SNOW VEHICLE

• US 20180273142A1
• Filed: 03/21/2018
• Published: 09/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Inventors: Mangum, Allen M., Brooks, Jimmy D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,899,415 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/07 Mono-track vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/10 Bogies; Frames track-tensioning means B62D55/30
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/108 with mechanical springs, e.g. torsion bars
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/12 Arrangement, location, or adaptation of driving sprockets
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 2027/021 Snow bikes resembling conventional motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 2027/022 Snow drive conversions for cycles with wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 2027/023 Snow mobiles characterised by engine mounting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 2027/026 Snow mobiles characterised by the suspension means
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 2027/027 Snow mobiles characterised by the tracks
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 2027/028 Snow mobiles characterised by chassis or bodywork
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 27/02 power driven

Abstract

A snow vehicle is disclosed comprising a uni-body frame having a forward engine compartment, a propulsion unit coupled to the frame, and a front ski steered by a steering mechanism. The snow vehicle has a chain coupling the sprocket of the propulsion unit located outside of the frame and directly coupled to the belt drive.

Claims

1. A snow vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle frame, the frame having an engine compartment having sidewalls;

a powertrain comprising an engine coupled to a transmission, the powertrain being housed between the sidewalls;

the transmission comprising a driveshaft protruding through one of the sidewalls;

a drive coupler attached to the driveshaft and positioned on an opposite side of the one sidewall as said powertrain;

a rear suspension;

a drive belt coupled to the rear suspension;

a propulsion driven member supported by the frame and coupled to the belt, the propulsion driven member rotating about a belt drive axis;

a driven coupler positioned adjacent to the drive coupler and coupled to the propulsion driven member; and

a linear element coupling the drive coupler and the driven coupler to drive the drive belt.

2. The snow vehicle of claim 1, wherein the frame includes side panels coupled to a center section.

3. The snow vehicle of claim 2, wherein the sidewalls are formed on the front panel portions of the side panels and define an engine compartment.

4. The snow vehicle of claim 3, wherein the drive and driven couplers are sprockets, and the linear element is a chain.

5. The snow vehicle of claim 4, further comprising a chain case cover positioned over the sprockets and chain.

6. The snow vehicle of claim 3, further comprising a cover portion coupled to the front panel portions.

7. The snow vehicle of claim 6, wherein the cover portion and side panels substantially enclose the powertrain.

8. The snow vehicle of claim 2, further comprising a fuel tank supported by the center section.

9. The snow vehicle of claim 8, wherein a forwardmost position of the fuel tank is rearward of the belt drive axis.

10. The snow vehicle of claim 2, wherein the center section and side panels define a tunnel and a rotational axis of the driveshaft is above at least a portion of the tunnel.

11. The snow vehicle of claim 2, further comprising rider foot pegs coupled to the side panels.

12. The snow vehicle of claim 11, wherein the belt drive axis is forward of the foot pegs by a distance X₁.

13. The snow vehicle of claim 12, wherein X₁ is approximately 5 inches.

14. The snow vehicle of claim 12, wherein a rotational axis of the driveshaft is forward of the belt drive axis by a distance X₂.

15. The snow vehicle of claim 14, wherein X₂ is approximately 5.5 inches.

16. The snow vehicle of claim 1, further comprising rider foot pegs coupled to the frame and a transmission shifter positioned adjacent to one of the foot pegs.

17. The snow vehicle of claim 16, wherein the transmission shifter includes a foot treadle portion, positioned forward of the belt drive axis.

18. A snow vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle frame;

a powertrain comprising an engine coupled to a transmission, the transmission comprising a driveshaft;

a drive coupler attached to the driveshaft;

a rear suspension;

a drive belt coupled to the rear suspension;

a propulsion driven member supported by the frame and coupled to the belt, the propulsion driven member rotating about a belt drive axis; and

operator foot supports, wherein the belt drive axis is forward of the foot supports by a distance X₁.

