# US 11,077,750 B2 · Off-road utility vehicle

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- Number: US 11,077,750 B2
- Document ID: US11077750B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/033,973
- Filed: 2018-07-12
- Published: 2019-01-17
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2017-07-12
- Assignees: Arctic Cat Inc.
- Applicants: Arctic Cat Inc.
- Inventors: Zachary John Sundberg; Doug Grangroth; Dustin Keller
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077750B2

## CPC

- B60K 17/34: for driving both front and rear wheels, e.g. four wheel drive vehicles
- B60K 17/22: characterised by arrangement, location, or type of main drive shafting, e.g. cardan shaft
- B60K 17/36: for driving tandem wheels
- B60K 23/08: for changing number of driven wheels {, for switching from driving one axle to driving two or more axles (B60K17/3515 takes precedence)}
- B60K 23/0808: {for varying torque distribution between driven axles, e.g. by transfer clutch}
- B62D 61/10: with more than four wheels {(tractors of the low ground pressure type B62D49/002)}
- F16H 48/05: Multiple interconnected differential sets
- F16H 48/20: Arrangements for suppressing or influencing the differential action, e.g. locking devices
- B60K 2005/003: {the internal combustion or jet propulsion unit is arranged between the front and the rear axle}
- B60K 2023/046: {Axle differential locking means}
- B60K 2023/0891: {with actuator levers, e.g. shift levers or linkage for changing two-wheel to four-wheel drive}
- B60Y 2200/20: Off-Road Vehicles
- B60Y 2400/72: Continous variable transmissions [CVT]
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- F16H: GEARING
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY

## Abstract

An off-road utility vehicle includes a frame, an engine, a continuously variable transmission, a transaxle comprising a rear differential, an intermediate drive assembly comprising an intermediate differential, and a front drive assembly comprising a front differential. The intermediate drive assembly and transaxle are coupled via an intermediate driveshaft and the front drive assembly and the intermediate drive assembly are coupled via a front drive shaft. The front drive shaft and the intermediate drive shaft are counter rotating.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An off-road utility vehicle comprising:
a frame;
an engine;
a continuously variable transmission;
a transaxle comprising a rear differential;
an intermediate drive assembly comprising an intermediate differential; and
a front drive assembly comprising a front differential, wherein the intermediate drive assembly and transaxle are coupled via an intermediate driveshaft and the front drive assembly and the intermediate drive assembly are coupled via a front drive shaft, wherein the front drive shaft and the intermediate driveshaft are inline and counter rotating, wherein the intermediate drive assembly is selectively engaged to communicate motive force received from the intermediate driveshaft to intermediate axles coupled to the intermediate differential, wherein the front drive assembly is selectively engaged to communicate motive force received from the front drive shaft to front axles coupled to the front differential, wherein in a first mode motive force developed by the engine is provided only to the transaxle and the rear differential, wherein in a second mode motive force developed by the engine is provided to the transaxle and the rear differential and to the intermediate drive assembly and the intermediate differential, wherein in a third mode motive force developed by the engine is provided to the transaxle and corresponding rear differential, the intermediate drive assembly and corresponding intermediate differential, and the front drive assembly and corresponding front differential.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The off-road utility vehicle of claim 1, further including:
rear axles coupled to the rear differential and to rear ground engaging members;
wherein the intermediate axles are coupled to the intermediate differential and to intermediate ground engaging members; and
wherein the front axles are coupled to the front differential and to front ground engaging members.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The off-road utility vehicle of claim 2, wherein the rear ground engaging members, intermediate ground engaging members, and front ground engaging members are tires.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The off-road utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein one or more of the rear differential, the intermediate differential, and the front differential is selectively lockable.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The off-road utility vehicle of claim 4, further comprising:
a cab area including one or more seats; and
a dashboard located within the cab area, wherein the dashboard includes one or more controls to allow an operator to selectively engage the intermediate drive assembly, the front drive assembly, and selectively lock the rear differential, the intermediate differential, and the front differential.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The off-road utility vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:
a cab area including one or more seats; and
a dashboard located within the cab area, wherein the dashboard includes one or more controls to allow an operator to select between the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The off-road utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the engine is located between the transaxle and the intermediate drive assembly.

### Claim 8

An off-road utility vehicle comprising:
a frame;
a cargo box;
an engine, wherein the engine is located beneath the cargo box;
a continuously variable transmission;
a transaxle comprising a rear differential;
an intermediate drive assembly comprising an intermediate differential; and
a front drive assembly comprising a front differential, wherein the intermediate drive assembly and transaxle are coupled via an intermediate driveshaft and the front drive assembly and the intermediate drive assembly are coupled via a front drive shaft, wherein the engine is located between the transaxle and the intermediate drive assembly, wherein in a first mode motive force developed by the engine is provided only to the transaxle and the rear differential, wherein in a second mode motive force developed by the engine is provided to the transaxle and the rear differential and to the intermediate drive assembly and the intermediate differential, wherein in a third mode motive force developed by the engine is provided to the transaxle and corresponding rear differential, the intermediate drive assembly and corresponding intermediate differential, and the front drive assembly and corresponding front differential.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The off-road utility vehicle of claim 8,
rear axles coupled to the rear differential and to rear ground engaging members;
intermediate axles coupled to the intermediate differential and to intermediate ground engaging members; and
front axles coupled to the front differential and to front ground engaging members.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The off-road utility vehicle of claim 9, wherein the rear ground engaging members, intermediate ground engaging members, and front ground engaging members are tires.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The off-road utility vehicle of claim 9, wherein the intermediate drive assembly is selectively engaged to communicate motive force received from the intermediate driveshaft to the intermediate axles.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The off-road utility vehicle of claim 11, wherein the front drive assembly is selectively engaged to communicate motive force received from the front drive shaft to the front axles.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The off-road utility vehicle of claim 12, wherein one or more of the rear differential, the intermediate differential, and the front differential is selectively lockable.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The off-road utility vehicle of claim 13, further comprising:
a cab area including one or more seats; and
a dashboard located within the cab area, wherein the dashboard includes one or more controls to allow an operator to selectively engage the intermediate drive assembly, the front drive assembly, and selectively lock the rear differential, the intermediate differential, and the front differential.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The off-road utility vehicle of claim 8, further comprising:
a cab area including one or more seats; and
a dashboard located within the cab area, wherein the dashboard includes one or more controls to allow an operator to select between the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode.

### Claim 16 (depends on 8)

The off-road utility vehicle of claim 8, wherein the front drive shaft and the intermediate drive shaft are counter rotating.

### Claim 17

An off-road utility vehicle comprising:
a frame;
an engine;
a continuously variable transmission;
a transaxle comprising a rear differential;
an intermediate drive assembly comprising an intermediate differential; and
a front drive assembly comprising a front differential, wherein the intermediate drive assembly and transaxle are coupled via an intermediate driveshaft and the front drive assembly and the intermediate drive assembly are coupled via a front drive shaft, wherein the front drive shaft and the intermediate drive shaft are counter rotating, wherein in a first mode motive force developed by the engine is provided only to the transaxle and the rear differential, wherein in a second mode motive force developed by the engine is provided to the transaxle and the rear differential and to the intermediate drive assembly and the intermediate differential, wherein in a third mode motive force developed by the engine is provided to the transaxle and corresponding rear differential, the intermediate drive assembly and corresponding intermediate differential, and the front drive assembly and corresponding front differential.