Drive belt suspension for snowmobile

• US 6,161,908 A
• Filed: 03/01/1999
• Issued: 12/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Takayama, Tadashi, Haruna, Kaoru, Kubota, Takahiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LONG B
• Application Number:
  US09/292,106
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 305/124, 305/127, 305/128, 305/129, 305/139, 180/190, 180/193, 180/9.52, 180/9.56
• US Class Current: 305/124
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/07 Mono-track vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/108 with mechanical springs, e.g. torsion bars
• 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 27/02 power driven

Abstract

An adjustment structure for the cushion unit of a snowmobile suspension system. The adjustment arrangement includes a mounting for the cushioning unit that is defined by a bolt and a pair of mount brackets having guide apertures formed therein. The bolt and guide aperture surfaces are treated so as to avoid shifting of the mechanism under the weight of the snowmobile when the mounting bolt is loosened for adjustment purposes.

Claims

1. A snowmobile drive belt suspension system for cushioning the movement of a drive belt guide rail relative to a body frame of said snowmobile, said suspension system comprising a cushion unit for cushioning relative movement of said drive belt guide rail and said body frame and a linkage system for controlling such movement and for loading said cushion unit, an adjustment structure for adjusting the relationship of said cushion unit and said linkage system comprising an axle member for supporting an end part of said cushion unit relative to a mount bracket defining at least one adjustment guide aperture for receiving said axle member so that a position of said cushion unit is adjustable, and a surface treatment on a contact surface between said adjustment guide aperture and axle member for resisting the shifting of said axle member within to said adjustment guide aperture under the compression reaction force of said cushion unit.

2. A snowmobile drive belt suspension system of claim 1, further characterized that said drive belt guide rail is suspended by means of front and rear suspension units relative to the body frame and located on an upper side of said drive belt guide rail, and said cushion unit being associated with said rear suspension unit and located in a vicinity of an upper inner side of a drive belt engaged with said drive belt guide rail.

3. A snowmobile drive belt suspension system of claim 2, wherein, in a side view, said cushion unit is located in a vicinity of the upper inner side of said track belt so that at least an upper side of said cushion unit is covered by said body frame, and said adjustment guide aperture and said axle member for adjusting the position of said cushion unit are located in the lower side of said body frame and arranged to face the side of said body frame.

4. A snowmobile drive belt suspension system of claim 1 wherein the surface treatment on the contact surface between the adjustment guide aperture and the axle member comprises a roughening of the surface of one of the mount brackets defining the guide aperture and the axis member.

5. A snowmobile drive suspension system of claim 4 wherein both of the axis member and mount bracket are roughened.

6. A snowmobile drive belt suspension of claim 1 wherein the mount bracket comprises a pair of spaced apart mount brackets each defining respective adjustment guide apertures and the axis member comprises a bolt extending through said guide apertures in said mount brackets and fixed axially relative to said mount brackets by a nut fastened to one side thereof.