Component arrangement for an all terrain vehicle

• US 20020033295A1
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Published: 03/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Ehlers, Wilfried, Holzleitner, Johann, Korenjak, Norbert
• Granted Patent: US 6,896,087 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/292
• CPC Class Codes: F01B 1/12 Separate cylinder-crankcase elements coupled together to form a unit
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/02 Arrangements of lubricant conduits
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 13/04 having means for purifying air before leaving crankcase, e.g. removing oil
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2013/0422 Separating oil and gas with a centrifuge device
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2013/0461 with a labyrinth
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/027 four
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/1808 two
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2275/08 Endless member is a chain
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2275/20 SOHC [Single overhead camshaft]
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 61/02 for driving cycles
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 61/045 for outboard marine engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 67/04 of mechanically-driven auxiliary apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/16 Engines characterised by number of cylinders, e.g. single-cylinder engines F02B75/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/20 with cylinders all in one line
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/22 with cylinders in V, fan, or star arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/224 with cylinders in fan arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F02F 1/4214 specially adapted for four or more valves per cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: F02F 2001/245 the valve stems being orientated at an angle with the cylinder axis
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/006 Assembling or mounting of starting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 5/02 of spring type
• CPC Class Codes: F05C 2201/021 : Aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 55/56 : of which the bearing parts are relatively axially adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 55/563 : actuated by centrifugal masses
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/662 : with endless flexible members
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 9/12 : engaging a pulley built-up out of relatively axially-adjustable parts in which the belt engages the opposite flanges of the pulley directly without interposed belt-supporting members
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23078 : Input a code representing a sequence of operations
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25092 : Customized control features, configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25115 : Card, board with configuration switches
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2637 : Vehicle, car, auto, wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19093 : Spur and bevel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19102 : Belt or chain

Abstract

An all terrain vehicle (“ATV”) is disclosed having a frame with front, rear, right, and left sides. The frame defines a frame centerline extending longitudinally between the front and the rear sides. The ATV includes an engine with at least one cylinder having an axis that defines an engine centerline. The all terrain vehicle also includes an output shaft defining an output shaft centerline. A continuously variable transmission (“CVT”) operatively connects the engine to the output shaft and defines a CVT centerline. The engine centerline, output shaft centerline, and CVT centerline are positioned with respect to one another and the frame centerline. In one embodiment, the engine centerline is disposed between the output shaft centerline and the CVT centerline. In this embodiment, the engine centerline also may lie between the frame centerline and the CVT centerline.

Claims

1. An all terrain vehicle, comprising:

a frame with front, rear, right, and left sides defined according to a forward travel direction, wherein the frame defines a frame centerline extending longitudinally between the front and rear sides;

a plurality of wheels disposed on the frame;

an engine disposed on the frame, wherein the engine comprises at least one cylinder with an axis defining an engine centerline extending longitudinally between the front and rear sides;

a continuously variable transmission operatively connected to the engine, wherein the continuously variable transmission defines a continuously variable transmission centerline extending longitudinally between the front and rear sides; and

an output shaft operatively connecting the continuously variable transmission to at least one of the plurality of wheels, wherein the output shaft defines an output shaft centerline extending longitudinally between the front and rear sides;

wherein the engine centerline is disposed between the output shaft centerline and the continuously variable transmission centerline.

2. The all terrain vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the frame centerline also is disposed between the output shaft centerline and the continuously variable transmission centerline.

3. The all terrain vehicle of claim 2, wherein:

the frame centerline is disposed between the output shaft centerline and the engine centerline.

4. The all terrain vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the engine centerline and the continuously variable transmission centerline are both disposed on one side of the frame centerline.

5. The all terrain vehicle of claim 2, wherein:

the continuously variable transmission centerline is disposed on the left side of the frame.

6. The all terrain vehicle of claim 3, wherein:

the engine centerline is disposed on the left side of the frame.

