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US 11,214,320 B2Granted
Tracked vehicle
AssigneePolaris Industries Inc.
InventorsRichard H. Bates, Jr., Jonathon R. Eaton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims18
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.
13 more elements
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.
13 more elements
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.
10 more elements
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.
5 more elements
A snowmobile assembly, comprising:
- a chassis assembly having a tunnel assembly;
- a skid plate assembly having a skid plate surface;
- an engine having a drive shaft connection housed at least partially within the chassis assembly;
- 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;
- a drive shaft line is defined between the first end and the driveshaft connection;
- a second torque arm line defined by the second torque arm between the third end and the fourth end;
- 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.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.