Off-road utility vehicle

Abstract

An off-highway recreational includes a frame, a prime mover, a transmission, an intermediate shaft and a main shaft. The transmission is mechanically coupled to receive power from the prime mover and to provide mechanical power at a transaxle output shaft. The intermediate drive shaft is mechanically coupled to the transaxle output shaft, wherein the intermediate drive shaft has a first diameter. The main drive shaft is mechanically coupled to the intermediate drive shaft, wherein the main drive shaft has a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An off-road utility vehicle comprising:
 a frame;   a cab having one or more seats;   a cargo box located rearward of the one or more seats;   a prime mover mounted to the frame;   a continuously variable transmission (CVT) including a drive clutch and a driven clutch;   a CVT cover assembly comprising an inner CVT cover, an intermediate CVT cover and an outer CVT cover, wherein the drive clutch and the driven clutch are housed within a space between the intermediate CVT cover and the outer CVT cover; and   a CVT intake assembly including a first intake duct portion and a second intake duct portion, wherein air drawn from the first intake duct portion is provided to the CVT cover assembly via the second intake duct portion.   
     
     
         2 . The off-road utility vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a seatback panel located rearward of the one or more seats;   a roll-over protection system (ROPS) cross member extending longitudinally along the cab, wherein the first intake portion draws air from a cavity defined by the seatback panel and the ROPS cross member.   
     
     
         3 . The off-road utility vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein the first intake duct portion extends vertically within the recess defined at least in part by the seatback panel. 
     
     
         4 . The off-road utility vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein the cavity defined by the seatback panel and the ROPS cross member extends longitudinally along a length of the cab, wherein air is drawn through openings provided at each end of the cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The off-road utility vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the second intake duct portion is connected to the outer cover of the CVT cover assembly, wherein the second intake duct portion is offset from an axis defined by the drive clutch. 
     
     
         6 . The off-road utility vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein the second intake duct portion is offset forward and upward of the axis defined by the drive clutch. 
     
     
         7 . The off-road utility vehicle of  claim 5 , further including a fan located on a shaft utilized to drive the drive clutch, wherein the fan circulates air within the CVT cover assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The off-road utility vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein the driven clutch includes blades to circulate airflow within the CVT cover assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The off-road utility vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the inner CVT cover is affixed to the intermediate CVT cover via a plurality of retaining tabs located on the inner CVT cover that extend through an aperture in the intermediate CVT cover. 
     
     
         10 . The off-road utility vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein a snap ring fit over the plurality of retaining tabs retains the plurality of retaining tabs against the aperture in the intermediate CVT cover. 
     
     
         11 . The off-road utility vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein an outer diameter of the plurality of retaining tabs is less than an inner diameter of the aperture in the intermediate CVT cover. 
     
     
         12 . The off-road utility vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein an outer diameter of the plurality of retaining tabs is greater than an inner diameter of the aperture in the intermediate CVT cover, wherein the plurality of retaining tabs is compressed to fit the plurality of retaining tabs through the aperture in the intermediate CVT cover. 
     
     
         13 . The off-road utility vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a transmission mechanically coupled to receive power from the prime mover via the CVT and to provide mechanical power at a transaxle output shaft, wherein the transmission is located rearward of the prime mover.   
     
     
         14 . The off-road utility vehicle of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an intermediate drive shaft mechanically coupled to the transaxle output shaft, wherein the intermediate drive shaft has a first diameter, and wherein the intermediate drive shaft extends forward from the transaxle output shaft under the prime mover; and   a main drive shaft mechanically coupled to the intermediate drive shaft, wherein the main drive shaft has a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter, wherein a bottom surface of the prime mover extends below a topmost portion of the main drive shaft.   
     
     
         15 . The off-road utility vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the intermediate drive shaft extends underneath the prime mover. 
     
     
         16 . The off-road utility vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the intermediate shaft is hollow.