7. The all terrain vehicle of claim 4, wherein:

both the engine centerline and the continuously variable transmission centerline are disposed on the left side of the frame.

8. The all terrain vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the cylinder is disposed toward the rear side of the frame.

9. The all terrain vehicle of claim 2, wherein:

the cylinder is disposed toward the rear side of the frame.

10. The all terrain vehicle of claim 3, wherein:

the cylinder is disposed toward the rear side of the frame.

11. The all terrain vehicle of claim 4, wherein:

the cylinder is disposed toward the rear side of the frame.

12. The all terrain vehicle of claim 5, wherein:

the cylinder is disposed toward the rear side of the frame.

13. The all terrain vehicle of claim 6, wherein:

the cylinder is disposed toward the rear side of the frame.

14. The all terrain vehicle of claim 7, wherein:

the cylinder is disposed toward the rear side of the frame.

16. The all terrain vehicle of claim 15, further comprising:

a continuously variable transmission operatively connected between the engine and the output shaft,

wherein the cylinder is positioned between the output shaft and the continuously variable transmission.

17. The all terrain vehicle of claim 16, wherein the continuously variable transmission further comprises:

a drive pulley operatively connected to the crankshaft;

a driven pulley operatively connected to the output shaft; and

a belt operatively connecting the drive pulley to the driven pulley,

wherein the cylinder is positioned between the output shaft and the belt.

18. The all terrain vehicle of claim 15, wherein:

the cylinder is disposed at the rear side of the frame.

19. The all terrain vehicle of claim 16, wherein:

the cylinder is disposed at the rear side of the frame.

20. The all terrain vehicle of claim 17, wherein:

the cylinder is disposed at the rear side of the frame.

15. An all terrain vehicle, comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of wheels disposed on the frame;

an engine disposed on the frame, the engine including a cylinder disposed adjacent a crankshaft and a generator operatively connected to the crankshaft; and

an output shaft operatively connected to the engine to transmit power from the engine to at least one of the plurality of wheels;

wherein the output shaft is disposed between the cylinder and the generator.

21. An all terrain vehicle, comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of wheels disposed on the frame;

an engine disposed on the frame, the engine including a cylinder disposed adjacent a crankshaft;

a continuously variable transmission operatively connected to the engine; and

an output shaft operatively connected to the continuously variable transmission to transmit power from the engine to at least one of the plurality of wheels;

wherein the cylinder is positioned between the output shaft and the continuously variable transmission.

22. The all terrain vehicle of claim 21, wherein the continuously variable transmission further comprises:

a drive pulley operatively connected to the crankshaft;

a driven pulley operatively connected to the output shaft; and

a belt operatively connecting the drive pulley to the driven pulley,

wherein the cylinder is positioned between the output shaft and the belt.

23. The all terrain vehicle of claim 21, wherein:

the cylinder is disposed at the rear side of the frame.

24. The all terrain vehicle of claim 22, wherein:

the cylinder is disposed at the rear side of the frame.

26. The all terrain vehicle of claim 25, wherein:

the drive pulley axis is disposed rearward of the driven pulley axis.

27. The all terrain vehicle of claim 25, wherein:

the crankshaft axis and the drive pulley axes are disposed rearward of the driven pulley axis.

25. An all terrain vehicle, comprising:

a frame with front, rear, right, and left sides defined according to a forward travel direction;

a plurality of wheels disposed on the frame;

an engine disposed on the frame, the engine including a crankshaft defining a crankshaft axis;

an output shaft operatively connected to the engine to transmit power from the engine to at least one of the plurality of wheels; and

a continuously variable transmission operatively connected between the engine and the output shaft, the continuously variable transmission comprising a drive pulley operatively connected to the crankshaft, the drive pulley defining a drive pulley axis, a driven pulley operatively connected to the output shaft, the driven pulley defining a driven pulley axis, and a belt operatively connecting the drive pulley to the driven pulley;

wherein the crankshaft axis is disposed rearward of the driven pulley axis.