Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02375653 2002-03-07
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l3achgroand of the invention:
There are several types of small utility vehicles on the market for
transporting cargo. All of
these vehicles have wheels with rubber tires and are best suited to terrains
that are not snow
covered. Some of these vehicles such as the popular four wheel ATV's do not
have means for
carrying substantial amounts of cargo and can only tow a trailer as a means of
transporting cargo.
There are other four and six wheel utility vehicles on the market for carrying
cargo. These
vehicles function well on most all terrains but is limited to what they can do
in snow. There are
snow conversion kits for four wheel ATV's but they are not suitable for
carrying cargo. There are
eight wheel all terrain vehicles on the market in a limited number that can
function on land and
water, these vehicles have a track conversion kit for soft terrains. These
vehicles are very slow
moving and have a small cargo compartment that would not be suitable for
carrying heavy loads.
Some snowmobiles have a small cargo area. behind the seat for carrying small
items such as
a luggage bag. These snow vehicles are not suitable for carrying long and
heavy loads. Reference
is made to United States Patent 5,014,805 wherein a snow vehicle having two
steerable skis at the
front and two crawler tracks at the rear of the vehicle propelled by as engine
and drive train
located in the rear section of the vehicle. Two passenger seats are located
forward of the engine
for transporting two passengers over snow. Whereas the vehicle described in
the present invention
has a drivers seat for operating the vehicle and a large cargo box for
transporting cargo over snow.
The cargo box can accommodate an optional removable seat for transporting two
passengers
instead of cargo when necessary. This type of vehicle is beneficial for
transporting cargo and
personnel over snow and ice. It can be beneficial to utility companies such as
hydro electric,
pipeline construction and patrolling and maintaining navigation equipment in
remote areas. It will
serve a purpose in northern climates for fishermen and hunters, especially
during the winter season
for transporting their equipment and bringing home their catch. It can be used
in rural areas for
hauling home firewood. Farmers will find this type of vehicle beneficial for
doing chores around
the farm,.it is an excellent winter vehicle for wildlife officers and forest
patrol. It is a useful
vehicle for trappers in the north for transporting their supplies and furs. It
will even be an
attractive vehicle for military and police use in northern areas. It has a
conversion kit for converting
to all wheels or to crawler tracks on the rear and wheels on the front for
other than snow use.
CA 02375653 2002-03-07
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Reference to Figures:
Fig, l is a side view of the utility vehicle having a slopping cowling, an
elongated chasis, a
midsection engine compartment, a rearwardly extending cargo box. and crawler
tracks and skis.
Fig,. 2 is a back view of the cargo box showing the tailgate, the tail and
brake lights and a cross
sectional view of the elongated chasis.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the utility vehicle in Fig. l showing the chasis with
an engine aad drive
mechanism for propelling the crawler tracks and having two skis in the front
for steering and
support.
h'Ig. 4 is a plan view of the utility vehicle in Fig. l showing a detailed
view of the crawler tracks
drive mechanism
Fig. 5 is an enlarged front view of the elongated chasis bulkhead and skis
suspension, and the skis
control mechanism.
Fig. 6 is a side view of the utility vehicle chasis and cargo box showing the
crawler tracks drive
shaft bearings and bearing support brackets, and a rear stationary support
shaft support brackets.
The support brackets are mounted in the sots in the cheers.
Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of the front section of the elongated cheers.
Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of the rear section of the elongated cheers.
Fig. 9 is a side view of the utility vehicle cheers and cargo box showing the
crawler tracks drive
shaft and crawler track rear stationary support shaft mounted to the vehicle
cheers.
CA 02375653 2002-03-07
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Fig.10 is a side view of the bolts and locknuts for mounting the crawler
tracks drive shaft brackets
and the crawler tracks stationary support shaft brackets to the vehicle
chasis. Different types of
bolts and locknuts can be used for mounting the support brackets to the
vehicle chasis.
Fig. l l is a side view of another embodiment of the utility vehicle having a
front engine
compartment.
Fig.12 is a plan view of the utility vehicle in Fig.11 shaving the chasis with
an engine and drive
mechanism for propelling the crawler tracks and having two skis in the front
for steering and
support.
Fig.13 is a plan view of tt~e utility vehicle in Fig. 1l showing a detailed
view of the crawler tracks
drive mechanism.
