Patent ID: 7147076
Filing Date: 2006-12-12
Classification: B60K

Abstract:
1. An off-road vehicle comprising: a frame assembly, a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels that are suspended relative to the frame assembly, an operator's seat mounted to the frame; a prime mover selectively connectable to the pair of front wheels and the prime mover connected to the pair of rear wheels, the prime mover comprising an output shaft; a front differential mechanism being operatively connected to the front wheels, the front differential mechanism comprising a front input shaft, the front differential mechanism being adapted for operation in an unlocked mode, a locked mode and a disabled mode, wherein the disabled mode results in the front wheels being disconnected from the prime mover; a front drive line connecting the output shaft of the prime mover and the front input shaft of the front differential mechanism; a rear differential mechanism being operatively connected to the rear wheels, the rear differential mechanism comprising a rear input shaft, the rear differential mechanism being adapted for operation in an unlocked mode and a locked mode; a rear drive line connecting the output shaft of the prime mover and the rear input shaft of the rear differential mechanism; and a switching system adapted to allow an operator to select among only the following combinations of modes for the front and rear differentials: front disabled and rear unlocked; front disabled and rear locked; front unlocked and rear unlocked; front unlocked and rear locked; and front locked and rear locked.