Snowmobile suspension system

• US 7,322,435 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2001
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lillbacka Powerco Oy
• Original Assignee: Lillbacka Powerco Oy
• Inventors: Lillbacka, Jorma, Lillbacka, Pekka
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris; Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YEAGLEY, DANIEL S
• Application Number:
  US09/836,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20050274559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,477 Days
• Field of Search: 280/5.5, 280/5.514, 280/6.157, 280/6.159, 280/124.159, 180/193, 180/9.5, 180/9.52, 293/103, 248/676
• US Class Current: 180/193
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 15/12 and fluid damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0523 Regulating distributors or valves for pneumatic springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/314 The spring being a pneumatic spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/412 Pneumatic actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/32 Track vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/61 Load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/202 Height or leveling valve for air-springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/203 Distributor valve units comprising several elements, e.g. valves, pump or accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/204 Pressure regulating valves for air-springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/30 Height or ground clearance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/164 Heaving; Squatting
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/914 Height Control System
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/3225 Systems specially adapted for single-track vehicles, e.g. motorcycles B60T8/3235 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/07 Mono-track vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/112 with fluid springs, e.g. hydraulic pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 2027/026 Snow mobiles characterised by the suspension means
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 27/02 power driven

Abstract

To enable a rider to control in real time the type of ride he desires, a snowmobile is equipped with a suspension system that includes at least one fluid actuated device which can be adjusted in real time to control the relative distance between the body of the snowmobile onto which the rider sits and the frame, or the slide tracks about which the drive belt is mounted. By setting a constant predetermined desirable distance between the body and the slide tracks, or the frame, of the snowmobile, an optimal cushioned ride for the rider is obtained. The control of the fluid actuated device(s) may be effected at any time manually by the rider, or be effected by a feedback system. The snowmobile is also equipped with an ABS system for enhancing the traction of the drive belt on snow and therefore the control of the snowmobile by the rider.

Claims

1. In a snowmobile having a body onto which at least one rider rides, said body being coupled to a frame supported by slide tracks, a system for maintaining a distance between said body and said slide tracks to provide optimal riding comfort for said rider, comprising:

at least one fluid actuated device operatively interposed between said body and said slide tracks;

at least one fluid containing means for storing fluid to be used for actuating said fluid actuated device;

conduit means connecting said fluid containing means to said fluid actuated device;

valve means interposed between said fluid containing means and said fluid actuated device, said valve means actuable to effect a selective open path between said fluid containing means and said fluid actuated device so that said fluid actuated device can operate to move said body and said slide tracks relative to each other for effectuating said distance;

a processor; and

at least one sensor provided in the snowmobile positioned relative to said frame and said slide tracks to monitor the position of said body relative to a base line at said frame, said sensor providing monitored signals to said processor to at least display the monitored signal to a gauge on said snowmobile.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said valve means is responsive to at least the weight of said rider supported by said body for moving said body and said slide tracks relative to each other to vary said distance separating said body and said slide tracks, thereby providing the optimal riding comfort for said rider.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said fluid actuated device comprises a gas or air actuated cylinder;

and

wherein said fluid containing means stores compressed air or gas for usage by said fluid actuated devices.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said fluid actuated device comprises a hydraulic cylinder;

and

wherein said fluid containing means stores hydraulic oil or other incompressible liquids for actuating said cylinder.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor determines the forces acting on said slide tracks including at least the weight of said rider;

and

wherein the monitored signals received by said processor from said sensor is representative of at least the forces acting on said slide tracks in reaction to the weight of said rider, said processor further communicatively connected to said valve means so that, in receipt of the signals from said sensor, said processor sends a command signal to said valve means to selectively provide fluid to said fluid actuated devices to effectuate said distance.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

switch means situated on said body to be within easy reach of said rider that enables said rider to selectively actuate said fluid actuated device to adjust said distance.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an other sensor located on said snowmobile for sensing the weight of said rider, wherein upon sensing the weight. said other sensor providing a weight signal to said processor so that said processor can utilized said sensed weight as a reference for providing fluid to said fluid actuated device to automatically adjust said distance.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said snowmobile has at least one ski, said system further comprising:

at least one fluid actuated device connecting said ski to said body, said fluid actuated device connecting said ski to said body being effective for stabilizing the movement of said ski.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a feedback circuit for sensing the pressure the ski is subjected to and the movements to said ski, and sending the sensed pressure and movements to said processor so that the pressure of said fluid actuated device connecting said ski to said body is controlled in real time by said processor.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least two fluid actuated devices operatively interposed between said body and said slide tracks.

11. In a snowmobile having a body onto which at least one rider rides, said body being coupled to a frame supported by slide tracks, a method of maintaining a distance between said body and said slide tracks to provide optimal riding comfort for said rider, comprising the steps of:

interposing at least one fluid actuated device between said body and said slide tracks;

provisioning at least one fluid store means for storing fluid to be used for actuating said fluid actuated device;

connecting said fluid store means to said fluid actuated device; and

interposing valve means between said fluid store means and said fluid actuated device;

monitoring the position of said body relative to a base line at said frame;

providing monitored signals to a processor;

displaying the monitored signal to at least one gauge on said snowmobile; and

actuating said valve means based on the monitored signals to effect a selective open path between said fluid store means and said fluid actuated device so that said fluid actuated device can operate to move said body and said slide tracks relative to each other for effectuating said distance.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

sensing at least the weight of said rider; and

actuating said valve means in response to at least the weight of said rider for moving said body and said slide tracks relative to each other to vary said distance separating said body and said slide tracks.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said snowmobile has at least one ski, said method further comprising the step of:

connecting said ski to said body by at least one fluid actuated device for stabilizing the movement of said ski;

sensing the pressure the ski is subjected to and the movements to said ski, and

sending the sensed pressure and movements to said processor so that the pressure of said fluid actuated device connecting said ski to said body is controlled in real time by said processor.