Fig.14 is an enlarged front view of the elongated chasis bulkhead and skis
suspension and skis
control mechanism.
Ffg.15 is a side view of the utility vehicle in Ftg. l showing the vehicle
converted to a wheel
conversion kit.
Fig. l6 is a plan view of the utility vehicle in Fig.15 showing the chasis
with an engine and drive
mechanism for propelling a set of first rear vvl~els, a set of second rear
wheels are free wheeling
and are used for support for travelling over soft terrain. A set of front
wheels provide steering and
support for the front of the vehicle.
Fig.17 is a view of the utility vehicle crawler tracks drive shaft 230 being
interchangeable with
drive shaft 411 for propelling and supporting the conversion kit first rear
wheels.
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Fig.18 is a side view of the stationary stub support shafts and integral
support brackets for
supporting the top end of crawler tracks swing arm assemblies. The stationary
stub support shafts
and integral support brackets will be removed from the chasis when converting
to the wheel
conversion kit.
Fi& 19 is a view of the utility vehicle crawler tracks support shaft 242 being
interchangeable with
a support shaft 424 for supporting the conversion kit second rear wlarels.
Fig. 20 is a front view of the elongated chasis bulkhead and wheels suspension
and wheels control
mechanism.
Fig. 21 is a side view of the utility vehicle in Fig.1 showing the cargo box
having a duimping
mechanism.
Fig. 22 is a side vicw of a hinged spring supporting splash flap for cargo
boxes having a dwnping
mechanism.
Flg. 23 is a side view of the utility vehicle in Fig. l showing a camber at
the lower run of the
crawler tracks for improved maneuvering, and having a set of front wheels
having low pressure
tires for steering and support for travelling over soft terrains.
Fig. 24 is a plan view of the utility vehicle in Fig. 23 showing the crawler
tracks and front wheels
Fig. 25 is a plan view of the utility vehicle in Fig,. l showing a detailed
view of the crawler tracks
mechanism.
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Specifications:
Reference is made firstly to Fig. l which illustrates a utility vehicle having
an elongated
chassis 202 supporting a forwardly slopping cowling 204 followed by a foot
supporting platform
206, a midsection engine compartment 208, and a rearwardly extending cargo box
292. Said
midsection engine compartment 208 having a plurality of cooling vents 210 on
the left and right
side for cooling an air-cooled engine 212. Said engine 212 is shown in Fig. 3.
A cooling fan 214
is mounted in the midsection engine compartment 208, as shown in Fig. 3. Said
cooling fan 214
is used in conjunction with said cooling vents 210 for increased cooling of
said engine 212. An
optional liquid cooled engine can be substituted for an air-cooled engine
further having a radiator
and air vents located in the front portion of said elongated chassis 202 and
said slopping cowling
204 for cooling the radiator and said engine 212 by the relative air flow.
Said radiator and air
vents are not shown in the drawings. Said engine 2I2 is coupled to a gear box
216 by a variable
speed transmission 218 as shown in Fig. 3. Said gear box 216 drives a driven
shaft 220 in a
forward or reverse rotation for a forward or reverse movement of the vehicle.
