Vehicle

• US 7,950,486 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2008
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Inventors: Stenberg, Kurt E., Gardner, Jeffrey L., Van Bronkhorst, Kevin, Jacobs, Robert A., McArdle, Patrick James, Schiebel, Steven M., Kinsman, Anthony J., Brady, Louis J., Hurd, Chris J., Gass, D. Brett, Knutson, Kelly J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US12/135,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20090302590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 180/89.1, 180/89.11, 280/756, 296/37.1, 296/37.12, 296/37.8, 296/70
• US Class Current: 180/89.11
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 15/063 characterised by the mounting of the spring on the damper B60G15/065, B60G15/066 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/021 the mechanical spring being a coil spring B60G17/0272 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/18 Multilink suspensions, e.g. elastokinematic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/312 The spring being a wound spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/42 Electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/416 Ball or spherical joints
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4502 using resilient buffer
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/60 Subframe construction
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/024 Light trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/012 The seat support being a part of the vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/13 Roll-over protection electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/04 electrical, e.g. using an electric servo-motor connected to, or forming part of, the steering gear

Abstract

A utility vehicle is disclosed. The utility vehicle may include storage areas under the dash. The utility vehicle may include suspension systems for utility vehicles having shocks with both a fluidic stiffness adjustment and a mechanical stiffness adjustment. The utility vehicle may include an electrical power steering.

Claims

1. A utility vehicle comprising:

a frame;

a power source supported by the frame;

seating supported by the frame, the seating having at least one seat bottom member and at least one seat back member;

an operator area adapted for use by a vehicle operator when the vehicle is in motion, the at least one seat bottom member and the at least one seat back member being positioned within the operator area;

a roll cage supported by the frame and positioned to protect the operator area;

a plurality of ground engaging members supporting the frame above the ground, the plurality of ground engaging members including at least two front ground engaging members positioned forward of the operator area and at least two ground engaging members located rearward of the operator area, wherein at least one of the plurality of ground engaging members are operatively coupled to the power source to propel the utility vehicle relative to the ground;

a braking system including at least one brake operatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of ground engaging members and a brake pedal supported by the frame, positioned in the operator area, and operatively coupled to the brake;

an acceleration pedal supported by the frame, positioned in the operator area, and operatively coupled the power source;

a dashboard supported by the frame and located above the acceleration pedal and forward of the seating; and

at least one storage bin open to the operator area at a position lower than the dashboard.

2. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one storage bin is positioned lower than a top portion of the seat bottom member.

3. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one storage bin is positioned opposite the seating in the operator area.

4. The utility vehicle of claim 3, wherein the at least one storage bin is positioned below the dashboard.

5. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one storage bin includes a first storage bin positioned to a first lateral side of the accelerator pedal and a second storage bin positioned to a second lateral side of the accelerator pedal.

6. The utility vehicle of claim 5, wherein the first storage bin includes a first bottom surface and the second storage bin includes a second bottom surface, the first bottom surface and the second bottom surface being angled downward from a front portion of the respective storage bin to a back portion of the respective storage bin to assist in retaining cargo placed in the respective first storage bin and second storage bin.

7. The utility vehicle of claim 6, wherein the first bottom surface and the second bottom surface are angled about 15 degrees.

8. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one storage bin includes a plurality of storage bins as part of a under dash body panel.

9. The utility vehicle of claim 8, further comprising a steering assembly including a steering rod operatively coupled to the at least two front ground engaging members and a steering wheel supported by the frame and extending into the operator area through an opening in the dashboard and an opening in the under dash body panel, the steering wheel being operatively coupled to the steering rod to control an orientation of the at least two front ground engaging members.

10. The utility vehicle of claim 8, wherein the under dash body panel includes an upper portion which defines a glove box and the dashboard includes an opening for accessing the glove box.

11. The utility vehicle of claim 10, wherein the under dash body panel defines a first opening for the glove box having a first width and defines a front panel for the glove box which when positioned over the first opening for the glove box provides an access opening to the glove box having a width less than the first width of the opening.

12. The utility vehicle of claim 11, wherein the front panel is coupled to the remainder of the under dash storage panel through a living hinge.

13. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the power source is positioned rearward of the dashboard.

14. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the dashboard supports a modular instrument panel which may be uncoupled from the dashboard.

32. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein a first storage bin of the at least one storage bin is rearward facing.

33. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein a first storage bin of the at least one storage bin is completely below the dashboard.

15. A utility vehicle comprising:

a frame;

a power source supported by the frame;

seating supported by the frame, the seating having at least one seat bottom surface and at least one seat back surface;

an operator area adapted for use by a vehicle operator when the vehicle is in motion, the at least one seat bottom surface and the at least one seat back surface being positioned within the operator area;

a roll cage supported by the frame and positioned to protect the operator area;

a plurality of ground engaging members supporting the frame above the ground, the plurality of ground engaging members including at least two front ground engaging members positioned forward of the operator area and at least two ground engaging members located rearward of the operator area, wherein at least one of the plurality of ground engaging members are operatively coupled to the power source to propel the utility vehicle relative to the ground;

a dashboard body panel member supported by the frame and located above the acceleration pedal and forward of the seating;

a floor body panel member supported by the frame and positioned below the dashboard and defining at least one floor surface; and

at least one intermediate body panel member positioned between the dashboard body panel member and the floor body panel member, wherein the at least one intermediate body panel member substantially blocks air from a front portion of the utility vehicle from entering the operator area between the dashboard body panel member and the floor body panel member.

16. The utility vehicle of claim 15, wherein the at least one intermediate body panel member defines at least one storage bin open to the operator area.

