Snow vehicle

• US 10,442,494 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2017
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arctic Cat Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Arctic Cat Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Thompson, Kevin David, Warne, Ricky Allen, Ellsworth, Andrew Jon, Christensen, Cord M., Beavis, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brittman, Felicia L.
• Application Number:
  US15/439,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20170259877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 180184
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 11/16 Master control, e.g. master cylinders master cylinders associated with vacuum boosters B60T13/565
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 11/22 characterised by being integral with reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/102 by means of a tilting lever
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/06 Levers
• CPC Class Codes: B62L 3/023 acting on fluid pressure systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 27/02 power driven
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 23/12 Mechanical clutch-actuating mechanisms arranged outside the clutch as such specific for combined clutches F16D21/00; mechanisms specific for synchronisation F16D23/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 25/088 the line of action of the fluid-actuated members being distinctly separate from the axis of rotation

Abstract

A snow vehicle having a combined brake and clutch handle is herein disclosed. Further, the snow vehicle can include a controller for managing operation of the snow vehicle, including shifting and engine management regiments, which can be selected by the operator depending upon operator preferences. Additionally, the snow vehicle can include an engine cooling heat exchanger for cooling liquid which is circulated through the engine.

Claims

1. A snow vehicle comprising:

an endless track;

a frame, an engine, and a transmission, the engine and transmission attached to the frame, the engine drivingly coupled to the endless track via the transmission;

a clutch, at least a portion of the clutch being rotatably coupled to the transmission;

a brake actuator;

handlebars;

a hand lever attached to the handlebars, the hand lever having a first position, a second position, and a third position, wherein movement of the hand lever from the first position to the second position actuates the clutch and movement of the hand lever from the second position to the third position actuates the brake actuator; and

an actuator assembly, the actuator assembly comprising a main body and a master cylinder having a fluid housing, wherein the main body comprises a hydraulic brake piston and a hydraulic clutch piston, the hydraulic brake piston and hydraulic clutch piston being adjacent to the hand lever.

2. The snow vehicle of claim 1, wherein the brake actuator is hydraulic.

3. The snow vehicle of claim 1, wherein the fluid housing provides hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic brake piston and hydraulic clutch piston.

4. The snow vehicle of claim 1, wherein the hand lever comprises a first contact surface adjacent to the hydraulic clutch piston and a second contact surface adjacent to the hydraulic brake piston, the first contact surface being closer to the hydraulic clutch piston than the second contact surface is to the hydraulic brake piston when the hand lever is in the first position.

5. The snow vehicle of claim 4, wherein the first contact surface contacts the hydraulic clutch piston when the hand lever is in the first position and the second contact surface is spaced apart from the hydraulic brake piston.

6. A snow vehicle comprising:

an endless track;

a frame, an engine, and a transmission, the engine and transmission attached to the frame, the engine drivingly coupled to the endless track via the transmission;

a clutch, at least a portion of the clutch being rotatably coupled to the transmission;

a brake actuator;

handlebars; and

a combined clutch/brake hand lever attached to the handlebars, the combined clutch/brake hand lever having a first position, a second position, and a third position, wherein movement of the combined clutch/brake hand lever from the first position to the second position actuates the clutch and movement of the combined clutch/brake hand lever from the second position to the third position actuates the brake actuator.

7. The snow vehicle of claim 6, wherein the brake actuator is hydraulic.

8. The snow vehicle of claim 6, further comprising an actuator assembly, the actuator assembly comprising a main body and a master cylinder having a fluid housing.

9. The snow vehicle of claim 8, wherein the main body comprises a hydraulic brake piston and a hydraulic clutch piston, the hydraulic brake piston and hydraulic clutch piston being adjacent to the hand lever.

10. The snow vehicle of claim 9, wherein the fluid housing provides hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic brake piston and hydraulic clutch piston.

11. The snow vehicle of claim 8, wherein the combined clutch/brake hand lever comprises a first contact surface adjacent to the hydraulic clutch piston and a second contact surface adjacent to the hydraulic brake piston, the first contact surface being closer to the hydraulic clutch piston than the second contact surface is to the hydraulic brake piston when the combined clutch/brake hand lever is in the first position.

12. The snow vehicle of claim 11, wherein the first contact surface contacts the hydraulic clutch piston when the combined clutch/brake hand lever is in the first position and the second contact surface is spaced apart from the hydraulic brake piston.

13. A snow vehicle comprising:

an endless track;

a frame, an engine, and a transmission, the engine and transmission attached to the frame, the engine drivingly coupled to the endless track via the transmission;

a clutch, at least a portion of the clutch being rotatably coupled to the transmission;

a brake actuator;

handlebars;

a hand lever attached to the handlebars, the hand lever having a first position, a second position, and a third position, wherein movement of the hand lever from the first position to the second position disengages the clutch and movement of the hand lever from the second position to the third position actuates the brake actuator to apply braking, wherein the hand lever actuates the brake actuator to apply braking only after the clutch has been disengaged; and

an actuator assembly, the actuator assembly comprising a main body and a master cylinder having a fluid housing, wherein the main body comprises a hydraulic brake piston and a hydraulic clutch piston, the hydraulic brake piston and hydraulic clutch piston being adjacent to the hand lever.

14. The snow vehicle of claim 13, wherein the hand lever comprises a first contact surface adjacent to the hydraulic clutch piston and a second contact surface adjacent to the hydraulic brake piston, the first contact surface being closer to the hydraulic clutch piston than the second contact surface is to the hydraulic brake piston when the hand lever is in the first position.

15. The snow vehicle of claim 13, wherein the hand lever includes a first connection to a mechanical clutch cable and a second connection to a mechanical brake cable, wherein movement of the hand lever from the first position to the second position actuates the clutch via the mechanical clutch cable and movement of the hand lever from the second position to the third position actuates the brake actuator via the mechanical brake cable.

16. The snow vehicle of claim 13, wherein the hand lever includes a connection to a mechanical brake cable and a contact surface that contacts a hydraulic piston, wherein movement of the hand lever from the first position to the second position actuates the clutch via engagement of the contact surface with the hydraulic piston and movement of the hand lever from the second position to the third position actuates the brake actuator via the mechanical brake cable.