All terrain or utility vehicle having selectable drive configurations and method therefore
US7810601B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 14, 2005 |
| Grant date | Oct 12, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 12, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T10/84
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An all-terrain or utility vehicle having various combinations of left and right front wheels, left and right rear wheels, a differential rotationally variably coupling the left and right front wheels together with a variable coupling torque and a source of motive power being selectively coupled to the left and right rear wheels in one configuration and coupled to the left and right front wheels as well as to the left and right rear wheels in a second configuration. The coupling torque is relatively stronger when a speed of the vehicle is relatively slower and is relatively weaker when the speed of the vehicle is relatively faster. The second configuration is selectable from the first configuration while the vehicle is in motion and (1) a rotational difference in speed exists between at least one of the left and right front wheels and at least one of the left and right rear wheels and (2) a rotational speed of at least one of the left and right rear wheels exceeds a rotational speed of at least one of the left and right front wheels.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.