# US 2022/0032912 A1 · All-Wheel Drive System And Method For Operating The Same

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- Number: US 2022/0032912 A1
- Document ID: US20220032912A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/384,772
- Filed: 2021-07-25
- Published: 2022-02-03
- Earliest claimed: 2020-07-30
- Assignees: Polaris Industries Inc.
- Applicants: Polaris Industries Inc.
- Inventors: Jason R. Fields; Jeffrey M. GOULET
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220032912A1

## CPC

- B60W 30/188: Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
- B60K 5/04: with the engine main axis, e.g. crankshaft axis, transversely to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle
- B60K 17/22: characterised by arrangement, location, or type of main drive shafting, e.g. cardan shaft
- B60K 17/34: for driving both front and rear wheels, e.g. four wheel drive vehicles
- B60K 17/342: having a longitudinal, endless element, e.g. belt or chain, for transmitting drive to wheels
- B60K 17/344: having a transfer gear
- B60Y 2200/124: Buggies, Quads
- B60Y 2200/20: Off-Road Vehicles
- B60Y 2400/79: Drive shafts, output shafts or propeller shafts
- B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
- 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
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY

## Abstract

A drive system driving front wheels and rear wheels of a vehicle includes a powertrain comprising an output shaft, a rear driveshaft coupled to the rear wheels, a drive mechanism coupling the output shaft to the rear wheels, a front driveshaft shaft coupled to the front wheels and a prop shaft coupling the rear driveshaft and to the front driveshaft.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A drive system driving front wheels and rear wheels of a vehicle comprising:
a powertrain comprising an output shaft;
a rear driveshaft coupled to the rear wheels;
a drive mechanism coupling the output shaft to the rear wheels;
a front driveshaft coupled to the front wheels; and
a prop shaft coupling the rear driveshaft and to the front driveshaft.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The drive system of claim 1 wherein the powertrain comprises a transmission and the output shaft comprises a transmission shaft.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The drive system of claim 1 wherein the powertrain comprises an engine and a transmission and the output shaft comprises a transmission shaft.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The drive system of claim 1 wherein the powertrain comprises an engine and the output shaft comprises an engine shaft.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The drive system of claim 1 wherein the rear driveshaft comprise a double offset joint.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The drive system of claim 1 wherein the rear driveshaft comprises two half shafts.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The drive system of claim 1 wherein the drive mechanism is coupled to the output shaft through a chain, said chain is coupled to the output shaft through a sprocket.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The drive system of claim 1 wherein the drive mechanism is coupled to the output shaft through a belt, said belt is coupled to the output shaft through a pulley.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The drive system of claim 1 further comprising a rear coupler coupling the rear driveshaft to the prop shaft.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The drive system of claim 9 wherein the rear coupler comprises a rear differential.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The drive system of claim 9 wherein the rear coupler comprises a beveled set of gears.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The drive system of claim 9 wherein the rear coupler comprises a right angle drive.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The drive system of claim 1 further comprising a front coupler coupling the prop shaft to a front driveshaft.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The drive system of claim 13 wherein the front coupler comprises a front differential.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The drive system of claim 13 wherein the front coupler comprises a beveled set of gears or a right angle drive.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The drive system of claim 1 wherein the front driveshaft comprises a first half shaft and a second front half shaft.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The drive system of claim 1 wherein the prop shaft is at least partially disposed directly below the powertrain.

### Claim 18

A method of driving front wheels and rear wheels of a vehicle comprising:
rotating an output shaft of a powertrain;
coupling the output shaft to a rear driveshaft through a drive mechanism;
rotating the rear driveshaft and the rear wheels coupled thereto in response to rotating the output shaft;
coupling a front driveshaft to the rear driveshaft through a prop shaft; and
rotating the front driveshaft coupled to the front wheels.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 wherein coupling the output shaft to the rear driveshaft comprises coupling the output shaft to the rear driveshaft using a chain.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 wherein coupling the output shaft to the rear driveshaft comprises coupling the output shaft to the rear driveshaft using a belt.