Tunnel guard for a snowmobile

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10293885-B2
Application number	US-201514953157-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 27, 2015
Priority date	Nov 27, 2014
Publication date	May 21, 2019
Grant date	May 21, 2019

Abstract

A tunnel guard for a tunnel of a snowmobile has first and second arms. Each arm has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portions of the first and second arms have first and second connection elements respectively for connecting the first end portions of the arms to an interior of the tunnel. At least one member extends from at least one of the arms and is connected to the at least one of the arms. The at least one member has a third connection element for connecting the at least one member to the interior of the tunnel. The third connection element is disposed at a position that is one of: laterally between the first and second arms, and laterally outward of the first and second arms. A snowmobile having a tunnel guard and a method for connecting a tunnel guard are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tunnel guard for a tunnel of a snowmobile comprising:
a first arm having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion having a first connection element configured for connecting the first end portion of the first arm to an interior of the tunnel;
a second arm having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion having a second connection element configured for connecting the first end portion of the second arm to the interior of the tunnel; and
at least one member extending from at least one of the first and second arms and connected to the at least one of the first and second arms, the at least one member having a third connection element for connecting the at least one member to the interior of the tunnel,
the third connection element being disposed at a position that is one of:
laterally between the first and second arms, and
laterally outward of the at least one of the first and second arms.

2. The tunnel guard of claim 1 , wherein the at least one member is a cross-member extending between the first and second arms and connected to the first and second arms.

3. The tunnel guard of claim 2 , wherein a portion of the cross-member having the third connection element is spaced from bottom surfaces of the first and second arms.

4. The tunnel guard of claim 3 , wherein the portion of the cross-member having the third connection element is spaced from a plane containing top surfaces of the second end portions of the first and second arms.

5. The tunnel guard of claim 2 , wherein the third connection element is disposed laterally between the first and second arms.

6. The tunnel guard of claim 5 , wherein the third connection element is a tongue configured to be received in a groove formed by the tunnel.

7. The tunnel guard of claim 6 , wherein the tongue extends toward the first end portions of the first and second arms.

8. The tunnel guard of claim 6 , wherein the tongue is centered laterally between the first and second arms.

9. The tunnel guard of claim 2 , wherein:
the first arm is parallel to the second arm; and
the cross-member is perpendicular to the first and second arms.

10. The tunnel guard of claim 1 , wherein the first end portions of the first and second arms are rear end portions.

11. A snowmobile comprising:
a frame having a tunnel, at least a portion of the tunnel being formed by a heat exchanger assembly adapted to have a motor fluid flowing therethrough for cooling the motor fluid, the heat exchanger assembly comprising:
a top part; and
a bottom part disposed below the top part and being joined to the top part,
the bottom part defining a recess, the top and bottom parts defining therebetween a passage formed in part by the recess, the motor fluid flowing through the passage;

a motor supported by the frame,
the passage having an inlet fluidly connected to the motor for receiving the motor fluid from the motor,
the passage having an outlet for returning the motor fluid to the motor,
the motor fluid flowing from the motor into the passage via the inlet, through the passage, and back to the motor via the outlet;
at least one ski connected to the frame;
a rear suspension assembly connected to the tunnel;
a drive track disposed around the rear suspension assembly and at least in part below the tunnel, the drive track being operatively connected to the motor; and
a tunnel guard connected to an interior of the tunnel and being disposed between the drive track and the tunnel, the tunnel guard being disposed at least in part under the passage of the heat exchanger assembly; wherein: the passage has a right passage portion extending longitudinally along a right side of the tunnel and a left passage portion extending longitudinally along a left side of the tunnel; and the tunnel guard comprises: a right arm extending at least in part along the right passage portion, the right arm having a rear end portion and a front end portion, the rear end portion having a right connection element connected to the interior of the tunnel; a left arm extending at least in part along the left passage portion, the left arm having a rear end portion and a front end portion, the rear end portion having a left connection element connected to the interior of the tunnel; and at least one member extending from at least one of the right and left arms and connected to the at least one of the right and left arms, the at least one member having a connection element for connecting the at least one member to the interior of the tunnel, the connection element being disposed at a position that is one of: laterally between the right and left passage portions, and laterally outward of the at least one of the right and left passage portions.

12. The snowmobile of claim 11 , wherein the at least one member is a cross-member extending between the first and second arms and connected to the first and second arms.

13. The snowmobile of claim 12 , wherein:
the right arm is parallel to the left arm; and
the cross-member is perpendicular to the right and left arms.

14. The snowmobile of claim 12 , wherein a portion of the cross-member having the connection element is vertically higher than bottom surfaces of the first and second arms.

15. The snowmobile of claim 14 , wherein the portion of the cross-member having the connection element is vertically higher than the front end portions of the right and left arms.

16. The snowmobile of claim 12 , wherein the connection element is a central connection element disposed laterally between the right and left passage portions.

17. The snowmobile of claim 16 , wherein:
the central connection element is a tongue extending rearward;
the tunnel defines a groove laterally between the right and left passage portions; and
the tongue is received in the groove.

18. The snowmobile of claim 11 , wherein:
the drive track comprises:
a belt; and
a plurality of external lugs distributed on an outer side of the belt,
at least some of the plurality of external lugs forming a right longitudinal row of lugs and a left longitudinal row of lugs;

the right arm of the tunnel guard is laterally aligned with at least a portion of the right longitudinal row of lugs; and
the left arm of the tunnel guard is laterally aligned with at least a portion of the left longitudinal row of lugs.

19. The snowmobile of claim 18 , wherein the drive track further comprises a plurality of studs distributed on at least one of an outer side of the belt and at least some of the plurality of external lugs,
at least some of the plurality of studs being disposed laterally between the right and left arms.

20. A method for connecting a tunnel guard to an interior of a tunnel of a snowmobile, the tunnel guard having a rearwardly extending tongue, and the tunnel having a groove opening forwardly, the method comprising:
connecting a front portion of the tunnel guard to the interior of the tunnel by sliding the front portion of the tunnel guard in a connected position, connecting the front portion of the tunnel guard to the interior of the tunnel including moving the tunnel guard rearward to insert the tongue in the groove;
after connecting the front portion of the tunnel guard and while maintaining the tunnel guard in the connected position, connecting the rear portion of the tunnel guard to the interior of the tunnel thereby preventing longitudinal movement of the front portion of the tunnel guard, the front portion of the tunnel guard being connectab

Assignees

• Bombardier Recreational Products Inc

Inventors

• Vezina Sebastien
• Lavallee Jean-Simon

Classifications

• B62M27/02 Primary

  power driven · CPC title

• B62M2027/028

  Snow mobiles characterised by chassis or bodywork · CPC title

• B60K11/04

  Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds · CPC title

• B62B17/06

  Superstructures; Attachments therefor · CPC title

• B60K11/00

  Arrangement in connection with cooling of propulsion units · CPC title