Said driven shaft
220 having its first end supported by said gear box 216 and its second end
supported by a bearing
222 supported by said midsection engine compartment 208 side wall. Said driven
shaft 220
supports a sprocket 224 and a brake disc 226. A brake caliper 228 is supported
by the back end of
said midsection engine compartment 208. A crawler track drive shaft 230 is
rotatably mounted to
said elongated chasis 202 by bearings 205 and bearing support brackets 207 in
slots 203 by bolt
holes 213, bolts 217 and lockouts 219 as shown in Figs. 6 and 9. Said drive
shaft 230 supports a
drive sprocket 232 mounted to said drive shaft 230. The outer ends of said
drive shaft 230
supports crawler tracks drive sprockets 234 and track support wheels 236 as
shown in Fig. 4. Said
crawler tracks drive sprockets 234 are mounted to the outer ends of said drive
shaft 230 for driving
crawler tracks 238. Said drive sprocket 232 is connected to driven sprocket
224 by drive chain
240. Crawler track support shaft 242 is stationary mounted to the rear portion
of said elongated
chassis 202 by support brackets 243 in slots 215 by bolt holes 213, bolts 217
and lockouts 219 as
shown in Figs. 6 and 9. Said crawler tracks stationary support shaft 242
support crawler track
idler support wheels 237 shown in Figs. l and 4. The lower run of said crawler
tracks 238 is
CA 02375653 2002-03-07
Page 7
supported by wheel rails 244 having a plurality of idler wheels 24b rotatably
mounted to said
wheel rails 244 shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The back end of said wheel rails 244
having a shaft 247
for supporting a rotatably mounted guide wheel 248 shown in Fig. 4, and left
and right rotatably
mounted idler wheels 250 shown in Figs. l and 4. Said shaft 247 is adjusted by
adjusting bolts
252 for adjusting the tension on said crawler tracks 238 shown in Fig. 1. Left
and right swing arm
assemblies 254 having their top ends supported by stationary stub support
shafts 256 and integral
support brackets 257 mounted to the rear portion of said chassis 202 by bolt
holes 213, bolts 217
and locknuts 219, and their bottom ends supported by idler wheel shafts 258
supported by wheel
rails 244, as shown in Figs. l and 4. Left and right suspension shock
absorbers 2b0 having their
top ends supported by support brackets 262 mounted to said stationary support
shaft 242, and
their bottom ends supported by idler wheel shafts 261 supported by said wheel
rails 244, shown in
Figs. l and 4. Said stationary support shaft 242 is mounted to the rear
portion of said elongated
chassis 202 by support brackets 243 in slots 215 by bolt holes 213, bolts 217
and locknuts 219 as
shown in Figs 6 and 9. Said swing arm assemblies 254 move downwardly and
backwardly with
any movement of said track suspension shock absorbers 260 keeping tension on
said crawler tracks
238, and the wheel rails aligned with the longitudinal axis of said crawler
tracks 238 as shown in
Fig.1. The front end of the vehicle is supported by a ski mechanism having
skis 262 supported by
ski posts 264 and ski post sleeves 266. Said ski post sleeves 26b having a cut
away section for
showing ski post 264. Said ski post sleeves 2bb are supported by the bottom
end of left and right
ski shock absorbers 268 by integral support brackets 270 as shown in an
enlarge view in Fig. 5.
Said ski post sleeves 266 are pivotally supported to said chassis 202 by
support bars 263 as shown
in Fig, 1. The top end of said ski shock absorbers 2b8 are supported by a
bulkhead 272. Said
bulkhead 272 is supported by the front portion of said elongated chassis 202.
Stabilizer rods 274
are pivotally mounted to said bulkhead 272 and by left and right ski post
sleeve support brackets
270 integral of said ski post sleeves 266, as shown in Ffg. 5. A linkage 276
is removably mounted
to the top end of said ski posts 264. Said linkage 27b is connected to control
linkage rods 278.
Said control linkage rods 278 connects to the lower end of rotatable mounted
handlebars shaft and
handlebars 280 for steering and control of said skis 262, as shown in Figa. l
and 5. An enlarged
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Page 8
view of said bulkhead 272 and the ski mechanism is shown in Fig. 5. Said
forwardly slopping
cowling 204 is hinged to the front portion of said chassis 202. Said cowling
204 conceals part of
the steering mechanism and the angled foot supports 201 integral of said
platform 206. Said
angled foot supports 201 are shown in Fig 3. Said slopping cowling 204 having
a windshield 282
for streamlining the relative airflow for decreased friction and drivers
comfort. Said slopping
cowling 204 having a high and low beam headlight 284 for night driving. A gas
tank 286 having a
filler cap 288 is supported by the front portion of said elongated chassis 202
and the top portion of
said cowling 204. A drivers seat 290 is removably mounted to the top portion
of said midsection
engine compartment 208. Said rearvvardly extending cargo box 292 is mounted to
the rear portion
of said elongated chasis 202 by bolts and lockouts. Said bolts and lockouts
are not shown in the
drawing. Said cargo box 292 having an optional dumping mechanism shown in Fig.
