IP Library Granted Patent US 10,960,937
Granted Patent B2
US 10,960,937 · App. 15/662,674 · Granted Mar 30, 2021

Vehicle

Inventors: Shane Novotny (Woodbury, MN); Adam J. Schlangen (Medina, MN); Bradley R. Morisch (Lindstrom, MN); Richard R. Maki (North Branch, MN); Carlos A. Villafan Rojas (Chisago City, MN); Jason K. Raska (New Richmond, WI); Josh J. Leonard (Sandpoint, ID); Daniel P. Strobach (Osceola, WI); Daniel L. Goffman (Cocolalla, ID); Jonathan M. Hetland (Little Canada, MN); Alex F. Kass (North Branch, MN); Jed P. Leonard (Plymouth, MN); Aaron T. Luoma (Lindstrom, MN)
Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
B62D33/063B60G3/20B60G15/06B60G15/067B60K17/16B62D21/12B62D21/14B62D21/183B62D33/067B62D33/077B62D55/04B62D61/10B62D61/12B62D63/025F16D55/226B60G2200/144B60G2202/24B60G2206/011B60G2206/0114B60G2300/13B60R21/13
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,960,937
App. No.
15/662,674
Granted
Mar 30, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A utility vehicle includes at least one front ground-engaging member, at least one rear ground-engaging member, and a frame assembly extending along a longitudinal axis and supported by the at least one front ground-engaging member and the at least one rear ground-engaging member. The utility vehicle also includes an operator area supported by the frame assembly and a powertrain assembly supported by the frame assembly. The powertrain assembly includes at least an engine and a gearbox operably coupled to the engine. The utility vehicle also includes a cooling assembly fluidly coupled to at least the engine and supported by a front portion of the frame assembly. The cooling assembly includes a radiator with a lower portion positioned forward of an upper portion of the radiator.

Claims (41)

1. A utility vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of ground-engaging members, including at least first and second ground-engaging members defining front ground-engaging members and third and fourth ground-engaging members defining rear ground-engaging members;

a frame assembly extending along a longitudinal axis and being supported by at least one of the front ground-engaging members and at least one of the rear ground-engaging members;

an operator area supported by the frame assembly and including side-by-side seating;

a powertrain assembly supported by the frame assembly and including at least an engine and a transmission operably coupled to the engine and to at least one of the plurality of ground-engaging members;

a cooling assembly fluidly coupled to at least the engine and supported by a front portion of the frame assembly, the cooling assembly including a radiator having a lower end positioned forward of an upper end of the radiator; and

a front suspension assembly operably coupled to the at least one of the front ground-engaging members, the front suspension assembly including at least a shock absorber, and the lower end of the radiator is below a mid-portion of the shock absorber when the vehicle is at rest.

2. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of at least one of the engine and the transmission is positioned rearward of the side-by-side seating.

3. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the powertrain assembly is positioned within the operator area.

4. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the radiator is horizontally below an upper surface of each of the first and second ground-engaging members when the vehicle is at rest.

5. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the radiator is stationary relative to the front portion of the frame assembly.

6. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a width of the radiator extends in a plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

7. A utility vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of ground-engaging members, including at least first and second ground-engaging members defining front ground-engaging members and third and fourth ground-engaging members defining rear ground-engaging members;

a frame assembly extending along a longitudinal axis and being supported by at least one of the front ground-engaging members and at least one of the rear ground-engaging members;

an operator area supported by the frame assembly and including side-by-side seating;

a powertrain assembly supported by the frame assembly and including at least an engine and a transmission operably coupled to the engine and to at least one of the plurality of ground-engaging members; and

a cooling assembly fluidly coupled to at least the engine and including a radiator having an upper end angled rearwardly relative to a lower end, and a first end of the radiator is positioned forward of an axis of rotation of the at least one of the front ground-engaging members,

wherein an entirety of the radiator is positioned forward of the axis of rotation of the at least one of the front ground-engaging members.

8. The utility vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the radiator is angled rearwardly by approximately 45° relative to the longitudinal axis.

9. The utility vehicle of claim 7 , wherein a portion of the radiator is positioned at a forwardmost portion of the frame assembly.

10. The utility vehicle of claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of at least one of the engine and the transmission is positioned rearward of the side-by-side seating.

11. A utility vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of ground-engaging members, including at least first and second ground-engaging members defining front ground-engaging members and third and fourth ground-engaging members defining rear ground-engaging members;

a frame assembly extending along a longitudinal axis and being supported by at least one of the front ground-engaging members and at least one of the rear ground-engaging members;

an operator area supported by the frame assembly and including side-by-side seating;

a powertrain assembly supported by the frame assembly and including at least an engine and a transmission operably coupled to the engine and to at least one of the plurality of ground-engaging members; and

a cooling assembly fluidly coupled to at least the engine and including a radiator having an upper end angled rearwardly relative to a lower end, and a first end of the radiator is positioned forward of an axis of rotation of the at least one of the front ground-engaging members, wherein the frame assembly includes an upper frame assembly extending upwardly relative to the operator area, and at least a portion of the upper frame assembly is configured to move between a raised position and a lowered position.

12. A utility vehicle, comprising:

at least one front ground-engaging member having an axis of rotation and being configured to engage a ground surface;

at least one rear ground-engaging member having an axis of rotation and being configured to engage the ground surface;

a frame assembly extending along a longitudinal axis and being supported by the at least one front ground-engaging member and the at least one rear ground-engaging member;

an operator area supported by the frame assembly and including side-by-side seating;

a powertrain assembly supported by the frame assembly and including at least an engine and a transmission operably coupled to the engine and to at least one of the front and rear ground-engaging members;

a cooling assembly fluidly coupled to at least the engine and including a radiator angled rearwardly wherein a lower end of the radiator is positioned forward of an upper end of the radiator, and the radiator is positioned at a vertical height, relative to the ground surface, greater than that of the axis of rotation of the at least one front ground-engaging member when the vehicle is at rest; and

a front suspension assembly operably coupled to the at least one front ground-engaging member, the front suspension assembly including at least a shock absorber, and the lower end of the radiator is at a vertical height of a lower end of the shock absorber.

13. The utility vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the lower end of the radiator vertically overlaps an upper portion of the at least one front ground-engaging member when the vehicle is at rest.

14. The utility vehicle of claim 12 , wherein a portion of the radiator is positioned at a forwardmost location of the frame assembly.

15. The utility vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the radiator is fixed to a front portion of the frame assembly.

16. The utility vehicle of claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of at least one of the engine and the gearbox is positioned rearward of the side-by-side seating.

17. The utility vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the frame assembly includes lower longitudinally-extending frame members defining a lower extent of the frame assembly, and the radiator is positioned above the lower longitudinally-extending frame members.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 4, 2018
From: SCHLANGEN, ADAM J.
To: POLARIS INDUSTRIES INC.
Reel/Frame 045001/0685 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 28, 2017
From: LEONARD, JOSHUA J.; MAKI, RICHARD R.; BJERKETVEDT, ERIC D.; SCHNEIDER, MICHAEL D.; MORISCH, BRADLEY R.; KROSSCHELL, BRIAN D.
To: POLARIS INDUSTRIES INC.
Reel/Frame 043126/0430 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 15228655 · Aug 4, 2016
Continuation 14667649 · Mar 24, 2015
Continuation 13233415 · Sep 15, 2011
Division 12092153
Provisional Application 60918502 · Mar 16, 2007
Related Publication 20170334485A1 · Nov 23, 2017
Cited By (3)
US 1,069,676 US 12,194,954 US 12,510,013