Remote located clutch

• US 9,592,725 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2014
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arctic Cat Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Arctic Cat Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Tiry, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): VANAMAN, FRANK BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US14/245,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20150283890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 180/291, 180/292, 180/294, 180/297, 180/299
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/02 characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of clutch
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/08 of mechanical type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/22 characterised by arrangement, location, or type of main drive shafting, e.g. cardan shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/28 characterised by arrangement, location, or type of power take-off
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/344 having a transfer gear
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 5/04 with the engine main axis, e.g. crankshaft axis, transversely to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/124 Buggies, Quads
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/72 Continous variable transmissions [CVT]
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/01 Motorcycles with four or more wheels specially adapted for disabled riders B62K5/003
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A drive package includes a remote located CVT and a motor where the CVT is positioned rearward (or forward) of the motor. An auxiliary drive mechanism couples a drive shaft of the CVT to a crankshaft of the motor. The auxiliary drive mechanism is a belt or chain. The drive shaft is substantially parallel to, and longitudinally offset from, the crankshaft. Thus, the width of the drive package is reduced as compared to ATVs having a CVT located adjacent the motor. A method of making an ATV with the drive package is provided.

Claims

1. An all-terrain vehicle having a sitting area with a reduced riding width, the all-terrain vehicle comprising:

a front ground engaging member and a rear ground engaging member, at least one of said ground engaging members for moving the vehicle;

a motor having a crankshaft, the motor positioned rearward of the front ground engaging member;

a crankcase, wherein a first portion of the crankshaft is internal to the crankcase and a second portion of the crankshaft is external to the crankcase;

an auxiliary drive mechanism that is external to the crankcase;

a CVT having a drive shaft and a driven shaft, wherein the auxiliary drive mechanism rotatably couples the drive shaft to the second portion of the crankshaft, the drive shaft is positioned rearward of the crankshaft such that the drive shaft is longitudinally and vertically offset from the crankshaft, and the driven shaft is rotatably coupled to an output member for rotating one or both of the front and rear ground engaging members; and

a centrifugal clutch attached to one of the crankshaft or the drive shaft,

wherein the crankshaft has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to, and spatially forward of, a longitudinal axis of the drive shaft.

2. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, wherein the crankshaft is oriented transverse to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and the auxiliary drive mechanism extends from a lateral end of the crankshaft and is rotatably coupled to the drive shaft of the CVT.

3. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 2, further comprising a secondary drive mechanism rotatably coupled to the drive shaft for providing motive power to at least one auxiliary device.

4. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary drive mechanism is one of a belt, a chain, or a shaft extending from an end of the crankshaft at a lateral side of the motor.

5. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a stator coupled to the crankshaft and positioned either on an opposing side of the motor from the crankshaft or on the drive shaft of the CVT .

6. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, wherein each of the crankshaft, the drive shaft, the driven shaft, the output member, and the rear axle include an axis of rotation substantially parallel to each other.

7. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a supplemental gear attached to the drive shaft for powering at least one device attachable to the vehicle upon rotation of the drive shaft.

8. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, wherein the motor and the CVT define a predefined drive envelope having a predefined width, wherein the predefined width is between 23 inches and 16 inches.

9. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, wherein the motor and the CVT define a predefined drive envelope having a predefined width, wherein the predefined width is 21.5 inches or less.