Snowmobile track suspension
AssigneeThe University of Western Ontario
InventorPeter Visscher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rear track suspension for a snowmobile having a single resilient element for biasing both the front and rear arms. The slide rail is permitted to pitch between first and second pitching constraints in response to terrain obstacles in a gradual manner as the motion constraints are approached. This reduces jarring of the rider when the pitching constraints are met. Suspension compression exhibits an initial falling rate motion ratio, followed by a constant rate motion ratio, followed by a rising rate motion ratio. This U-shaped motion ratio profile advantageously provides cushioning upon landing along with a resistance to bottoming out of the suspension upon full compression. The result is an improved ride without sacrificing suspension performance.
Claims20
A track suspension for a snowmobile comprising:
- a) a rear arm having an upper end pivotally attachable to an underside of the snowmobile at an upper rear arm pivot, a rear arm crank extending from the rear arm at the upper end thereof, the rear arm having a lower end pivotally connected to a slide rail at a rear slide rail pivot;
- b) a front arm having an upper end pivotally attachable to the underside of the snowmobile at an upper front arm pivot, a front arm crank extending from the front arm at the upper end thereof;
- c) a front linkage having an anterior end pivotally connected to the front arm crank and having a posterior end pivotally attached to the rear arm crank at a posterior linkage pivot;
- and,
- d) a resilient element having an anterior end pivotally attached to the front linkage, the resilient element operable to resist pivoting movement of the rear arm about the upper rear arm pivot in response to movement of the rear slide rail pivot towards the underside of the snowmobile.
A track suspension for a snowmobile comprising:
- a) a rear arm having an upper end pivotally attachable to an underside of the snowmobile at an upper rear arm pivot, a rear arm crank extending from the rear arm at the upper end thereof, the rear arm having a lower end pivotally connected to a slide rail at a rear slide rail pivot;
- b) a front arm having an upper end pivotally attachable to the underside of the snowmobile at an upper front arm pivot, a front arm crank extending from the front arm at the upper end thereof;
- c) a front linkage having an anterior end pivotally connected to the front arm crank and having a posterior end pivotally attached to the rear arm crank at a posterior linkage pivot;
- d) a resilient element having an anterior end pivotally attached to the front linkage, the resilient element orerable to resist pivoting movement of the rear arm about the upper rear arm pivot in response to movement of the rear slide rail pivot towards the underside of the snowmobile;
- and,
- e) wherein the front linkage is pivotally connected to the front arm crank by means of a front rocker pivotally attached to the front arm crank at a front rocker pivot and pivotally attached to the anterior end of the front linkage at an anterior linkage pivot.
A track suspension for a snowmobile comprising:
- a) a rear arm having an upper end pivotally attachable to an underside of the snowmobile at an upper rear arm pivot, a rear arm crank extending from the rear arm at the upper end thereof, the rear arm having a lower end pivotally connected to a slide rail at a rear slide rail pivot;
- b) a front arm having an upper end pivotally attachable to the underside of the snowmobile at an upper front arm pivot, a front arm crank extending from the front arm at the upper end thereof;
- c) a front linkage having an anterior end pivotally connected to the front arm crank and having a posterior end pivotally attached to the rear arm crank at a posterior linkage pivot;
- d) a resilient element having an anterior end pivotally attached to the front linkage, the resilient element orerable to resist pivoting movement of the rear arm about the upper rear arm pivot in response to movement of the rear slide rail pivot towards the underside of the snowmobile;
- and,
- e) wherein the front linkage has an upwardly extending portion and wherein the resilient element is attached to the front linkage at the upwardly extending portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.