Abstract:
A method and apparatus for continuously discharging inadvertently accumulated water from the automatic transmission housing and/or air filter housing of an all terrain vehicle is disclosed. The continuous water discharge system employs a one-way valve structure that is mounted at the lower end portion of either or both of the automatic transmission housing and air filter housing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/400,496, filed Aug. 1, 2002, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed. 

   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable 
   REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
   Not applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to all terrain vehicles. The present invention more particularly relates to an improved all terrain vehicle that can automatically eliminate water that might accumulate in the air filter housing or transmission housing when the vehicle is used in inundated areas. 
   2. General Background of the Invention 
   All terrain vehicles are used in many different types of terrain. Some of these vehicles are subjected to use in inundated areas such as rice fields, marshes, swamps, streams, river bottoms and the like. When used in such an environment, these vehicles (particularly those with automatic transmissions) inadvertently intake water than can find its way to the transmission housing and/or the air filter housing. In such a situation, the vehicle can become dangerous to operate and/or operable. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention solves these prior art problems and shortcomings by providing an all terrain vehicle that has an improved transmission housing and air intake housing arrangement that automatically drains any water that is inadvertently ingested. 
   In the preferred embodiment, the transmission housing and/or the air intake housing are provided with a valve that automatically discharges any water that might be inadvertently ingested, and while in use. 
   The present invention is directed to an improved all terrain vehicle that has a chassis, front and rear wheels, an engine mounted in between the front and rear wheels, a seat to be occupied by a driver during use, and handlebars for enabling the user to steer the two front wheels. 
   The apparatus includes an inclined intake conduit that has a forward air intake opening and a housing air intake that communicates air from the forward air inlet to the transmission housing for cooling purposes. Air is discharged from the transmission housing via an air discharge passageway. Both the forward air intake passageway and the rear air discharge passageways that communicate with the transmission housing are preferably inclined. The intake opening and discharge opening are each at the highest possible location to lessen the chance that they will make contact with a body of water such as a stream, pond, lake, flooded field, marsh, swamp or with splashing water. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a partially cut away elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a partially cut away fragmentary view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a fragmentary perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  are sectional fragmentary views illustrating the valve portion of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 5  is a partial sectional elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the valve and its connection to the transmission housing, and illustrating the air intake passageway and air discharge passageway that supply air for cooling purposes to the transmission housing. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1–4B  show the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, designated generally by the numeral  10  in  FIG. 1 . All terrain vehicle  10  has a chassis  11  to which is mounted two front wheels  12  that are steerable wheels  12  and a pair of rear wheels  13 . A seat  14  is positioned generally in between the front  12  and rear  13  wheels. 
   Handlebars  15  are mounted in front of seat  14  and enable an operator to steer the vehicle  10 . An engine  16  is provided in between the front  12  and rear wheels  13  and generally below the seat  14 . A transmission housing  17  is provided with a known automatic transmission that transfers power from engine  16  to rear wheels  13 . 
   Transmission housing  17  has interior  18 . The known transmission includes pulleys and a belt  21  or belts. The pulleys can include forward pulley  19  and a rear pulley  20  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 . Belt  21  connects pulleys  19 ,  20 . 
   Transmission housing  17  interior  18  receives cooling air from lower air intake passageway  22 . Air enters lower air intake passageway  22  through lower air intake opening  23  as indicated by arrow  24  in  FIG. 1 . Air intake  24  communicates with housing  17  interior  18  at housing air inlet  25 . Air enters transmission housing  17  interior  18  for purposes of cooling the transmission parts that are contained in housing interior  18 . These parts are known in the art and can include pulleys  19 ,  20  and belt  21 . 
   Air that is leaving transmission housing  17  interior  18  discharge via housing air exhaust  27  and air discharge passageway  28 . Arrow  29  schematically illustrates the exhaust of air that has traveled from intake  23  to housing interior  18  and then to rear air discharge opening  28 . 
   Another air intake at  35  is an upper air intake opening that provides air for the engine  16  carburetor. Air that enters intake  35  travels in the direction of arrow  37  via upper air intake passageway  36  to fitting  38 . In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , fitting  38  communicates air to air filter element  31  inside air filter housing  30  where the air is filtered before it is discharged in the direction of arrow  33  into carburetor air flow channel  32 . The carburetor air flow channel  32  is a bore of conduit  39  that connects air filter housing  30  with the carburetor of the engine  16 . 
   The all terrain vehicle  10 , fitted with the improvements disclosed herein, can be a commercially available all terrain vehicle that has an automatic transmission such as the Yamaha® Grizzly or Kodiak models, as examples. Generally speaking, these models have been available in the time frame of 1999–2002. 
   Yamaha® Grizzly and Yamaha® Kodiak models having automatic transmissions (as well as other all terrain vehicles that have automatic transmissions) have suffered from a water intake problem when they are used in inundated areas. This problem can affect users that traverse streams, lakes, ponds, rice fields and the like. When the vehicle enters a rice field having a water level W, water in the form of drops  58  or other splashed water can enter either or both of the intakes  23 ,  35  and be ingested by the apparatus  10 . In such a situation, the water drains downwardly in the inclined passageways  22 ,  36  and can accumulate in either the interior  18  of transmission housing  17  or the interior of air cleaner housing  30 . 
   Each of the housings  17 ,  31  is at an elevational position that is lower than or at the same level as the air intakes  23 ,  35  respectively. For example, in  FIG. 1 , air intake opening  23  is well above the interior  18  of automatic transmission housing  17 . Similarly, the air intake  35  is preferably at an elevation above all or part of air filter housing  30 . 
   In order to automatically and/or continuously remove water from either housing  17 ,  18  during use, a valve structure  40  or  46  can be employed. This valve is preferably a one way valve, check valve, flapper valve or like valve that removes water from the housing  17  interior  18  during use, i.e. while the user is riding upon or using the vehicle  10 . Valve  40  that is attached to automatic transmission housing  17  is shown in  FIG. 5 . Valve structure  40  includes an upper section  41 , lower section  42 , and is threadably attached to an internally threaded opening  44  of housing  17 . Upper section  41  of valve structure  40  provides external threads  43  that engage the internally threaded opening  44 . 
   The lower valve structure  42  is preferably a rubber or polymeric flapper valve that is similar to the construction of valve  46  shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 A and  4 B. The valves  40  and  46  each readily drain any water that collects above opening  44  or above opening  45  in  FIG. 3 . Water simply drains through the valve structure  40  or  46  via gravity. However, each valve  40  or  46  is a one way valve or check valve that disallows entry of water to the housing  40  or  46  via the valve  40  or  46 . The lower valve element  42  and the valve member  46  can be of a rubber or polymeric construction and include, for example, a pair of opposed flat sections  53 ,  54  with a slotted opening  55  there between that opens when water accumulates above the flat sections  53 ,  54 . Water thus empties via slotted opening  55  in the direction of arrow  47 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4B . 
   At air cleaner housing  30 , opening  45  communicates with drain fitting  48  having annular shoulder  49 . Valve  46  has an annular groove  51  that receives hose clamp  50 . Valve  46  is shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  attached to fitting  48 . Hose clamp  50  attaches to annular groove  51  of valve  46  at a position above annular shoulder  49  of fitting  48 . 
   Similarly, the lower valve section  42  has a structure as shown in  FIG. 4B  that continuously drains any water that accumulates in housing  17  above internally threaded opening  44 . In  FIG. 5 , an externally threaded upper section  41  is provided for threading attachment to opening  44 . In  FIG. 2 , a hose clamp  50  is provided for attaching valve  46  to an unthreaded, generally cylindrically shaped fitting  48 . 
   PARTS LIST 
   The following is a list of suitable parts and materials for the various elements of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   
     
