Patent ID: 6182784
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: B60K,B60Y

Abstract:
A vehicle with a chassis having plural road wheels upon which said chassis is supported for rolling travel upon a surface, said vehicle comprising:an engine carried by said chassis and having a vertically-extending crankshaft with an external power output shaft portion extending vertically above said engine;a drive assembly having a driving first element drivingly carried on the power output shaft portion of the engine, and a driven second element carried on a driven shaft also extending vertically; said drive assembly including a power-transfer third element connecting engine power from said first element to said second element; andadditional power train elements drivingly connecting with said driven shaft and transferring engine power to at least one of said plural road wheels to propel said vehicle;whereby, said first, second, and third elements are disposed at an elevation above said engine in said vehicle providing improved isolation from moisture when said vehicle is operated in water or mud.