Tracked vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11214320-B2
Application number	US-201816059789-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2018
Priority date	Aug 9, 2018
Publication date	Jan 4, 2022
Grant date	Jan 4, 2022

Abstract

A snowmobile assembly including a chassis and suspension system. The suspension system configured to allow a selected suspension travel. The snowmobile further including a cooling system assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A snowmobile assembly, comprising:
a chassis assembly having a tunnel assembly;
a skid plate assembly having a skid plate surface;
a track having a contact surface to propel the chassis and a skid surface to contact the skid plate assembly;
an engine housed at least partially within the chassis assembly configured to drive the track;
a suspension assembly configured to connect the chassis and the skid plate assembly in a moveable manner, the suspension assembly including:
a first torque arm extending a first length from a first end to a second end; a second torque arm extending a second length from a third end to a fourth end;
wherein the first end is fixed to the chassis assembly at a first fixation point such that the first torque arm is operable to rotate about the first fixation point;
wherein the third end is fixed to the chassis assembly at a second fixation point such that the second torque arm is operable to rotate about the second fixation point;
wherein the skid plate surface is operable to travel at least 22.4 centimeters from a full extension to a full collapse position relative to the third fixation point;

a driveshaft connection;
a drive shaft line is defined between the first fixation point and the driveshaft connection;
a second torque arm line is defined by the second torque arm between the third end and the fourth end; and
a torque arm line angle defined between the drive shaft line and the second torque arm line that changes as the skid plate surface travels between the full extension position and the full collapse position;
wherein the torque arm line angle is configured to change at most about 42.8 degrees.

2. The snowmobile assembly of claim 1 , wherein the skid plate surface is operable to travel about 22.4 centimeters to about 28 centimeters from the full extension to the full collapse position relative to the third fixation point.

3. The snowmobile assembly of claim 1 , wherein the skid plate surface is operable to travel about 27.4 centimeters from the full extension to the full collapse position relative to the third fixation point.

4. The snowmobile assembly of claim 1 , wherein the torque arm line angle is configured to change about 40 degrees to about 44 degrees.

5. The snowmobile assembly, comprising:
a chassis assembly having a tunnel assembly;
a skid plate assembly having a skid plate surface;
a track having a contact surface to propel the chassis and a skid surface to contact the skid plate assembly;
an engine housed at least partially within the chassis assembly configured to drive the track;
a suspension assembly configured to connect the chassis and the skid plate assembly in a moveable manner, the suspension assembly including:
a first torque arm extending a first length from a first end to a second end; a second torque arm extending a second length from a third end to a fourth end;
wherein the first end is fixed to the chassis assembly at a first fixation point such that the first torque arm is operable to rotate about the first fixation point;
wherein the third end is fixed to the chassis assembly at a second fixation point such that the second torque arm is operable to rotate about the second fixation point;
wherein the skid plate surface is operable to travel at least 22.4 centimeters from a full extension to a full collapse position relative to the third fixation point;

a driveshaft connection;
a drive shaft line is defined between the first fixation point and the driveshaft connection;
a second torque arm line defined by the second torque arm between the third end and the fourth end; and
a torque arm line angle defined between the drive shaft line and the second torque arm line that changes as the skid plate surface travels between the full extension position and the full collapse position;
wherein the torque arm line angle is configured to change at most about 3.9 degrees per inch of linear distance of skid plate surface travel.

6. The snowmobile assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first torque arm is a forward torque arm and the second torque arm is a rearward torque arm.

7. The snowmobile assembly of claim 6 , wherein the suspension assembly further includes:
a scissor member connected to the fourth end of the second torque arm;
a first stop fixed relative to the skid plate;
a second stop fixed relative to the skid plate;
wherein the scissor member is configured to move between the first stop and the second stop to effectively change a connection location of the fourth end relative to the skid plate as the scissor member moves.

8. A snowmobile assembly, comprising:
a chassis assembly having a tunnel assembly;
a skid plate assembly having a skid plate surface;
a track having a contact surface to propel the chassis and a skid surface to contact the skid plate assembly;
an engine housed at least partially within the chassis assembly configured to drive the track;
a suspension assembly configured to connect the chassis and the skid plate assembly in a moveable manner, the suspension assembly including:
a first torque arm extending a first length from a first end to a second end; a second torque arm extending a second length from a third end to a fourth end;
wherein the first end is fixed to the chassis assembly at a first fixation point such that the first torque arm is operable to rotate about the first fixation point;
wherein the third end is fixed to the chassis assembly at a second fixation point such that the second torque arm is operable to rotate about the second fixation point;
wherein the skid plate surface is operable to travel at least 22.4 centimeters from a full extension to a full collapse position relative to the third fixation point;

a tunnel covering member, wherein the tunnel covering member includes a plurality of through passages extending through the covering member, and
a radiator configured to assist in dissipating heat from the engine;
wherein the plurality of through passages are adjacent at least a portion of the radiator.

9. The snowmobile assembly of claim 8 , further comprising:
a plurality of raised members, wherein each of the raised members extends from a first surface of the tunnel covering member;
wherein one raised member of the plurality of raised members is positioned adjacent to a through passage of the plurality of through passages.

10. The snowmobile assembly of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of raised members are integral and formed as one piece with the tunnel covering member.

11. A snowmobile assembly, comprising:
a chassis assembly having a tunnel assembly with a tunnel covering member;
a track having a contact surface to propel the chassis and a skid surface to contact a skid plate assembly, wherein the track passes through the tunnel assembly;
an engine housed at least partially within the chassis assembly configured to drive the track;
a radiator having a radiator member positioned adjacent to the tunnel covering member and configured to assist in dissipating heat from the engine;
a cooling passage portion including:
a plurality of through passages extending through the covering member, and
a hood member extending from a surface of the tunnel covering member adjacent to each through passage of the plurality of through passages;

wherein the plurality of through passages are adjacent at least a portion of the radiator.

12. The snowmobile assembly of claim 11 , wherein the hood member is formed as one piece with the tunnel covering member.

13. The snowmobile assembly of claim 11 , wherein the hood member is fixed to the tunnel covering member.

14.

Assignees

• Polaris Inc

Inventors

• Bates Jr Richard H
• Eaton Jonathon R

Classifications

• B62M2027/026

  Snow mobiles characterised by the suspension means · CPC title

• B62M27/02

  power driven · CPC title

• B62D55/0847

  Track blocking devices mounted on the frame; Track guides · CPC title

• B62K3/14 Primary

  Frames · CPC title

• B62M2027/028

  Snow mobiles characterised by chassis or bodywork · CPC title