Tracked vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11548576-B2
Application number	US-201816189223-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2018
Priority date	Nov 13, 2018
Publication date	Jan 10, 2023
Grant date	Jan 10, 2023

Abstract

A vehicle is disclosed that includes various portions for carrying a rider and operation of the vehicle. The vehicle may be configured for operation of more than one surface or surface type. The vehicle has a selected suspension assembly for operation of various surface types.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly for a vehicle for operation on a surface, comprising:
a track chassis operable to be removably connected to a vehicle frame member, wherein the track chassis includes:
a skid assembly;
a top assembly;
a suspension assembly having at least (i) a shock assembly and (ii) a single torque arm assembly;
wherein the single torque arm assembly extends from a forward portion of the track chassis that is forward of the shock assembly to a rear portion of the track chassis that is rearward of the shock assembly.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shock assembly includes a damper portion and a spring portion.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the suspension assembly includes a forward torque arm connection and a rearward torque arm connection;
wherein the forward torque arm connection is fixed to the top assembly; and
wherein the rearward torque arm connection is fixed to the skid assembly.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein a first end of the shock assembly is fixed to the top assembly and a second end of the shock assembly is fixed to the skid assembly.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the shock assembly is fixed within the track chassis between the forward torque arm connection and the rearward torque arm connection.

6. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the single torque arm assembly (i) is a single rigid torque connection between the skid assembly and the top assembly and (ii) includes a first torque arm and a second torque arm.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first torque arm and the second torque arm both extend between the forward torque arm connection and the rearward torque arm connection;
wherein the forward torque arm connection is a single forward torque arm connection and the rearward torque arm connection is a single rearward torque arm connection.

8. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the skid assembly and the top assembly are both operable to rotate relative to the single torque arm assembly.

9. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the forward torque arm connection is fixed to the top assembly in a forward one-third position of a length of the skid assembly; and
wherein the rearward torque arm connection is fixed to the skid assembly in a rearward two-third position of the length of the skid assembly.

10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shock assembly includes at least a first shock assembly and a second shock assembly.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the suspension assembly further includes at least a forward suspension strap interconnecting a forward portion of the skid assembly with a forward portion of the top assembly.

12. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the suspension assembly including the shock assembly further includes a suspension strap;
wherein the suspension strap limits rotation of the skid assembly relative to the top assembly.

13. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
an engine; and
rider controls;
wherein the rider controls are configurable to operate the engine based on a rider input.

14. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a frame member suspension system connected between the vehicle frame member and the track chassis.

15. The assembly of claim 13 , further comprising:
a track moveable relative to the track chassis by power of the engine.

16. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
the vehicle frame member.

17. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a ski assembly configured to be mounted to the vehicle frame member.

18. A method of providing a track chassis assembly operable to be connected to a vehicle frame member, wherein the vehicle frame member is configurable as a wheeled vehicle, comprising:
providing a single torque arm assembly having a first end and a second end;
configuring the first end of a single torque arm assembly to be connected to a skid assembly, wherein the connection of the first end is within a rearward one-third of a length of the skid assembly;
configuring the second end of the single torque arm assembly to be connected to a top assembly, wherein the connection of the second end is within a forward one-third of a length of the skid assembly:
configuring the single torque arm such that a first shock assembly is operable to be connected to both the skid assembly and the top assembly between the connection of the first end and the connection of the second end.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
configuring the single torque arm such that a second shock assembly is operable to be spaced apart from the first shock assembly and connected between the connection of the first end and the connection of the second end.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
providing a flexible member to be connected between the skid assembly and the top assembly;
wherein the first shock assembly is only a single shock assembly;
wherein the single torque arm assembly is the only rigid connection between the skid assembly and the top assembly.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the flexible member between the skid assembly and the top assembly includes providing at least one end of the flexible member to be connected to the track chassis assembly outside of an area between the first end connection and the second end connection.

22. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
forming the single torque arm assembly of a rigid member.

23. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
forming the single torque arm assembly to include a first torque arm and a second torque arm.

Assignees

• Polaris Inc

Inventors

• Telford Cody
• Driggars Phillip

Classifications

• B62M2027/026

  Snow mobiles characterised by the suspension means · CPC title

• B62M27/02

  power driven · CPC title

• B62D21/15

  having impact absorbing means, e.g. a frame designed to permanently or temporarily change shape or dimension upon impact with another body (bumpers B60R19/02; shock absorbers in general F16F) · CPC title

• B62D21/183

  specially adapted for sports vehicles, e.g. race, dune buggies, go-karts (tubular skeleton B62D23/005) · CPC title

• B62M2027/027

  Snow mobiles characterised by the tracks · CPC title