US 12,128,759 B2
UTV portal axle system
Justin Smith, Phoenix, AZ (US)
Assigned to Shock Therapy Suspension, Inc., Duluth, GA (US)
Filed by Shock Therapy Suspension, Inc., Duluth, GA (US)
Filed on Jul. 3, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/346,654.
Application 18/346,654 is a continuation of application No. 17/385,499, filed on Jul. 26, 2021, abandoned.
Application 17/385,499 is a continuation of application No. 16/676,299, filed on Nov. 6, 2019, granted, now 11,072,237, issued on Jul. 27, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/756,349, filed on Nov. 6, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0347735 A1, Nov. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. B60K 17/10 (2006.01); B60G 1/04 (2006.01); F16H 37/06 (2006.01)
CPC B60K 17/105 (2013.01) [B60G 1/04 (2013.01); F16H 37/06 (2013.01); B60G 2300/07 (2013.01); B60K 2360/61 (2024.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle portal axle system comprising:
a spindle comprising:
a housing;
an upper bracket configured for operational coupling to an upper control arm of a vehicle; and
a lower bracket configured for operational coupling to a lower control arm of the vehicle;
an input drive gear rotationally coupled within the housing, the input drive gear being configured for coupling to a drive axle of the vehicle, the drive axle extending through a first aperture in the housing, wherein the input drive gear rotates in response to rotation of the drive axle;
an output drive gear rotationally coupled within the housing a predetermined distance below the input drive gear corresponding to an additional ground clearance desired to be provided to the vehicle by the vehicle portal axle system, the output drive gear being configured for coupling to a shaft of a drive hub of the vehicle, the shaft extending through a second aperture in the housing, wherein the drive hub rotates in response to rotation of the output drive gear, wherein the output drive gear is separated from the input drive gear; and
at least one idler gear rotationally coupled within the housing, wherein the at least one idler gear meshes with both the input and output drive gears such that rotation of the input drive gear, in response to rotation of the drive axle, rotates the at least one idler gear, which, in turn, rotates the output drive gear, and wherein a king pin axis is aligned such that a scrub radius of the wheel of the vehicle is not more than a predetermined amount, wherein the predetermined amount is less than or equal to one inch.