Patents by Inventor Ronald Schapf

Ronald Schapf has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Vehicle suspension system having adjustable track width
    Patent number: 8517135
    Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed having front and rear suspension systems adapted to change the track width of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Schapf, David Belzile, Martin Heon, Vincent Tognon, Marc Gagnon
  • Driveline for off-road vehicle
    Patent number: 8327967
    Abstract: An off-road vehicle is disclosed which comprises a driveline assembly unit operative Iy connecting the propeller shaft to the front or rear wheel assemblies. The driveline assembly unit includes a main housing, a slip clutch torque limiting mechanism, and a wet brake clutch assembly. The slip clutch torque limiting mechanism and the wet brake clutch assembly being housed within the main housing and are coaxial with the propeller shaft of the off-road vehicle. A driveline unit is also disclosed that combines torque limiting and brake functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Schapf
  • VEHICLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM HAVING ADJUSTABLE TRACK WIDTH
    Publication number: 20110048833
    Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed having front and rear suspension systems adapted to change the track width of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Ronald Schapf, David Belzile, Martin Heon, Vincent Tognon, Marc Gagnon
  • DRIVELINE FOR OFF-ROAD VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20110042160
    Abstract: An off-road vehicle is disclosed which comprises a driveline assembly unit operative Iy connecting the propeller shaft to the front or rear wheel assemblies. The driveline assembly unit includes a main housing, a slip clutch torque limiting mechanism, and a wet brake clutch assembly. The slip clutch torque limiting mechanism and the wet brake clutch assembly being housed within the main housing and are coaxial with the propeller shaft of the off-road vehicle. A driveline unit is also disclosed that combines torque limiting and brake functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventor: Ronald Schapf
  • All-terrain vehicle with subtransmission detachably mounted to the engine
    Patent number: 7343998
    Abstract: An all-terrain vehicle (ATV) has a subtransmission detachably fastened to an engine casing. The engine crankshaft includes a drive pulley connected via a belt to a driven pulley in the subtransmission, thus providing a continuously variable transmission (CVT) between the engine crankshaft and the subtransmission. The subtransmission includes a 2WD-4WD selector mechanism to select two-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive and also includes a transmission selector mechanism to put the vehicle in park, neutral, reverse, high-speed drive or low-speed drive. By disposing these selector mechanisms in the subtransmission, mass centralization is improved relative to prior-art drivetrains wherein the 2WD-4WD selector mechanism connects to the front differential. When operating in 2WD mode, the drivetrain does not waste energy rotating the front drive shaft, as in the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignees: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc., BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Vincent Morin, Ghislain Caron, Ronald Schapf, Roland Ennsmann
  • All-terrain vehicle with substransmission detachably mounted to the engine
    Publication number: 20060019790
    Abstract: An all-terrain vehicle (ATV) has a subtransmission detachably fastened to an engine casing. The engine crankshaft includes a drive pulley connected via a belt to a driven pulley in the subtransmission, thus providing a continuously variable transmission (CVT) between the engine crankshaft and the subtransmission. The subtransmission includes a 2WD-4WD selector mechanism to select two-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive and also includes a transmission selector mechanism to put the vehicle in park, neutral, reverse, high-speed drive or low-speed drive. By disposing these selector mechanisms in the subtransmission, mass centralization is improved relative to prior-art drivetrains wherein the 2WD-4WD selector mechanism connects to the front differential. When operating in 2WD mode, the drivetrain does not waste energy rotating the front drive shaft, as in the prior art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Applicants: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc., BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Vincent Morin, Ghislain Caron, Ronald Schapf, Roland Ennsmann