17. The utility vehicle of claim 16, wherein the at least one intermediate body panel member includes an under dash body panel member coupled to the dashboard body panel member and a front body panel member coupled to the floor body panel member, the under dash body panel member and the front body panel member overlapping and the under dash body panel member including the storage bins.

18. The utility vehicle of claim 17, wherein the storage bins are angled down towards a front end of the utility vehicle.

19. The utility vehicle of claim 15, wherein the at least one intermediate body panel member define a first storage bin which is accessible through an opening in the dashboard body panel member.

20. The utility vehicle of claim 19, wherein the at least one intermediate body panel member further defines a second storage bin open to the operator area.

21. A vehicle comprising:

a frame;

a power source supported by the frame;

seating supported by the frame, the seating having at least one seat bottom surface and at least one seat back surface;

an operator area adapted for use by a vehicle operator when the vehicle is in motion, the at least one seat bottom surface and the at least one seat back surface being positioned within the operator area;

a plurality of ground engaging members supporting the frame above the ground, the plurality of ground engaging members including at least two front ground engaging members positioned forward of the operator area and at least two ground engaging members located rearward of the operator area, wherein at least one of the plurality of ground engaging members are operatively coupled to the power source to propel the vehicle relative to the ground; and

a body panel defining a storage bin and supported by the frame, the body panel having a first portion defining a plurality of side surfaces of the storage bin and a back surface of the storage bin and a second portion defining a front surface of the storage bin and an access opening into an interior of the storage bin, wherein the second portion is coupled to the first portion through a living hinge.

22. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein the storage bin has a first width and the access opening has a second width, the second width being less than the first width.

23. The vehicle of claim 22, wherein the storage bin is a glove box and the body panel is positioned behind a dashboard body panel such that the access opening is generally aligned with a glove box opening in the dashboard body panel.

24. The vehicle of claim 23, further comprising a glove box cover which is coupled to dashboard body panel when in a closed position and is coupled to the body panel in both an open position and the closed position.

25. A utility vehicle comprising:

a frame;

a power source supported by the frame;

seating supported by the frame, the seating having at least one seat bottom member and at least one seat back member;

an operator area adapted for use by a vehicle operator when the vehicle is in motion, the at least one seat bottom member and the at least one seat back member being positioned within the operator area;

a roll cage supported by the frame and positioned to protect the operator area;

a plurality of ground engaging members supporting the frame above the ground, the plurality of ground engaging members including at least two front ground engaging members positioned forward of the operator area and at least two ground engaging members located rearward of the operator area, wherein at least one of the plurality of ground engaging members are operatively coupled to the power source to propel the utility vehicle relative to the ground;

a steering assembly including a steering rack supported by the frame and a steering wheel supported by the frame, the steering assembly further including a power steering unit positioned between the steering rack and the steering wheel and operatively coupled to both the steering rack and the steering wheel;

a dashboard supported by the frame, the power steering unit being positioned behind the dashboard; and

a parking brake input in the operator area and a gear shift input, the parking brake input being on a first side of the steering wheel and the gear shift input on a second side of the steering wheel.

26. The utility vehicle of claim 25, wherein the power steering unit is an electronic power steering unit.

27. The utility vehicle of claim 25, wherein the roll cage couples to the frame through at least one forward attachment members and the power steering unit is positioned rearward of the forward attachment members.

28. A utility vehicle comprising:

a frame;

a power source supported by the frame;

side-by-side seating supported by the frame, the side-by-side seating having at least one seat bottom member and at least one seat back member;

an operator area adapted for use by a vehicle operator when the vehicle is in motion, the at least one seat bottom member and the at least one seat back member being positioned within the operator area;

a roll cage supported by the frame and positioned to protect the operator area;

a plurality of ground engaging members supporting the frame above the ground, the plurality of ground engaging members including at least two front ground engaging members positioned forward of the operator area and at least two rear ground engaging members located rearward of the operator area, wherein at least one of the plurality of ground engaging members are operatively coupled to the power source to propel the utility vehicle relative to the ground;

a front differential operatively coupled to the power source through a first drive line and operatively coupled to the at least two front ground engaging members through a plurality of output shafts, the front differential being configurable to control when power is provided from the first drive line to the plurality of output shafts;

a rear differential operatively coupled to the power source through a second drive line and operatively coupled to the at least two rear ground engaging members; and

a steering assembly including a steering rack supported by the frame and a steering wheel supported by the frame, the steering assembly further including a power steering unit positioned between the steering rack and the steering wheel and operatively coupled to both the steering rack and the steering wheel;

wherein the power steering unit is configured to vary an amount of steering assist provided based on a speed of the vehicle.

29. The utility vehicle of claim 28, wherein the amount of steering assist varies over a range of speeds of the vehicle.

30. The utility vehicle of claim 29, wherein the power steering unit provides a first amount of assist at a first speed and a second amount of assist at a second speed, the second speed being higher than the first speed and the second amount of assist being less than the first amount of assist.

31. The utility vehicle of claim 28, wherein the amount of assist is provided by a speed profile selected from a plurality of speed profiles, the selection being made through an operator input.

34. The utility vehicle of claim 28, wherein the plurality of outputs shafts includes a first output shaft operatively coupled to a first, front ground engaging member and a second output shaft operatively coupled to a second, front ground engaging member.

35. The utility vehicle of claim 34, wherein in a first configuration the front differential withholds power from one of the first output shaft and the second output shaft.

36. The utility vehicle of claim 35, wherein in the first configuration the front differential provides power to the other one of the first output shaft and the second output shaft.

37. The utility vehicle of claim 34, wherein in a second configuration the front differential provides power to both of the first output shaft and the second output shaft.