19. The snow vehicle of claim 18, wherein X₁ is in a range between 2 and 6 inches.

20. The snow vehicle of claim 19, wherein X₁ is approximately 5 inches.

21. The snow vehicle of claim 18, wherein a rotational axis of the driveshaft is forward of the belt drive axis by a distance X₂.

22. The snow vehicle of claim 21, wherein X₂ is in a range between 2 and 6 inches.

24. The snow vehicle of claim 18, further comprising a driven coupler positioned adjacent to the drive coupler and coupled to the propulsion driven member;

and a linear element coupling the drive coupler and the driven coupler to drive the drive belt.

25. The snow vehicle of claim 24, wherein the frame has an engine compartment having sidewalls, the powertrain being housed between the sidewalls.

26. The snow vehicle of claim 25, wherein the driveshaft protrudes through one of the sidewalls and is positioned on an opposite side of the one sidewall as said powertrain.

27. The snow vehicle of claim 25, wherein the frame includes side panels coupled to a center section.

28. The snow vehicle of claim 27, wherein the sidewalls are formed on the front panel portions of the side panels and define an engine compartment.

29. The snow vehicle of claim 24, wherein the drive and couplers are sprockets, and the linear element is a chain.

30. The snow vehicle of claim 29, further comprising a chain case cover positioned over the chain.

31. The snow vehicle of claim 28, wherein the frame includes a cover portion coupled to the front panel portions.

32. The snow vehicle of claim 31, wherein the cover portion and side panels substantially enclose the powertrain.

33. The snow vehicle of claim 27, further comprising a fuel tank supported by the center section.

34. The snow vehicle of claim 33, wherein a forwardmost position of the fuel tank is rearward of the belt drive axis.

35. The snow vehicle of claim 33, wherein the center section and side panels define a tunnel and a rotational axis of the driveshaft is above at least a portion of the tunnel.

36. The snow vehicle of claim 27, wherein the operator foot supports comprise foot pegs coupled to the side panels.

37. The snow vehicle of claim 18, further comprising rider foot pegs coupled to the frame and a transmission shifter positioned adjacent to one of the foot pegs.

38. The snow vehicle of claim 37, wherein the transmission shifter includes a foot treadle portion, positioned forward of the belt drive axis.

39. The snow vehicle of claim 18, wherein the belt has a belt length of over 140 inches.

40. The snow vehicle of claim 39, wherein the belt length is 146 inches.

41. The snow vehicle of claim 18, further comprising a front ski wherein the front ski is coupled to the vehicle about a ski rotational axis where a distance X₄ is provided between the ski rotational axis and the belt drive axis 154.

42. The snow vehicle of claim 41, wherein X₄ is in a range of 32 to 38 inches.

43. The snow vehicle of claim 42, wherein X₄ is approximately 34 inches.

44. The snow vehicle of claim 18, further comprising a steering system having a handle bar, where the handle bar has a handle bar grip.

45. The snow vehicle of claim 44, where a distance X₅ from the handle bar grip to the belt drive axis is in the range of 8 to 14 inches.

46. The snow vehicle of claim 45, wherein the distance X₅ is 10 inches.

47. The snow vehicle of claim 44, wherein a distance X₆ from the handle bar grip to the front edge of the foot pegs 58 is in the range of 12 to 16 inches.

48. The snow vehicle of claim 47, wherein X₆ is approximately 10 inches.

50. The snow vehicle of claim 41, wherein X₃ is equal to or less than 4 inches.

23. The snow vehicle of claim 23, wherein X₂ is approximately 5.5 inches.

49. A snow vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle frame;

a powertrain comprising an engine coupled to a transmission, the transmission comprising a driveshaft;

a drive coupler attached to the driveshaft;

a rear suspension comprising a front control arm coupled to the vehicle frame,

where a front end of the front control arm is coupled at a control arm rotational axis;

a drive belt coupled to the rear suspension;

a propulsion driven member supported by the frame and coupled to the belt, the propulsion driven member rotating about a belt drive axis;

wherein the control arm rotational axis is within a distance X₃ of belt drive axis, wherein X₃ is in a range of 2 inches to 10 inches.