21, for
dumping cargo. Said cargo box 292 having a removable mounted bench seat and
back support
295 for accommodating two passengers. Said cargo box 292 having a swing down
tailgate 296. A
front splash flap 297 is supported by the front lower portion of said cargo
box 292, said elongated
chassis 202, and midsection engine compartment 206. A rear splash flap 298 and
a tail and brake
light 299 is mounted to the lower tail section of said cargo box 292. Said
cargo box tailgate 296,
said tail and brake lights 299 and a cross sectional view of said front and
rear chassis 202 are
shown in a back view of said cargo box 292 in Fig. 2 .
Another embodiment of the utility vehicle as shown in Fig.11 comprising: an
elongated
chassis 302 supporting a forwardly slopping cowling 304 followed by a foot
supporting platform
306, a front engine compartment 308 a midsection compartment 310 a rea wardly
extending cargo
box 392. Said front engine compartment 308 supports an air-cooled engine 312
as shown in Fig.
12. Said forwardly slopping cowling 304 having air vents in the lower front
portion of said
cowling for cooling said engine 312. Said air vents are not shown in the
drawing. A cooling fan
314 is used in conjunction with said slopping cowling air circulation vents
for increased cooling of
the engine. An optional liquid cooled engine can be substituted for an air-
cooled engine further
having a radiator not shown in the drawings located in the front portion of
said front engine
compartment 308 for cooling the radiator by the relaxive air flow for cooling
the engine. Said
CA 02375653 2002-03-07
Page 9
engine 312 is coupled to a gear box 316 by a variable speed transmission 318
as shown in Fig.
12. Said gear box 315 drives a driven shaft 320 in a forward or reverse
rotation for a forward
or reverse movement of the vehicle. Said driven shaft 320 having its first end
supported by said
gear box 316 and having its second end supported by bearing 322 supported by
said engine
compartment 308 side wall, as shown in Fig.12. Said driven shaft 320 supports
a sprocket 324
and a brake disc 326. A brake caliper 328 is supported by the back end of said
engine
compartment 308. A crawler track drive shaft 330 is rotatably mounted to said
elongated chassis
302 by bearings 305 and bearing support brackets 307 in slots 303 by bolt
holes 313, bolts 3I7
and lockouts 319 as shown in Figs. 6 and 9. Said crawler track drive shaft 330
supports a drive
sprocket 332 mounted to said crawler tracks drive shaft 330, as shown in
Fig.12. The outer ends
of said crawler tracks drive shaft 330 supports crawler track drive sprockets
334 and track support
wheels 336 mounted to sand shaft 330 for driving said crawler tracks 338, as
shown in Fig.13.
Said driven sprocket 324 drives sprocket 340 on shaft 34I by drive chain 344,
drive sprocket 346
on shaft 341 drives sprocket 348 on driven shaft 350. Said driven shaft 350
and sprocket 352
drives said crawler tracks drive shaft 330 by drive chain 351. Said shafts 341
and 350 are
supported by bearings and bearing supports 353 by the inner walls of said
elongated chassis 304,
as shown in Fig.12. A crawler track support shaft 342 is stationary mounted to
the rear portion
of said elongated chassis 302, by support brackets 343, in slots 315, by bolt
holes 313, bolts 317
and lockouts 319, as shown in Figs 6 and 9. Said crawler tracks support shaft
342 supports
crawler tracks support idler wheels 337 shown in Fig. l l and 13. The lower
run of said crawler
tacks 338 is supported by wheel rails 344 having a plurality of idler wheels
346 rotatably mounted
to said wheel rails 344 shown in Figa 11 and I3. Said wheel rails 344 having a
longitudinal
camber causing said idler wheels 344 to form a longitudinal camber with the
lower run of said
crawler tracks 338. The camber on the lower run of said crawler tracks 338
redoes friction on
hard surfaces, increasing the vehicles maneuverability and decreasing its
turning radius. In deep
snow the camber on said crawler tracks 338 will help compact the snow
increasing flotation and
decreasing track snow ploughing. The back end of said wheel rails 344 having a
shaft 347
supporting rotatable guide wheels 348 and left and right rotatably mounted
idler wheels 350
CA 02375653 2002-03-07
Page 10
shown in Figs.1 and 13..Said shaft 347 is adjusted by adjusting bolts 352 for
adjusting the teasion
on said crawler tracks 338 shown in Fig. 11. Left and right swing arm
assemblies 354 having their
