Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.

Bombardier Inc.

Brp-rotax Gmbh & Co Kg

Vincent Morin

Roger Rioux

Daniel Mercier

Claude Gagnon

Roland Ennsmann

Mihai Rasidescu

Ghislain Caron

Ronald Schapf

Martin Talbot

Frank Dube

Simon Carbonneau

Alessandro Del Mistro

Gary Robison

An all-terrain vehicle (ATV) has a subtransmission detachably fastened to an engine casing. The engine crankshaft includes a drive pulley connected via a belt to a driven pulley in the subtransmission, thus providing a continuously variable transmission (CVT) between the engine crankshaft and the subtransmission. The subtransmission includes a 2WD-4WD selector mechanism to select two-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive and also includes a transmission selector mechanism to put the vehicle in park, neutral, reverse, high-speed drive or low-speed drive. By disposing these selector mechanisms in the subtransmission, mass centralization is improved relative to prior-art drivetrains wherein the 2WD-4WD selector mechanism connects to the front differential. When operating in 2WD mode, the drivetrain does not waste energy rotating the front drive shaft, as in the prior art.

All-terrain vehicle with subtransmission detachably mounted to the engine

An all-terrain vehicle with improved stability is provided. The all-terrain vehicle includes a frame that is substantially centered on a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle, an engine, a plurality of wheels that are attached to a front axle and a rear axle, a handle bar that is operatively connected to at least two of the wheels, and a straddle seat. A fuel tank is fluidly connected to the engine, and is disposed forward of the rear axle, substantially above a rear suspension pivot point, and below the seat, and is substantially centered on the longitudinal centerline, thereby improving the stability of the all-terrain vehicle.

Fuel tank for an all-terrain vehicle

A brake system is provided for a straddle-type ATV. The brake system includes a brake caliper configured to mount to a gear box of the ATV and a brake disk configured to connect to a coupling member of the gear box coupled to a shaft and positioned in operative relation relative to the caliper. The brake system additionally includes a brake-actuating control mechanism in communication with the brake caliper. The brake-actuating control mechanism controls the brake caliper to provide selective frictional engagement between the brake caliper and the brake disk.

Inboard brake system for a straddle-type all-terrain vehicle

A suspension system for an ATV is provided that includes a torsion control mechanism having a left connecting structure and a right connecting structure. The torsion control mechanism defines an axis of rotation passing through the left and right connecting structures. A left swing arm is fixedly connected to the left connecting structure and a right swing arm is fixedly connected to the right connecting structure, such that the right and left swing arms are pivotable about the rotation axis defined by the torsion control mechanism.

Suspension system for an all terrain vehicle

A four-wheel drive straddle-type all-terrain vehicle has a progressive limited-slip differential that functions as an open differential when the wheel speed differential is less than a predetermined threshold, or cutting point, and functions as a progressive limited-slip differential when the wheel speed differential exceeds the cutting point. The progressive limited-slip differential is able to transfer torque to the wheel with greater traction as a generally linear function of the wheel speed differential, meaning that the more one wheel slips with respect to the other, the more torque is transferred from the slipping wheel to the wheel with traction. The progressive limited-slip differential comprises a rotary shear pump that drives a piston against a pack of clutch plates. The force of the piston against the clutch pack locks the left and right axles together to provide optimal traction in slippery conditions. Since the rotation of the pump is caused by relative wheel spin, the progressive limited-slip differential is said to be speed-sensitive in that it is responsive to wheel speed differential and exerts a locking force directly proportional to speed differential.

Straddle-type all terrain vehicle with progressive differential

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Canton de Brompton, Canada

Vincent Morin