Abstract: A removable roof for an off-road vehicle includes a sheet of polycarbonate and one or more solar energy collection elements attached to the sheet of polycarbonate. Electrical connections adapted to allow energy collected by the solar energy collection elements to flow to an electrical power output are also provided. The solar energy collection elements may be attached to the top and/or bottom surface of the sheet of polycarbonate, or they may be encapsulated in the sheet of polycarbonate. The roof may be removably attachable to the cage of an off-road vehicle using fasteners that may be installed or removed using only common hand tools.

Abstract: A portal gear box assembly for an all-terrain vehicle includes a sealed portal gear box housing having an interior housing space that contains a set of gears for linking an axle to an output shaft. An expandable space is in fluid communication with the interior housing space, and is adapted to allow pressurized fluid contained in the interior housing space to flow into the expandable space, thus expanding the volume of the expandable space and reducing the pressure within the interior housing space. The expandable space may be provided in the form of a bellows whose volume can be changed by expansion or contraction of a fluid contained therein. A fluid is contained within the portal gear box housing and within the expandable space. The expandable space may be mounted externally to the portal gear box housing, and may be connected to the portal gear box housing by a conduit effective for allowing fluid to pass between the portal gear box housing and the expandable space.

Abstract: A portal gear box assembly for an all-terrain vehicle includes a sealed portal gear box housing having an interior housing space that contains a set of gears for linking an axle to an output shaft. An expandable space is in fluid communication with the interior housing space, and is adapted to allow pressurized fluid contained in the interior housing space to flow into the expandable space, thus expanding the volume of the expandable space and reducing the pressure within the interior housing space. The expandable space may be provided in the form of a bellows whose volume can be changed by expansion or contraction of a fluid contained therein. A fluid is contained within the portal gear box housing and within the expandable space. The expandable space may be mounted externally to the portal gear box housing, and may be connected to the portal gear box housing by a conduit effective for allowing fluid to pass between the portal gear box housing and the expandable space.

Abstract: A portal gear box assembly for an all-terrain vehicle includes a sealed portal gear box housing having an interior housing space that contains a set of gears for linking an axle to an output shaft. An expandable space is in fluid communication with the interior housing space, and is adapted to allow pressurized fluid contained in the interior housing space to flow into the expandable space, thus expanding the volume of the expandable space and reducing the pressure within the interior housing space. The expandable space may be provided in the form of a bellows whose volume can be changed by expansion or contraction of a fluid contained therein. A fluid is contained within the portal gear box housing and within the expandable space. The expandable space may be mounted externally to the portal gear box housing, and may be connected to the portal gear box housing by a conduit effective for allowing fluid to pass between the portal gear box housing and the expandable space.

Abstract: A portal gear box assembly for an all-terrain vehicle includes a portal gear box housing with a set of gears contained therein, and a plurality of heat-radiating fins extending from the housing wall and effective to radiate heat from the housing at a faster rate than would be radiated in the absence of the fins. The fins may extend outward or inward from the housing, and may be formed integrally with one or more of the walls of the housing, or may be removably attached to the housing. Preferred fins comprise a generally rectangular, planer surface extending radially from a wall of the housing.

Abstract: A portal gear box assembly for an all-terrain vehicle includes: a portal gear box housing a set of gears and linking an axle to an output shaft; a lubricating oil contained in the gear box; and a fluid circulation loop that circulates a cooling fluid to a cooling location outside the gear box. The cooling fluid may be a lubricating oil. The fluid circulation loop may include a pump and/or a filter. The cooling location may pass the fluid through a structure such as a radiator or other cooler. The circulation loop and/or any radiator/cooler, filter, or pump contained therein, may serve a single portal gear box, or may serve two or more portal gear box assemblies.

Abstract: A portal gear box assembly for an all-terrain vehicle includes: a portal gear box housing a set of gears and linking an axle to an output shaft; a lubricating oil contained in the gear box; and a fluid circulation loop that circulates a cooling fluid to a cooling location outside the gear box. The cooling fluid may be a lubricating oil. The fluid circulation loop may include a pump and/or a filter. The cooling location may pass the fluid through a structure such as a radiator or other cooler. The circulation loop and/or any radiator/cooler, filter, or pump contained therein, may serve a single portal gear box, or may serve two or more portal gear box assemblies.

Abstract: A portal gear box assembly for an all-terrain vehicle includes: a portal gear box housing a set of gears and linking an axle to an output shaft; a lubricating oil contained in the gear box; and a fluid circulation loop that circulates a cooling fluid to a cooling location outside the gear box. The cooling fluid may be a lubricating oil. The fluid circulation loop may include a pump and/or a filter. The cooling location may pass the fluid through a structure such as a radiator or other cooler. The circulation loop and/or any radiator/cooler, filter, or pump contained therein, may serve a single portal gear box, or may serve two or more portal gear box assemblies.

