A utility vehicle with ergonomic, safety, and maintenance features is disclosed. A vehicle is also disclosed with improved cooling, suspension and drive systems. These features enhance the utility of the vehicle.

An apparatus and methods are provided for a chassis for an off-road vehicle that includes a chassis strut support. The chassis is a welded-tube variety of chassis that includes a front portion and a rear portion that are joined to an intervening passenger cabin portion. The chassis strut support includes one or more pairs of rear strut gusset plates for distributing loading on a rear strut crossmember by rear struts to at least a seat crossmember comprising the chassis. The rear strut gusset plates generally comprise thick sheet-members configured to be attached to a vertical brace between an upper mount and a lower stay comprising the chassis to reinforce the vertical brace and impart increased strength to the chassis. The rear strut gusset plates are configured to be attached to the vertical brace by way of bolts, rivets, welding, or any combination thereof.

A high-pressure gas spring for vehicle suspension systems includes an integral gas damping system and an integral counter spring to reduce spring residual force at suspension rebound. The gas spring includes an inverted piston feature that reduces the overall length of the device. Additionally, there are other innovative features incorporated in the gas spring to improve performance, reduce cost and minimise weight.

A system and methods are provided for a suspension system of an off-road vehicle that allows the springs to be mounted remotely, in any location on the vehicle, enabling the use of spring sizes, spring rates, motion ratios, and damping profiles that would be impractical with traditional suspension designs. The suspension system includes a hydraulic cylinder coupled between a suspension component and a chassis, in lieu of a conventional spring. The hydraulic cylinder is in fluid communication with another, second hydraulic cylinder, by way of a hydraulic hose. The second hydraulic cylinder presses against a suspension spring that is in contact with a fixed spring stop, thereby transferring spring forces to the wheel. Alternatively, the spring stop may comprise a control actuator that moves, enabling active control over spring load.

An apparatus and methods are provided for a transmission for a rear mid-engine vehicle. The transmission comprises a power transfer portion for receiving torque from the engine and a gearbox for providing conversions of rotational speed and torque. First and second side output portions conduct torque from the gearbox to the rear wheels. A forward output portion conducts torque to front wheels of a four-wheel drive vehicle. An air clutch comprising each output portion controls the degree of torque transferred to each wheel. The output portions are each coupled to a rear wheel by a rear axle, bevel gears, and rear portal gears. The rear axles are aligned with, and positioned above, the trailing arms to protect the rear axles from damage due to rocks and debris. The length and alignment of the rear axles cause CV joints to articulate in the same direction as the trailing arms.

A hydraulic suspension system for a motor vehicle having at least a pair of road engaging wheels. The suspension system includes, a hydraulic cylinder coupled with the each of the pair of road engaging wheels, the hydraulic cylinder defining a cap end volume and a rod end volume separated by a piston. A hydraulic supply circuit for the hydraulic cylinder includes, a high pressure hydraulic source, a low pressure hydraulic drain, a pair of hydraulic sub circuits each coupled to one of the hydraulic cylinder cap and rod end volumes. Each hydraulic sub circuit includes, a proportional supply flow valve coupled with the high pressure hydraulic source and one of the cylinder volumes, a return flow control proportional valve coupled with the low pressure hydraulic drain and the one cylinder volume, and an accumulator coupled to the associated hydraulic cylinder volume through an accumulator fill control proportional valve.

Provided is a suspension device including a drive wheel, a first driven wheel that is disposed on one side in a front-rear direction with respect to the drive wheel, a second driven wheel that is disposed on the other side in the front-rear direction with respect to the drive wheel, a bogie link member that supports the drive wheel and the first driven wheel and is oscillatable around a first oscillation axis, and a rocker link member that supports the second driven wheel and the bogie link member and is oscillatable around a second oscillation axis. When viewed from a left-right direction, the first oscillation axis is not on the same vertical line as a rotation axis of the drive wheel and is located above the rotation axis in a vertical direction and located inside a contour of the drive wheel.

A utility vehicle includes a rear suspension assembly which has a trailing arm generally extending longitudinally. The trailing arm includes a joint along a longitudinal length of the trailing arm. Also, the rear suspension assembly includes an upper radius rod extending in a generally lateral direction relative to a centerline of the vehicle. Additionally, the rear suspension assembly includes a lower radius rod extending in a generally lateral direction relative to the centerline of the vehicle. The rear suspension assembly further includes a suspension member configured to control toe of the at least one rear ground-engaging member.

A method for mounting a track assembly to a vehicle comprises: pivotally connecting a frame of the track assembly to a distal end portion of an A-arm of the vehicle for permitting rotation of the track assembly about a steering axis; inserting a fastener through a fastener aperture defined in the distal end portion of the A-arm; and fastening an anti-rotation device of the track assembly to the distal end portion of the A-arm with the fastener, the anti-rotation device being connected to the frame. A suspension and track assembly for a vehicle is also disclosed.

A mobile robot adapted to traverse vertical obstacles. The robot comprises a frame and at least one wheel positioned in a front section of the robot, at least one middle wheel positioned in a middle section of the robot, at least one back wheel positioned in a back section of the robot, and at least one further wheel in the front, middle or back of the robot. The robot also comprises at least one motor-driven device for exerting a downward and/or upward force on the middle wheel and at least two motors for driving the wheels and the motor-driven device. Also disclosed is a method of climbing using a mobile robot as disclosed.