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US 9,096,289 B2Granted
Snowmobile
AssigneePolaris Industries Inc.
InventorsMichael A. Hedlund, Matthew J. Prusak, Michael L. Fugleberg, Jeffrey A. Eaton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A snowmobile has an engine mounted with an exhaust port facing forwardly. A steering post extends substantially along a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle and over a top of the engine. An exhaust outlet is coupled to exhaust port and projects vertically upwardly to a position higher than the engine, and projecting rearwardly between the steering post and frame members. The rider position is re-defined relative to the snowmobile center of gravity.
Claims11
A snowmobile, comprising:
- a chassis including a bulkhead, a cross support tube coupled to the bulkhead and extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the snowmobile, and a steering mount positioned above the bulkhead by way of frame members;
- an engine having at least one exhaust port, the engine mounted with the at least one exhaust port facing forwardly;
- a steering post coupled to the steering mount and extending substantially along a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle, the steering post extending over a top of the engine;
- and
- an exhaust outlet coupled to the at least one exhaust port, the exhaust outlet projecting vertically upwardly to a position higher than the engine, and projecting rearwardly between the steering post and one of the frame members, the rearwardly projecting portion of the exhaust outlet extending over a top of the cross support tube.
2 more elements
A snowmobile, comprising:
- a chassis having a bulkhead, wherein the bulkhead is defined by cast portions connected along a center seam, and a steering mount positioned above the bulkhead by a plurality of frame members;
- an engine having at least one exhaust port facing forwardly;
- a steering post coupled to the steering mount and extending substantially along a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle, the steering post extending over a top of the engine;
- and
- an exhaust outlet including at least one tube member projecting vertically upwardly to a position higher than the engine and projecting rearwardly between the steering post and one of the frame members, a diameter of a first portion of the tube member being different from a diameter of a second portion of the tube member;
- a cross support tube extending transversely between the cast portions;
- and wherein the at least one tube member of the exhaust outlet extends over a top of the cross support tube.
4 more elements
A snowmobile, comprising:
- a chassis having a bulkhead, wherein the bulkhead is defined by cast portions connected along a center seam, and a steering mount positioned above the bulkhead by first and second frame members;
- the steering mount coupled to an upper end of the first and second frame members and a lower end of the first and second frame members being coupled to the bulkhead;
- an engine having at least one exhaust port facing forwardly;
- a steering post coupled to the steering mount and extending substantially along a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle, the steering post extending over a top of the engine;
- a front suspension assembly including an upper alignment arm and a lower alignment arm positioned below the upper alignment arm and spaced apart therefrom;
- and
- an exhaust outlet projecting vertically upwardly to a position higher than the engine and projecting rearwardly between the steering post and one of the frame members, the exhaust outlet including a first section fluidly coupled to the exhaust port and a second section spaced apart from the first section, a portion of the first section being positioned vertically intermediate the upper alignment arm and the lower alignment arm, and the second section being at a position vertically higher than the upper and lower alignment arms;
- wherein the exhaust outlet includes a first tube member, a second tube member, and a third tube member;
- a cross support tube extending transversely between the cast portions;
- and wherein at least one of the first tube member, second tube member, and third tube member extends over a top of the cross support tube.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.