All-terrain vehicle

• US 9,944,177 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2017
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Inventors: Fischer, Burton D., Rodriguez, William B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walters, John D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Triggs, James J
• Application Number:
  US15/594,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20170246952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60F 5/003 Off the road or amphibian vehicles adaptable for air or space transport
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/00 Arrangement in connection with cooling of propulsion units heating the interior space B60H; cooling internal combustion engines per se F01P
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/04 Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds B60K11/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/06 with air cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/08 Air inlets for cooling; Shutters or blinds therefor radiator or grille guards B60R19/52
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 13/00 Arrangement in connection with combustion air intake or gas exhaust of propulsion units extensions for melting snow or ice on roads or like surfaces E01H5/00, E01H6/00; forming part of the engine F01N; supplying combustion engines with combustible mixtures or constituents F02M
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 13/02 concerning intake
• 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 17/342 having a longitudinal, endless element, e.g. belt or chain, for transmitting drive to 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: 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: B60Y 2200/124 Buggies, Quads
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/20 Off-Road Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/19 Improvement of gear change, e.g. synchronisation or smoothing gear shift
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/72 Continous variable transmissions [CVT]

Abstract

An all-terrain vehicle (“ATV”) a frame extending along a longitudinal centerline of the ATV. Additionally, the ATV includes a plurality of ground engaging members operably coupled to the frame which includes a first ground-engaging member and a second ground-engaging member positioned on a first side of the longitudinal centerline and a third ground-ground engaging member and a fourth ground-engaging member positioned on a second side of the longitudinal centerline. The ATV further includes a straddle seat supported by the frame and configured to support an operator, an engine supported by the frame, and an engine air inlet fluidly coupled to the engine and positioned forward of the straddle seat.

Claims

1. An ATV, comprising:

a frame extending along a longitudinal centerline of the ATV;

a plurality of ground engaging members operably coupled to the frame and including a first ground-engaging member and a second ground-engaging member positioned on a first side of the longitudinal centerline and a third ground-ground engaging member and a fourth ground-engaging member positioned on a second side of the longitudinal centerline;

a straddle seat supported by the frame and configured to support an operator;

an engine supported by the frame;

an engine air inlet fluidly coupled to the engine and positioned forward of the straddle seat;

a CVT supported by the frame and operably coupled to the engine;

a CVT cooling air inlet fluidly coupled to the CVT and positioned forward of a forwardmost end of the straddle seat;

a CVT cooling air outlet fluidly coupled to the CVT and positioned forward of the forwardmost end of the straddle seat; and

a cooling assembly comprising at least a radiator supported at a front portion of the frame, and uppermost extents of the engine air inlet, the CVT cooling air inlet, and the CVT cooling air outlet are positioned above the radiator.

2. The ATV of claim 1, wherein the engine is supported vertically below the straddle seat.

3. The ATV of claim 1, further comprising a first footwell and a second footwell configured to support the operator when seated on the straddle seat, and the first and second footwells being positioned completely laterally outward of the engine air inlet.

4. The ATV of claim 1, wherein an opening for the engine air inlet faces in a first direction relative to the longitudinal centerline, an opening for the CVT cooling air inlet faces in a second direction relative to the longitudinal centerline, and an opening for the CVT cooling air outlet faces in a third direction relative to the longitudinal centerline, and the first, second, and third directions are different from each other.

5. The ATV of claim 4, further comprising handlebars operably coupled to at least one of the plurality of ground-engaging members, and the CVT cooling air inlet, the CVT cooling air outlet, and the engine air inlet are positioned forward of the handlebars.

6. The ATV of claim 1, wherein an opening of the CVT cooling air outlet is angled relative to the longitudinal centerline.

7. The ATV of claim 6, wherein the opening of CVT cooling air outlet is angled relative to a transverse axis perpendicularly intersecting the longitudinal centerline.

8. The ATV of claim 1, wherein at least one of the engine air inlet, the CVT cooling air inlet, and the CVT cooling air outlet extends upwardly from a hood of the ATV.

9. An ATV, comprising:

a frame extending along a longitudinal centerline of the ATV;

a plurality of ground engaging members operably coupled to the frame;

an operator seat supported by the frame;

an engine supported by the frame; and

a combustion air inlet fluidly coupled to the engine and configured to provide air to the engine for combustion within the engine, and the combustion air inlet is positioned forward of the operator seat, and an opening of the combustion air inlet is angled relative to the longitudinal centerline.

10. The ATV of claim 9, wherein the engine is supported below the operator seat.

11. The ATV of claim 9, further comprising:

a CVT supported by the frame and operably coupled to the engine;

a CVT cooling air inlet fluidly coupled to the CVT and positioned forward of a forwardmost end of the operator seat; and

a CVT cooling air outlet fluidly coupled to the CVT and positioned forward of the forwardmost end of the operator seat.

12. The ATV of claim 11, wherein the combustion air inlet, the CVT cooling air inlet, and the CVT cooling air outlet are at least partially overlapped with each other in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline.

13. The ATV of claim 12, wherein at least two of the combustion air inlet, the CVT cooling air inlet, and the CVT cooling air outlet are laterally aligned with each other.

14. The ATV of claim 11, wherein an opening of at least one of the CVT cooling air inlet and the CVT cooling air outlet is parallel to the longitudinal centerline.

15. The ATV of claim 11, wherein a conduit coupled to the CVT cooling air inlet extends forwardly relative to the CVT cooling air inlet.

21. The ATV of claim 9, wherein a rearward extent of the combustion air inlet is positioned forward of the engine.

22. The ATV of claim 9, wherein the combustion air inlet is angled relative to a lateral axis extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal centerline.

16. An ATV, comprising:

a frame extending along a longitudinal centerline of the ATV;

a plurality of ground engaging members operably coupled to the frame;

a steering assembly operably coupled to at least one of the plurality of ground engaging members through a steering post;

an operator seat supported by the frame;

a body assembly supported by the frame and including a plurality of body panels, and the plurality of body panels includes at least a hood positioned forward of the operator seat;

an engine supported by the frame;

a CVT supported by the frame and operably coupled to the engine; and

a CVT cooling air outlet fluidly coupled to the CVT and positioned forward of the steering post and angled relative to the longitudinal centerline.

17. The ATV of claim 16, wherein an opening of the CVT cooling air outlet is angled relative to vertical.

18. The ATV of claim 17, wherein air flowing from the CVT cooling air outlet is configured to flow through the opening in a generally horizontal plane.

19. The ATV of claim 16, further comprising:

a CVT cooling air inlet fluidly coupled to the CVT and positioned forward of a forwardmost end of the operator seat; and

an engine air inlet fluidly coupled to the engine and positioned forward of the operator seat, and the engine air inlet extends upwardly relative to the hood.

20. The ATV of claim 19, wherein the CVT cooling air inlet, the engine air inlet, and the CVT cooling air outlet extend upwardly relative to the hood.

23. An ATV, comprising:

a frame extending along a longitudinal centerline of the ATV;

a plurality of ground engaging members operably coupled to the frame;

an operator seat supported by the frame;

an engine supported by the frame;

an engine air inlet fluidly coupled to the engine and positioned forward of the operator seat, and an opening of the engine air inlet is angled relative to the longitudinal centerline;

a CVT supported by the frame and operably coupled to the engine;

a CVT cooling air inlet fluidly coupled to the CVT and positioned forward of a forwardmost end of the operator seat; and

a CVT cooling air outlet fluidly coupled to the CVT and positioned forward of the forwardmost end of the operator seat.