US 12,214,654 B2
Exhaust assembly for a utility vehicle
Michael A. Purdy, Chisago City, MN (US); Ryan D. Carlson, Blaine, MN (US); Ralph W. Lauzze, III, Hugo, MN (US); Ryan M. Lacanne, Eagan, MN (US); Jake A. Stafford, New Brighton, MN (US); and Stephen Martin, Stillwater, MN (US)
Assigned to Polaris Industries Inc., Medina, MN (US)
Filed by Polaris Industries Inc., Medina, MN (US)
Filed on May 3, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/735,519.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/184,496, filed on May 5, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0355659 A1, Nov. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. F01N 13/00 (2010.01); B60K 13/04 (2006.01)
CPC B60K 13/04 (2013.01) [F01N 13/0093 (2014.06); B60Y 2200/20 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A utility vehicle, comprising:
a frame assembly extending along a longitudinal axis and defining an operator area;
a plurality of ground-engaging members supporting the frame assembly and including front ground-engaging members and rear ground-engaging members;
at least one wheel well supported by the rear ground-engaging members;
a powertrain assembly supported by the frame assembly and including at least an engine and a transmission operably coupled to the engine, wherein the engine is longitudinally rearward of the operator area; and
an exhaust assembly comprising: an exhaust conduit fluidly coupled to the engine;
a catalyst fluidly coupled to exhaust conduit and configured to receive exhaust gas from the exhaust conduit; and
a cooling mechanism configured to provide cooling fluid to a portion of the exhaust assembly, wherein the cooling mechanism comprises a deflection mechanism positioned at the at least one wheel well of the rear ground-engaging members to direct air from the at least one wheel well towards the portion of the exhaust assembly,
wherein a rate of the cooling air directed to the portion of the exhaust assembly increases as a speed of the utility vehicle increases.