US-20260125132-A1 - All-Terrain Vehicle

Abstract

An all-terrain vehicle has a prime mover assembly which includes a tall and narrow gearbox. The collection of shafts in the gearbox include a (highest) input shaft, a (lowest) front output shaft, and a (forwardmost) reverse shaft, as well as a (rearwardmost) rear output gear. A shaft spacing aspect ratio of the vertical shaft spacing distance to the horizontal shaft spacing distance is greater than or equal to 0.85 and less than or equal to 1.4. A parking pawl control linkage has a pawl control wheel, with a park lobe, rotationally mounted about an axis of the shifting shaft used for gear shifting. Rotation of the shifting shaft into park causes rotation of the pawl control wheel such that the park lobe pushes on the parking pawl to move the parking pawl from the disengaged position to the engaged position.

Inventors

• Xiadong Chen
• Wenbing Duan
• Chen Yang
• Jiangang Wang
• Chunling Li
• Liming Liu

Assignees

• Zhejiang CFMOTO Power Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20251229

Priority Date

20230630

Claims (20)

1. 1 . An all-terrain vehicle, comprising: a frame; a body cover at least partially arranged on the frame; four wheels supporting the frame; a prime mover assembly supported on the frame and configured to drive the wheels to rotate for locomotion of the all-terrain vehicle; a gearbox at least partially arranged on the prime mover assembly and configured to output torque of the prime mover assembly, the gearbox having a gearbox housing, the gearbox comprising: a collection of shafts supported within the gearbox housing for rotation about axes which extend generally horizontally and transverse relative to the frame of the all-terrain vehicle, the collection of shafts including at least an input shaft, a reverse shaft and a front output shaft, the input shaft being elevationally highest in the collection of shafts, the front output shaft being elevationally lowest in the collection of shafts such that a vertical shaft spacing distance is defined between an axis of the input shaft and an axis of the front output shaft, the reverse shaft being forwardmost in the collection of shafts; a rear output gear supported within the gearbox housing for rotation about a rear output gear axis which extends generally horizontally and transverse relative to the frame of the all-terrain vehicle, the rear output gear axis being further rearward than the axis of the input shaft and further rearward than the axis of the front output shaft, with a horizontal shaft spacing distance being defined between an axis of the reverse shaft and the rear output gear axis; a shifting drum on a shifting shaft within the gearbox housing, the shifting drum having at least one shifting contour on its periphery; a shifting actuator which can be controlled to drive the shifting shaft to rotate, and the shifting shaft drives the shifting drum to rotate to realize gear shifting of at least one gear on the collection of shafts via the shifting contour; a parking gear supported on one of the collection of shafts within the gearbox housing; a parking pawl supported within the gearbox housing, such that the parking pawl has a disengaged position relative to the parking gear that allows the parking gear and at least the front output shaft and the rear output gear to rotate, and such that the parking pawl has an engaged position relative to the parking gear that prevents the parking gear and at least the front output shaft and the rear output gear from rotating; wherein a shaft spacing aspect ratio of the vertical shaft spacing distance to the horizontal shaft spacing distance is greater than or equal to 0.85 and less than or equal to 1.4.
2. 2 . The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the parking pawl is moved using a parking pawl control linkage, the parking pawl control linkage comprising a pawl control wheel rotationally mounted about an axis of the shifting shaft, the pawl control wheel having a park lobe, wherein rotation of the shifting shaft causes rotation of the pawl control wheel such that the park lobe pushes on the parking pawl to move the parking pawl from the disengaged position to the engaged position.
3. 3 . The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the parking pawl control linkage further comprises a torsion spring rotationally mounted about an axis of the shifting shaft, wherein rotation of the shifting shaft causes the torsion spring to circumferentially bias the pawl control wheel.
4. 4 . The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the torsion spring comprises first and second force arms, wherein the parking pawl control linkage comprises a torsion spring transfer disc fixed to the shifting shaft, the torsion spring transfer disc mating with the first and second force arms such that rotation of the shifting shaft and torsion spring transfer disc can change a spring force between the first and second force arms.
5. 5 . The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the parking pawl comprises a pawl ring encircling the axis of the shifting shaft, the pawl ring having a pawl ring lobe inwardly directed relative to the axis of the shifting shaft, wherein the park lobe of the pawl control wheel is located within the pawl ring, such that rotation of the pawl control wheel causes the park lobe to push on the pawl ring lobe causing the parking pawl to move from the disengaged position to the engaged position.
6. 6 . The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the vertical shaft spacing distance is greater than or equal to 170 mm and less than or equal to 230 mm, and wherein the horizontal shaft spacing distance is greater than or equal to 160 mm and less than or equal to 200 mm.