top ends supported by stationary support stub shafts 356 and integral support
brackets 257
mounted by bolt holes 313, bolts 317 and lockouts 319 to the rear portion of
said elongated chassis
302, and their bottom ends supported by said wheel rails idler wheel shafts
358 supported by said
wheel rails 344 as shown in Fig.11. Left and right suspension shock absorbers
360 having their
top ends supported by support brackets 362 mounted to said stationary support
shaft 342 shown in
Fig.13. Said stationary support shaft 342 is mounted to the rear portion of
said elongated chassis
302 by support brackets 343, bolt holes 313, bolts 317 and lockouts 319 as
shown in Figs: 6 and
9. The bottom ends of said shock absorbers 360 are supported by idler wheel
shafts 361
supported by said wheel rails 344 shown in Figs.11 and 13. Said swing arm
assemblies 354 move
downwardly and backwardly with any movement of said track suspension shock
absorbers 360,
keeping tension on said crawler tracks and said wheel rails aligned with the
longitudinal axes of
said crawler tracks 338, as shown in Fig. l 1. The front end of the vehicle is
supported by a ski
mechanism having skis 362 supported by ski posts 364 and ski posts sleeves
366. Said ski post
sleeves 366 having a cut away section for showing said ski posts 364, as shown
in Fig.14. Said
ski posts 364 and ski post sleeves 366 are supported by the bottom end of left
and right shock
absorbers 368 by integral support brackets 370, as shown in Fig.14. Said ski
post sleeves 366 are
pivotally supported to said chassis 302 by support bars 363, as shown in Fig.
1l. The top end of
said shock absorbers 368 are supported by said bulkhead 372 shown in an
enlarged view in Fig.
14. Stabilizer rods 374 are pivotally mounted to said bulkhead 372 and by left
and right ski posts
sleeves support brackets 370 integral of said ski post sleeves 366. A linkage
376 is mounted to the
top end of said ski posts 364. Said linkage 376 is connected to control
linkage rods 378. Said
control linkage rods 378 connects to the lower end of rotatable handlebars
shaft and handlebars
380 for steering and control of said skis 362, as shown in Fig.14. Said
slopping cowling 304 is
hinged to the front portion of said elongated chassis 302. Said slopping
cowling 304 conceals part
of the steering mechanism and the angled foot rests supports 301 shown in
Fig.12. Said slopping
cowling 304 has a windshield 382 for streamlining the relative airflow for
decreased friction and
CA 02375653 2002-03-07
Fage 11
drivers comfort. Said slopping cowling 304 has a high and low beam headlight
384 for night
driving. A gas tank 386 having a filler cap 388 is supported by the front
portion of said elongated
chassis 302 and the top portion of said slopping cowling 304, as shown in Ffg.
11. A drivers seat
390 is removably mounted to the top portion of said midsection compartment
310. A cargo box
392 is secured to said elongated chassis 302 by bolts and lockouts. Said cargo
box 392 can have
an optional dumping mechanism for dumping cargo as shown in Flg. 20. Said
cargo box 392
having a removable mounted passenger seat 395 as shown in Fig.1 for
accommodating two
passengers. Said cargo box 392 having a swing down tailgate 396. a front
splash flap 397, a rear
splash flap 398, and a tail and brake light 399 mounted to the lower back end
of said cargo box
392. The swing down tailgate is common to the vehicle cargo boxes 392 shown in
the different
Figs.
Another embodiment of the utility vehicle as shown in Fig.15 comprises: a
wheel
conversion kit adaptable to the utility vehicles shown in Ffgs, l and 11. Said
conversion kit
having a two piece wheel frame having side members 403 with ixrtegral angled
supports 406 and
408. Said angled supports 406 having bearings 409 to mate with the ends of a
rotaxable mounted
shaft 411. Said shaft 411 is mounted to elongated chassis 402 in slots 403 by
bearings 405 and
beating support brackets 407 by bolt holes 413, bolts 417 and lockouts 219 as
shown in Ffga 6, 9
and 15. Said shaft 411 is shorter in length than shaft 230 as shown in Fig.
17. The support ends
of said shaft 230 are longer than the support ends of shaft 411 to accommodate
the drive
mechanism for driving said crawler tracks. Said shaft 411 having short support
ends to
accommodate bearings 409 in said side members front angled supports 406 for
supporting said
angled supports 406 to chassis 402. Said side members rear angled supports 408
are mounted by
bushings to the ends of a stationary support shaft 424, as shown in Fig.16.
