Back to results
US 12,409,882 B2Granted
All-terrain vehicle
AssigneePolaris Industries Inc.
InventorRyan K. Lovold
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ATV is shown having a steering system comprised of a power steering unit having drive and driven pitman arms coupled to a drag link. The drive pitman arm is laterally offset from a vehicle centerline and is driven by the power steering unit. An alternate power steering system includes a pack and pinion subassembly coupled to a power steering motor, which then couples to steering arms of the ATV.
Claims19
An all-terrain vehicle (ATV), comprising:
- a frame;
- ground engaging members supporting the frame, including front and rear ground engaging members;
- front right and left suspensions, at least one of the right and left suspensions including an upper arm and a lower arm;
- front wheel steering mechanisms including right and left knuckles pivotally coupled to the respective front right and left suspensions;
- a power steering unit coupled to the frame, the power steering unit including an output shaft which is coupled to the right and left knuckles for steering;
- a first stop member positioned on each of the front right and left suspension, the first stop member defined on the lower arm;
- and
- a second stop member positioned on each of the right and left knuckles and configured to receive a portion of the first stop member therein,
- wherein the first and second stop members cooperate to provide extreme rotational positions for the power steering unit, wherein the extreme rotational positions are defined by the knuckle.
6 more elements
A suspension structure of an all-terrain vehicle comprising:
- a shock absorber;
- an upper arm and a lower arm operatively coupled to the shock absorber;
- a knuckle coupled between the upper arm and the lower arm;
- a stopper defined by the knuckle and configured to regulate a displacement angle between the lower arm and the knuckle, the stopper defining an arcuate slot;
- and
- a projection defined by the lower arm and configured to abut surfaces of the stopper during rotation.
3 more elements
An all-terrain vehicle comprising:
- a frame;
- ground engaging members supporting the frame, including front and rear ground engaging members;
- a front suspension including an upper arm and a lower arm;
- a front wheel steering mechanism including a knuckle pivotably coupled to the front suspension;
- a power steering unit coupled to the frame and configured for steering, the power steering unit including an output shaft which is coupled to the knuckle;
- a projection member defined by the lower arm;
- and
- a stopper defined by the knuckle and configured to regulate a displacement angle between the lower arm and the knuckle,
- wherein the stopper defines an arcuate slot, and
- wherein the projection is configured to abut surfaces of the stopper during rotation of the power steering unit.
7 more elements
A suspension structure of an all-terrain vehicle comprising:
- a shock absorber;
- an upper arm and a lower arm operatively coupled to the shock absorber;
- a knuckle coupled between the upper arm and the lower arm;
- a stopper defined by the knuckle and configured to regulate a displacement angle between the lower arm and the knuckle, wherein the stopper includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and the surfaces of the stopper include a first extreme contact surface at the first end and a second extreme contact surface at the second end;
- and
- a projection defined by the lower arm and configured to abut surfaces of the stopper during rotation.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.