Polaris Industries Inc.

Steven D Corneliusen

Richard E Eck

David C Ochab

Robbi L Peterson

Mitchell D Johnson

Michael R Trihey

Timothy F Melvin

Gregory G Lislegard

Joel H Anderson

Barry Walton

Steven L Johnson

Brent Barron

Tim Skime

A utility vehicle is disclosed having a flat or quasi-flat floor section in an operator area. The utility vehicle may also include an air inlet for an engine intake system being forward of the operator area. The utility vehicle may also include an air inlet for a CVT cooling system positioned to draw air from the operator area. The utility vehicle may also one or more cup holders positioned in the operator area below seat level.

Vehicle

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) system for use on snowmobiles, ATV's and similar vehicles. The CVT includes a rotatable drive clutch connected to an input shaft (the input shaft being connectable to an engine), and a roller clutch carried on the input shaft. The CVT also includes a rotatable driven clutch connected to an output shaft, the driven clutch having a laterally stationary sheave and a laterally movable sheave that is normally biased toward the stationary sheave. An endless flexible drive belt is disposed about the drive and driven clutches. The clutches and drive belt are configured so that when the engine is idling the belt firmly engages a drive surface of the roller clutch that is connected to the drive clutch. The roller clutch permits the drive surface (and, therefore, the belt) to remain stationary when the input shaft is rotating, thereby preventing vehicle 'creep' when idling, and, yet, the roller clutch also firmly engages the drive clutch's drive surface with the input shaft when the driven clutch attempts to drive the belt faster than the speed at which the drive clutch and input shaft are rotating, thereby permitting the driven clutch to backdrive the input shaft and engine to provide engine braking to the vehicle.

Continuously variable transmission system with engine braking

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Salol, MN, United States of America

Steven D Corneliusen