Snowmobile

• US 9,809,195 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2013
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Inventors: Giese, Timothy J., Hedlund, Darren J., Kerner, Richard D., Borud, Eric J., Fisher, Cameron D.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOEHLER, ANNE MARIE M
• Application Number:
  US14/087,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20140076648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 180182, 180190, 180193, 180309, 2802811, 403267, 403268
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/00 Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions for electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; road vehicle drive control systems for purposes not related to the control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/00; drive control systems specially adapted for autonomous road vehicles B60W60/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/041 Preventing use of engine operating on the fluid supply
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/23 using manual input of alphanumerical codes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/302 using recording means, e.g. black box
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/34 of conditions of vehicle components, e.g. of windows, door locks or gear selectors
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 2027/026 Snow mobiles characterised by the suspension means
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 27/02 power driven
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4997 At least one part nonmetallic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/473 Socket or open cup for bonding material

Abstract

A vehicle is shown such as a snowmobile, where a frame includes a tunnel and a front frame portion comprised of cast halves. A suspension system is comprised of upper and lower control arms connected to the front frame portion. Some of the frame components are adhesively fixed together. A powertrain is supported by the frame, and is comprised of an engine and a clutch. The clutch includes a clutch guard supporting an oil container. The engine has an exhaust system which extends through the front frame portion. The snowmobile also has a rear snow deflector.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a frame including a tunnel and a front cast portion;

a left side ski and a right side ski supporting a front portion of the frame;

a left side front suspension and a right side front suspension, the left side front suspension being supported by the left ski and moveable relative to the left ski, the left side front suspension supporting the front cast portion of the frame and being moveable relative to the front cast portion of the frame, the right side front suspension being supported by the right ski and moveable relative to the right ski, the right side front suspension supporting the front cast portion of the frame and being moveable relative to the front cast portion of the frame;

an endless track at least partially positioned within the tunnel, the endless track supporting the frame;

an engine supported by the frame and operatively coupled to the endless track;

an exhaust system coupled to the engine including an exhaust intake coupled to the engine, an exhaust conduit coupled to the exhaust intake and extending forward within the front cast portion of the frame, and a resonator coupled to the exhaust conduit, wherein the exhaust conduit has a first portion connected to the exhaust intake, a second portion connected to the resonator, and a third portion positioned between the first portion and the second portion, the first portion of the exhaust conduit being positioned at a first side of a central longitudinal axis of the vehicle and spaced apart from the central longitudinal axis of the vehicle and the second portion of the exhaust conduit being positioned at a second side of the central longitudinal axis; and

a steering assembly operatively coupled to the right side ski and the left side ski, the steering assembly including an upper steering post, a lower steering post and a steering link, the steering link coupling the upper steering post and the lower steering post, wherein a portion of the steering link is positioned above the exhaust intake and extends from the first side of the central longitudinal axis to the second side of the central longitudinal axis.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the resonator is supported by the frame and located relative to the frame by at least one locator.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the third portion has an enlarged cross-sectional area relative to both the first portion and the second portion.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the exhaust conduit extends forward of a front portion of the front cast portion of the frame.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the frame includes at least one mounting lug and at least one tubular component coupled together through a structural adhesive the mounting lug including an extension portion having a diameter larger than the tubular component that overlaps the tubular component, the extension portion defining a cavity intermediate the mounting lug and tubular component, the cavity being defined by an annular recess on one of the mounting lug or the tubular component and a lip at an end of the mounting lug extension portion closing off the cavity and the vehicle further comprising at least one mechanical coupler positioned at a location spaced from the annular recess, the at least one mechanical coupler locating the tubular component relative to the mounting lug.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the frame includes at least one frame member extending between a right side of the frame and a left side of the frame, the exhaust conduit being positioned below the frame member.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a portion of the lower steering post is positioned adjacent to the exhaust intake on the first side of the central longitudinal axis.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the lower steering post is positioned laterally between the exhaust intake and left side ski.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the upper steering post has a length less than a length of the lower steering post.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, further including a bumper assembly having a first longitudinal member on a first side of the central longitudinal axis and a second longitudinal member on a second side of the central longitudinal axis, the first portion of the exhaust conduit partially overlapping in a vertical direction with the first longitudinal member and the second portion of the exhaust conduit partially overlapping in the vertical direction with the second longitudinal member.

