Side-by-side vehicle

• US 8,746,719 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2010
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Inventors: Safranski, Brian M., Peterson, Robbi L., Sunsdahl, Richard L., Deckard, Aaron D., Brady, Louis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, DREW J
• Application Number:
  US12/849,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20120031688A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,407 Days
• Field of Search: 280/124.148, 280/124.152, 280/124.137, 280/124.128, 280/124.135, 280/124.134, 280/124.136, 280/124.149, 280/124.153, 280/124.145, 280/124.154, 280/124.111
• US Class Current: 280/124.148
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/144 with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/1442 including longitudinal rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/182 with one longitudinal arm or rod and lateral rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/12 Wound spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/24 Fluid damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/128 Damper mount on vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/129 Damper mount on wheel suspension or knuckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/143 on the vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/16 the arm having a U profile and/or made of a plate
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/07 Off-road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/124 Quads
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/13 Small sized city motor vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/14 the arm being rigid
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/20 all arms being rigid
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/202 having one longitudinal arm and two parallel transversal arms, e.g. dual-link type strut suspension
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/22 a rigid arm forming the axle housing
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/006 Attaching arms to sprung or unsprung part of vehicle, characterised by comprising attachment means controlled by an external actuator, e.g. a fluid or electrical motor B62D7/146 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/008 Attaching arms to unsprung part of vehicle B60G7/005, B60G7/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/06 with air cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 13/02 concerning intake
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/00 : Arrangement or mounting of transmissions in vehicles clutches per se, e.g. construction thereof, F16D; gearing per se, e.g. construction thereof, F16H
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/165 : provided between independent half axles B60K17/18, B60K17/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/34 : for driving both front and rear wheels, e.g. four wheel drive vehicles arrangement or mounting of control devices for changing number of driven wheels B60K23/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/348 : having differential means for driving one set of wheels, e.g. the front, at one speed and the other set, e.g. the rear, at a different speed B60K17/346 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/354 : having separate mechanical assemblies for transmitting drive to the front or to the rear wheels or set of wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2005/003 : the internal combustion or jet propulsion unit is arranged between the front and the rear axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/124 : Buggies, Quads
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/20 : Off-Road Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/72 : Continous variable transmissions [CVT]
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2410/124 : Welded parts
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/183 : specially adapted for sports vehicles, e.g. race, dune buggies, go-karts tubular skeleton B62D23/005
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 63/04 : Component parts or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49815 : Disassembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A vehicle may include a CVT unit or a power source which requires ambient air. An air inlet for an air intake system coupled to the CVT unit or the power source which requires ambient air may be provided in a side of a cargo carrying portion of the vehicle. The vehicle may include a rear radius arm suspension.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of ground engaging members supporting the frame;

a power source supported by the frame and operatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of ground engaging members to propel the vehicle;

an operator area supported by the frame, the operator area including seating and operator controls;

a rear drive unit supported by the frame and positioned rearward of the operator area, the rear drive unit being operatively coupled to the power source and operatively coupled to a first ground engaging member positioned rearward of the operator area through a first half shaft to transfer power received from the power source to the first ground engaging member and to a second ground engaging member positioned rearward of the operator area through a second half shaft to transfer power received from the power source to the second ground engaging member, the first ground engaging member being positioned on a first side of a vertical centerline longitudinal plane of the vehicle and the second ground engaging member being positioned on a second side of the vertical centerline longitudinal plane of the vehicle;

a first rear suspension system moveably coupling the first ground engaging member to the frame, the first rear suspension system including

a first radius arm coupled to the first ground engaging member and coupled to the frame at a first location forward of the first ground engaging member,

a first control arm coupled to the first ground engaging member and to the frame;

a first dampening member coupled to the first radius arm and to the frame;

a second rear suspension system moveably coupling the second ground engaging member to the frame, the second rear suspension system including

a second radius arm coupled to the second ground engaging member and coupled to the frame at a second location forward of the second ground engaging member,

a second control arm coupled to the second ground engaging member and to the frame;

a second dampening member coupled to the second radius arm and to the frame; and

a sway bar coupling the first rear suspension to the second rear suspension, the sway bar being coupled to the frame at a location forward of the power source.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the location at which the sway bar is coupled to the frame is rearward of the first location and the second location.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the sway bar is coupled to the first radius arm through a first link and the sway bar is coupled to the second radius arm through a second link.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the location at which the sway bar is coupled to the frame is rearward of the first location and the second location.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first control arm is coupled to the frame at a fourth location, the power source being positioned between the first location and the fourth location.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the location at which the sway bar is coupled to the frame is rearward of the first location and the second location.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising

a front drive unit operatively coupled to the power source and operatively coupled to a third ground engaging member positioned forward of the operator area and a fourth ground engaging member positioned forward of the operator area, the third ground engaging member being positioned on the first side of the vertical centerline longitudinal plane of the vehicle and the fourth ground engaging member being positioned on the second side of the vertical centerline longitudinal plane of the vehicle;

and

a CVT operatively coupled to the power source, the rear drive unit and the front drive unit being operatively coupled to the power source through the CVT.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the first radius arm is coupled to a first bearing carrier and the first control arm is moveably coupled to the first bearing carrier, the first half shaft being located forward of the first control arm.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising a third control arm, the third control arm is moveably coupled to the first bearing carrier, wherein the first bearing carrier includes an opening through which the first half shaft is operatively coupled to the first ground engaging member and the rear drive unit.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the first control arm is rotatably coupled to the first bearing carrier about a first axis positioned above the opening in the first bearing carrier and the third control arm is rotatably coupled to the first bearing carrier about a second axis positioned below the opening in the first bearing carrier.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the third control arm is rotatably coupled to the frame about a third pivot axis, the third pivot axis being positioned laterally within an envelope of the rear drive unit.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the third control arm has a longer length than the first control arm.

13. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the CVT is positioned completely rearward of the first location.

14. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the vehicle has a ground clearance of at least about 10 inches.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the ground clearance is about 13.5 inches.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the third control arm has a longer length than the first control arm.

17. A vehicle, comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of ground engaging members supporting the frame;

a power source supported by the frame and operatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of ground engaging members to propel the vehicle;

an operator area supported by the frame, the operator area including side-by-side seating and operator controls;

a rear drive unit supported by the frame and positioned rearward of the operator area, the rear drive unit being operatively coupled to the power source and operatively coupled to a first ground engaging member positioned rearward of the operator area through a first half shaft to transfer power received from the power source to the first ground engaging member and to a second ground engaging member positioned rearward of the operator area through a second half shaft to transfer power received from the power source to the second ground engaging member, the first ground engaging member being positioned on a first side of a vertical centerline longitudinal plane of the vehicle and the second ground engaging member being positioned on a second side of the vertical centerline longitudinal plane of the vehicle;

a first rear suspension system moveably coupling the first ground engaging member to the frame, the first rear suspension system including a first moveable arm;

a second rear suspension system moveably coupling the second ground engaging member to the frame, the second rear suspension system including a second moveable arm; and

a sway bar coupling the first rear suspension to the second rear suspension, the sway bar being coupled to the frame at a location forward of the power source.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the sway bar is coupled to the first moveable arm and the second moveable arm.

19. The vehicle of claim 18, further comprising a front drive operatively coupled to the power source and operatively coupled to a third ground engaging member positioned forward of the operator area and a fourth ground engaging member positioned forward of the operator area, the third ground engaging member being positioned on the first side of the vertical centerline longitudinal plane of the vehicle and the fourth ground engaging member being positioned on the second side of the vertical centerline longitudinal plane of the vehicle.

20. The vehicle of claim 17, further comprising

a front drive unit operatively coupled to the power source and operatively coupled to a third ground engaging member positioned forward of the operator area and a fourth ground engaging member positioned forward of the operator area, the third ground engaging member being positioned on the first side of the vertical centerline longitudinal plane of the vehicle and the fourth ground engaging member being positioned on the second side of the vertical centerline longitudinal plane of the vehicle;

and

a CVT operatively coupled to the power source, the rear drive unit and the front drive unit being operatively coupled to the power source through the CVT.

21. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein the first suspension is moveably coupled to the frame at a first location forward of the CVT and at a second location rearward of the CVT.

22. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein the second location is rearward of the rear drive unit.

23. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein the first suspension includes an upper link and a lower link, the upper link and the lower link extending generally along a longitudinal extent of the vehicle, a rear portion of the upper link being further spaced from the vertical centerline longitudinal plane of the vehicle than a front portion of the upper link.

24. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein the upper link and the lower link are moveably coupled to the frame forward of the CVT.

25. The vehicle of claim 24, wherein the first suspension includes an upper control arm moveably coupled to the frame and a lower control arm moveably coupled to the frame, the upper control arm and the lower control arm being coupled to the frame rearward of the CVT.

26. The vehicle of claim 25, wherein the upper control arm and the lower control arm are coupled to the frame rearward of the rear drive unit.

27. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein the first suspension includes an upper link and a lower link, the upper link and the lower link extending generally along a longitudinal extent of the vehicle, a rear portion of the upper link being further spaced from the vertical centerline longitudinal plane of the vehicle than a front portion of the upper link, the first suspension further includes an upper control arm moveably coupled to the frame and a lower control arm moveably coupled to the frame, the upper control arm and the lower control arm being coupled to the frame rearward of the CVT, the upper control arm and the lower control arm extending generally transverse to the vertical centerline longitudinal plane.

28. The vehicle of claim 27, wherein the upper link and the lower link are coupled to a first bearing carrier, the upper control arm and the lower control arm are coupled to the first bearing carrier, the first half shaft being located forward of the upper control arm.

29. The vehicle of claim 28, wherein the upper control arm is rotatably coupled to the first bearing carrier about a first axis positioned above the opening in the first bearing carrier and the lower control arm is rotatably coupled to the first bearing carrier about a second axis positioned below the opening in the first bearing carrier.

30. The vehicle of claim 29, wherein the lower control arm is rotatably coupled to the frame about a third pivot axis, the third pivot axis being positioned laterally within an envelope of the rear drive unit.

31. The vehicle of claim 30, wherein the lower control arm has a longer length than the upper control arm.

32. The vehicle of claim 31, wherein the vehicle has a ground clearance of at least about 10 inches.

33. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein the ground clearance is about 13.5 inches.