Recreational vehicle spindle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12168469-B2
Application number	US-202217982748-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2022
Priority date	Feb 15, 2022
Publication date	Dec 17, 2024
Grant date	Dec 17, 2024

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a spindle for a recreational vehicle, such as a snowmobile, an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), or a side-by-side vehicle. The spindle includes a spine, optionally a front fin that extends from a front surface of the spine, and optionally a rear fin that extends from a back surface of the spine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A spindle, comprising:
an upper control arm mount;
a lower control arm mount, wherein a steering axis is defined through the upper control arm mount and the lower control arm mount;
a base, the base including a ski mount, the ski mount including a hole defining an axis X; and
a spindle body including a spine, a front fin extending from a front surface of the spine, and a rear fin extending from a back surface of the spine,
wherein the steering axis is disposed forward of the axis X of the ski mount,
wherein between 80% to 90% of the spindle body is positioned behind the steering axis.

2. The spindle of claim 1 , wherein the spine has two curvilinear edges.

3. The spindle of claim 1 , wherein the spindle body further comprises a rear mount, wherein the rear mount has a vertical position that is between the upper control arm mount and the base.

4. The spindle of claim 1 , wherein a majority of the spindle body is positioned behind the steering axis.

5. The spindle of claim 1 , wherein the hole of the ski mount is disposed entirely rearward of the steering axis 4 .

6. The spindle of claim 1 , wherein the spindle body includes a curvilinear outboard edge, a curvilinear inboard edge, a curvilinear leading edge, and a curvilinear trailing edge.

7. The spindle of claim 1 , wherein the upper control arm mount includes a through-hole with a threaded section for receiving a threaded fastener.

8. The spindle of claim 1 , wherein the front fin and the rear fin include a plurality of windows.

9. A spindle, comprising:
a top mount that is operably securable to a suspension component;
a base including a bottom mount that is operably securable to a ski;
a spindle body, the spindle body including:
a curvilinear spine extending from the base to the top mount; and
a rear fin extending from a back surface of the curvilinear spine, wherein the rear fin is positioned substantially orthogonal to the spine at one or both of a first position that is adjacent to the top mount and a second position that is adjacent to the base.

10. The spindle of claim 9 , wherein the spindle body includes a front fin extending from a front surface of the curvilinear spine, wherein the front fin is positioned orthogonal to the spine at the first position that is adjacent to the top mount.

11. The spindle of claim 9 , wherein the spindle body further comprises a front mount, wherein a front fin comprises a concave upper portion that extends between the front mount and the top mount and a concave lower portion that extends between the front mount and the base.

12. The spindle of claim 11 , wherein the rear fin includes a first portion, a second portion extending inboard from the first portion to the top mount, and a third portion extending inboard from the first portion to the base, wherein a steering axis extends through the top mount and the front mount, and wherein the first portion of the rear fin is positioned entirely outboard of the steering axis.

13. The spindle of claim 9 , wherein the spindle has a steering axis that extends through the top mount and a front mount, wherein at most 10% of the spindle body is located in front of the steering axis and wherein the spindle body is generally shaped as a plus sign (+) near the top mount and generally shaped as a T near the bottom mount.

14. A snowmobile, comprising:
a frame;
a ski;
an engine;
a spindle connecting the frame to the ski, the spindle including a lower control arm mount and a spindle body, the lower control arm mount having a first height relative to a ground plane, the spindle securing the frame to the ski; and
a track drive coupled to the engine, the track drive including a bottom track drive sprocket, the bottom track drive sprocket defining a track drive axis, the track drive axis having a second height relative to the ground plane,
wherein the first height is between 66% to 75% of the second height.

15. The snowmobile of claim 14 , wherein the frame includes a forward frame member including a first end, and a second end extending upwardly and rearwardly to a steering column mount.

16. The snowmobile of claim 15 , further comprising a steering column having a length extending with a first end positioned adjacent the steering column mount and a second end operably connected to the frame along a longitudinal centerline of the forward frame member, wherein the steering column extends entirely over the top of the spindle when viewed from the side of the forward frame member.

17. The snowmobile of claim 16 , wherein the lower control arm mount includes a forward mount on the frame, and the second end of the steering column is positioned forward of the forward mount along the longitudinal centerline of the forward frame member.

18. The snowmobile of claim 17 , wherein the second end of the steering column is positioned lower than the top of the spindle.

19. The snowmobile of claim 14 , wherein the spindle includes an upper control arm mount and a steering axis defined through the upper control arm mount and the lower control arm mount, wherein between 80% to 90% of the spindle body is positioned behind the steering axis.

20. The snowmobile of claim 19 , wherein the spindle body includes a curvilinear outboard edge, a curvilinear inboard edge, a curvilinear leading edge, and a curvilinear trailing edge.

21. A spindle comprising:
an upper control arm mount;
a lower control arm mount;
a base comprising a ski mount; and
a body extending between the base and the upper control arm mount, the body comprising a double curve defining a first forward facing concavity positioned along the body between the upper control arm mount and the lower control arm mount, a second forward facing concavity positioned along the body between the lower control arm mount and the base, and a rearward facing concavity positioned along the body between the first forward facing concavity and the second forward facing concavity,
wherein the lower control arm mount extends forward and inboard from the body.

22. The spindle of claim 21 , wherein a steering axis extends through the upper control arm mount and the lower control arm mount, wherein the body includes an inboard side and an outboard side, wherein the body includes a first portion, a second portion extending inboard from the first portion to the upper control arm mount, and a third portion extending inboard from the first portion to the base, and wherein the inboard side of the first portion is at least partially positioned outboard of the steering axis.

23. The spindle of claim 21 , wherein the spindle includes a fin comprising a trailing edge positioned along an outboard side of the body, and a leading edge extending forward and inboard from the outboard side of the body to the lower control arm mount.

Assignees

• Arctic Cat Inc

Inventors

• Moldaschel Marcus Charles
• Langaas Benjamin Taylor
• Blomker Nathan Lee
• Janzow Steven
• Sibilleau Guy L

Classifications

• B62B17/04 Primary

  resiliently suspended · CPC title

• B62M2027/028

  Snow mobiles characterised by chassis or bodywork · CPC title

• B62M2027/026

  Snow mobiles characterised by the suspension means · CPC title

• B62M2027/025

  Snow mobiles characterised by the skis · CPC title

• B62M27/02

  power driven · CPC title