All-wheel drive system and method for operating the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11926327-B2
Application number	US-202117384772-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 25, 2021
Priority date	Jul 30, 2020
Publication date	Mar 12, 2024
Grant date	Mar 12, 2024

Abstract

A drive system driving front wheels and rear wheels of a vehicle includes a powertrain comprising an output shaft, a rear driveshaft coupled to the rear wheels, a drive mechanism coupling the output shaft to the rear wheels, a front driveshaft shaft coupled to the front wheels and a prop shaft coupling the rear driveshaft and to the front driveshaft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A drive system driving front wheels and rear wheels of a vehicle comprising:
a powertrain comprising an output shaft, said output shaft comprising a first pulley or a first sprocket;
a rear differential having a rear transaxle shaft coupled to the rear wheels through a pair of rear half shafts, said rear transaxle shaft having a second pulley or a second sprocket affixed thereto;
a belt or a chain directly connecting the first pulley or first sprocket to the second pulley or the second sprocket;
a pair of front half shafts coupled to the front wheels;
a front coupler coupling the pair of front half shafts to a prop shaft; and
the prop shaft disposed below the powertrain and directly coupling the rear differential to the front coupler.

2. The drive system of claim 1 wherein the powertrain comprises a transmission and the output shaft comprises a transmission shaft.

3. The drive system of claim 1 wherein the powertrain comprises an engine and a transmission and the output shaft comprises a transmission shaft.

4. The drive system of claim 1 wherein the powertrain comprises an engine and the output shaft comprises an engine shaft.

5. The drive system of claim 1 wherein the rear transaxle shaft is coupled to the output shaft through the chain, said chain is coupled to the output shaft through a sprocket.

6. The drive system of claim 1 wherein the rear transaxle shaft is coupled to the output shaft through the belt, said belt is coupled to the output shaft through a pulley.

7. The drive system of claim 1 wherein the rear differential comprises a beveled set of gears.

8. A method of driving front wheels and rear wheels of a vehicle comprising:
rotating an output shaft of a powertrain;
rotating a first pulley or first sprocket affixed to the output shaft;
rotating a rear transaxle shaft of a rear differential through a second sprocket or a second pulley affixed to the rear transaxle by movement of a belt or chain coupling the first pulley or the first sprocket to the second pulley or the second sprocket;
rotating a pair of rear half shafts by rotating the rear transaxle, said half shafts rotate the rear wheels coupled thereto;
coupling a prop shaft directly between the rear differential and a front differential and rotating a pair of front half shafts; and
rotating the front wheels by rotating the pair of front half shafts.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein rotating the rear transaxle shaft comprises coupling the output shaft to the rear transaxle shaft using a chain.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein rotating the rear transaxle shaft comprises coupling the output shaft to the rear transaxle shaft using a belt.

Assignees

• Polaris Inc

Inventors

• Fields Jason R
• Goulet Jeffrey M

Classifications

• B60W30/188 Primary

  Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power · CPC title

• B60K17/34 Primary

  for driving both front and rear wheels, e.g. four wheel drive vehicles · CPC title

• B60K5/04

  with the engine main axis, e.g. crankshaft axis, transversely to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle · CPC title

• B60K17/22

  characterised by arrangement, location, or type of main drive shafting, e.g. cardan shaft · CPC title

• B60K17/342

  having a longitudinal, endless element, e.g. belt or chain, for transmitting drive to wheels · CPC title