7. 7 . The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the collection of shafts further comprises a countershaft and an intermediate shaft, wherein an input/counter connecting line is defined between the axis of the input shaft and an axis of the counter shaft, wherein a counter/intermediate connecting line is defined between the axis of the countershaft and an axis of the intermediate shaft, wherein an intermediate/front output connecting line is defined between the axis of the intermediate shaft and the axis of the front output shaft, wherein an upper gearing angle between the input/counter connecting line and the counter/intermediate connecting line is greater than or equal to 90° and less than or equal to 110°, and wherein a lower gearing angle between the counter/intermediate connecting line and the intermediate/front output connecting line is greater than or equal to 110° and less than or equal to 130°.
8. 8 . The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the rear output gear is part of a rear differential provided within the gearbox housing.
9. 9 . The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the collection of shafts further comprises a countershaft, wherein the countershaft is hollow to define a cavity with an end opening and at least one oil passing hole extending radially through the countershaft, for lubricating oil to enter the cavity through the end opening and exit the cavity through the at least one oil passing hole.
10. 10 . The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein the gearbox housing comprises an oilguide baffle with a flow guiding portion directing lubricating oil into the end opening of the countershaft.
11. 11 . The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the oilguide baffle is provided on a shaft cover bolted on as part of the gearbox housing.
12. 12 . The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the input shaft is support with a bearing positioned within a bearing-receiving recess of the gearbox housing, wherein the gearbox housing comprises an input shaft cover with a gearing abutment lip configured to enclose the bearing in the bearing-receiving recess with the bearing abutment lip of the input shaft cover abutting against the bearing.
13. 13 . The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein a front delivery shaft extending longitudinally and driven by the front output shaft through a bevel gear on a rear end of the front delivery shaft, wherein the front delivery shaft is within a front delivery shaft sleeve provided as a separate part of the gearbox housing.
14. 14 . The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the front delivery shaft sleeve comprises a sleeve mounting flange extending longitudinally, the sleeve mounting flange having one or more bolt holes for one or more transversely extending bolts to attach the front delivery shaft sleeve relative to an internal combustion engine of the prime mover assembly, the front delivery shaft sleeve also attached with longitudinally extending bolts.
15. 15 . The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the prime mover assembly comprises an internal combustion engine with a rotating crankshaft, wherein the crankshaft has an interior crankshaft oil passage for oil to flow axially within the crankshaft.
16. 16 . The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein the interior crankshaft oil passage has one or more radial outflow passages which supply oil to a rotor of an alternator.
17. 17 . The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the prime mover assembly comprises an internal combustion engine with an engine block having an engine block water jacket and a cooling system circulating coolant through the engine block water jacket, the cooling system comprising: a water pump driven by the engine for pumping coolant; a radiator for cooling of the coolant; a main coolant loop having a main supply line running from the engine block water jacket to the radiator and a main return line running from the radiator to the water pump; a valve in the main supply line; and a direct return line running from the valve to the water pump, the direct return line bypassing the radiator.
18. 18 . The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the prime mover assembly comprises an internal combustion engine with an engine block having an engine block water jacket and a cooling system circulating coolant through the engine block water jacket, the cooling system comprising: a water pump driven by the engine for pumping coolant; a radiator for cooling of the coolant; a main coolant loop having a main supply line running from the engine block water jacket to the radiator and a main return line running from the radiator to the water pump; and a supercharger coolant loop having a supercharger supply line running from the engine block water jacket to a supercharger and a supercharger return line running and raising in elevation from the supercharger to the main return line.
19. 19 . An all-terrain vehicle, comprising: a frame; a body cover at least partially arranged on the frame; four wheels supporting the frame; a prime mover assembly supported on the frame and configured to drive the wheels to rotate for locomotion of the all-terrain vehicle; a gearbox at least partially arranged on the prime mover assembly and configured to output torque of the prime mover assembly, the gearbox having a gearbox housing, the gearbox comprising: a collection of shafts supported within the gearbox housing for rotation about axes which extend generally horizontally and transverse relative to the frame of the all-terrain vehicle, the collection of shafts including at least an input shaft, a reverse shaft and a front output shaft; a shifting drum on a shifting shaft within the gearbox housing, the shifting drum having at least one shifting contour on its periphery; a shifting actuator which can be controlled to drive the shifting shaft to rotate, and the shifting shaft drives the shifting drum to rotate to realize gear shifting of at least one gear on the collection of shafts via the shifting contour; a parking gear supported on one of the collection of shafts within the gearbox housing; a parking pawl supported within the gearbox housing, such that the parking pawl has a disengaged position relative to the parking gear that allows the parking gear and at least the front output shaft to rotate, and such that the parking pawl has an engaged position relative to the parking gear that prevents the parking gear and at least the front output shaft from rotating; wherein the parking pawl is moved using a parking pawl control linkage, the parking pawl control linkage comprising a pawl control wheel rotationally mounted about an axis of the shifting shaft, the pawl control wheel having a park lobe, wherein rotation of the shifting shaft causes rotation of the pawl control wheel such that the park lobe pushes on the parking pawl to move the parking pawl from the disengaged position to the engaged position.
