An off-road vehicle includes a frame and wheels. An engine powers the wheels through a drive system that includes a front differential gear unit. A housing encloses the front differential gear unit. The housing is positioned generally on a longitudinal center plane of the frame with the plane exten
An off-road vehicle includes a frame and wheels. An engine powers the wheels through a drive system that includes a front differential gear unit. A housing encloses the front differential gear unit. The housing is positioned generally on a longitudinal center plane of the frame with the plane extending generally vertically and fore to aft. A steering system controls directional movement of the front wheels. The steering system includes a steering wheel that is offset relative to the center plane. A steering shaft is connected to the steering wheel and is disposed on the frame for rotation. A pair of tie-rods are coupled with the respective front wheels. A coupling mechanism couples the steering shaft to the tie-rods. The coupling mechanism converts the rotary movement of the steering shaft to an axial movement of each tie-rod. The coupling mechanism includes a rack-and-pinion assembly. A gear case encloses the rack-and-pinion assembly. The gear case is coupled with the differential housing and positioned such that the center plane intersects the gear case.
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What is claimed is: 1. An off-road vehicle comprising a frame, a first wheel and a second wheel supporting a forward portion of the frame, a generally vertical longitudinal center plane being defined through said frame, the first wheel being disposed on one side of the center plane and the second w
What is claimed is: 1. An off-road vehicle comprising a frame, a first wheel and a second wheel supporting a forward portion of the frame, a generally vertical longitudinal center plane being defined through said frame, the first wheel being disposed on one side of the center plane and the second wheel being disposed on an opposite side of the center plane, a prime mover being supported by the frame, a drive system connecting the prime mover to the first and second wheels, a housing enclosing a portion of the drive system, the housing being positioned generally on the center plane of the frame and comprising a top surface, a steering system connected to the first and second wheels, the steering system comprising a steering control member, the steering control member being adapted for use by a driver of the vehicle, the steering control member being off-set relative to the center plane, an upper end of a steering shaft being connected to the steering member, the steering shaft defining an axis of rotation, the steering shaft being supported by the frame and being rotatable about the axis of rotation, a first tie-rod being connected to the first wheel and a second tie-rod being connected to the second wheel, a coupling assembly joining the steering shaft to the first and second tie-rods, the coupling assembly being adapted to convert rotation of the steering shaft to axial movement of the first and second tie-rods, a case enclosing at least a portion of the coupling assembly, a bottom of the case being positioned on the top surface of the housing such that said coupling assembly is intersected by the center plane. 2. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the housing is mounted to the frame. 3. The off-road vehicle as set forth in Clam 2, wherein the case is secured to the housing by mechanical fasteners. 4. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first and second wheels are independently suspended relative to the frame. 5. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the coupling assembly comprises rod sections that extend outward from the housing, the rod sections being axially moveable and each one of the rod sections being adapted for connection to a corresponding one of the first and second tie-rods. 6. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the drive system comprises a transmission and a drive mechanism that connects the transmission to the front and rear wheels, the portion of the drive system positioned within the housing including at least a portion of the drive mechanism. 7. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the portion of the drive system positioned within the housing contains a differential gear unit that distributes power to the first and second wheels. 8. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 7, wherein the differential gear unit comprises a pair of output shafts, each of the pair of output shafts being coupled with a corresponding one of the first and second wheels, the case being positioned longitudinally behind the output shafts. 9. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the coupling assembly is a rack-and-pinion assembly. 10. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the prime mover is an engine. 11. An off-road vehicle comprising a frame, a first wheel and a second wheel being arranged to support a forward portion of the frame, a generally vertical center plane extending fore and aft along the frame, the center plane generally bisecting the frame, the center plane being interposed between the first wheel and the second wheel, a prime mover being positioned above a central portion of the frame, a drive system arranged to transmit power of the prime mover to the first and second wheels, the drive system comprising a differential gear unit configured to distribute power to the first and second wheels, a housing having at least a portion that generally encloses the differential gear unit, the housing comprising a top surface, the center plane intersecting the portion of the housing containing the differential gear unit, a steering system connected with the first and second wheels, the steering system comprising a steering control member, the steering control member being positioned to a lateral side of the center plane, a case enclosing a portion of the steering system, the entire case being on top of the top surface of the housing and being positioned such that the center plane also intersects at least a portion of the case enclosing the portion of the steering system. 12. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 11, wherein the steering system additionally comprises a steering shaft that is mounted on the frame for rotation, the steering shaft-defining a rotational axis, a first tie-rod being connected with the first wheel and a second tie-rod being connected with the second wheel, a coupling mechanism joining the steering shaft to the tie-rods, the coupling mechanism being adapted to convert rotational movement of the steering shaft to axial movement of the first and second tie-rods. 13. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 12, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a first and a second rod section extending laterally outward relative to the center plane, the first rod section being connected to the first tie-rod, the second rod section being connected to the second tie-rod, the first and second rod sections being axially moveable when the steering shaft rotates. 