitudinal centerline, the frame comprising a front frame portion and a rear frame portion;
ground engaging members supporting the frame;
a cab comprising:
a front seating section;
a rear seating section;
a mid-panel forward of the rear seating section separating the front and rear seating sections;
an HVAC duct extending through and under the front seating section and coupling to the mid panel to deliver treated air to the rear seating area.

2. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the HVAC duct has a flat contour in at least part of its length to lower the profile of the duct through the front seating section.

3. The utility vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the HVAC duct has a substantially constant height.

4. The utility vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the height is less than one inch.

5. The utility vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the height is approximately 0.9 inch.

6. The utility vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the HVAC duct has a variable width.

7. The utility vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the width is greater than 5 inches at least in part along its length.

8. The utility vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the ratio of the width/height is at least 4.

9. The utility vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the ratio of the width/height is greater than 6.

10. The utility vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the ratio of the width/height is in the range of 4-10.

11. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the engine is positioned rearward of the rear seating section and an air conditioning compressor and an alternator are mounted adjacent to, and driven by, the engine.

12. The utility vehicle of claim 11 , wherein an air conditioning system further comprises a refrigerant system and an evaporator, wherein the refrigerant system and evaporator are located forward of the front seating section and refrigerant lines run from a front of the vehicle to the rear of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Polaris Inc

Inventors

• Schounard Kyle J
• Barbrey William L
• Peterson Shawn D
• Weber Daniel S
• Frie Derek M

Classifications

• B60K5/00

  Arrangement or mounting of internal-combustion or jet-propulsion units (B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00) · CPC title

• B60H1/3229

  characterised by constructional features, e.g. housings, mountings, conversion systems (B60H1/3227, B60H1/3233 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60H1/246

  located in the interior of the vehicle or in or below the floor · CPC title

• B62D23/005

  with integrated chassis in the whole shell, e.g. meshwork, tubes, or the like (B62D33/044 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D21/12

  assembled from readily detachable parts · CPC title