US-12623745-B2 - All-terrain vehicle

US12623745B2US 12623745 B2US12623745 B2US 12623745B2US-12623745-B2

Abstract

An all-terrain vehicle (ATV) has a frame having front and rear ends, an internal combustion engine connected to the frame, the engine including a front portion and a rear portion, a single cylinder defining a cylinder axis, an air intake port defined in the front portion facing towards the front end of the frame, and an exhaust port defined in the rear portion facing towards the rear end of the frame. The ATV further has an exhaust assembly fluidly connected to the exhaust port. The exhaust assembly extends from the engine towards the rear end of the frame. The ATV further has a continuously variable transmission operatively connected to the engine, which includes a primary pulley being operatively connected to the engine, a secondary pulley, a drive belt looped around the primary and secondary pulleys, and a housing enclosing the primary pulley, the secondary pulley, and the drive belt.

Inventors

Sacha BOUCHARD
Pascal Toupin
Simon Filion
Remi Breton
Marc Schuler

Assignees

BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20220204

Claims (20)

1 . An all-terrain vehicle comprising: a frame having a front end and a rear end defined consistently with a forward travel direction of the all-terrain vehicle; an internal combustion engine connected to the frame, the internal combustion engine including: a front portion and a rear portion; a single cylinder defining a cylinder axis, the cylinder axis being inclined towards the rear end of the frame; an air intake port defined by the single cylinder, in the front portion and facing towards the front end of the frame; and an exhaust port defined by the single cylinder, in the rear portion and facing towards the rear end of the frame; an exhaust assembly fluidly connected to the exhaust port, the exhaust assembly extending from the internal combustion engine towards the rear end of the frame; a continuously variable transmission operatively connected to the internal combustion engine, the continuously variable transmission including: a primary pulley having a rotation axis, the primary pulley being operatively connected to and driven by the internal combustion engine, the cylinder axis intersecting the rotation axis of the primary pulley; a secondary pulley having a rotation axis, the secondary pulley being disposed rearward of the primary pulley; a drive belt looped around the primary and secondary pulleys, the secondary pulley being driven by the primary pulley via the drive belt, a transmission axis being angularly displaced from the cylinder axis by an angle comprised between 40 and 50 degrees, the transmission axis passing through the rotation axis of the primary pulley and the rotation axis of the secondary pulley, the angle being above the transmission axis and on a same side of the cylinder axis as the rotation axis of the secondary pulley; and a housing enclosing the primary pulley, the secondary pulley, and the drive belt, the housing having a top end and a bottom end; a straddle seat connected to the frame, the internal combustion engine being disposed under the straddle seat; a first footrest disposed on a first side of a longitudinal center plane of the all-terrain vehicle; and a second footrest disposed on a second side of the longitudinal center plane.
2 . The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the cylinder axis is inclined towards the rear end of the frame by another angle comprised between 30 and 50 degrees relative to a first laterally extending vertical plane.
3 . The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the cylinder axis passes through the straddle seat.
4 . The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising an airbox assembly connected to the frame and fluidly connected to the air intake port of the internal combustion engine, at least a portion of the airbox assembly being disposed in front of the front portion of the internal combustion engine.
5 . The all-terrain vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the airbox assembly includes an airbox, and the airbox is disposed entirely longitudinally between the cylinder axis and the front end of the frame.
6 . The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the exhaust assembly includes an exhaust pipe, and at least one portion of the exhaust pipe is disposed vertically between the top end and the bottom end of the housing of the continuously variable transmission.
7 . The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the exhaust assembly further includes a muffler, and the muffler is disposed vertically between the cylinder axis and the transmission axis.
8 . The all-terrain vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the angle is 46 degrees.
9 . The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a driveline operatively connected to the secondary pulley, the driveline including: a drive shaft operatively connected to the internal combustion engine via the continuously variable transmission; a front propeller shaft operatively connected to the drive shaft and extending towards the front end of the frame; and a rear propeller shaft operatively connected to the drive shaft and extending towards the rear end of the frame.
