Steering device for snowmobile
AssigneeYamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorKaoru Haruna
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adjustable ski track width mechanism allows adjusting the ski track between a narrow ski track width and a wide ski track width. The adjustable ski track width mechanism includes a steering mechanism that provides correct steering geometry an corresponding steering characteristics regardless of the narrow ski track width or the wide ski track width. The adjustable ski track width mechanism can be adjusted by the operator or automatically depending on operator preference or terrain conditions.
Claims21
A vehicle comprising two support members being spaced apart from each other so as to define a track width between the support members, an adjustable support member mechanism coupled to at least one of the support members and movable between at least first and second positions so as to change the track width, thereby establishing a first track position and a second track position, respectfully, the first track position defining a first distance between the two support members and the second track position defining a second distance between the two support members, the first distance being smaller than the second distance, a steering input device, and a steering mechanism arranged between the input device and the support members to change direction of the support members according to a position of the steering input device at least when the support members are in the first track position and when the support members are in the second track position.
A method of controlling a support member track width of a vehicle, the method comprising selecting between a first track width position and a second track width position depending upon a desired operational mode of the vehicle, causing the support members to move relative to each other to effect the movement between track width positions, and adjusting a steering mechanism between a first steering linkage geometry that corresponds to the first track width position and a second steering linkage geometry that corresponds to the second track width position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.