20. 20 . The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 19 , wherein the parking pawl control linkage further comprises a torsion spring rotationally mounted about an axis of the shifting shaft, wherein rotation of the shifting shaft causes the torsion spring to circumferentially bias the pawl control wheel, wherein the torsion spring comprises first and second force arms, wherein the parking pawl control linkage comprises a torsion spring transfer disc fixed to the shifting shaft, the torsion spring transfer disc mating with the first and second force arms such that rotation of the shifting shaft and torsion spring transfer disc can change a spring force between the first and second force arms.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION This application is a continuation of PCT/CN2024/102714, filed Jun. 28, 2024 and entitled “All-Terrain Vehicle”, and claims priority to Chinese patent application filed on Jun. 30, 2023, with an application number of 202310801973.4 and entitled “All-Terrain Vehicle”, the contents both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to the technical field of vehicles, in particular to an all-terrain vehicle. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE In related arts, as an outdoor vehicle, an all-terrain vehicle needs to adapt to different scenarios and complex working conditions, and poses higher power requirements on an engine of the all-terrain vehicle. In addition, in order to cope with various scenarios, the all-terrain vehicle needs to switch frequently between different gears to adapt to the current road conditions. Long-term operation of the gear-shifting mechanism is likely to cause driver fatigue. How to provide an electronic gear-shifting structure with simple, convenient operation and high reliability remains an urgent problem to be solved for those skilled in the art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention provide an all-terrain vehicle to solve at least one problem existing in the background art. In a first aspect, the present invention involves an all-terrain vehicle having a frame, a body cover at least partially arranged on the frame and four wheels supporting the frame. A prime mover assembly is supported on the frame and configured to drive the wheels to rotate for locomotion of the all-terrain vehicle. A gearbox configured to output torque of the prime mover assembly is at least partially arranged on the prime mover assembly. The gearbox has a collection of shafts supported within a gearbox housing, including at least an input shaft, a reverse shaft and a front output shaft. Each of the collection of shafts rotate about an axis which extends generally horizontally and transverse relative to the frame of the all-terrain vehicle. The input shaft is elevationally highest in the collection of shafts. The front output shaft is elevationally lowest in the collection of shafts. A vertical shaft spacing distance is defined between an axis of the input shaft and an axis of the front output shaft. The reverse shaft is forwardmost in the collection of shafts. The gearbox also includes a rear output gear supported within the gearbox housing for rotation about a rear output gear axis which extends generally horizontally and transverse relative to the frame of the all-terrain vehicle. The rear output gear axis is further rearward than the axis of the input shaft and further rearward than the axis of the front output shaft. A horizontal shaft spacing distance is defined between an axis of the reverse shaft and the rear output gear axis. A shaft spacing aspect ratio of the vertical shaft spacing distance to the horizontal shaft spacing distance is greater than or equal to 0.85 and less than or equal to 1.4. In another aspect, the gearbox also has a shifting drum on a shifting shaft within the gearbox housing. The shifting drum has at least one shifting contour on its periphery. A shifting actuator can be controlled to drive the shifting shaft to rotate, and the shifting shaft drives the shifting drum to rotate to realize gear shifting of at least one gear on the collection of shafts via the shifting contour. A parking gear supported on one of the collection of shafts within the gearbox housing. A parking pawl is supported within the gearbox housing. The parking pawl has a disengaged position relative to the parking gear that allows the parking gear and at least the front output shaft and the rear output gear to rotate. That the parking pawl has an engaged position relative to the parking gear that prevents the parking gear and at least the front output shaft and the rear output gear from rotating. The parking pawl is moved using a parking pawl control linkage. The parking pawl control linkage has a pawl control wheel rotationally mounted about an axis of the shifting shaft. The pawl control wheel has a park lobe. Rotation of the shifting shaft causes rotation of the pawl control wheel such that the park lobe pushes on the parking pawl to move the parking pawl from the disengaged position to the engaged position. Details of one or more embodiments of the present invention are provided in the following drawings and descriptions, such that other features, purposes and advantages of the present invention are more concise and understandable. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front left perspective view of an all-terrain vehicle (“ATV”) of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a front left perspective view of a prime mover assembly of the present invention for use in the ATV of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a front left perspective view of the prime mover assembly of FIG. 2, without showing the air inta