All-terrain vehicle
An ATV is shown having a steering system comprised of a power steering unit having drive and driven pitman arms coupled to a drag link. The drive pitman arm is laterally offset from a vehicle centerline and is driven by the power steering unit. An alternate power steering system includes a pack and pinion subassembly coupled to a power steering motor, which then couples to steering arms of the ATV.
1. A vehicle comprising:
a frame extending along a longitudinal axis;
ground engaging members supporting the frame, including front and rear ground engaging members;
a seat supported by the frame;
an engine supported by the frame and having at least one cylinder; and
an exhaust system fluidly coupled to the engine, the exhaust system including a muffler having a longitudinally-extending centerline that is coplanar with the longitudinal axis of the frame along a rear of the vehicle, wherein the muffler defines a generally elliptical cross-section having a horizontal component defining a width of the muffler and a vertical component defining a height of the muffler, wherein the muffler is longitudinally aligned with the at least one cylinder of the engine.
2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the exhaust system further includes an exhaust conduit extending between the engine and the muffler, at least a portion of the exhaust conduit being parallel with the height of the muffler.
3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein an outlet of the muffler is coaxial with the longitudinally-extending centerline of the muffler, and the outlet of the muffler has a shape different from that of the muffler.
4. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the shape of the muffler defines an elliptical shape and the shape of the outlet defines a circular shape.
5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the exhaust system further includes an end cap coupled to an outer surface of the muffler.
6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the end cap has a width at least equal to the width of the muffler.
7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the muffler includes an inlet along a first end of the muffler and an outlet along a second end of the muffler, the second end being opposite the first end.
8. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal component is greater than the vertical component.
9. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a final drive supported by the frame and operatively coupled to the engine and to the rear ground engaging members.
10. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the muffler has an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being positioned along a first end of the muffler and the outlet being positioned along a second end of the muffler, the second end being opposite the first end.
11. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein at least at least a portion of the muffler is positioned directly over the final drive.
12. A vehicle comprising:
a frame extending along a longitudinal axis;
ground engaging members supporting the frame, including front and rear ground engaging members;
a seat supported by the frame;
an engine supported by the frame and having at least one cylinder;
a final drive supported by the frame and operatively coupled to the engine and to the rear ground engaging members; and
an exhaust system fluidly coupled to the engine, the exhaust system including a muffler having a longitudinally-extending centerline that is coplanar with the longitudinal axis of the frame, along a rear of the vehicle, wherein the muffler has an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being positioned along a first end of the muffler and the outlet being positioned along a second end of the muffler, the second end being opposite the first end, a least a portion of the muffler being positioned directly over the final drive, wherein a central axis of the inlet is parallel to a central axis of the outlet.
13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the exhaust system further includes an end cap coupled to an outer surface of the muffler, a width of the end cap being at least equal to a width of the muffler.
14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the width of the end cap is greater than the width of the muffler.
15. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the muffler is longitudinally aligned with the at least one cylinder of the engine.
16. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the exhaust system further includes an exhaust conduit extending between the engine and the muffler, at least a portion of the exhaust conduit being parallel with a longitudinally-extending centerline of the muffler and at least a portion of the exhaust conduit being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinally-extending centerline of the muffler.
17. The vehicle of claim 16 , further including a transmission, wherein the portion of the exhaust conduit parallel with the length of the muffler also extends along the transmission.
18. A vehicle comprising:
a frame having a longitudinal axis;
ground engaging members supporting the frame, including front and rear ground engaging members;
a seat connected to the frame;
an engine supported by the frame; and
an exhaust system coupled to the engine, the exhaust system including a muffler and an end cap coupled to an outer surface of the muffler, a width of the end cap being at least equal to a width of the muffler, wherein a longitudinal center plane of the vehicle intersects the engine, the muffler, and the end cap.
19. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the muffler includes an outlet and the end cap includes an end plate having a central opening aligned with the outlet of the muffler.
20. The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the end cap includes a wall extending inwardly from the end plate and extending around a portion of a body of the muffler.
21. The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the outlet of the muffler is coaxial with a centerline of the muffler.
22. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein a portion of the end cap is positioned between the muffler and a rear body portion of the vehicle.