CA-3161079-C - UTILITY VEHICLE

Abstract

A vehicle comprises: a plurality of ground-engaging members; a frame assembly supported by the plurality of ground-engaging members; a seating area configured to support at least an operator and a passenger; a cargo area positioned rearward of the seating area and including a floor configured to support cargo thereon; a powertrain assembly including an engine and a transmission; a heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the engine, the heat exchanger being angled relative to the floor of the cargo area and positioned along a lateral side of the cargo area; and an air intake assembly having a first air intake fluidly coupled to the engine and a second air intake fluidly coupled to the transmission, and both the first and second air intakes are positioned along a side of the cargo area. The vehicle may address one or more deficiencies of prior art vehicles, such as cooling for powertrain components.

Inventors

• Austin L. Houkom
• Kyle J. Schounard
• DAVID J. HICKE
• Shawn D. Peterson
• Travis J. Ellefson

Assignees

• POLARIS INDUSTRIES INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20160504

Priority Date

20151210

Claims (20)

1. What is claimed is: 1. A vehicle, comprising: a plurality of ground-engaging members; a frame assembly supported by the plurality of ground-engaging members; a seating area supported by the frame assembly and configured to support at least an operator and a passenger; a cargo area positioned rearward of the seating area and including a floor configured to support cargo thereon; a powertrain assembly including an engine and a transmission operably coupled to at least one of the plurality of ground-engaging members; a heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the engine, the heat exchanger being angled relative to the floor of the cargo area and positioned along a lateral side of the cargo area; and an air intake assembly having a first air intake fluidly coupled to the engine and a second air intake fluidly coupled to the transmission, and both the first and second air intakes are positioned along a side of the cargo area.
2. 2. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising: a housing removably coupled to a portion of the cargo area and configured to support the heat exchanger therein; and at least one fan fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger.
3. 3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the at least one fan includes a first fan and a second fan, and both the first and second fans are angled relative to the floor of the cargo area.
4. 4. fan. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the first fan is angled relative to the second
5. 5. The vehicle of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least a portion of the air intake assembly is positioned laterally outward of the seating area. Date Rer;ue/Date Received 2024-01-26
6. 6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the air intake assembly is configured to vent air rearwardly from the vehicle.
7. 7. The vehicle of claim 6, further comprising a housing removably coupled to a portion of the cargo area and configured to include the first air intake, the second air intake, and the heat exchanger, and the housing includes a first vent positioned at a forward portion of the housing and a second vent positioned at a rearward portion of the vehicle, and the second vent is configured to expel air rearwardly from the vehicle.
8. 8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the housing further includes a third vent positioned longitudinally intermediate the first and second vents, and the first vent is configured to provide air to the engine and the transmission and the third vent is configured to provide air to the heat exchanger.
9. 9. A vehicle, comprising: a plurality of ground-engaging members including at least one front groundengaging member and at least one rear ground-engaging member; a frame assembly supported by the plurality of ground-engaging members and extending between a forward frame portion and a rearward frame portion along a longitudinal axis; a cargo area supported on the rearward frame portion of the frame assembly; a powertrain assembly supported on the rearward frame portion of the frame assembly and including an engine and a transmission operably coupled to at least one of the front and rear ground-engaging members; a heat exchanger :fluidly coupled to the engine and positioned above the at least one rear ground-engaging member; and a housing configured to include the heat exchanger, a first air intake :fluidly coupled to the engine, and a second air intake :fluidly coupled to the transmission, and the housing is positioned above the at least one rear ground-engaging member.
10. 10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the cargo area extends laterally between a first lateral side and a second lateral side and includes a generally continuous floor portion extending between the first and second lateral sides and configured to receive cargo thereon, Date Rer;ue/Date Received 2024-01-26 and the heat exchanger and the first and second air intakes are laterally spaced apart from the generally continuous floor portion.
11. 11. The vehicle of claim 9 or 10, further comprising a seating area supported by the frame assembly, and at least a portion of the housing is positioned laterally outward of the seating area.
12. 12. The vehicle of any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the housing is removably coupled to a portion of the cargo area, and the housing includes a first vent configured to receive air into the housing and a second vent configured to expel air from the housing, and the second vent is configured to expel air in a rearward direction from the housing.
13. 13. The vehicle of any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the heat exchanger is angled relative to the longitudinal axis.
14. 14. A vehicle, comprising: a plurality of ground-engaging members; a frame assembly supported by the plurality of ground-engaging members and extending along a longitudinal axis; a seating area supported by the frame assembly and configured to support an operator and at least one passenger; a cargo area supported on the frame assembly and positioned rearward of the seating area; a powertrain assembly supported on a rearward frame portion of the frame assembly and including an engine and a transmission operably coupled to at least one of the plurality of ground-engaging members; and an air intake assembly fluidly coupled to the engine and the transmission and positioned rearward of at least a portion of the seating area, and the air intake assembly compnses: a housing; a first air intake fluidly coupled to the engine and positioned within the housing; and a second air intake fluidly coupled to the transmission and positioned within the housing. Date Rer;ue/Date Received 2024-01-26
15. 15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the housing is removably coupled to a portion of the cargo area.
16. 16. The vehicle of claim 14 or 15, wherein at least a portion of the housing is positioned laterally outward of the seating area.
17. 17. The vehicle of any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the housing includes a wall separating the first air intake and the second air intake.
18. 18. The vehicle of any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the air intake assembly further comprises a heat exchanger supported within the housing, and the first and second air intakes are positioned forward of the heat exchanger.
19. 19. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the heat exchanger is angled relative to the longitudinal axis and is angled relative to a vertical axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
20. 20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the air intake assembly further comprises at least one fan fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger and angled relative to the longitudinal axis.

