Engine and transaxle mounting and suspension system for a vehicle

Abstract

A carrier member for carrying the drive train components of a small, off-road, gasoline-powered vehicle. The carrier is a sheet metal structure having a base panel for carrying a small engine, a rear panel for carrying a transaxle that includes axle shafts extending to the rear drive wheels, and a front panel for receiving a front mount adapted to engage the vehicle frame at a transverse frame cross member. The carrier and associated drive train components constitute a unitized drive train assembly that is suspended from the frame by a pair of leaf springs or a pair of coil springs. Optionally, a torsion bar can be provided to minimize roll of the vehicle during turns. One embodiment of the suspension system includes a Watts link arrangement for minimizing side-to-side movement of the drive train assembly, and a ball-type front mount for connection of the drive train assembly with the vehicle frame in a manner to minimize transfer to the frame of vibrations and torque from the drive train assembly.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.