Vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12172518-B2
Application number	US-202318109445-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2023
Priority date	Apr 30, 2019
Publication date	Dec 24, 2024
Grant date	Dec 24, 2024

Abstract

A vehicle includes a frame, front and rear wheels, a powertrain comprising an engine and transmission, and various other systems and components. The frame includes various features for supporting components and systems of the vehicle. For example, a rear portion of the frame is configured to support a utility bed, a portion of a cooling system, a portion of an air intake system, and a portion of an exhaust system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle, comprising:
a frame comprising a main frame portion and a front removable frame portion;
front and rear wheels;
a front suspension coupled to the main frame portion with the front wheels being coupled to the front suspension;
a rear suspension coupled to the main frame portion with the rear wheels being coupled to the rear suspension; and
a powertrain drivingly coupled to the front and rear wheels;
wherein the front removable frame portion may be removed from the main frame portion to expose a portion of the powertrain,
wherein the main frame portion includes a front suspension mounting portion, and the main frame portion is configured to support the portion of the powertrain.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the front suspension mounting portion includes upper couplings for mounting a portion of the front suspension.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the upper couplings are adapted for mounting the portion of the powertrain.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the upper couplings include left and right couplings, the left and right couplings including spaced apart sidewalls defining a receiving space for the portion of the powertrain.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the portion of the powertrain is a front final drive.

6. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the upper couplings are adapted for mounting the front removable frame portion.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the upper couplings include insert portions having a cylindrical portion which receives a fastener to couple the front removable frame portion thereto.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the insert portions also align the front removable frame portion to the main frame portion.

9. A vehicle, comprising:
a frame comprising a main frame portion and a front removable frame portion;
front and rear wheels;
a front suspension coupled to the main frame portion with the front wheels being coupled to the front suspension;
a rear suspension coupled to the main frame portion with the rear wheels being coupled to the rear suspension; and
a powertrain drivingly coupled to the front and rear wheels;
wherein the front removable frame portion may be removed from the main frame portion to expose a portion of the powertrain,
wherein the main frame portion includes a front suspension mounting portion,
wherein the front suspension mounting portion includes upper adapted for mounting the portion of the powertrain.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the upper couplings include left and right couplings, the left and right couplings including spaced apart sidewalls defining a receiving space for the portion of the powertrain.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the portion of the powertrain is a front final drive.

12. A vehicle, comprising:
a frame comprising a main frame portion and a front removable frame portion;
front and rear wheels;
a front suspension coupled to the main frame portion with the front wheels being coupled to the front suspension;
a rear suspension coupled to the main frame portion with the rear wheels being coupled to the rear suspension; and
a powertrain drivingly coupled to the front and rear wheels;
wherein the front removable frame portion may be removed from the main frame portion to expose a portion of the powertrain,
wherein the main frame portion includes a front suspension mounting portion,
wherein the front suspension mounting portion includes upper couplings adapted for mounting the front removable frame portion.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the upper couplings include insert portions having a cylindrical portion which receives a fastener to couple the front removable frame portion thereto.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the insert portions also align the front removable frame portion to the main frame portion.

Assignees

• Polaris Inc

Inventors

• Rasa Joshua A
• Helgeson David D
• Hansen Donald S
• Scheuerell Alex R
• Franker Steven R
• Nelson Stephen L
• Peterman Jeffrey I
• Dickinson Owen A
• Giese Timothy J
• Lovold Ryan K

Classifications

• B62D27/023

  Assembly of structural joints · CPC title

• B62D33/0207

  Connections of movable or detachable racks or stanchions to platforms · CPC title

• B60K17/165

  provided between independent half axles (B60K17/18, B60K17/20 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60K17/08

  of mechanical type · CPC title

• B60K17/043 Primary

  Transmission unit disposed in on near the vehicle wheel, or between the differential gear unit and the wheel · CPC title