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US 2008/0185202 A1Published application
Snowmobile and Features Thereof Allowing for Different Tunnel Widths
AssigneeBombardier Recreational Products Inc.
InventorHugues Maltais
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A family of snowmobiles having different tunnel widths is disclosed. A snowmobile having spacers between the tunnel and the sides of the engine compartment and a method of manufacturing such a snowmobile are also disclosed. A snowmobile having a countershaft which is disposed rearwardly of the engine, vertically higher than the air intake opening, and forwardly of the air intake controller is also disclosed.
Claims33
A family of snowmobiles comprising:
- a first snowmobile having:
- a first frame, the first frame including:
- a first engine compartment, the first engine compartment having an engine compartment configuration;
- and
- a first tunnel rearward of the first engine compartment, the first tunnel having a first tunnel width;
- a first engine disposed in the first engine compartment;
- a first countershaft traversing the first engine compartment;
- a first continuously variable transmission (CVT) operatively connecting the first engine with the first countershaft, the first CVT being disposed on a first side of the first engine;
- a first reduction gearing operatively connected to the first countershaft on a second side of the first engine opposite the first side;
- a first endless drive track disposed below the first tunnel for propelling the first snowmobile, the first endless drive track being operatively connected to the first reduction gearing;
- and
- a first pair of skis connected to the first frame;
- and
- a second snowmobile having:
- a second frame, the second frame including:
- a second engine compartment, the second engine compartment having the engine compartment configuration;
- and
- a second tunnel rearward of the second engine compartment, the second tunnel having a second tunnel width being greater than the first tunnel width;
- a second engine disposed in the second engine compartment;
- a second countershaft traversing the second engine compartment;
- a second CVT operatively connecting the second engine and the second countershaft, the second CVT being disposed on a first side of the second engine;
- a second reduction gearing operatively connected to the second countershaft on a second side of the second engine opposite the first side;
- a second endless drive track disposed below the second tunnel for propelling the second snowmobile, the second endless drive track being operatively connected to the second reduction gearing;
- and
- a second pair of skis connected to the second frame.
22 more elements
A snowmobile comprising:
- a frame, the frame including:
- an engine compartment having a first side and a second side;
- a tunnel rearward of the engine compartment;
- a first spacer disposed between the tunnel and the first side of the engine compartment;
- and
- a second spacer disposed between the tunnel and the second side of the engine compartment;
- an engine disposed in the engine compartment;
- a countershaft traversing the engine compartment;
- a continuously variable transmission (CVT) operatively connecting the engine with the countershaft, the CVT being disposed on a first side of the engine;
- an endless drive track disposed below the tunnel for propelling the snowmobile, the endless drive track being operatively connected to the countershaft;
- a front suspension connected to the frame;
- and
- a pair of skis connected to the front suspension.
10 more elements
A method of manufacturing a snowmobile frame comprising:
- providing an engine compartment having a first side and a second side;
- disposing a tunnel rearwardly of the engine compartment;
- inserting a first spacer between the tunnel and the first side of the engine compartment;
- and
- inserting a second spacer between the tunnel and the second side of the engine compartment.
2 more elements
A snowmobile comprising:
- a frame, the frame including:
- an engine compartment;
- and
- a tunnel rearward of the engine compartment;
- an engine disposed in the engine compartment, the engine having at least one air intake opening on a rear side thereof;
- an air intake controller being disposed rearwardly of the engine and fluidly communicating with the air intake opening;
- a countershaft traversing the engine compartment, the countershaft being disposed rearwardly of the engine, vertically higher than the air intake opening, and forwardly of the air intake controller;
- a continuously variable transmission (CVT) operatively connecting the engine with the countershaft;
- an endless drive track disposed below the tunnel for propelling the snowmobile, the endless drive track being operatively connected to the countershaft;
- a front suspension connected to the frame;
- and
- a pair of skis connected to the front suspension.
9 more elements
A family of snowmobiles comprising:
- a first snowmobile having:
- a first frame, the first frame including:
- a first longitudinal centerline;
- a first engine compartment, the first engine compartment having a first engine compartment configuration;
- and
- a first tunnel rearward of the first engine compartment, the first tunnel having a first tunnel width;
- a first engine disposed in the first engine compartment, the first engine having engine characteristics, a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side being disposed a first distance from the first longitudinal centerline;
- a first countershaft traversing the first engine compartment;
- a first continuously variable transmission (CVT) operatively connecting the first engine with the first countershaft, the first CVT being disposed on the first side of the first engine;
- a first reduction gearing operatively connected to the first countershaft on the second side of the first engine;
- a first endless drive track disposed below the first tunnel for propelling the first snowmobile, the first endless drive track being operatively connected to the first reduction gearing;
- and
- a first pair of skis connected to the first frame;
- and
- a second snowmobile having:
- a second frame, the second frame including:
- a second longitudinal centerline;
- a second engine compartment, the second engine compartment having a second engine compartment configuration;
- and
- a second tunnel rearward of the second engine compartment, the second tunnel having a second tunnel width being greater than the first tunnel width;
- a second engine disposed in the second engine compartment, the second engine having the engine characteristics, a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side being disposed a second distance from the second longitudinal centerline, the second distance being the same as the first distance;
- a second countershaft traversing the second engine compartment;
- a second CVT operatively connecting the second engine and the second countershaft, the second CVT being disposed on the first side of the second engine;
- a second reduction gearing operatively connected to the second countershaft on the second side of the second engine;
- a second endless drive track disposed below the second tunnel for propelling the second snowmobile, the second endless drive track being operatively connected to the second reduction gearing;
- and
- a second pair of skis connected to the second frame.
24 more elements
A method of manufacturing a snowmobile frame and power pack, the power pack including an engine, a CVT on a first side of the engine, the CVT having a driven pulley, a reduction gearing on a second side of the engine opposite the first side, and a countershaft operatively connecting the driven pulley with the reduction gearing, the method comprising:
- providing an engine compartment having a engine compartment configuration adapted to receive the power pack;
- selecting one of a first tunnel and a second tunnel, the first tunnel having a first tunnel width, the second tunnel having a second tunnel width, the second tunnel width being different from the first tunnel width;
- disposing the selected one of the first tunnel and the second tunnel rearwardly of the engine compartment;
- and
- disposing the power pack in the engine compartment,
- wherein the driven pulley is disposed vertically above the selected one of the first tunnel and the second tunnel.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.