SUSPENSION FOR TRACKED VEHICLES

• US 3,756,667 A
• Filed: 11/23/1971
• Issued: 09/04/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bombardier Limitee
• Original Assignee: Jerome Bombardier, Jules Perreault
• Inventors: Bombardier, Jerome, Perreault, Jules
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US05/201,321
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 180/5R 305/24,25,27
• US Class Current: 305/127
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 2027/026 Snow mobiles characterised by the suspension means
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 27/02 power driven

Abstract

This invention relates to a suspension system for snowmobiles or like vehicles utilizing a resilient biased support for an endless track. The suspension system includes at least two laterally spaced longitudinally co-extensive slide units, each said unit having front and rear pivotally interconnected skates. Superposed each unit is a leaf spring connected at its ends to a front and rear skate. Trasnverse mounting means is provided for attaching the system to the vehicle chassis.

Claims

1. A suspension system for the resilient biased sliding support of an endless track on a vehicle chassis, comprising two laterally spaced longitudinally co-extensive slide units, each said unit having front and rear pivotally interconnected skates, two laterally spaced and longitudinally co-extensive leaf springs positioned above respective ones of said slide units, each of said leaf springs being connected at its respective ends to a front and rear skate, and mounting means for securing said leaf springs intermediate their ends to the vehicle chassis, such that said leaf springs form the sole means for connecting said slide units to the vehicle chassis.

2. The suspension as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front skates include track guiding means and wherein said leaf springs are fixedly connected to said rear skates and slidably connected to said front skates.

3. The suspension as claimed in claim 2, wherein said leaf springs are connected to said front skates slightly forward of their mid-point and to said rear skates slightly rearward of their mid-point.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises a transverse mounting member which is fixedly attached to said leaf springs and adapted to be fixedly mounted to the vehicle chassis.

5. A suspension system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprises a transverse mounting member which is fixedly attached to said springs and adapted to be pivotably mounted to the vehicle chassis.

6. A suspension system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said track guiding means comprises upwardly curved front leading portions on said front skates.

7. A suspension system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said track guiding means comprises a pair of forwardly positioned track guiding idle wheels, each of said wheels being attached to, but positioned slightly to the fore and to one side of a front skate.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said leaf springs each include an auxiliary spring member positioned below said leaf spring and extending longitudinally therewith.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front skates and rear skates are each held in spaced relation by means of transverse bracers.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, including means for limiting the degree of downward articulation of said skates relative to said chassis.