Said stationary
support shaft 424 is mounted in slots 415 by support brackets 243 in said
elongated chassis 402 by
bolt holes 413, bolts 417 and lockouts 419 as shown in Figs. 6, 9,10, 15 and
15. Said shaft 424
is shorter in length than idler wheels stationary support shaft 242, as shown
in Fig I9. The
support ends of said shaft 242 are longer than the ends on shaft 424 to
accommodate support
wheels for said crawler tracks. The ends on said shaft 424 are short to
accommodate sand rear
CA 02375653 2002-03-07
Page 12
angled supports 408. Said slots 403 and mounting brackets 407, and said slots
215 and mounting
brackets 243 make it easy to interchange said shaft 230 with said shaft 411,
and said shaft 242,
with said shaft 424 by using said bolts 419, in bolt holes 413 secured by
lockouts 417, for
converting said crawler tracks to said wheel conversion kit. Said wheel frames
403 are mounted to
said chassis 402 by said shaft 411, by bearings 405 and bearing support
brackets 407, and by said
stationary support shaft 424 and mounting brackets 443. Said mounting brackets
and bearings are
shown in Figs. 6 and 9. Wheels 428 are supported by a drive shaft 431. Said
drive shaft 431 is
rotatably mounted to the front portion of said side members 403. A driven
sprocket 433 is
mounted to said rotatable shaft 431. Said shaft 431 and driven sprocket 433
drives said shaft 431
by drive chain 438 connected to drive sprocket 436 mounted to rotatable drive
shaft 411. Said
drive shaft 411 is driven by said sprocket 432 connected to said engine drive
transmission and gear
box by chain 440. Said wheels 428 are mounted to said drive shaft 431 by
keyways, keys and
lockouts. Said drive shaft 431 is driven by said sprocket 436 on shaft 411. A
stationary rear
support shaft 424 is mounted to said chassis 40Z for supporting rear angled
supports 408. Said
wheels 429 are rotatably mounted to said stationary shaft 434 by bearings and
lockouts. Said
stationary shaft 434 is supported by the rear portion of said wheel frames
403. A set of front
wheels 442 are mounted to the ski mechanism for steering and support by
removing the skis. Said
wheels 442 having ninety degree support shafts 476 having a horizontal shaft
for supporting said
wheels 442 and a vertical shaft 478 supported by said sleeves 466. Said
sleeves 466 having a cut
away section for showing said vertical support shafts 478 in said sleeves 466.
Said vertical
support shafts 478 having flanges 465 for rotatably supporting the bottom end
of said sleeves 466
for supporting said wheels 442. Said wheels 442 and said ninety degree support
shafts 476 are
supported by the bottom end of left and right shock absorbers 468 and by said
sleeves 466 and
integral support brackets 470 as shown in Fig. 20. The top end of said shock
absorbers 468 are
supported by said bulkhead 4?2. Stabilizer rods 474 are pivotally mounted to
said bulkhead 472,
and left and right support brackets 470 supported by said sleeves 466.. A
linkage 484 is mounted
to the top end of said vertical shaft 478. Said linkage 484 is connected to
linkage rods 485. Said
linkage rods 485 connects to the lower end of rotatable handlebars shaft and
handlebars 480 for
CA 02375653 2002-03-07
Page 13
steering and control of the front end of the utility vehicle by said wheels
442. Left and right front
fenders 444 are removably mounted to the lower portion of said slopping
cowling 404 to protect
debris from the vehicle and the driver. Said forwardly slopping cowling 404 is
hinged to the front
portion of said chassis 402. Said cowling 404 conceals part of the steering
mechanism and the
angled foot supports 401 integral of said platform 406. Said cowling 404
having a windshield 482
for streamlining the relative airflow for decreased friction and drivers
comfort. Said cowling 404
having a high and low beam headlight 484 for night driving. A gas tank 486
having a filler cap
488 is supported by the front portion of said elongated chassis 402 and the
tap portion of said
cowling 404. A drivers seat 490 is removably mounted to the top portion of
said midsection engine
compartment 408. Said rearwardly extending cargo box 492 is mounted to the
rear portion of said
elongated chassis 402 by bolts and locknuts not shown in the drawing. Said
cargo box having an
optional dumping mechanism 494 for dumping cargo. Said cargo box 492 having a
removable
mounted bench seat and back support 495 for accommodating two passengers. Said
cargo box
492 having a swing down tailgate 496, a front splash flap 497, a rear splash
flap 498 and tail and
brake lights mounted to the lower end of said cargo box 494.
