# US 11,897,578 B2 · Snow vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,897,578 B2 - Document ID: US11897578B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/144,820 - Filed: 2021-01-08 - Published: 2021-05-06 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-22 - Assignees: Polaris Industries Inc. - Applicants: Polaris Industries Inc. - Inventors: Allen M. Mangum; Jimmy D. Brooks - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11897578B2 ## CPC - B62M 27/02: power driven - B62D 55/07: Mono-track vehicles - B62D 55/10: Bogies; Frames (track-tensioning means B62D55/30) - B62D 55/108: with mechanical springs, e.g. torsion bars - B62D 55/12: Arrangement, location, or adaptation of driving sprockets - B62M 2027/021: {Snow bikes resembling conventional motorcycles} - B62M 2027/022: {Snow drive conversions for cycles with wheels} - B62M 2027/023: {Snow mobiles characterised by engine mounting arrangements} - B62M 2027/026: {Snow mobiles characterised by the suspension means} - B62M 2027/027: {Snow mobiles characterised by the tracks} - B62M 2027/028: {Snow mobiles characterised by chassis or bodywork} - B62M: RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR {SINGLE-TRACK} CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of transmissions in vehicles in general B60K; transmission elements per se F16) - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A snow vehicle is disclosed comprising a uni-body frame having a forward engine compartment, a propulsion unit coupled to the frame, and a front ski steered by a steering mechanism. The snow vehicle has a chain coupling the sprocket of the propulsion unit located outside of the frame and directly coupled to the belt drive. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A snow vehicle, comprising: a vehicle frame extending along a longitudinal centerline; a seat supported by the vehicle frame; a powertrain assembly supported by the vehicle frame and comprising an engine operably coupled to a transmission; a fuel tank fluidly coupled to the engine; an exhaust assembly fluidly coupled to the engine and including at least a muffler and an exhaust conduit extending between a portion of the engine and the muffler, the muffler positioned completely rearwardly of the seat, and a portion of the muffler vertically overlaps a portion of the fuel tank, and at least a portion of the engine, the fuel tank, and the muffler are longitudinally aligned with each other; a rear suspension assembly comprising at least a tunnel; and a drive belt operably coupled to the powertrain assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The snow vehicle of claim 1, wherein the fuel tank and at least a portion of the exhaust assembly is positioned below the seat. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The snow vehicle of claim 2, further comprising an air intake assembly fluidly coupled to the engine and longitudinally aligned with the seat. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The snow vehicle of claim 3, further comprising a cover configured to support the air intake assembly and the engine. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The snow vehicle of claim 4, wherein the cover extends along a forward portion of the seat. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The snow vehicle of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the air intake assembly is positioned above the engine and the exhaust assembly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The snow vehicle of claim 1, wherein a fill cap of the fuel tank is positioned intermediate the seat and the muffler. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The snow vehicle of claim 1, wherein a forwardmost portion of the muffler is positioned forward of a rearwardmost portion of the fuel tank. ### Claim 9 A snow vehicle, comprising: a vehicle frame extending along a longitudinal centerline; a powertrain assembly supported by the vehicle frame and comprising an engine operably coupled to a transmission; a fuel tank fluidly coupled to the engine, and each of the fuel tank and the transmission intersect the longitudinal centerline; an exhaust assembly fluidly coupled to the engine and including at least a muffler and an exhaust conduit extending between a portion of the engine and the muffler; a rear suspension assembly comprising at least a tunnel; and a drive belt operably coupled to the powertrain assembly, and the tunnel is configured to vertically separate the drive belt from the fuel tank and the muffler, wherein the transmission comprises a transmission output, and the transmission output is forward of the fuel tank. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The snow vehicle of claim 9, further comprising a seat supported by the vehicle frame, and the fuel tank and at least a portion of the exhaust assembly is positioned below the seat. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The snow vehicle of claim 10, wherein a portion of the exhaust conduit is positioned adjacent the fuel tank. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The snow vehicle of claim 10, wherein the seat extends from a position adjacent a portion of the engine and along the fuel tank. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The snow vehicle of claim 9, wherein both the fuel tank and the muffler are positioned above an upper surface of the tunnel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The snow vehicle of claim 13, wherein the muffler is positioned rearwardly of the fuel tank. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The snow vehicle of claim 9, further comprising a gear shifter linkage operably coupled to the transmission, and at least a portion of the gear shifter linkage positioned rearwardly of the drive belt. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The snow vehicle of claim 9, wherein the transmission is longitudinally aligned with a portion of the engine. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The snow vehicle of claim 9, further comprising an engine compartment defined by at least one panel, and the engine and the transmission are positioned within the engine compartment. ### Claim 18 A snow vehicle, comprising: a vehicle frame extending along a longitudinal centerline; a seat supported by the vehicle frame; a powertrain assembly supported by the vehicle frame and an engine operably coupled to a transmission; a fuel tank fluidly coupled to the engine; a gear shifter linkage operably coupled to the transmission; an exhaust assembly fluidly coupled to the engine and including at least a muffler and an exhaust conduit extending between a portion of the engine and the muffler; a rear suspension assembly comprising at least a tunnel, and the tunnel includes at least an upper surface, a first side, and a second side; and a drive belt operably coupled to the powertrain assembly at a transmission output, and an envelope is defined between the upper surface of the tunnel, the first side of the tunnel, the second side of the tunnel, and an upper surface of the seat, and at least a portion of the exhaust conduit is positioned within the envelope, and a portion of the gear shifter linkage is positioned rearwardly of the transmission output, wherein a forward extent of the fuel tank is positioned rearwardly of the forward extent of the seat. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The snow vehicle of claim 18, wherein the tunnel defines a maximum width extending between a rearward-most portion of the first side and a rearward-most portion of the second side, and the maximum width of the tunnel is at least as great as a width of the exhaust assembly.