14. An off-road vehicle comprising a frame, a first wheel and a second wheel supporting a forward portion of the frame, a generally vertical plane extending fore and aft and being disposed centrally between the first wheel and the second wheel, a prime mover being positioned above a portion of the frame, a drive system transmitting power to the first and second wheels from the prime mover, a housing enclosing a portion of the drive system and comprising a top surface, the housing being intersected by the center plane of the frame, a steering system being connected to the first and second wheels with a connection assembly, the steering system comprising a steering control member that is adapted for direct control by a driver of the vehicle, the steering control member being positioned substantially to one side of the center plane, a case enclosing a portion of the steering system that is intersected by the center plane, the portion of the steering system that is intersected by the center plane transforming movement of the steering control member into movement of the connection assembly, the case being coupled with the top surface of the housing that encloses the portion of the drive system, and the connection assembly extending between the first and second wheels and above the housing. 15. An off-road vehicle comprising a frame, a first wheel and a second wheel being independently suspended from the frame, the first and second wheel being steerable relative to the frame, a prime mover supported by the frame, a drive shaft transferring power from the prime mover, a differential gear unit receiving power from the drive shaft, the differential gear unit supplying power to the first and second wheels, a generally vertical center plane extending in a longitudinal direction and being positioned generally equidistant between the first and second wheels, an operator control member being mounted to the frame assembly and being rotatable about a first axis, the operator control member being positioned substantially on one side of the center plane, a steering mechanism adapted to transform rotation of the control member about the first axis into generally linear lateral movement of a first rod section and a second rod section, the first rod section being coupled with a first tie rod, the first tie rod being coupled with the first wheel, the second rod section being coupled with a second tie rod, the second tie rod being coupled with the second wheel, the steering mechanism being positioned such that it is intersected by the center plane and being joined to a casing covering at least a portion of the differential gear unit. 16. The off-road vehicle of claim 15, wherein the operator control member is mounted to an end of a first steering shaft, the first steering shaft extending generally parallel to the center plane. 17. The off-road vehicle of claim 16, wherein a lower portion of the first steering shaft is connected to a second steering shaft and the second steering shaft comprises an axis of rotation that intersects the center plane. 18. The off-road vehicle of claim 15, wherein the steering mechanism is joined to a top surface of the casing. 19. An off-road vehicle comprising a frame, a first wheel and a second wheel supporting a forward portion of the frame, a generally vertical longitudinal center plane being defined through said frame, the first wheel being disposed on one side of the center plane and the second wheel being disposed on an opposite side of the center plane, a prime mover being supported by the frame, a drive system connecting the prime mover to the first and second wheels, a housing enclosing a portion of the drive system, the housing being positioned generally on the center plane of the frame, a steering system connected to the first and second wheels, the steering system comprising a steering control member, the steering control member being adapted for use by a driver of the vehicle, the steering control member being off-set relative to the center plane, an upper end of a steering shaft being connected to the steering member, the steering shaft defining an axis of rotation, the steering shaft being supported by the frame and being rotatable about the axis of rotation, a first tie-rod being connected to the first wheel and a second tie-rod being connected to the second wheel, a coupling assembly joining the steering shaft to the first and second tie-rods, the coupling assembly comprising rod sections that extend outward from the housing, the rod sections being axially moveable and each one of the rod sections being adapted for connection to a corresponding one of the first and second tie-rods, the coupling assembly being adapted to convert rotation of the steering shaft to axial movement of the first and second tie-rods, a case enclosing at least a portion of the coupling assembly and the case being secured to the housing such that said coupling assembly is intersected by the center plane. 20. An off-road vehicle comprising a frame, a first wheel and a second wheel being arranged to support a forward portion of the frame, a generally vertical center plane extending fore and aft along the frame, the center plane generally bisecting the frame, the center plane being interposed between the first wheel and the second wheel, a prime mover being positioned above a central portion of the frame, a drive system arranged to transmit power of the prime mover to the first and second wheels, the drive system comprising a differential gear unit configured to distribute power to the first and second wheels, a housing having at least a portion that generally encloses the differential gear unit, the center plane intersecting the portion of the housing containing the differential gear unit, a steering system connected with the first and second wheels, the steering system comprising a steering control member, the steering control member being positioned to a lateral side of the center plane, the steering system additionally comprises a steering shaft that is mounted on the frame for rotation, the steering shaft defining a rotational axis, a first tie-rod being connected with the first wheel and a second tie-rod being connected with the second wheel, a coupling mechanism joining the steering shaft to the tie-rods, the coupling mechanism being adapted to convert rotational movement of the steering shaft to axial movement of the first and second tie-rods, the coupling mechanism comprising a first and a second rod section extending laterally outward relative to the center plane, the first rod section being connected to the first tie-rod, the second rod section being connected to the second tie-rod, the first and second rod sections being axially moveable when the steering shaft rotates, a case enclosing a portion of the steering system and the case being coupled with the housing and being positioned such that the center plane also intersects at least a portion of the case enclosing the portion of the steering system.
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Sunsdahl, Richard L.; Deckard, Aaron D.; Tullemans, Marcus J.; Eck, Richard E.; Plugge, Jason C.; Meyer, Alan A.; Rengel, Laurie J.; White, Geoffrey G.; McCoubrey, Thomas S. P.; Safranski, Brian M., Side-by-side ATV.
Sunsdahl, Richard Larry; Deckard, Aaron David; Tullemans, Marcus Johannes; Eck, Richard E.; Plugge, Jason Carl; Meyer, Alan A.; Rengel, Laurie Jean; White, Geoffrey G.; Parks McCoubrey, Thomas Samuel; Safranski, Brian Michael, Side-by-side ATV.
Sunsdahl, Richard Larry; Deckard, Aaron David; Tullemans, Marcus Johannes; Eck, Richard E; Plugge, Jason Carl; Meyer, Alan A; Rengel, Laurie Jean; White, Geoffrey G; Parks McCoubrey, Thomas Samuel; Safranski, Brian Michael, Side-by-side ATV.
Sunsdahl, Richard Larry; Deckard, Aaron David; Tullemans, Marcus Johannes; Plugge, Jason Carl; Meyer, Alan A.; White, Geoffrey G.; Safranski, Brian Michael, Side-by-side ATV.
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