Small vehicle with power steering assembly
AssigneesYamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., Kayaba Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsSatoshi Tanigaki, Toshiaki Nomura
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An all terrain vehicle has a pair of front wheels that support a frame assembly. An engine is supported by the frame assembly and a steering column is supported by the frame assembly at a location generally forward of the engine. A set of handlebars are connected to an upper portion of the steering column and a lower portion of the steering column is operatively connected to the pair of front wheels. A power steering assembly is disposed along a portion of the steering column. The power steering assembly is operatively connected to the steering column. The power steering assembly comprises a motor having a longitudinal axis that extends in a generally lateral direction and at least a portion of the motor overlies a portion of the frame assembly.
Claims39
An all terrain vehicle comprising:
- a frame assembly having a longitudinal portion and an upright portion;
- a pair of front wheels, each of the front wheels being connected to the frame assembly by a mechanical linkage capable of pivotal movement relative to the frame assembly;
- a steering shaft mounted to the frame assembly and operatively connected to the front wheels such that rotational movement of the steering shaft imparts a steering movement to the front wheels;
- and
- a power steering assembly having a longitudinal axis, the power steering assembly operatively connected to the steering shaft and configured to impart an auxiliary torque to the steering shaft;
- the longitudinal axis of the power steering assembly being oriented substantially perpendicular to the rotatable steering shaft and at least a portion of the power steering assembly being positioned directly above a longitudinal portion of the frame assembly with said longitudinal axis not extending in a fore-and-aft direction.
An all terrain vehicle comprising:
- a frame assembly having a longitudinal portion and an upright portion;
- a plurality of wheels supporting the frame assembly, at least one of the wheels being steerable by a rotatable steering shaft;
- and
- a power steering assembly having a longitudinal axis, the power steering assembly operatively connected to the steering shaft and configured to impart an auxiliary torque to the steering shaft;
- the longitudinal axis of the power steering assembly being oriented substantially perpendicular to the rotatable steering shaft and at least a portion of the power steering assembly vertically overlapping a portion of the frame assembly and said longitudinal axis not extending in a fore-and-aft direction.
An all terrain vehicle comprising a pair of front wheels, the pair of front wheels supporting a frame assembly, an engine being supported by the frame assembly, a steering column supported by the frame assembly, a set of handlebars connected to an upper portion of the steering column, a lower portion of the steering column operatively connected to the pair of front wheels, a power steering assembly disposed along a portion of the steering column, the power steering assembly operatively connected to the steering column, the power steering assembly comprising a motor having a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis of the motor extending in a generally lateral direction and at least a portion of the motor overlying a portion of the frame assembly.
An all terrain vehicle comprising a frame assembly, an engine supported by the frame assembly, a seat and a fuel tank supported by the frame assembly, the engine being positioned generally below at least one of the seat and the fuel tank, a pair of steerable front wheels supporting a forward portion of the frame assembly, at least one tie rod being connected to at least one of the pair of front wheels, a steering shaft mounted to the frame assembly and extending downward in a region generally forward of the engine, the steering shaft supplying a torque that causes movement of the tie rod, a power steering assembly operatively connected to the steering shaft and being configured to impart an auxiliary torque to the steering shaft, and at least a portion of the power steering assembly extending over a longitudinally extending portion of the frame assembly and said portion of said power steering assembly not extending in a fore-and-aft direction.
An all terrain vehicle comprising:
- a frame assembly having a longitudinal portion and an upright portion;
- a pair of front wheels, each of the front wheels being connected to the frame assembly by a mechanical linkage capable of pivotal movement relative to the frame assembly,
- a steering shaft mounted to the frame assembly and operatively connected to the front wheels such that rotational movement of the steering shaft imparts a steering movement to the front wheels;
- and
- a power steering assembly having a longitudinal axis, the power steering assembly operatively connected to the steering shaft and configured to impart an auxiliary torque to the steering shaft;
- the longitudinal axis of the power steering assembly being oriented substantially perpendicular to the rotatable steering shaft and at least a portion of the power steering assembly being positioned directly above a longitudinal portion of the frame assembly;
- a radiator positioned forward of the power steering assembly and an engine positioned rearward of the power steering assembly;
- and a cooling water supply hose hydraulically connecting the radiator and the engine, the cooling water supply hose extending between the radiator and the engine at a height vertically higher than the power steering assembly.
An all terrain vehicle comprising:
- a frame assembly having a longitudinal portion and an upright portion;
- a plurality of wheels supporting the frame assembly, at least one of the wheels being steerable by a rotatable steering shaft;
- and
- a power steering assembly having a longitudinal axis, the power steering assembly operatively connected to the steering shaft and configured to impart an auxiliary torque to the steering shaft;
- the longitudinal axis of the power steering assembly being oriented substantially perpendicular to the rotatable steering shall and at least a portion of the power steering assembly vertically overlapping a portion of the frame assembly;
- a radiator positioned forward of the power steering assembly and an engine positioned rearward of the power steering assembly;
- and
- a cooling water supply hose hydraulically connecting the radiator and the engine, the cooling water supply hose extending above the power steering assembly.
An all terrain vehicle comprising:
- a frame assembly having a longitudinal portion and an upright portion;
- a plurality of wheels supporting the frame assembly, at least one of the wheels being steerable by a rotatable steering shaft;
- and
- a power steering assembly having a longitudinal axis, the power steering assembly operatively connected to the steering shaft and configured to impart an auxiliary torque to the steering shaft;
- the longitudinal axis of the power steering assembly being oriented substantially perpendicular to the rotatable steering shaft and at least a portion of the power steering assembly vertically overlapping a portion of the frame assembly,
- the power steering assembly further comprising a power steering drive motor having a drive shaft oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the power steering assembly and a first worm gear attached to the drive shaft of the power steering drive motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.