All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Product

Overview

An all-terrain vehicle, or ATV, is a straddle-ridden four-wheeler built to cross ground that defeats a normal car: mud, sand, rock, and snow. The rider sits astride a Seat Assembly and controls the machine with a [[atv-steering|handlebar]] and a thumb Thumb Throttle, the same layout a motorcycle uses. What makes it go anywhere is the combination of low-pressure knobby tires, long-travel suspension at every corner, and a four-wheel-drive system that can split torque between the front and rear axles. Utility versions add cargo racks and a towing hitch so they double as farm and ranch workhorses; sport versions trade those for lighter weight and quicker response. Because the rider's body is part of the control system — shifting weight to keep the machine planted — an ATV behaves more like a dirt bike with four contact patches than like a small car.

How it works

Power comes from the Gasoline Engine, a liquid-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke fed by a Carburetor and fired by a Spark Plug; a Radiator and Coolant Pump keep it cool during slow, high-load crawling when there is little airflow. Drive passes through the CVT Transmission, a rubber Drive Belt CVT that automatically varies ratio as engine speed rises, then through a sub-transmission Helical Gear Pair for high, low, and reverse. From there a front and rear Open Differential and a pair of [[atv-driveshaft|prop shafts]] deliver torque to all four [[wheel-assembly|wheels]].

Each corner rides on an independent Suspension Corner — a double A-arm with a coil-over shock and Coil Spring — so the wheels track ground separately for traction and a controlled ride. Stopping is by hydraulic [[atv-brake-set|disc brakes]]. The [[atv-electrical|electrical system]] runs a CDI ignition, a [[lv-battery|12 V battery]], and lighting, while front and rear [[atv-rack|cargo racks]] carry the load that turns the machine into a tool.