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US 12,214,664 B2Granted
Powertrain for a utility vehicle
AssigneePolaris Industries Inc.
InventorsAnthony J. Ripley, Andrew C. Schleif, Alex R. Scheuerell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An off-road vehicle includes a powertrain assembly having an engine and a steel belt continuously variable transmission. Portions of the powertrain assembly are supported at a rear portion of the vehicle and are positioned relative to other components of the vehicle also supported at the rear portion of the vehicle. The vehicle also is configured for various operating modes.
Claims35
A utility vehicle, comprising:
- a plurality of ground-engaging members;
- a frame assembly supported on the plurality of ground-engaging members and extending along a longitudinal axis;
- and
- a powertrain assembly supported by the frame assembly and comprising an engine and a transmission, the engine being mechanically coupled to and rearward of the transmission and longitudinally aligned with a portion of the transmission in a fore/aft direction of the utility vehicle, wherein:
- an output of the engine is positioned to a first side of a vertical plane that is parallel to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- an output of the transmission is positioned to a second side of the vertical plane;
- and
- the transmission is a continuously variable transmission comprising a steel belt, the steel belt including a plurality of steel blocks with steel bands extending along both sides of the steel blocks, wherein a disconnect is positioned between the output of the transmission and the plurality of ground-engaging members, wherein the disconnect is configured to decouple the ground-engaging members from power at the output of the transmission, the disconnect including having a shaft, a seal, a first bearing, a second bearing, and a collar.
6 more elements
A utility vehicle, comprising:
- a plurality of ground-engaging members;
- a frame assembly supported on the plurality of ground-engaging members and extending along a longitudinal axis;
- a cargo area supported on the frame assembly;
- and
- a powertrain assembly supported by the frame assembly and comprising an engine, a transmission, and a prop shaft operably coupled to the transmission and the plurality of ground-engaging members, the engine comprising a crankcase and a cylinder body positioned above the crankcase, and the cylinder body being angled relative to vertical toward a side of the utility vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and positioned below a portion of the cargo area and over a portion of the prop shaft.
2 more elements
A utility vehicle, comprising:
- a plurality of ground-engaging members;
- a frame assembly supported on the plurality of ground-engaging members and extending along a longitudinal axis;
- and
- a powertrain assembly supported by the frame assembly and comprising an engine, a transmission operably coupled to the engine, and a prop shaft operably coupled to the transmission, wherein, from a rear view of the utility vehicle, an output of the engine is positioned to a first side of the longitudinal axis, an output of the transmission is positioned to a second side of the longitudinal axis, and the prop shaft is configured to rotate in a clockwise direction for forward movement of the utility vehicle, wherein the transmission is a continuously variable transmission comprising a steel belt, the steel belt including a plurality of steel blocks with steel bands extending along both sides of the steel blocks, a disconnect positioned between the output of the driven pulley of the transmission and the plurality of ground-engaging members, wherein the disconnect is configured to decouple the ground-engaging members from power at the output of the transmission, the disconnect including having a shaft, a seal, a first bearing, a second bearing, and a collar.
1 more element
A utility vehicle, comprising:
- a plurality of front ground-engaging members;
- a plurality of rear ground-engaging members;
- a frame assembly supported on the plurality of front and rear ground-engaging members and extending along a longitudinal axis;
- and
- a powertrain assembly supported by the frame assembly and comprising an engine, a steel belt continuously variable transmission operably coupled to the engine and comprising a drive pulley and a driven pulley, a prop shaft operably coupled to the transmission, and a disconnect positioned between an output of the driven pulley of the transmission and the plurality of rear ground-engaging members, wherein:
- the disconnect is configured to decouple the rear ground-engaging members from power at the output of the transmission, the disconnect including having a shaft, a seal, a first bearing, a second bearing, and a collar;
- an output of the engine is positioned to a first side of a vertical plane that is parallel to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- an output of the transmission is positioned to a second side of the vertical plane.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.