Utility vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016176284-A1
Application number	US-201414577902-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 19, 2014
Priority date	Dec 19, 2014
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A utility vehicle includes a plurality of ground-engaging members, a frame supported by the ground-engaging members, and a powertrain assembly. The powertrain assembly includes an engine, a shiftable transmission, a continuously variable transmission, and a charger. Additionally, the utility vehicle may include a cooling assembly fluidly coupled to at least the engine and the charger.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A utility vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of ground-engaging members; a frame supported by the ground-engaging members; an operator area having side-by-side seating supported by the frame; and a powertrain assembly including:
an engine having a first cylinder, a second cylinder in line with the first cylinder, and a crankshaft, the engine being configured to operate with a 270-degree firing timing; and
a gaseous charger operably coupled to the engine.

2 . The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first cylinder includes a first piston and the second cylinder includes a second piston, and a 270-degree rotation of the crankshaft moves the first piston from a top dead center position in the first cylinder and moves the second piston to a top dead center position in the second cylinder.

3 . The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the powertrain assembly further includes a continuously variable transmission operably coupled to the engine and a shiftable transmission operably coupled to the engine through the continuously variable transmission.

4 . The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the gaseous charger is a turbocharger positioned at least partially forward of the engine and at least partially rearward of the operator area.

5 . The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a front portion and a rear portion, and the rear portion includes a lateral frame member extending generally perpendicularly to a longitudinal centerline of the utility vehicle and a frame arm is coupled to the lateral frame member and the gaseous charger.

6 . The utility vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the lateral frame member is coupled to an oil sump of the engine.

7 . The utility vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a cooling assembly operably coupled to the powertrain assembly and having a first cooling circuit operably coupled to the engine and configured to alter a temperature of the engine and a second cooling circuit operably coupled to the gaseous charger and configured to alter a temperature of intake air received within the engine.

8 . The utility vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the second cooling circuit includes an electric pump.

9 . The utility vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the second cooling circuit includes a liquid-to-air intercooler.

10 . The utility vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the intercooler is positioned within an intake manifold of the engine.

11 . The utility vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the intercooler is removably coupled to the intake manifold of the engine.

12 . The utility vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising an engine control unit operably coupled to the powertrain assembly to initiate the 270-degree firing order in the engine.

13 . A utility vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of ground-engaging members; a frame supported by the ground-engaging members; an operator area including side-by-side seating; and a powertrain assembly supported by the frame and including:
an engine supported by the frame;
a turbocharger operably coupled to the engine and having a turbine housing supporting a turbine and a compressor housing supporting a compressor; and
an exhaust manifold integral with the turbine housing of the turbocharger.

14 . The utility vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the exhaust manifold includes a plurality of exhaust intake ports.

15 . The utility vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the exhaust manifold is a cast member having a fixed geometry and positioned intermediate the engine and the compressor housing.

16 . The utility vehicle of claim 13 , further comprising an air intake assembly operably coupled to the engine and including an air filter, an air conduit extending from the filter to the turbocharger, and a blow-off conduit fluidly coupled to the air conduit and including a blow-off valve which moves between an open position and a closed position in response to compressor surge conditions.

17 . The utility vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the engine includes a first cylinder and a second cylinder in line with the first cylinder, and the engine is configured for 270-degree firing timing.

18 . The utility vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the engine includes an oil sump and an oil intake conduit fluidly coupled to a first portion of the turbocharger and the oil sump and is configured to supply oil from the oil sump of the engine to the turbocharger.

19 . The utility vehicle of claim 18 , wherein an oil return conduit is fluidly coupled to a second portion of the turbocharger and the oil sump and is configured to return oil from the turbocharger to the oil sump.

20 . The utility vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the oil return conduit is coupled to the engine at a position above a sump level.

21 . The utility vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the powertrain assembly further includes a continuously variable transmission and a shiftable transmission operably coupled to the engine through the continuously variable transmission.

22 . A unitary housing member for a powertrain assembly of a vehicle, comprising:
an exhaust manifold configured to mount to an engine; and a turbine housing of a turbocharger integral with the exhaust manifold.

23 . The unitary housing member of claim 22 , wherein the exhaust manifold includes a mount surface configured to abut a portion of the engine and the turbine housing of the turbocharger is coupled to a compressor housing of the turbocharger.

24 . The unitary housing member of claim 22 , wherein the turbine housing of the turbocharger is supported via its mounting to the engine.

25 . The unitary housing member of claim 24 , wherein the exhaust manifold includes a plurality of exhaust intake ports.

26 . The unitary member of claim 24 , further comprising an exhaust surface configured to couple with an exhaust tube of the vehicle, the exhaust surface being integral with the exhaust manifold and the turbine housing.

27 . The unitary member of claim 22 , wherein the exhaust manifold is cantilevered from the engine.

Assignees

• Polaris Inc

Inventors

• Nugteren Daniel J
• Schlangen Adam J
• Jenni Hans-Rudolf
• Lafata John
• Hicke David
• Hurd Christopher J
• Jaeger Ricky
• Deckard Aaron D
• Schleif Andrew C

Classifications

• F16H55/563

  actuated by centrifugal masses · CPC title

• B60K11/02

  with liquid cooling · CPC title

• B60K13/02

  concerning intake · CPC title

• B60K13/04 Primary

  concerning exhaust · CPC title

• 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