Three wheeled vehicle

• US 8,695,746 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2012
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• 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): TO, TOAN C
• Application Number:
  US13/425,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20120241239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 180/210, 180/217, 180/312, 180/69.4, 180/781, 180/786, 180/787, 180/908, 280/786, 280/787
• US Class Current: 180/210
• 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 with a frame sidewall providing a substantially flat surface, with recesses in the flat surface. Alignment arms have inner ends and outer ends, where the inner ends are mounted to the frame sidewall, and the outer ends mount a wheel hub. The inner ends have couplings with pivotal portions and fixed portions, the pivotal portions being at least partially positioned within the recesses, and the fixed portions being attached to the substantially flat surface.

Claims

1. A three wheeled vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle frame;

a front suspension coupled to the frame comprising a left front suspension assembly, and a right front suspension assembly;

front wheels, defined by a front left wheel coupled to the left front suspension assembly, and a right wheel coupled to the right front suspension assembly;

an engine supported by the frame;

at least one seat positioned rearward of the engine;

a single rear wheel coupled to the frame rearward of the at least one seat;

a first sprocket coupled to the single rear wheel; and

a final drive member drivingly coupled to the engine, and supported by the frame, the final drive member having a second sprocket coupled to the first sprocket, the final drive member having an unlocked positioned to the frame where the final drive member is movable longitudinally relative to the frame and the real wheel, and a locked position where the final drive member is longitudinally fixed relative to the frame.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the rear wheel is coupled to a rear swing arm and the rear swing arm is coupled to the frame.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the rear swing arm and the final drive member are coupled to the frame.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the final drive member is movably coupled relative to the rear swing arm.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the rear swing arm and the final drive member are coupled about a line transverse to a vehicle longitudinal axis.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a drive shaft coupling the engine and final drive member.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the drive shaft and final drive member are rotationally fixed, and longitudinally movable, relative to each other.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the drive shaft and final drive member are rotationally fixed by way of longitudinally extending splines.

9. A three wheeled vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle frame including a final drive mount adjacent a rear of the frame;

a front suspension coupled to the frame comprising a left front suspension assembly, and a right front suspension assembly;

front wheels, defined by a front left wheel coupled to the left front suspension assembly, and a right wheel coupled to the right front suspension assembly;

an engine supported by the frame;

a transmission operably coupled to the engine;

at least one seat positioned rearward of the engine;

a single rear wheel coupled to the frame rearward of the at least one seat;

a first sprocket coupled to the single rear wheel;

a final drive member drivingly coupled to the engine and the transmission, and supported by the final drive mount, the final drive member being spaced apart from the engine and the transmission, and the final drive member having a second sprocket coupled to the first sprocket; and

a rear swing arm coupled to the final drive mount and supporting the rear wheel.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the rear wheel is coupled to the final drive member and has an unlocked positioned where the final drive member is movable longitudinally relative to the frame and the real wheel, and a locked position where the final drive member is longitudinally fixed relative to the frame.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the final drive member is movably coupled relative to the rear swing arm.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the rear swing arm and the final drive member are coupled about a line transverse to a vehicle longitudinal axis.

13. The vehicle of claim 9, further comprising a drive shaft operably coupling the transmission and final drive member, and extending longitudinally between the final drive member and the transmission.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the drive shaft and final drive member are rotationally fixed, and longitudinally movable, relative to each other.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the drive shaft and final drive member are rotationally fixed by way of longitudinally extending splines.

16. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein a shaft extends through the final drive member, the final drive mount and the swing arm.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the final drive mount includes two generally parallel walls.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the final drive member includes an extension portion having an aperture therethrough receiving the shaft.