IP Library Granted Patent US 9,889,810
Granted Patent B2
US 9,889,810 · App. 15/162,938 · Granted Feb 13, 2018

Utility vehicle

Inventors: Gaku Yoshimura (Hyogo, JP); Masayuki Shibata (Hyogo, JP)
Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B60R21/13B60R21/131B62D33/0617B60R2021/0018B60R2021/0074
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,889,810
App. No.
15/162,938
Granted
Feb 13, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A utility vehicle includes a chassis, and a ROPS provided on the chassis. The ROPS surrounds a cabin space of the vehicle. A center of gravity of the vehicle is located at a position of ⅓ or lower of the vehicle height, and an outline of the ROPS is formed in a curved shape when seen in the right and left direction or in the front and rear direction of the vehicle. Since the outline of the ROPS is formed in a curved shape, in the case of rollover of a vehicle body, the ROPS can easily roll on the ground surface. The combination of the configuration of the ROPS and the gravitational force exerted on the low position of the center of gravity, which is ⅓ or lower of the vehicle height, the vehicle body can be easily set up from the rolled over situation.

Claims (30)

1. A utility vehicle comprising:

a chassis; and

a rollover protective structure (ROPS) provided on the chassis, the ROPS surrounding a cabin space,

wherein a center of gravity of the utility vehicle is located at a position of ⅓ or lower of vehicle height; and

an outline of the ROPS is formed in a fixed curvature arc over its length when seen in a right and left direction of vehicle body.

2. The utility vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:

a foremost part of the ROPS in a front and rear direction of the vehicle body is positioned at a more front side than a foremost part of the chassis; and/or

a rearmost part of the ROPS in the front and rear direction of the vehicle body is positioned at a more rear side than a rearmost part of the chassis.

3. The utility vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein

the fixed curvature arc of the ROPS extends further downward from the foremost part and/or the rearmost part of the ROPS, while returning to an inner side of the vehicle body from the foremost part and/or the rearmost part of the ROPS.

4. A utility vehicle comprising:

a chassis; and

a rollover protective structure (ROPS) provided on the chassis, the ROPS surrounding a cabin space, wherein:

a center of gravity of the utility vehicle is located at a position of ⅓ or lower of vehicle height; and

an outline of the ROPS is formed in a fixed curvature arc over its length when seen in a front and rear direction of vehicle body.

5. The utility vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein:

a leftmost part of the ROPS in a right and left direction of the vehicle body is positioned at a more left outer side than a leftmost part of the chassis; and/or

a rightmost part of the ROPS in the right and left direction of the vehicle body is positioned at a more right outer side than a rightmost part of the chassis.

6. The utility vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein

the fixed curvature arc of the ROPS extends further downward from the leftmost part and/or the rightmost part of the ROPS, while returning to an inner side of the vehicle body from the leftmost part and/or the rightmost part of the ROPS.

7. A utility vehicle comprising:

a chassis; and

a rollover protective structure (ROPS) provided on the chassis, the ROPS surrounding a cabin space, wherein:

a center of gravity of the utility vehicle is located at a position of ⅓ or lower of vehicle height, and

an outline of the ROPS is formed in a dome shape, the dome shape having a fixed curvature arc over its length when seen in a right and left direction of vehicle body, and a fixed curvature arc over its length when seen in a front and rear direction of vehicle body.

8. The utility vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein:

a foremost part of the ROPS in the front and rear direction of vehicle body is positioned at a more front side than a foremost part of the chassis, and a rearmost part of the ROPS in the front and rear direction of vehicle body is positioned at a more rear side than a rearmost part of the chassis, and

a leftmost part of the ROPS in the right and left direction of vehicle body is positioned at a more left outer side than a leftmost part of the chassis, and a rightmost part of the ROPS in the right and left direction of vehicle body is positioned at a more right outer side than a rightmost part of the chassis.

9. The utility vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein

the dome shape of the ROPS extends further downward from the foremost part, the rearmost part, the leftmost part, and the rightmost part of the ROPS, while returning to an inner side of the vehicle body from the foremost part, the rearmost part, the leftmost part, and the rightmost part of the ROPS.

Assignments (2)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 2, 2022
From: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 060300/0504 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 24, 2016
From: YOSHIMURA, GAKU; SHIBATA, MASAYUKI
To: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 038705/0840 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170341614A1 · Nov 30, 2017