Three-wheeled vehicle

• US 10,300,971 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2016
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Inventors: Holroyd, James A. J., Aramayo, Gustavo A., Hohenstein, Jason J., Wiest, Mathew Bradley, Bennett, Jeffrey D., Ziliak, Mark Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Condra, Darlene P
• Application Number:
  US15/374,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20170120972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/326 with two laterally spaced pivots, e.g. trailing frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/143 on the vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/02 Attaching arms to sprung part of vehicle B60G7/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/04 characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of gearing electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/043 Transmission unit disposed in on near the vehicle wheel, or between the differential gear unit and the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 5/02 with the engine main axis, e.g. crankshaft axis, substantially in or parallel to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/18 characterised by the vehicle type and not provided for in groups B62D21/02 - B62D21/17
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 23/005 with integrated chassis in the whole shell, e.g. meshwork, tubes, or the like B62D33/044 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/065 with single rear wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 1/00 Saddles or other seats for cycles; Arrangement thereof; Component parts
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 17/10 Ventilation or air guiding devices forming part of fairings
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2003/125 Tandems with side-by-side seating
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2201/08 Fluid springs
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/04 for mounting axles resiliently on cycle frame or fork for sidecars, forecars or the like B62K27/06
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/283 for cycles without a pedal crank, e.g. motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/05 characterised by a single rear wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/06 Frames for tricycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/08 with steering devices acting on two or more wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 7/02 Frames

Abstract

A three-wheeled vehicle is disclosed having a vehicle frame supported by front ground engaging members and a single rear ground engaging member. The vehicle includes an engine positioned forward of an operator area and a swing arm coupled to the single rear ground engagement member. The operator area of the vehicle may include seating for a driver and a passenger.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a frame having a seating support area and a final drive mount positioned rearward of the seating support area, the final drive mount having opposing first and second walls;

a final drive coupled to the final drive mount, the final drive having a housing with an aperture at a rear side thereof and a sprocket extending through the second of the opposing walls, the final drive housing being positioned between the opposing walls;

a swing arm having front couplers along a front thereof;

at least one rear wheel coupled to the swing arm; and

a coupling member being coupled to the first and second walls and extending through the front couplers and the aperture thereby coupling the swing arm to the final drive housing, the coupling member causing an abutment on an inner side of the second wall.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the abutment is rearward of the sprocket.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the swing arm has two front couplers, and one of the front couplers is positioned between the opposing walls and the other of the front couplers is positioned outside of the second wall.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the one front coupler is positioned between the first wall and the final drive housing.

5. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the opposing walls have apertures generally aligned with the front couplers and the final drive aperture, and the coupling member extends through the apertures in the opposing walls.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the coupling member urges the final drive housing against the first wall creating the abutment.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the aperture through the first wall is threaded, and the coupling member is threadably engaged with the aperture in the first wall.

8. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the front couplers include first and second bearings and the coupling member extends through the bearings, the first bearing being proximate the first wall and the second bearing being proximate the second wall.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the first bearing has an inner bearing retaining portion, and the coupling member has a shoulder which contacts the inner bearing retaining portion of the first bearing, the coupling member urging the first bearing into contact with the final drive housing and the final drive housing being in abutment with the second wall.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein a portion of the coupling member extends through the second wall and the second bearing is positioned over the portion of the coupling member.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the portion of the coupling member is positioned rearward of the sprocket.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the coupling member functions as an axle for the front couplers.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the coupling member is the axle with at least two threaded portions.

14. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the second bearing includes an inner retaining portion which contacts an outer side of the second wall.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the first and second bearings each include an outer race which allows the front couplers and the swing arm to rotate relative to the coupling member.

16. A vehicle, comprising:

a frame having a seating support area and a final drive mount positioned rearward of the seating support area, the final drive mount having opposing first and second walls;

a final drive coupled to the final drive mount, the final drive having a housing with an aperture at a rear side thereof along a first lateral axis and a first sprocket coupled to the housing along a second lateral axis, the second lateral axis being forward of the first lateral axis, the first sprocket extending through the second of the opposing walls;

a swing arm having front couplers along a front thereof and a second sprocket adjacent a rear thereof;

at least one rear wheel coupled to the swing arm;

a belt entrained around the first and second sprockets; and

a coupling member being coupled to at least the first wall and extending through the front couplers and the aperture thereby coupling the swing arm to the final drive housing, the coupling member causing a force exerted on an inner side of the second wall rearward of the sprocket.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein coupling member is coupled to the first and second walls.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the swing arm has two front couplers, and one of the front couplers is positioned between the opposing walls and the other of the front couplers is positioned outside of the second wall.

19. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the one front coupler is positioned between the first wall and the final drive housing.

20. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the final drive housing is positioned between the first and second walls.

21. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the opposing walls have apertures generally aligned with the front couplers and the final drive aperture, and the coupling member extends through the apertures in the opposing walls.

22. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein the aperture through the first wall is threaded, and the coupling member is threadably engaged with the aperture in the first wall.

23. The vehicle of claim 22, wherein the coupling member urges the final drive housing against the first wall.

24. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein the front couplers include first and second bearings and the coupling member extends through the bearings, the first bearing being proximate the first wall and the second bearing being proximate the second wall.

25. The vehicle of claim 24, wherein the first bearing has an inner bearing retaining portion, and the coupling member has a shoulder which contacts the inner bearing retaining portion of the first bearing, the coupling member urging the first bearing into contact with the final drive housing and the final drive housing being in abutment with the second wall.

26. The vehicle of claim 25, wherein a portion of the coupling member extends through the second wall and the second bearing is positioned over the portion of the coupling member.

27. The vehicle of claim 26, wherein the portion of the coupling member is positioned rearward of the sprocket.

28. The vehicle of claim 27, wherein the coupling member functions as an axle for the front couplers.

29. The vehicle of claim 28, wherein the coupling member is the axle with at least two threaded portions.

30. The vehicle of claim 24, wherein the second bearing includes an inner retaining portion which contacts an outer side of the second wall.

31. The vehicle of claim 30, wherein the first and second bearings each include an outer race which allows the front couplers and the swing arm to rotate relative to the coupling member.

32. A vehicle, comprising:

a frame having a seating support area and a final drive mount positioned rearward of the seating support area, the final drive mount having opposing first and second walls;

a final drive coupled to the final drive mount, the final drive having a housing with an aperture at a rear side thereof and a first sprocket extending through the second of the opposing walls;

a swing arm having two front couplers along a front thereof and a second sprocket adjacent a rear thereof, one of the front couplers is positioned between the opposing walls and the other of the front couplers is positioned outside of the second wall;

at least one rear wheel coupled to the swing arm;

a belt entrained around the first and second sprockets; and

a coupling member being coupled to the first and second walls and extending through the front couplers and the aperture thereby coupling the swing arm to the final drive housing, the coupling member causing a force exerted on an inner side of the second wall rearward of the sprocket.

33. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein the final drive housing is positioned between the first and second walls.

34. The vehicle of claim 33, wherein the one front coupler is positioned between the first wall and the final drive housing.

35. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein the opposing walls have apertures generally aligned with the front couplers and the final drive aperture, and the coupling member extends through the apertures in the opposing walls.

36. The vehicle of claim 35, wherein the aperture through the first wall is threaded, and the coupling member is threadably engaged with the aperture in the first wall.

37. The vehicle of claim 36, wherein the coupling member urges the final drive housing against the first wall.

38. The vehicle of claim 37, wherein the front couplings include first and second bearings and the coupling member extends through the bearings, the first bearing being proximate the first wall and the second bearing being proximate the second wall.

39. The vehicle of claim 38, wherein the first bearing has an inner bearing retaining portion, and the coupling member has a shoulder which contacts the inner bearing retaining portion of the first bearing, the coupling member urging the first bearing into contact with the final drive housing and the final drive housing being in abutment with the second wall.

40. The vehicle of claim 39, wherein a portion of the coupling member extends through the second wall and the second bearing is positioned over the portion of the coupling member.

41. The vehicle of claim 40, wherein the portion of the coupling member is positioned rearward of the sprocket.

42. The vehicle of claim 41, wherein the coupling member functions as an axle for the front couplers.

43. The vehicle of claim 42, wherein the coupling member is the axle with at least two threaded portions.

44. The vehicle of claim 38, wherein the second bearing includes an inner retaining portion which contacts an outer side of the second wall.

45. The vehicle of claim 44, wherein the first and second bearings each include an outer race which allows the front couplings and the swing arm to rotate relative to the coupling member.