Another embodiment of the utility vehicle as shown in Fig. 21 comprising: a
dumping
mechanism kit for said cargo box 592, having an hinged bracket 504 removably
mounted to the
bottom of said cargo box 592 by bolts and lockouts. Said hinged bracket 504 is
pivotally
supported by the rear portion of said elongated chassis 502 by a shaft 503. A
hydraulic hoist 508
having its bottom end pivotally supported to the back wall of the midsection
engine compartment
by a support bracket, and having its top end pivotally supported to the front
bottom portion of said
cargo box 592 by a support bracket. Said support brackets are not shown in the
drawing. Said
cargo box 592 having a swing down tailgate 596 as shown in Fig. 2 and 11. Said
cargo box 592
having hinged spring supported splash flaps 510 supported by the rear bottom
section of said cargo
box 592. The angled portion of said splash flaps 510 can change angles without
damaging said
splash flaps. When said cargo box 592 is raised by the dumping mechanism said
splash flaps will
rest on the rear upper run of the crawler tracks causing said splash flaps 510
to change angles
without damaging the flaps. When said cargo 'box 592 is in a non dumping mode
said splash flaps
CA 02375653 2002-03-07
Page 14
510 will go back to its normal angle by the tension of said springs 512. Said
dumping mechanism
can be used on said vehicles as shown in Figs. 1,11,15, and 23.
Another embodiment of the utility vehicle as shown in Fig. 23 comprising: a
vehicle having
an elongated chassis 602 supporting a forwardly slopping cowling 604 followed
by a foot
supporting platform 606, a midsection engine compartment 608, an extending
cargo box 692. Said
midsection engine compartment 608 having a plurality of cooling vents 610 on
the left and right
side for cooling an air-cooled engine 612. A cooling fan 614 mounted in
midsection engine
compartment 608 is used in conjunction with said cooling vents 610 for
increased cooling of sand
engine 612. Said engine 612 and said cooling fan 614 is shown in Fig. 24. An
optional liquid
cooled engine can be substituted for an air-cooled engine further having a
radiator not shown in
the drawing located in the front portion of said elongated chassis 602 for
cooling the radiator by
the relative air flow for cooling the engine. Said engine 612 is coupled to a
gear box 616 by a
variable speed transmission 618 as shown in Fig. 24. Said gear box 616 drives
a driven shaft 620
in a forward or reverse rotation for a forward or reverse movement of the
vehicle. Said driven
shaft 620 having its first end supported by said gear box 616 and its second
end supported by a
bearing 622 supported by midsection engine compartment 608 side wall. Said
driven shaft 620
supports a sprocket 624 and a brake disc 626. A brake caliper 628 is supported
by the back end of
said midsection engine compartment 608. Crawler tracks drive shaft 630 is
rotatably mounted to
said elongated chassis 602 in slots 603 by bearings 605, bearing support
brackets b07 and by bolt
holes 613, bolts 617, and locknuts 619. as shown in Figs. 6 and 10. Said
crawler tracks drive
shaft 630 supports a drive sprocket 632 mounted to said drive shaft 630. The
outer ends of said
crawler tracks drive shaft 630 supports crawler tracks drive sprockets 634 and
crawler tracks
support wheels 636 mounted to the outer ends of said crawler tracks drive
shaft 630 for driving
crawler tracks 638 as shown in Fig. 24 and 25. Said drive sprocket 632 is
connected to said
driven sprocket 624 by drive chain 640. A crawler track stationary support
shaft 64Z is mounted
to elongated chassis 602 in slots 615, by support brackets 643 and by bolt
holes 613, bolts 617,
and locknuts 619, as shown in Figs. 6 and 9. Said crawler track stationary
support shaft 642
supports crawler tracks idler support wheels 637 as shown in Figs. 23 and 25.
