Suspension for tracked vehicles
First Claim
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1. A snowmobile suspension mountable to the chassis of a snowmobile and about which an endless track is carried, the suspension comprising:
- a slide rail for engagement with a lower portion of the endless track;
a downwardly angled rear suspension arm having an upper end pivotally connected to the snowmobile chassis and a lower end pivotally connected to the slide rail;
a shock absorber coupled at one end to the snowmobile chassis and at another end to the slide rail;
a coil spring secured around at least a portion of said shock absorber; and
an overload spring which forces the slide rail away from the chassis, wherein an overload spring force is transferred to the rear suspension arm at a location between the upper end and the lower end.
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Abstract
A suspension for a tracked vehicle providing a wide range of performance characteristics via a user-adjustable spring system within a rear suspension portion. An optimum spring force can depend on the both operator characteristics and local operating conditions. A user is afforded the ability to adjust a rear suspension system to provide desired ride characteristics. A suspension system particularly for long-tracked snowmobiles is disclosed.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A snowmobile suspension mountable to the chassis of a snowmobile and about which an endless track is carried, the suspension comprising:
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a slide rail for engagement with a lower portion of the endless track; a downwardly angled rear suspension arm having an upper end pivotally connected to the snowmobile chassis and a lower end pivotally connected to the slide rail; a shock absorber coupled at one end to the snowmobile chassis and at another end to the slide rail; a coil spring secured around at least a portion of said shock absorber; and an overload spring which forces the slide rail away from the chassis, wherein an overload spring force is transferred to the rear suspension arm at a location between the upper end and the lower end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of adjusting the performance characteristics of a snowmobile suspension system comprising:
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providing a snowmobile having a chassis and a suspension system mounted to the chassis and about which an endless track is carried, the suspension system comprising a downwardly angled rear suspension arm having an upper end pivotally connected to the snowmobile chassis and a lower end pivotally connected to the slide rail, a coil spring and shock absorber connected between the snowmobile chassis and the slide rail, and an overload spring providing a overload spring force tending to bias the slide rail away from the chassis, wherein the overload spring force is transferred to the rear suspension arm at a location between the upper end and the lower end; and adjusting the location of the overload spring force transfer from a first location along the rear suspension arm to a second location along the rear suspension arm, wherein a set of performance characteristics changes as the location of the overload spring force moves between the first location and the second location. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of adjusting the performance characteristics of a snow snowmobile suspension system comprising:
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providing a snowmobile having a chassis and a suspension system mounted to the chassis and about which an endless track is carried, the suspension system comprising a downwardly angled rear suspension arm having an upper end pivotally connected to the snowmobile chassis and a lower end pivotally connected to a slide rail, a coil and shock absorber connected between the snowmobile chassis and the slide rail, and an overload torsion spring providing a spring force tending to bias the slide rail away from the chassis, said torsion spring having an extending arm which transfers the spring force to the suspension arm at a location between said upper end and lower end of said suspension arm; adjusting a contact between the torsion spring arm and the rear suspension arm to occur within a first range of torsion spring arm length; and adjusting the contact between the torsion spring arm and the rear suspension arm to occur within a second range of torsion spring arm length, wherein a set of performance characteristics changes as the torsion spring arm contact range changes.
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19. A snowmobile suspension mountable to the chassis of a snowmobile and about which an endless track is carried, the suspension comprising:
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a slide rail for engagement with a lower portion of the endless tract; an upper axle connected to the chassis; a downwardly angled rear suspension arm connected between the upper axle and the slide rail; and an axle adjuster for maintaining the upper axle in one of a plurality of positions relative to the chassis so as to provide the rear suspension arm in one of a plurality of positions relative to the chassis. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method of adjusting the performance characteristics of a snowmobile suspension system comprising:
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providing a snowmobile suspension mountable to the chassis of a snowmobile and about which an endless track is carried, the suspension having a slide rail for engagement with a lower portion of the endless tract, an axle connected to the chassis, a downwardly angled rear suspension arm connected between the axle and the slide rail, and an axle adjuster; accessing the axle adjuster to provide the axle in a first position relative to the chassis, said first axle position providing the rear suspension arm in a particular angular position relative to the slide rail; and accessing the axle adjustor to provide the axle in a second position relative to the chassis, said second axle position providing the rear suspension arm in a different angular position relative to the slide rail. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A snowmobile suspension mountable to the chassis of a snowmobile and about which an endless track is carried provided according to a method comprising:
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providing a track having a length of greater than 144 inches; providing a slide rail for engagement with a lower portion of the endless track, wherein a rear idler wheel is connected at one end of the slide rail; providing a downwardly angled rear suspension arm having an upper end pivotally connected to the snowmobile chassis and a lower end pivotally connected to the slide rail; providing a shock absorber connected via a shock mount to the snowmobile chassis and to the slide rail, with a shock mount having an aperture through which an axle is received, with said axle supporting wheels engaging the track during use; and locating a pivot connection of the rear suspension arm within approximately 8 inches from the rear idler wheel of the slide rail. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A snowmobile suspension mountable to the chassis of a snowmobile and about which an endless track is carried, the suspension comprising:
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a slide rail for engagement with a lower portion of the endless track having a length of greater than 144 inches; a set of rear idler wheels carried at an end of the slide rail; a downwardly angled rear suspension arm having an upper end pivotally connected to the snowmobile chassis and a lower end pivotally connected to the slide rail; an overload spring providing a spring force tending to rotate the rear suspension arm away from the slide rail, said spring force being applied between an upper connection of the rear suspension arm and a lower connection of the rear suspension arm; and a shock absorber connected between the snowmobile chassis and the slide rail, wherein the distance between the center axis of the rear idler wheels and the pivot connection of the rear suspension arm is less than 8 inches. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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Specification