Snowmobile suspension
AssigneeBombardier Recreational Products Inc.
InventorBerthold Fecteau
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved rear suspension assembly is provided for snowmobiles, which includes a link assembly operatively connecting the rear suspension arm to a front cushion absorber so that the pivot movement of the rear suspension arm actuates the front shock absorber assembly. In one embodiment of the present invention, a rocker arm is pivotally attached to the slide frame assembly and has a front end thereof pivotally attached to the front shock absorber assembly, and has a rear end pivotally attached through a link rod to the rear suspension arm. The present invention advantageously improves the dynamic response of the rear suspension during snowmobile acceleration, and therefore prevents the skis of the snowmobile from lifting off from the ground.
Claims20
A suspension assembly for a snowmobile having a chassis and an endless drive track, the suspension assembly comprising:
- front and rear suspension arms, each suspension arm having a first end and a second end, the first ends of the suspension arms being adapted to be pivotally connected to the chassis, the suspension arms adapted to extend downwardly and rearwardly from their connection to the chassis;
- a slide frame assembly pivotally connected to the second ends of the suspension arms, the slide frame assembly adapted to be urged downwardly into contact with the snowmobile endless drive track;
- a rear shock absorber operatively connected to the slide frame assembly for absorbing impact forces applied to the slide frame assembly;
- and
- a front shock absorber having a bottom end, the bottom end of the front shock absorber being operatively connected to the rear suspension arm such that the front shock absorber is actuated by pivotal movement of the rear suspension arm relative to the chassis.
A snowmobile comprising:
- a chassis including a tunnel;
- an engine disposed on the chassis;
- an endless drive track disposed below the tunnel and operatively connected to the engine for propulsion of the snowmobile;
- two skis disposed on the frame, each via a front suspension;
- a straddle seat disposed on the tunnel above the endless drive track and rearward of the engine;
- a steering device disposed on the frame forward of the seat;
- and
- a rear suspension assembly for supporting and tensioning the endless drive track, the rear suspension assembly including,
- front and rear suspension arms, each suspension arm having a first end and a second end, the first ends of the suspension arms connected to the chassis, the suspension arms extending downwardly and rearwardly from their connection to the chassis;
- a slide frame assembly pivotally connected to the second ends of the suspension arms, the slide frame assembly urged downwardly into contact with the snowmobile endless drive track;
- a rear shock absorber operatively connected to the slide frame assembly for absorbing impact forces applied to the slide frame assembly;
- and
- a front shock absorber having a bottom end, the bottom end of the front shock absorber being operatively connected to the rear suspension arm such that the front shock absorber is actuated by pivotal movement of the rear suspension arm relative to the chassis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.