Abstract: A portal hub assembly for raising the chassis of a vehicle. The portal hub assembly includes a portal box and a mounting assembly removably attachable to one side of the portal box. The mounting assembly includes a mounting body forged as a unitary body. A bracket assembly including at least one mounting bracket is selectively attachable to the mounting body to allow the mounting assembly to receive a component of the suspension system of a desired vehicle.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present disclosure describe a differential assembly for allowing a vehicle to switch between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. The differential assembly includes a bearing assembly positioned between a race gear and output hubs. An armature plate is rotationally coupled to the bearing assembly and a clutch plate is positioned to engage the armature plate. A biasing member biases the clutch plate to engage the armature plate and allow the bearing assembly to transmit torque between the race gear and output hubs. When electricity is provided to an electromagnet, the electromagnet exerts a magnetic force on the clutch plate that is sufficient to overcome the bias of the biasing member so the clutch plate does not engage the armature plate and the bearing assembly does not transmit torque from the race gear to the output hubs.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present disclosure describe a differential assembly for allowing a vehicle to switch between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. The differential assembly includes a bearing assembly positioned between a race gear and output hubs. An armature plate is rotationally coupled to the bearing assembly and a clutch plate is positioned to engage the armature plate. A biasing member biases the clutch plate to engage the armature plate and allow the bearing assembly to transmit torque between the race gear and output hubs. When electricity is provided to an electromagnet, the electromagnet exerts a magnetic force on the clutch plate that is sufficient to overcome the bias of the biasing member so the clutch plate does not engage the armature plate and the bearing assembly does not transmit torque from the race gear to the output hubs.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present disclosure describe a clip for biasing and maintaining rollers within an opening of the roller bearing assembly. The clip includes a connecting segment, a resilient portion, and an anchor portion. The clip may be attached to a roll cage with openings for rollers. The resilient portion of the clip extends into an opening and contacts the roller when a roller is received in the opening. The anchor portion is positioned in an adjacent opening and abuts the roll cage.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present disclosure describe a portal hub assembly for raising the chassis of a vehicle. The portal hub assembly includes a portal box and a mounting assembly removably attachable to one side of the portal box. The mounting assembly includes a mounting body forged as a unitary body. A bracket assembly including at least one mounting bracket is selectively attachable to the mounting body to allow the mounting assembly to receive a component of the suspension system of a desired vehicle.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present disclosure describe a clip for biasing and maintaining rollers within an opening of the roller bearing assembly. The clip includes a connecting segment, a resilient portion, and an anchor portion. The clip may be attached to a roll cage with openings for rollers. The resilient portion of the clip extends into an opening and contacts the roller when a roller is received in the opening. The anchor portion is positioned in an adjacent opening and abuts the roll cage.

Abstract: A piezoelectric thin film device comprises a piezoelectric thin film having upper and lower surfaces and a defined tilted crystal morphology, a top electrode disposed on the upper surface, a substrate having a surface morphology that corresponds to the defined crystallographically tilted morphology, and a bottom electrode disposed between and crystallographically linked to both the lower surface of the piezoelectric thin film and the substrate surface, the bottom and top electrodes having a parallel planar configuration relative to the plane of the substrate and the defined crystallographically tilted morphology having a crystallographic c-axis direction oriented at a >0° angle relative to the normal to the plane of the electrodes; and method of making the device.

Abstract: A piezoelectric thin film device comprises a piezoelectric thin film having upper and lower surfaces and a defined tilted crystal morphology, a top electrode disposed on the upper surface, a substrate having a surface morphology that corresponds to the defined crystallographically tilted morphology, and a bottom electrode disposed between and crystallographically linked to both the lower surface of the piezoelectric thin film and the substrate surface, the bottom and top electrodes having a parallel planar configuration relative to the plane of the substrate and the defined crystallographically tilted morphology having a crystallographic c-axis direction oriented at a >0° angle relative to the normal to the plane of the electrodes; and method of making the device.

Abstract: An ROV comprising a topside, a fish and an umbilical cable for connecting the topside and the fish together. The fish is adapted to be powered by an onboard battery inductively coupled to the fish. The cable is of a fine diameter to reduce drag through the water. RF transmissions carry control and return signals to and from the fish and topside. The fish has two cameras. The front facing camera is located behind a dual layer flooded dome. A pan and tilt mechanism is fitted to one of the cameras and uses a pivotable gimbal frame driven by a lead nut moving along an arcuate bolt.

Abstract: A remote operated vehicle system comprises a topside, a fish equipped with a GPS receiver, a transmitter for transmitting GPS position data, and a receiver operable to receive the transmitted position data. Transmission may be from the fish to the topside or from the topside to the fish. Alternatively, a second transmitter and receiver give two-way transmission. These arrangements allow the position of the fish to be monitored or tracked, so that it can be readily rescued in the event of damage or breakdown. Alternatively, predetermined position data can be sent to the fish, allowing it to automatically navigate a desired route. Particular embodiments include an umbilical cable for connecting the fish and the topside together and operable to carry signals, including position data, between the two, an additional GPS receiver on the topside so that the fish can navigate to the topside unaided, and a buoyancy control device which brings the fish to the surface.