10 . The all-terrain vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the driveline further includes: a front differential assembly operatively connected to the front propeller shaft, the front differential assembly having a rotation axis; a rear differential assembly operatively connected to the rear propeller shaft, the rear differential assembly having a rotation axis; a driveline axis passing through the rotation axis of the front differential assembly and the rotation axis of the rear differential assembly; and wherein the driveline axis is angularly displaced from the cylinder axis by another angle comprised between 40 to 60 degrees.
11 . The all-terrain vehicle of claim 9 , further comprising a subtransmission operatively connecting the secondary pulley to the drive shaft.
12 . The all-terrain vehicle of claim 11 , wherein: the internal combustion engine further includes a crankshaft; and the subtransmission is disposed rearward of the crankshaft.
13 . The all-terrain vehicle of claim 9 , wherein a second laterally extending vertical plane containing the rotation axis of the secondary pulley intersects the exhaust port of the internal combustion engine.
14 . The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first and second footrests are connected to the frame.
15 . The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a fuel tank supported by the frame, and the fuel tank is disposed entirely behind the rear portion of the internal combustion engine.
16 . The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the continuously variable transmission further includes an air inlet pipe connected to the housing, the air inlet pipe defining an air intake disposed forward of the housing and the internal combustion engine.
17 . The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the continuously variable transmission further includes an air outlet pipe connected to the housing, the air outlet pipe defining an air outlet disposed forward of the housing and the internal combustion engine.
18 . The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of wheels, at least one of the wheels being operatively connected to the internal combustion engine and continuously variable transmission for propelling the all-terrain vehicle, and a steering assembly supported by the frame and operatively connected to at least one of the plurality of wheels to steer the all-terrain vehicle.
19 . An all-terrain vehicle comprising: a frame having a front end and a rear end defined consistently with a forward travel direction of the all-terrain vehicle; an internal combustion engine connected to the frame, the internal combustion engine including: a front portion and a rear portion; a single cylinder defining a cylinder axis; an air intake port defined by the single cylinder, in the front portion and facing towards the front end of the frame; and an exhaust port defined by the single cylinder, in the rear portion and facing towards the rear end of the frame; an exhaust assembly fluidly connected to the exhaust port, the exhaust assembly extending from the internal combustion engine towards the rear end of the frame; a continuously variable transmission operatively connected to the internal combustion engine, the continuously variable transmission including: a primary pulley having a rotation axis, the primary pulley being operatively connected to the internal combustion engine; a secondary pulley having a rotation axis, the secondary pulley being disposed rearward of the primary pulley; a drive belt looped around the primary and secondary pulleys; and a housing enclosing the primary pulley, the secondary pulley, and the drive belt, the housing having a top end and a bottom end; a straddle seat connected to the frame, the internal combustion engine being disposed under the straddle seat; a first footrest disposed on a first side of a longitudinal center plane of the all-terrain vehicle; and a second footrest disposed on a second side of the longitudinal center plane; the exhaust assembly including an exhaust pipe, at least one portion of the exhaust pipe being disposed vertically between the top end and the bottom end of the housing of the continuously variable transmission, and at least one portion of the exhaust pipe extending within a circumference of a cylindrical surface defined by a perimeter of the secondary pulley.
20 . An all-terrain vehicle comprising: a frame having a front end and a rear end defined consistently with a forward travel direction of the all-terrain vehicle; an internal combustion engine connected to the frame, the internal combustion engine including: a front portion and a rear portion; a single cylinder defining a cylinder axis; an air intake port defined by the single cylinder, in the front portion and facing towards the front end of the frame; and an exhaust port defined by the single cylinder, in the rear portion and facing towards the rear end of the frame; an exhaust assembly fluidly connected to the exhaust port, the exhaust assembly extending from the internal combustion engine towards the rear end of the frame; a continuously variable transmission operatively connected to the internal combustion engine, the continuously variable transmission including: a primary pulley having a rotation axis, the primary pulley being operatively connected to the internal combustion engine; a secondary pulley having a rotation axis, the secondary pulley being disposed rearward of the primary pulley; a drive belt looped around the primary and secondary pulleys; and a housing enclosing the primary pulley, the secondary pulley, and the drive belt, the housing having a top end and a bottom end; a straddle seat connected to the frame, the internal combustion engine being disposed under the straddle seat; a first footrest disposed on a first side of a longitudinal center plane of the all-terrain vehicle; a second footrest disposed on a second side of the longitudinal center plane; and a portion of the exhaust port being below a horizontal plane passing through a top end of the secondary pulley.