11. A vehicle comprising:

a frame including a tunnel, at least one mounting lug, at least one tubular component and a front cast portion, wherein the at least one mounting lug and the at least one tubular component are coupled together through a structural adhesive, the mounting lug including an extension portion having a diameter larger than the tubular component that overlaps the tubular component, the extension portion defining a cavity intermediate the mounting lug and the tubular component, the cavity being defined by an annular recess on one of the mounting lug or the tubular component and a lip at an end of the mounting lug extension portion closing off the cavity;

at least one mechanical coupler positioned at a location spaced from the annular recess, the at least one mechanical coupled locating the tubular component relative to the mounting lug;

a left side ski and a right side ski supporting a front portion of the frame;

a left side front suspension and a right side front suspension, the left side front suspension being supported by the left ski and moveable relative to the left ski, the left side front suspension supporting the front cast portion of the frame and being moveable relative to the front cast portion of the frame, the right side front suspension being supported by the right ski and moveable relative to the right ski, the right side front suspension supporting the front cast portion of the frame and being moveable relative to the front cast portion of the frame;

an endless track at least partially positioned within the tunnel, the endless track supporting the frame;

an engine supported by the frame and operatively coupled to the endless track; and

an exhaust system coupled to the engine including an exhaust intake coupled to the engine and an exhaust conduit coupled to the exhaust intake and extending forward within the front cast portion of the frame, wherein the exhaust conduit extends forward of the left side front suspension and the right side front suspension.

12. A vehicle comprising:

a frame including a tunnel and a front cast portion;

a left side ski and a right side ski supporting a front portion of the frame;

a left side front suspension and a right side front suspension, the left side front suspension being supported by the left ski and moveable relative to the left ski, the left side front suspension supporting the front cast portion of the frame and being moveable relative to the front cast portion of the frame, the right side front suspension being supported by the right ski and moveable relative to the right ski, the right side front suspension supporting the front cast portion of the frame and being moveable relative to the front cast portion of the frame;

an endless track at least partially positioned within the tunnel, the endless track supporting the frame;

an engine supported by the frame and operatively coupled to the endless track;

an exhaust system coupled to the engine including an exhaust intake coupled to the engine and an exhaust conduit coupled to the exhaust intake and extending forward within the front cast portion of the frame, wherein the exhaust conduit has a first portion connected to the exhaust intake, a second portion spaced apart from the first portion, and a third portion positioned between the first portion and the second portion, the first portion of the exhaust conduit being positioned at a first side of a central longitudinal axis of the vehicle and spaced apart from the central longitudinal axis of the vehicle and the second portion of the exhaust conduit being positioned at a second side of the central longitudinal axis; and

a steering assembly operatively coupled to the right side ski and the left side ski, the steering assembly including an upper steering post, a lower steering post and a steering link, the steering link coupling the upper steering post and the lower steering post, wherein a portion of the steering link extends from the first side of the central longitudinal axis to the second side of the central longitudinal axis.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, further including a resonator coupled to the exhaust conduit, wherein the second portion of the exhaust conduit is coupled to the resonator.

14. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the lower steering post is positioned laterally between the exhaust intake and left side ski.

15. A vehicle comprising:

a frame including a tunnel and a front cast portion;

a bumper assembly coupled to the frame;

a left side ski and a right side ski supporting a front portion of the frame;

a left side front suspension and a right side front suspension, the left side front suspension being supported by the left ski and moveable relative to the left ski, the left side front suspension supporting the front cast portion of the frame and being moveable relative to the front cast portion of the frame, the right side front suspension being supported by the right ski and moveable relative to the right ski, the right side front suspension supporting the front cast portion of the frame and being moveable relative to the front cast portion of the frame;

an endless track at least partially positioned within the tunnel, the endless track supporting the frame;

an engine supported by the frame and operatively coupled to the endless track; and

an exhaust system coupled to the engine including an exhaust intake coupled to the engine, an exhaust conduit coupled to the exhaust intake and extending forward within the front cast portion of the frame, and a resonator coupled to the exhaust conduit, wherein the exhaust conduit has a first portion connected to the exhaust intake, a second portion connected to the resonator, and a third portion positioned between the first portion and the second portion, the first portion of the exhaust conduit being positioned at a first side of a central longitudinal axis of the vehicle and spaced apart from the central longitudinal axis of the vehicle and the second portion of the exhaust conduit being positioned at a second side of the central longitudinal axis;

and wherein a first portion of the exhaust conduit partially overlapping in a vertical direction with a first longitudinal member of the bumper assembly positioned on a first side of the central longitudinal axis and a second portion of the exhaust conduit partially overlapping in a vertical direction with a second longitudinal member of the bumper assembly positioned on a second side of the central longitudinal axis.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the first longitudinal member of the bumper assembly and the second longitudinal member of the bumper assembly extend forward of the front cast portion of the frame.

17. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the first longitudinal member of the bumper assembly and the second longitudinal member of the bumper assembly are above the exhaust conduit.