The lower run of
CA 02375653 2002-03-07
Page 15
said crawler tracks 638 is supported by wheel rails 644 having a plurality of
idler wheels 646
rotatably mounted to said wheel rails 644. Said wheel rails 644 having a
longitudinal camber
causing said idler wheels 646 to form a longitudinal camber with the lower run
of said crawler
tracks 638. The camber on the lower run of said crawler tracks 638 reduces
friction on hard
surfaces, increasing the vehicles maneuverability and decreasing its turning
radius. In deep snow
the camber on said crawler tracks 638 will help compact the snow increasing
flotation and
decreasing track snow ploughing. The back end of said wheel rails 644 having a
shaft 647 for
supporting a rotatably mounted guide wheel 648 and left and right rotatably
mounted rear idler
wheels 650 as shown in Ffg.25. Said shaft 647 is adjusted by adjusting bolts
652 for adjusting the
tension on said crawler tracks 638. Left and right swing arm assemblies 654
are supported by
stationary stub support shafts 656 having integral support brackets 657 for
mounting to elongated
chassis 602 by bolt holes 613, bolts 617 and locknuts 619, and to wheel rails
idler wheels shafts
658 supported by said wheel rails 644 as shown in Figs. 23 and 25. Left and
right suspension
shock absorbers 660 having their top ends supported by support brackets 662
mounted to said
stationary support shaft 642, and their bottom ends supported by wheel rails
idler wheels shaft
661. Said stationary crawler tracks support shaft 642 is mounted to the rear
portion of said
elongated chassis 60Z. Said swing arm assemblies 654 move downwardly and
backwardly with
any movement of said track suspension shock absorbers 660 keeping tension on
said crawler tracks
638, and the wheel rails aligned with the longitudinal axis of said crawler
tracks 638 as shown in
Fig. 23. A set of front wheels 642 are mounted to the ski mechanism for
steering and support by
removing the skis as shown in Figs. 23 and 24. Said wheels 642 having a ninety
degree support
shaft 676 with a horizontal shaft supporting said wheels 642 and a vertical
support shaft 678
supported by sleeves 666. Said sleeves having a cut away section for showing
said vertical
support shafts 678 in said sleeves 666. Said vertical support shafts 678
having flanges 665 for
rotatably supporting the bottom end of said sleeves 666 for supporting said
wheels 642. Said
sleeves 666 are supported by the bottom end of left and right shock absorbers
668 and by integral
support brackets 670. T'he top end of said shock absorbers 668 are supported
by the top portion
of said bulkhead 672. Stabilizer rods 674 are pivotally mounted to said
bulkhead 672 and to left
CA 02375653 2002-03-07
Page 16
and right said sleeves integral support brackets 670 and said sleeves 666. A
linkage 684 is
mounted to the top end of said vertical shaft 678. Said linkage 684 is
connected to control linkage
rods 685. Said control linkage rods 685 are connected to the lower end of
rotatable mounted
handlebars shaft and handlebars 680 for steering and control of said front
wheels 642. Said
forwarding slopping cowling 604 is hinged to the front portion of said chassis
602. Said cowling
604 conceals part of the steering mechanism and the angled foot supports 601
integral to said
platform 606. Said cowling 604 having a windshield 682 for streamlining the
relative air flow for
decreased friction and drivers comfort. Said cowling 604 having a high and low
beam headlight
684 for night driving. A gas tank 686 having a filler cap 688 is supported by
the front portion of
said elongated chassis 602 and the top portion of said cowling 604. A drivers
seat 690 is
removably mounted to the top portion of said midsection engine compartment
608. Said
rearwardly extending cargo box 692 is mounted to the rear portion of said
elongated chassis 602
by bolts and nuts not shown in the drawing. Said cargo box 692 having an
optional dumping
mechanism 594 for dumping cargo as shown in Fig. 22. Said cargo box 692 having
a removable
mounted bench seat and back support 695 for accommodating two passengers. Said
cargo box
692 having a swing down tailgate 696 as shown in Figs. 2 and 11. A front
splash flap 697 is
supported by the front lower portion of said cargo box 692, said elongated
chassis 602 and
midsection engine compartment 506. A rear splash flap 698 and a tail and brake
light 699 are
mounted to the lower portion of said cargo box 692.