       
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
             
               PART NO. 
               DESCRIPTION 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
               10 
               all terrain vehicle 
             
             
               11 
               chassis 
             
             
               12 
               front wheels 
             
             
               13 
               rear wheels 
             
             
               14 
               seat 
             
             
               15 
               handlebars 
             
             
               16 
               engine 
             
             
               17 
               transmission housing 
             
             
               18 
               interior 
             
             
               19 
               pulley 
             
             
               20 
               pulley 
             
             
               21 
               belt 
             
             
               22 
               lower air intake passageway 
             
             
               23 
               lower air intake opening 
             
             
               24 
               arrow 
             
             
               25 
               housing air inlet 
             
             
               26 
               housing air exhaust 
             
             
               27 
               air discharge passageway 
             
             
               28 
               rear air discharge opening 
             
             
               29 
               arrow 
             
             
               30 
               air filter housing 
             
             
               31 
               air filter element 
             
             
               32 
               carburetor air flow channel 
             
             
               33 
               arrow 
             
             
               34 
               housing cover 
             
             
               35 
               upper air intake opening 
             
             
               36 
               upper air intake passageway 
             
             
               37 
               arrow 
             
             
               38 
               fitting 
             
             
               39 
               conduit 
             
             
               40 
               valve 
             
             
               41 
               upper section 
             
             
               42 
               lower section 
             
             
               43 
               external threads 
             
             
               44 
               internally threaded opening 
             
             
               45 
               opening 
             
             
               46 
               valve 
             
             
               47 
               arrow 
             
             
               48 
               fitting 
             
             
               49 
               annular shoulder 
             
             
               50 
               hose clamp 
             
             
               51 
               annular groove 
             
             
               52 
               flexible section 
             
             
               53 
               flat section 
             
             
               54 
               flat section 
             
             
               55 
               slotted opening 
             
             
               56 
             
             
               57 
               water level 
             
             
               58 
               water drops 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.