Description

UTILITY VEHICLE BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE [0001] The present disclosure relates to vehicles, and more particularly to side-byside utility and all-terrain vehicles. [0002] Generally, all-terrain vehicles ("ATVs") and utility vehicles ("UVs") are used to carry one or more passengers and cargo over a variety of terrain. Some ATVs and UVs may include side-by-side seating, in which a passenger may be seated next to the driver at the front of the vehicle. Side-by-side vehicles also may include a rear seating area to accommodate additional passengers in the vehicle. An upper frame assembly may be provided over the seating area(s) of the vehicle. Additionally, ATVs and UVs may provide a cargo area in the front and/or the rear of the vehicle to carry cargo. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE [0003] An illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure includes a vehicle comprising a frame assembly extending along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and including a rear frame portion. The rear frame portion includes at least one upstanding member, at least one longitudinal member, and at least one coupling member coupled to the at least one upstanding member and the at least one longitudinal member. The vehicle also comprises at least one front ground-engaging member supporting the frame assembly, at least one rear ground-engaging member supporting the frame assembly, a drivetrain assembly operably coupled to the front and rear ground-engaging member, and a rear suspension assembly. The rear suspension assembly includes at least one radius rod operably coupled to the at least one rear ground-engaging member and angled less than 90° relative to the at least one longitudinal member. [0004] Another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure includes a vehicle comprising a frame assembly extending along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and including a rear frame portion. The rear frame portion includes at least a first member, a second member, and a coupling member coupled to the first and second members. The vehicle also comprises at least one front ground-engaging member supporting the frame assembly, at least one rear ground-engaging member supporting the frame assembly, a drivetrain assembly operably coupled to the front and rear ground-engaging members, and a rear suspension assembly. The rear suspension assembly includes at least one radius rod pivotably coupled to Date Reyue/Date Received 2022-05-31 the coupling member and configured to pivot in a vertical plane rearward of the coupling member. [0005] A further illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure includes a frame assembly for a vehicle comprising a first member, a second member, and a coupling member including a first portion coupled to the first member, a second portion coupled to the second member, and a third portion configured to couple with a rear suspension assembly of the vehicle. [0005a] A further illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure includes a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of ground-engaging members; a frame assembly supported by the plurality of ground-engaging members; a seating area supported by the frame assembly and configured to support at least an operator and a passenger; a cargo area positioned rearward of the seating area and including a floor configured to support cargo thereon; a powertrain assembly including an engine and a transmission operably coupled to at least one of the plurality of ground-engaging members; a heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the engine, the heat exchanger being angled relative to the floor of the cargo area and positioned along a lateral side of the cargo area; and an air intake assembly having a first air intake fluidly coupled to the engine and a second air intake fluidly coupled to the transmission, and both the first and second air intakes are positioned along a side of the cargo area. [0005b] A further illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure includes a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of ground-engaging members including at least one front groundengaging member and at least one rear ground-engaging member; a frame assembly supported by the plurality of ground-engaging members and extending between a forward frame portion and a rearward frame portion along a longitudinal axis; a cargo area supported on the rearward frame portion of the frame assembly; a powertrain assembly supported on the rearward frame portion of the frame assembly and including an engine and a transmission operably coupled to at least one of the front and rear ground-engaging members; a heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the engine and positioned above the at least one rear groundengaging member; and a housing configured to include the heat exchanger, a first air intake fluidly coupled to the engine, and a second air intake fluidly coupled to the transmission, and the housing is positioned above the at least one rear ground-engaging member. [0005c] A further illustrative embodiment of the present disclosur