Spindle and suspension system for recreational vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11718370-B2
Application number	US-202016839440-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2020
Priority date	Apr 25, 2016
Publication date	Aug 8, 2023
Grant date	Aug 8, 2023

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention describe a recreational vehicle spindle, including a spindle body having one or more sockets in the spindle body, and an upper attachment mechanism in contact with the spindle body and adapted to attach to a steering component. The spindle also includes a lower attachment mechanism in contact with the spindle body and adapted to attach to a ski or wheel. The one or more sockets are adapted to each receive a ball and stud forming one or more ball joints.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of making a recreational vehicle spindle, comprising:
forming a spindle body, the spindle body including an upper attachment mechanism configured to couple with a steering component and a lower attachment mechanism configured to couple with a ski or a wheel;
forming one or more sockets in the spindle body, each of the one or more sockets including an inner wall and an outer wall;
positioning a ball within each of the sockets; and
removably securing the ball within each socket.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming a spindle body comprises fabricating a spindle body.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming a spindle body comprises molding a spindle body.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming a spindle body and forming one or more sockets is substantially simultaneous.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein securing the ball comprises one or more of a pressure fit and friction fit.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein securing the ball comprises forming material around the ball after contacting the socket with the ball.

7. The method claim 1 , further comprising the step of hardening the spindle body via a hardening process.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein securing the ball within each socket comprises positioning the ball such that removal of the ball is accomplished without breaking a weld.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein securing the ball within each socket comprises positioning the ball such that removal of the ball is accomplished without damaging the socket.

Assignees

• Arctic Cat Inc

Inventors

• Vigen David L
• Sibilleau Guy L

Classifications

• B62M27/02 Primary

  power driven · CPC title

• B60G3/01

  the wheel being mounted for sliding movement, e.g. in or on a vertical guide (camber maintaining means B60G3/26) · CPC title

• B60G3/20

  all arms being rigid · CPC title

• B60G3/24

  a rigid arm being formed by the live axle {(B60G3/22, B60G3/26 take precedence; driving arrangements B60K17/22, B60K17/30, B60K17/32)} · CPC title

• B60G3/265

  with a strut cylinder contributing to the suspension geometry by being linked to the wheel support via an articulation · CPC title