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US 8,029,021 B2Granted
Vehicle
AssigneePolaris Industries Inc.
InventorsJoshua J. Leonard, Richard Raymond Maki, Eric Bjerketvedt, Michael D. Schneider, Bradley Robert Morisch, Brian D. Krosschell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle (100) is disclosed. The vehicle may include a base portion (104) and a modular portion (112). The base portion may be a four wheel vehicle having an operator area (114) with seating for at least two occupants in a side-by-side arrangement. The modular portion may be coupled to the base portion resulting in a six wheel vehicle. The wheels (102) of the modular portion may be powered by an engine (500) of the base portion.
Claims35
A utility vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of ground engagement members;
- a main frame supported by a first portion of the plurality of ground engagement members, the first portion of the plurality of ground engagement members arranged on a plurality of longitudinally spaced axles;
- a modular frame supported by a second portion of the plurality of ground engagement members;
- an engine supported by the main frame and configured to provide power to at least one of the plurality of ground engagement members of the second portion of the ground engagement members;
- a transmission operatively coupled to the engine, the transmission includes a continuously variable transmission which receives power from the engine and provides power to the at least one of the plurality of ground engagement members of the second portion of the ground engagement members;
- an operator area supported by the main frame, the operator area including seating for at least two occupants in a side-by-side arrangement, steering controls operatively coupled to at least a portion of the plurality of ground engagement members, and engine controls operatively coupled to the engine, wherein the modular frame is removably coupled to the main frame through at least three spaced apart connections which substantially prevent the modular frame from pivoting relative to the main frame when the modular frame is coupled to the main frame.
3 more elements
A utility vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of ground engagement members;
- a main frame supported by a first portion of the plurality of ground engagement members;
- a modular frame supported by a second portion of the plurality of ground engagement members;
- an engine supported by the main frame and configured to provide power to at least one of the plurality of ground engagement members, the engine being operatively coupled to the second portion of the ground engagement members;
- an operator area supported by the main frame, the operator area including seating for at least two occupants in a side-by-side arrangement, steering controls operatively coupled to at least a portion of the plurality of ground engagement members, and engine controls operatively coupled to the engine, wherein the modular frame is removably coupled to the main frame through at least three spaced apart connections which substantially prevent the modular frame from pivoting relative to the main frame when the modular frame is coupled to the main frame, wherein the plurality of ground engagement members are arranged on a front axle, a rear axle, and at least one intermediate axle, the first portion of the plurality of ground engagement members being arranged on the front axle and at least a first intermediate axle and the second portion of the plurality of ground engagement members being arranged on the rear axle, about 65% of a weight of the vehicle is supported by the first intermediate axle.
2 more elements
A utility vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of ground engagement members;
- a main frame supported by a first portion of the plurality of ground engagement members;
- a modular frame supported by a second portion of the ground engagement members;
- and
- an engine supported by the main frame and configured to provide power to at least one of the first portion of the plurality of ground engagement members and to at least one of the second portion of the plurality of ground engagement members;
- wherein the modular frame is removably coupled to the main frame through at least three spaced apart connections which substantially prevent the modular frame from pivoting relative to the main frame when the modular frame is coupled to the main frame and wherein the plurality of ground engagement members are arranged on a front axle, a rear axle, and at least one intermediate axle, the first portion of the plurality of ground engagement members being arranged on the front axle and at least a first intermediate axle and the second portion of the plurality of ground engagement members being arranged on the rear axle, wherein the second portion of the plurality of ground engagement members are further arranged on a second intermediate axle.
3 more elements
A utility vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of ground engagement members;
- a main frame supported by a first portion of the plurality of ground engagement members;
- a modular frame supported by a second portion of the ground engagement members;
- and
- an engine supported by the main frame and configured to provide power to at least one of the first portion of the plurality of ground engagement members and to at least one of the second portion of the plurality of ground engagement members;
- an exhaust system coupled to the engine;
- a transmission operatively coupled to the engine;
- a front differential operatively coupled to the transmission and to at least one ground engagement member of the front axle;
- a first intermediate differential operatively coupled to the transmission and to at least one ground engagement member of the first intermediate axle;
- and
- a rear differential operatively coupled to the transmission through a connection to the first intermediate differential and to at least one ground engagement member of the rear axle;
- wherein the modular frame is removably coupled to the main frame through at least three spaced apart connections which substantially prevent the modular frame from pivoting relative to the main frame when the modular frame is coupled to the main frame and the plurality of ground engagement members are arranged on a front axle, a rear axle, and at least one intermediate axle, the first portion of the plurality of ground engagement members being arranged on the front axle and at least a first intermediate axle and the second portion of the plurality of ground engagement members being arranged on the rear axle, wherein the exhaust system is completely disposed forward of the rear axle.
9 more elements
A utility vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of ground engagement members;
- a main frame supported by a first portion of the plurality of ground engagement members;
- a modular frame supported by a second portion of the ground engagement members;
- and
- an engine supported by the main frame and configured to provide power to at least one of the first portion of the plurality of ground engagement members and to at least one of the second portion of the plurality of ground engagement members;
- a transmission operatively coupled to the engine, wherein the transmission includes a continuously variable transmission;
- a front differential operatively coupled to the transmission and to at least one ground engagement member of the front axle;
- a first intermediate differential operatively coupled to the transmission and to at least one ground engagement member of the first intermediate axle;
- and
- a rear differential operatively coupled to the transmission through a connection to the first intermediate differential and to at least one ground engagement member of the rear axle;
- wherein the modular frame is removably coupled to the main frame through at least three spaced apart connections which substantially prevent the modular frame from pivoting relative to the main frame when the modular frame is coupled to the main frame and the plurality of ground engagement members are arranged on a front axle, a rear axle, and at least one intermediate axle, the first portion of the plurality of ground engagement members being arranged on the front axle and at least a first intermediate axle and the second portion of the plurality of ground engagement members being arranged on the rear axle.