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/146,206, filed Feb. 5, 2021, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD The present technology relates to all-terrain vehicles. BACKGROUND Most off-road vehicle, such as all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and side-by-side vehicles (SSVs), are powered by an internal combustion engine having a front portion and a rear portion, and an exhaust assembly connected to the front portion of the internal combustion engine and directing the exhaust gases towards the rear of the off-road vehicle. In such a configuration, a portion of the exhaust assembly extends from the front portion of the internal combustion engine and then along one side of the internal combustion engine toward the rear of the vehicle such that exhaust gases are exhausted behind a driver of the off-road vehicle. On an ATV, since the footrests of the ATV are disposed on either side of the internal combustion engine, the driver may feel some of the heat radiated from the exhaust assembly while operating the ATV, and this heat can make the driver feel uncomfortable. In addition, since a portion of the exhaust assembly extends along one side of the internal combustion engine, a width of the ATV under the straddle seat and between the footrests has to be sufficient to accommodate these components, and may cause some discomfort to the driver. Thus, there is a desire for an off-road vehicle that could mitigate this issue and improve the comfort of the driver when operating the ATV. SUMMARY It is an object of the present technology to ameliorate at least some of the inconveniences present in the prior art. In one aspect, the present technology provides an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) including a frame having a front end and a rear end defined consistently with a forward travel direction of the all-terrain vehicle. The ATV further has an internal combustion engine connected to the frame. The engine includes a front portion and a rear portion, a single cylinder defining a cylinder axis, an air intake port defined in the front portion facing towards the front end of the frame, and an exhaust port defined in the rear portion facing towards the rear end of the frame. The ATV further includes an exhaust assembly fluidly connected to the exhaust port. The exhaust assembly extends from the engine towards the rear end of the frame. The ATV further has a continuously variable transmission operatively connected to the engine. The continuously variable transmission includes a primary pulley having a rotation axis, the primary pulley being operatively connected to the engine, a secondary pulley having a rotation axis, a drive belt looped around the primary and secondary pulleys, and a housing enclosing the primary pulley, the secondary pulley, and the drive belt. The housing has a top end and a bottom end. The ATV further has a straddle seat connected to the frame. The engine is disposed under the straddle seat. The ATV further has a first footrest disposed on a first side of a longitudinal center plane of the ATV, and a second foot rest disposed on the second side of the longitudinal center plane of the ATV. In some implementations, the cylinder axis is inclined towards the rear end of the frame by an angle comprised between 30 and 50 degrees relative to a first laterally extending vertical plane. In some implementations, the cylinder axis passes through the straddle seat. In some implementations, the ATV further includes an airbox assembly connected to the frame and fluidly connected to the air intake port of the engine. At least a portion of the airbox assembly is disposed in front of the front portion of the engine. In some implementations, the airbox assembly includes an airbox, and the airbox is disposed entirely longitudinally between the cylinder axis and the front end of the frame. In some implementations, the exhaust assembly includes an exhaust pipe, and at least one portion of the exhaust pipe is disposed vertically between the top end and the bottom end of the housing of the continuously variable transmission. In some implementations, at least one portion of the exhaust pipe extends within a circumference of a cylindrical surface defined by a perimeter of the secondary pulley. In some implementations, the exhaust assembly further includes a muffler, and the muffler is disposed vertically between the cylinder axis and a transmission axis, the transmission axis passing through the rotation axis of the primary pulley and the rotation axis of the secondary pulley. In some implementations, the transmission axis is angularly displaced from the cylinder axis by an angle comprised between 40 and 50 degrees. In some implementations, the ATV further includes a driveline operatively connected to the secondary pulley. The driveline includes a drive shaft operatively connected to the engine via the continuously variable transmission, a front p