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 and 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.
Claims18
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 comprising at least one adjustable suspension arm coupled to each support member and a rotational transfer arm that pivots about a central portion of the transfer arm, each support member including a shock absorber assembly and each adjustable suspension arm being coupled to the corresponding shock absorber assembly, each end of the transfer arm being pivotally linked to one of the adjustable suspension arms, the adjustable support member mechanism being 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, respectively, 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 snowmobile vehicle comprising two skis being spaced apart from each other so as to define a track width between the skis, and an adjustable ski-track mechanism coupled to the skis 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, respectively, the first track position defining a first distance between the two skis and the second track position defining a second distance between the two skis, the adjustable ski-track mechanism including an input mechanism to change the track width between the skis, the input mechanism comprising a rotational transfer arm that is coupled to both skis and that pivots about a central portion of the transfer arm, and a cylinder mechanism connected to the rotational transfer arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.