A vehicle is provided with a mechanical oil pump (O/P) that is driven by a motor/generator (MG), an electric oil pump (M/O/P) that is driven by a sub-motor (S/M) and a second clutch (CL2) that transmits the drive force of the motor/generator (MG) to left and right drive wheels (LT, RT). When an accelerator pedal is depressed while a brake pedal is still depressed, an integrated controller (10) drives the electric oil pump (M/O/P) before the brake pedal is released, and oil pressure supplied to the second clutch (CL2) is increased.

An amphibious multi-terrain water planing vehicle including: a. a hull having a top, a bottom, a front end, a rear end, a first side and a second side; b. at least one track frame, in exemplary embodiments a pair of track frames, mounted to the hull; c. a sole propulsion and water planing device including at least one continuous rotatable track having an outside surface and an inside surface, in exemplary embodiments a pair of continuous rotatable tracks, mounted to the at least one track frame, in exemplary embodiments each of the pair of continuous rotatable tracks mounted to each of the pair of track frames; the at least one continuous rotatable track, in exemplary embodiments the pair of continuous rotatable tracks not vertically adjustable relative to the hull wherein the vehicle when transitioning from land to water and vice versa requiring no modification, and wherein the vehicle is able to plane on water from a stand still position.

A drive unit is situated between a first wheel axle and a second wheel axle and has an internal-combustion engine with a crankshaft system including a horizontally oriented crankshaft, which crankshaft acts upon a continuously variable transmission system which drives wheels of the first wheel axle and of the second wheel axle. The crankshaft is caused to rotate by at least one piston of the engine. The crankshaft interacts with a first set of V-pulleys of the transmission system, which first set of V-pulleys, by way of a first drive shaft, is connected with a first differential of the first wheel axle. The first set of V-pulleys, by way of an endless member, is in an operative connection with a set of V-pulleys which, with the interposition of a second drive shaft, influences a second differential of the second wheel axle.

A drive package includes a remote located CVT and a motor where the CVT is positioned rearward (or forward) of the motor. An auxiliary drive mechanism couples a drive shaft of the CVT to a crankshaft of the motor. The auxiliary drive mechanism is a belt or chain. The drive shaft is substantially parallel to, and longitudinally offset from, the crankshaft. Thus, the width of the drive package is reduced as compared to ATVs having a CVT located adjacent the motor. A method of making an ATV with the drive package is provided.

Provided is a control device for a hybrid vehicle including a controller that performs a control of the hybrid vehicle including an engine and an electric motor that serve as driving sources, a transmission, and first and second clutches. The first clutch is provided between the engine and the transmission. The second clutch is provided between the transmission and driving wheels. The controller includes first and second control units. The first control unit performs a control, in a motor traveling mode, to bring the first clutch to a disengaged state. The motor traveling mode includes traveling solely with the electric motor being driven. The second control unit performs a control, in the motor traveling mode, to bring the second clutch to a mildly engaged state in which input, from the driving-wheel side, of torque larger than driving torque causes the second clutch to slide.

A vehicle drive includes a gear set, a first motor/generator coupled to the gear set, a second motor/generator at least selectively rotationally engaged with the gear set, and an engine at least selectively coupled to the gear set and at least selectively coupled to the second motor/generator. The second motor/generator is electrically coupled to the first motor/generator by an electrical power transmission system. The first motor/generator and the second motor/generator are electrically coupled without an energy storage device configured to at least one of (a) provide electrical energy to the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator to power the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator and (b) be charged by electrical energy from the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator.

A utility vehicle comprises a traveling driving power source which generates rotational driving power for driving a drive wheel; a continuously variable transmission including an input shaft to which the rotational driving power transmitted from the traveling driving power source is input, an output shaft which outputs the rotational driving power toward the drive wheel, a drive pulley provided at the input shaft, a driven pulley provided at the output shaft, and a belt wrapped around the drive pulley and the driven pulley; a clutch which is disposed in a driving power transmission path at a location that is between the belt and the drive wheel and is capable of disconnecting the driving power transmission path; and a clutch actuator which operates the clutch.

A recreational off-highway vehicle includes side-by-side passenger and driver seats held within a chassis. The seats sit low in the chassis and are covered by a roll cage. Grab handles are positioned on the sides of the passenger seat. Select large round tubing protects the vehicle, while rectangular tubing frames the portions of the vehicle beneath body panels. The vehicle is powered by an engine rearward of the seats that is connected to a transaxle. A radiator is positioned above the engine. The vehicle is suited for rough terrain travel.

A recreational off-highway vehicle includes side-by-side passenger and driver seats held within a chassis. The seats sit low in the chassis and are covered by a roll cage. Grab handles are positioned on the sides of the passenger seat. Select large round tubing protects the vehicle, while rectangular tubing frames the portions of the vehicle beneath body panels. The vehicle is powered by an engine rearward of the seats that is connected to a transaxle. A radiator is positioned above the engine. A cover with an access panel is situated between the engine and the passenger seats. The vehicle is suited for rough terrain travel.

A power transmitting system including: a first piston disposed within a center bore formed through the rotary shaft such that the first piston is axially reciprocable; a sleeve connected to the first piston and having internal teeth meshing with the external teeth of the rotary shaft so that the sleeve is rotated with the rotary shaft, and such that the sleeve is axially reciprocable together with the first piston according to axial movements of the first piston; a synchronizer ring supported in sliding contact with an outer circumferential tapered surface of the clutch gear such that the synchronizer ring is rotatable relative to the clutch gear; and an actuator including a second piston to axially advance the first piston for thereby bringing the sleeve's internal teeth into meshing engagement with the clutch gear through the synchronizer ring. The first piston and second piston are disposed coaxially with the rotary shaft.