Snow vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11148750-B2
Application number	US-201816190392-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 14, 2018
Priority date	Feb 22, 2016
Publication date	Oct 19, 2021
Grant date	Oct 19, 2021

Abstract

A snow vehicle having a combined brake and clutch handle is herein disclosed. Further, the snow vehicle can include a controller for managing operation of the snow vehicle, including shifting and engine management regiments, which can be selected by the operator depending upon operator preferences. Additionally, the snow vehicle can include an engine cooling heat exchanger for cooling liquid which is circulated through the engine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A snow vehicle, comprising:
a frame;
handlebars;
at least one front ski;
an upright pivotally connected to the at least one front ski;
a front suspension assembly that includes a fork connected on one end to the handlebars and connected on an opposite end to the upright, wherein actuation of the handlebars is communicated to the at least one front ski via the front suspension and the upright;
a powertrain comprising an engine coupled to a transmission;
a track frame;
an endless track supported by the track frame;
a drive axle and drive member coupled to transmit power received from the transmission to the endless track, wherein the drive axle and drive member rotate about a drive axle axis; and
operator foot supports, wherein the drive axle axis is forward of at least a portion of the operator foot supports.

2. The snow vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the track frame includes internal suspension members.

3. The snow vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the track frame includes a heat exchanger.

4. The snow vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the heat exchanger is located above the endless track.

5. The snow vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the heat exchanger includes a plurality of fins.

6. The snow vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a front shroud, wherein the front shroud is forward of the engine.

7. The snow vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the front suspension assembly further includes an upright pivotally connected to the at least one front ski and connected to the fork to allow the at least one front ski to pivot relative to the fork.

8. The snow vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one front ski is actuated by the handlebars via the front suspension assembly that includes the fork.

9. A snow vehicle comprising:
an endless track;
handlebars;
at least one front ski;
an upright pivotally connected to the at least one front ski;
a front suspension assembly that includes a fork connected on one end to the handlebars and connected on an opposite end to the upright, wherein actuation of the handlebars is communicated to the at least one front ski via the front suspension and the upright;
a frame, an engine, and a transmission, the engine and transmission attached to the frame, the engine drivingly coupled to the endless track via the transmission; and
a foot rest, at least a portion of the foot rest disposed rearward of a front of the endless track.

10. The snow vehicle of claim 9 , further including a drive axle, drive member, and drive belt, the engine drivingly coupled to the endless track via the transmission, the drive belt, the drive axle, and the drive member.

11. The snow vehicle of claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the foot rest is disposed rearward of the drive axle.

12. The snow vehicle of claim 9 , further including a track frame attached to the frame, wherein the track frame includes a heat exchanger.

13. The snow vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the heat exchanger is located above the endless track.

14. The snow vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the heat exchanger includes a plurality of fins.

15. The snow vehicle of claim 9 , further comprising a front fork, an upright and at least one front ski, wherein the upright connects the front ski to the front fork.

16. The snow vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the at least one front ski is pivotably attached to the upright.

17. The snow vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the at least one front ski is actuated by the handlebars via the front suspension assembly that includes the fork.

Assignees

• Arctic Cat Inc

Inventors

• Thompson Kevin David
• Warne Ricky Allen
• Ellsworth Andrew Jon
• Christensen Cord M
• Beavis Andrew

Classifications

• F16D23/12

  Mechanical clutch-actuating mechanisms arranged outside the clutch as such (specific for combined clutches F16D21/00; mechanisms specific for synchronisation F16D23/02) · CPC title

• B60T11/16

  Master control, e.g. master cylinders (master cylinders associated with vacuum boosters B60T13/565) · CPC title

• B62K23/06

  Levers · CPC title

• B62M27/02

  power driven · CPC title

• B60T11/22

  characterised by being integral with reservoir · CPC title