# US 2025/0145249 A1 · Snowmobile > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0145249 A1 - Document ID: US20250145249A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/838,271 - Filed: 2022-02-18 - Published: 2025-05-08 - Earliest claimed: 2022-02-14 - Assignees: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. - Applicants: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. - Inventors: Bertrand MALLETTE; Patrick GENDRON - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250145249A1 ## CPC - B62M 9/08: involving eccentrically- mounted or elliptically-shaped driving or driven wheel; with expansible driving or driven wheel - B62M 9/10: involving different-sized wheels, {e.g. rear sprocket chain wheels} selectively engaged by the chain, belt, or the like {(bicycle hubs rotatably arranged on axle B60B27/023)} - B62D 55/07: Mono-track vehicles - B62D 55/12: Arrangement, location, or adaptation of driving sprockets - B62D 65/00: Designing, manufacturing, e.g. assembling, facilitating disassembly, or structurally modifying motor vehicles or trailers, not otherwise provided for - B62J 6/022: specially adapted for motorcycles or the like - B62J 40/10: characterised by air duct arrangements - B62M 27/02: power driven - B62J 25/04: Floor-type foot rests - B62K 2206/00: Quick release mechanisms adapted for cycles - B62M 2027/023: {Snow mobiles characterised by engine mounting arrangements} - B62M 2027/027: {Snow mobiles characterised by the tracks} - B62M 2027/028: {Snow mobiles characterised by chassis or bodywork} - F16H 55/56: of which the bearing parts are relatively axially adjustable - 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) - B62J: CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS - B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract A snowmobile includes a chain drive disposed on one of a left side and a right side of a longitudinal centerplane of the snowmobile, the chain drive including: a drive sprocket; a driven sprocket; and a drive chain operatively connecting the drive and driven sprockets. A drive axle operatively connects the chain drive to the endless track, the drive axle including: a first axle end portion operatively connected to the chain drive; and a second axle end portion rotatably supported by a tunnel of the snowmobile on an other one of the left side and the right side of the longitudinal centerplane. A mounting sleeve is engaged to the driven sprocket in order to be driven thereby, the first axle end portion being operatively and removably connected to the mounting sleeve and rotating therewith about the drive axle axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A snowmobile comprising: a frame including a tunnel; a motor connected to the frame; an endless track operatively connected to the motor for propelling the snowmobile; a continuously variable transmission (CVT) operatively connected to the motor; a chain drive operatively connected to the motor through the CVT, the chain drive being disposed on one of a left side and a right side of a longitudinal centerplane of the snowmobile, the chain drive comprising: a drive sprocket; a driven sprocket; and a drive chain operatively connecting the drive and driven sprockets; a chaincase housing the drive sprocket, the driven sprocket and the drive chain; a drive axle operatively connecting the chain drive to the endless track, the drive axle defining a drive axle axis extending generally laterally, the drive axle comprising: a first axle end portion operatively connected to the chain drive; and a second axle end portion rotatably supported by the tunnel on an other one of the left side and the right side of the longitudinal centerplane; and a mounting sleeve engaged to the driven sprocket in order to be driven thereby, the first axle end portion being operatively and removably connected to the mounting sleeve and rotating therewith about the drive axle axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein: the mounting sleeve has an inner lateral end and an outer lateral end opposite the inner lateral end; and the snowmobile further comprises a cap sealingly connected to the outer lateral end of the mounting sleeve to prevent fluid from within the chaincase housing to enter the mounting sleeve. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the first axle end portion is splined together with the mounting sleeve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein: the chaincase has an inner lateral housing portion and an outer lateral housing portion fastened to the inner lateral housing portion to enclose the chain drive therein; and the mounting sleeve is rotatably supported by the inner lateral housing portion of the chaincase. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The snowmobile of claim 4, wherein the inner lateral housing portion is connected to the tunnel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, further comprising at least one track drive sprocket mounted to the drive axle, the at least one track drive sprocket being operable to engage the endless track for driving thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The snowmobile of claim 6, wherein: the tunnel has a first inner lateral surface on the one of the left side and the right side of the longitudinal centerplane and a second inner lateral surface on an other one of the left side and the right side of the longitudinal centerplane; and a distance measured laterally between the second inner lateral surface and the at least one track drive sprocket closest to the second inner lateral surface being greater than a lateral engagement distance between the mounting sleeve and the first axle end portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, further comprising a brake disc operatively connected to the second axle end portion for rotating therewith. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the first axle end portion is laterally offset from the driven sprocket of the chain drive. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein: the first axle end portion extends into the chaincase; and the mounting sleeve being at least partially housed within the chaincase. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the driven sprocket is removably mounted to the mounting sleeve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, further comprising a bearing rotatably supporting the mounting sleeve on the chaincase, the bearing abutting the driven sprocket. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the motor is an internal combustion engine. ### Claim 14 A method for removing a drive axle of a snowmobile, the drive axle operatively connecting a chain drive to an endless track of the snowmobile, the chain drive being disposed on one of a left side and a right side of a longitudinal centerplane of the snowmobile, the method comprising: moving the drive axle laterally away from the chain drive toward an other one of the left side and the right side of the longitudinal centerplane of the snowmobile until a first axle end portion that is configured to be driven by a driven sprocket of the chain drive is disengaged therefrom; dropping the first axle end portion downward such that the drive axle is in an inclined orientation in which the first axle end portion is vertically lower than a second axle end portion of the drive axle; and moving the second axle end portion diagonally downward to extract the second axle end portion from engagement with a tunnel of the snowmobile. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein moving the drive axle laterally away from the chain drive comprises disengaging a splined connection between the first axle end portion and a mounting sleeve that is operatively connected to the driven sprocket of the chain drive. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein moving the drive axle laterally away from the chain drive is done without removing a chaincase that houses the chain drive. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein moving the drive axle laterally away from the chain drive is done without removing a drive chain of the chain drive.