8 more elements
A method of configuring a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- providing a functional base vehicle portion including a first plurality of ground engagement members, a main frame supported by the first plurality of ground engagement members, the first plurality of ground engagement members arranged on a plurality of longitudinally spaced axles, an engine supported by the main frame and operatively coupled to at least one of the first plurality of ground engagement members through a continuously variable transmission;
- and an operator area supported by the main frame, the operator area including seating for at least two occupants in a side-by-side arrangement, steering controls operatively coupled to at least a portion of the first plurality of ground engagement members, and engine controls operatively coupled to the engine;
- providing a modular vehicle portion including a second plurality of ground engagement members and a modular frame supported by the second plurality of ground engagement members;
- coupling the modular frame to the main frame to substantially prevent the modular frame from pivoting relative to the main frame;
- and
- operatively coupling at least one of the second plurality of ground engagement members to the engine through the continuously variable transmission.
3 more elements
A method of configuring a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- providing a functional base vehicle portion including a first plurality of ground engagement members, a main frame supported by the first plurality of ground engagement members, an engine supported by the main frame and operatively coupled to at least one of the first plurality of ground engagement members;
- and an operator area supported by the main frame, the operator area including seating for at least two occupants in a side-by-side arrangement, steering controls operatively coupled to at least a portion of the first plurality of ground engagement members, and engine controls operatively coupled to the engine;
- providing a modular vehicle portion including a second plurality of ground engagement members and a modular frame supported by the second plurality of ground engagement members;
- coupling the modular frame to the main frame to substantially prevent the modular frame from pivoting relative to the main frame;
- and
- operatively coupling at least one of the second plurality of ground engagement members to the engine, wherein the modular vehicle portion includes a first differential supported by the modular frame and operatively coupled to the engine and operatively coupled to at least one of the second plurality of ground engagement members and wherein the functional base vehicle portion includes a second differential supported by the main frame and operatively coupled to the engine and operatively coupled to the at least one of the first plurality of ground engagement members, the first differential being interchangeable with the second differential, and the method further comprising the steps of:
- removing the second differential from the main frame;
- removing the first differential from the modular frame;
- coupling the first differential to the main frame;
- and
- operatively coupling the first differential to the engine and to the at least one of the first plurality of ground engagement members.
8 more elements
A method of configuring a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- providing a functional base vehicle portion including a first plurality of ground engagement members, a main frame supported by the first plurality of ground engagement members, an engine supported by the main frame and operatively coupled to at least one of the first plurality of ground engagement members;
- and an operator area supported by the main frame, the operator area including seating for at least two occupants in a side-by-side arrangement, steering controls operatively coupled to at least a portion of the first plurality of ground engagement members, and engine controls operatively coupled to the engine;
- providing a modular vehicle portion including a second plurality of ground engagement members and a modular frame supported by the second plurality of ground engagement members;
- coupling the modular frame to the main frame to substantially prevent the modular frame from pivoting relative to the main frame;
- and
- operatively coupling at least one of the second plurality of ground engagement members to the engine, wherein the modular vehicle portion includes a first component supported by the second plurality of ground engagement members and wherein the functional base vehicle portion includes a second component supported by the first plurality of ground engagement members, the first component being interchangeable with the second component, and the method further comprising the steps of:
- removing the second component from the functional base vehicle;
- removing the first component from the modular vehicle portion;
- and
- coupling the first component to the functional base vehicle in the place of the removed second component, wherein the first component and the second component are components of a drive train of the vehicle.
7 more elements
A method of configuring a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- providing a functional base vehicle portion including a first plurality of ground engagement members, a main frame supported by the first plurality of ground engagement members, an engine supported by the main frame and operatively coupled to at least one of the first plurality of ground engagement members;
- and an operator area supported by the main frame, the operator area including seating for at least two occupants in a side-by-side arrangement, steering controls operatively coupled to at least a portion of the first plurality of ground engagement members, and engine controls operatively coupled to the engine;
- providing a modular vehicle portion including a second plurality of ground engagement members and a modular frame supported by the second plurality of ground engagement members;
- coupling the modular frame to the main frame to substantially prevent the modular frame from pivoting relative to the main frame;
- and
- operatively coupling at least one of the second plurality of ground engagement members to the engine, wherein the modular vehicle portion includes a first component supported by the second plurality of ground engagement members and wherein the functional base vehicle portion includes a second component supported by the first plurality of ground engagement members, the first component being interchangeable with the second component, and the method further comprising the steps of:
- removing the second component from the functional base vehicle;
- removing the first component from the modular vehicle portion;
- and
- coupling the first component to the functional base vehicle in the place of the removed second component, wherein the first component and the second component are components of a suspension of the vehicle.
7 more elements
A utility vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of ground engagement members, the plurality of ground engagement members are arranged on a front axle, a rear axle, and at least one intermediate axle;
- a main frame supported by a first portion of the plurality of ground engagement members;
- a modular frame supported by a second portion of the ground engagement members;
- an engine supported by the main frame and configured to provide power to at least one of the first portion of the plurality of ground engagement members and to at least one of the second portion of the plurality of ground engagement members;
- and
- an exhaust system coupled to the engine, wherein the modular frame is removably coupled to the main frame through at least three spaced apart connections which substantially prevent the modular frame from pivoting relative to the main frame when the modular frame is coupled to the main frame, wherein the exhaust system is completely disposed forward of the rear axle.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.