Snowmobile ski suspension strut

A snowmobile comprising a snowmobile frame having a forward end that is supported upon at least one steerable ski, said ski being connected to said snowmobile frame by a ski suspension strut that is rotatably supported in the snowmobile frame in a fixed generally upright orientation, said strut comprising a lower tubular telescopic member coupled to said ski, and a coaxial upper telescopic member that is received within said lower member and is guided to move axially but not rotatably with respect to said lower member through a predetermined range or relative axial movement:

• mounting means for mounting said upper member rotatably in axially fixed manner in said snowmobile frame;
• bearing means in said snowmobile frame receiving said lower strut member in rotatable and axially displaceable fashion;
• and
• spring means urging said lower strut member axially away from said upper telescopic member;
• damper means located within said tubular lower member, and connected between said upper and lower members to dampen relative axial movements thereof.

A ski suspension strut for a snowmobile, comprising:

• first and second telescopically arranged members and guide means for guiding said members for a predetermined range of relative axial movement and constraining them against relative rotation;
• one end of said first member being adapted to be connected to a snowmobile ski and the second member being adapted for connection to a steering mechanism in said snowmobile to be rotated thereby in effecting steering movement of said ski;
• damper means being located interiorly of one said member and operatively connected to both said members to dampen relative axial movement thereof;
• wherein said guide means comprises linear bearing means mounted in said one member and in sliding engagement with a section of said other member that is of constant rectangular profile over a length that corresponds to said predetermined range, said linear bearing means comprising bearing plates supported in said one member and defining a rectangular passage complimentary to said rectangular profile;
• and
• a coiled compression spring surrounding said first member and having one end engaged in a seat fixedly supported against said one end of the first member, and its opposite end engaged in a seat supported on an element that is axially fixed with respect to said second member.