Utility vehicle
AssigneeKawasaki Motors, Ltd.
InventorYoshimoto Matsuda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A utility vehicle includes: a pair of front wheels; a pair of rear wheels; at least one front wheel power source configured to drive the front wheels and not to drive the rear wheels; at least one rear wheel power source configured to drive the rear wheels and not to drive the front wheels; and a controller that controls the front wheel power source and the rear wheel power source. Upon receiving a predetermined two-wheel drive command, the controller brings the front wheel power source into a non-operative state while allowing the rear wheel power source to drive the rear wheels. Upon receiving a predetermined four-wheel drive command, the controller brings the front wheel power source into operation while allowing the rear wheel power source to drive the rear wheels.
Claims16
A utility vehicle comprising:
- a pair of front wheels;
- a pair of rear wheels;
- at least one front wheel power source configured to drive the front wheels and not to drive the rear wheels;
- at least one rear wheel power source configured to drive the rear wheels and not to drive the front wheels;
- and
- a controller that controls the front wheel power source and the rear wheel power source, wherein
- upon receiving a predetermined two-wheel drive command, the controller brings the front wheel power source into a non-operative state while allowing the rear wheel power source to drive the rear wheels,
- upon receiving a predetermined four-wheel drive command, the controller brings the front wheel power source into operation while allowing the rear wheel power source to drive the rear wheels, and
- upon receiving a predetermined specific travel command, the controller temporarily causes the front wheel power source to operate until a predetermined front wheel drive stopping condition is satisfied, even when the two-wheel drive command is received.
A utility vehicle comprising:
- a pair of front wheels that consists of a left front wheel and a right front wheel;
- a pair of rear wheels;
- at least one front wheel power source configured to drive the front wheels and not to drive the rear wheels;
- at least one rear wheel power source configured to drive the rear wheels and not to drive the front wheels;
- a controller that controls the front wheel power source and the rear wheel power source;
- a left clutch configured to disable power transmission from the front wheel power source to the left front wheel;
- a right clutch configured to disable power transmission from the front wheel power source to the right front wheel;
- and
- a clutch actuator that actuates the left clutch and the right clutch, wherein
- upon receiving a predetermined two-wheel drive command, the controller brings the front wheel power source into a non-operative state while allowing the rear wheel power source to drive the rear wheels,
- upon receiving a predetermined four-wheel drive command, the controller brings the front wheel power source into operation while allowing the rear wheel power source to drive the rear wheels,
- the left clutch and the right clutch are clutches actuated by hydraulic pressure, and
- the clutch actuator comprises:
- a hydraulic pump driven by the rear wheel power source;
- and
- a control valve unit configured to allow hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic pump to be applied to the left clutch and the right clutch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.