# US 8,464,827 B2 · Utility vehicle

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- Number: US 8,464,827 B2
- Document ID: US8464827B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/980,205
- Filed: 2010-12-28
- Published: 2012-06-28
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2010-12-28
- Assignees: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Yoshinori Tsumiyama; Teruaki Yamamoto; Brian Butler
- Inventors: Yoshinori Tsumiyama; Teruaki Yamamoto; Brian Butler
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464827B2

## CPC

- B62D 23/005: {with integrated chassis in the whole shell, e.g. meshwork, tubes, or the like (B62D33/044 takes precedence)}
- B62D 21/183: {specially adapted for sports vehicles, e.g. race, dune buggies, go-karts (tubular skeleton B62D23/005)}
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)

## Abstract

A utility vehicle includes a vehicle body frame including a main frame to which an engine is mounted, the main frame including a round pipe having a circular cross-section and a rectangular pipe having a rectangular cross-section.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A utility vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body frame including a main frame to which an engine is mounted;
wherein the main frame includes a round pipe having a circular cross-section and a rectangular pipe having a rectangular cross-section;
wherein the main frame includes a floor member which receives a load of the engine and a pair of right and left side members provided integrally with both side portions of the floor member in a rightward and leftward direction;
wherein the floor member includes a rectangular pipe and the side members include round pipes;
wherein the side members include side pipe elements provided at the side portions of the floor member in the rightward and leftward direction, respectively, to extend in a forward and rearward direction, and lower pillar pipe elements provided to extend upward from rear end portions of the side pipe elements, respectively; and
a portion of each of the respective side pipe elements is tilted such that its height increases from a lowest point at a front end of the respective side pipe element toward a rear end of the respective side pipe element adjacent a corresponding one of the lower pillar pipe elements.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The utility vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a portion of each of the respective side pipe elements is tilted with respect to a horizontal plane such that its height increases from a lowest point at a front end of the respective side pipe element toward a rear end of the respective side pipe element adjacent a corresponding one of the lower pillar pipe elements.

### Claim 3

A utility vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body frame including a main frame to which an engine is mounted;
wherein the main frame includes a round pipe having a circular cross-section and a rectangular pipe having a rectangular cross-section;
wherein the main frame includes a floor member which receives a load of the engine and a pair of right and left side members provided integrally with both side portions of the floor member in a rightward and leftward direction;
wherein the floor member includes a rectangular pipe and the side members include round pipes;
wherein the pair of right and left side members respectively include side pipe elements coupled to the side portions of the floor member in the rightward and leftward direction and a plurality of lower pillar pipe elements extending upward from the side pipe elements; and
wherein the plurality of lower pillar pipe elements are constructed of round pipes;
the utility vehicle further comprising:
a cabin frame including a plurality of upper pillar pipe elements constructed of round pipe, the cabin frame being provided to cover a cabin in which a passenger's seat is disposed; and
a coupling structure for coupling each of the lower pillar pipe elements of the main frame to a respective one of the upper pillar pipe elements of the cabin frame;
wherein, for each coupling between one of the lower pillar pipe elements and the corresponding upper pillar pipe element, the coupling structure has:
a first contact surface formed at an end surface of the lower pillar pipe element;
a second contact surface which is formed at an end surface of the upper pillar pipe element and contacts the first contact surface;
a first sheet metal provided to extend between a portion of a side surface of an end portion of the lower pillar pipe element and a portion of a side surface of an end portion of the upper pillar pipe element;
a second sheet metal provided to extend between a portion of the side surface of the end portion of the lower pillar pipe element and a portion of the side surface of the end portion of the upper pillar pipe element, which portions are at an opposite side of the portion of the side surface and the portion of the side surface between which the first sheet metal extends;
a first fastener member for coupling the end portion of the lower pillar pipe element, the first sheet metal, and the second sheet metal together in a state where the first contact surface is in contact with the second contact surface; and
a second fastener member for coupling the end portion of the upper pillar pipe element, the first sheet metal and the second sheet metal together in a state where the first contact surface is in contact with the second contact surface;
wherein the first sheet metal is welded to the end portion of the lower pillar pipe element such that a portion of the first sheet metal protrudes from the first contact surface, and the second sheet metal is welded to the end portion of the upper pillar pipe element such that a portion of the second sheet metal protrudes from the second contact surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The utility vehicle according to claim 3, wherein for each respective lower pillar pipe element and corresponding upper pillar pipe element, corresponding first fastener member, and corresponding second fastener member:
the end portion of the lower pillar pipe element, the first sheet metal and the second sheet metal respectively have first holes communicating with each other;
the end portion of the upper pillar pipe element, the first sheet metal and the second sheet metal respectively have second holes communicating with each other;
a tubular first sleeve is disposed inside the end portion of the lower pillar pipe element such that the tubular first sleeve communicates with each of the first holes;
a tubular second sleeve is disposed inside the end portion of the upper pillar pipe element such that the tubular second sleeve communicates with each of the second holes;
the first fastener member includes a first bolt inserted into each of the first holes and the first sleeve, and a first nut threadingly engageable with the first bolt; and
the second fastener member includes a second bolt inserted into each of the second holes and the second sleeve, and a second nut threadingly engageable with the second bolt.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The utility vehicle according to claim 4, wherein for each respective lower pillar pipe element and corresponding upper pillar pipe element, corresponding first sheet metal, and corresponding second sheet metal:
the end portion of the lower pillar pipe element has a cross-section of an elongate circle shape;
the end portion of the upper pillar pipe element has a cross-section of an elongate circle shape;
the first sheet metal is welded to a side surface of the end portion of the lower pillar pipe element, the side surface being substantially parallel to a long axis of the lower pillar pipe element; and
the second sheet metal is welded to a side surface of the end portion of the upper pillar pipe element, the side surface being substantially parallel to a long axis of the upper pillar pipe element.