CA1128585A - Suspension and steering assembly for snowmobile - Google Patents

Suspension and steering assembly for snowmobile

Info

Publication number
CA1128585A
CA1128585A CA350,983A CA350983A CA1128585A CA 1128585 A CA1128585 A CA 1128585A CA 350983 A CA350983 A CA 350983A CA 1128585 A CA1128585 A CA 1128585A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
strut
snowmobile
ski
steering
suspension
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA350,983A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Izumi Takagi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Kawasaki Motors Ltd
Original Assignee
Kawasaki Jukogyo KK
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kawasaki Jukogyo KK filed Critical Kawasaki Jukogyo KK
Priority to CA350,983A priority Critical patent/CA1128585A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1128585A publication Critical patent/CA1128585A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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  • Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)

Abstract

SUSPENSION AND STEERING ASSEMBLY FOR SNOWMOBILE

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

Suspension and steering assembly for a snowmobile including at least one ski for supporting a front half of its body and also for steering the snowmobile, comprising two telescoping strut means disposed parallel to each other, spring means operative to cause the strut member to telescopically expand, shock absorber means operative to dampen the telescopic movement of the strut means and steering arm means. Each strut means comprises an inner mem-ber and an outer member telescopically sliding one into the other.
The spring means and the shock absorber(s) are mounted in the interior of one or both of the strut means. Two inner strut members and two outer strut members are mutually fixed to each other respectively. The two inner strut members in the fixed relation are pivotally connected to the ski. One of outer strut members is rotatably supported to the body of the snowmobile.
Steering arm means is fixedly secured to one of the outer strut members for rotating the strut means about its own axis when a steering gear is actuated.

Description

---` llZ!35~5 SUSPENSION AND STEERING ~SSEMBLY FOR SNOWMOBILE

This invention relates to a suspension and steering assembly for a snowmobile having at least one ski for supporting a front half of its body and also for steering the snowmobile.
Generally, a snowmobile includes full tractor treads supporting a rear portion of its body and also for driving the ;
snowmobile, and one or two skis for supporting a front portion of its body and also for steering the snowmobile. When a leaf spring ;;
is used as an element of a suspension and steering assembly connect-ing the ski to the body of the snowmobile, it is impossible to obtain vertical displacements of a large value. Thus a coil spring and a shock absorber are mounted coaxially to provide a hollow strut member that can be expanded and compressed considerably in an axial direction with respect to the ski in most of the snowmobiles now in use.
The aforesaid suspension and steering assembly is substan-tially similar in constrUction to that of motorcycles. However, unlike a motorcycle which is in contact with the ground at one point on the periphery of a tire of each wheel, a snowmobile is in contact at the undersurface of each ski with the surface of snow.
The undersurface of the ski is in contact with the surface of snow in a wide area extending from front to rear, so that a high torque is required to turn the ski on the snow. When the suspension and steering assembly includes a single strut member, it is necessary that the torsional rigidity of the strut member and the strength of the connection of the strut member to the ski be increased. This would increase cost or create a source of potential trouble. The 8S~35 i ski which is an elongated, resilient strip extending forwardly and rearwardly from its connection to the suspension tends to flutter, and when the suspension supporting it is not rigid enough, the ~`
flutter phenomenon becomes marked and would not only impair the riding comfort of the riders but also cause damage to the ski and the suspension and steering assembly.
The flutter phenomenon occurs when a resilient or oscillat-ing plate-like member moves in a direction of its plane in a fluid or placed in a flowing fluid. In such a case, vortices of ~he fluid occurs at the trailing edge of the member and causes the trailing ;-edge to vibrate in a direction normal to the plane of the member.
One example of this phenomenon is a flag fluttering in the wind.
When the frecluency of vibration coincides with the natural frequency of the mer~er, the member is excited and its amplitude gradually increases until the member and its connection are damaged in worst ;-cases. ~`
The aforesaid disadvantages of the prior art are obviated by the present invention. Accordingly, the invention has as its object the provision of an improved suspension and steering assembly for a snowmobile which enables a steering tor~ue to be ;~
transmitted smoothly to the ski, to increase the rigidity of the suspension, to thereby minimize fluttering of the ski and improve the dynamic characteristics of the snowmobile. '.
According to the invention, there is provided a suspen-sion and steering assembly for a snowmobile including at least one ski for supporting a front half of its body and also for steering the snowmobile, comprising two strut means disposed parallel to each other and each comprising an inner member and an outer member ~;~
-2--~æss~

telescopisally sliding one into the other, spring means operative to cause the strut means to telescopically expand, shock absorber means operative to dampen the telescopic movement of the strut means, means for supporting the outer member of one strut means for rotation relative to the body of the snowmobile while preventing same from moving axially or laterally of the body, steering arm means fixedly connecting the outer member of one s-trut means to the outer member of the other strut means for causing the two strut means to rotate about the axis of the strut means supporting the body of the snowmobile by the action of a steering mechanism, and ski mountiny means for pivotally connectincJ to the ski the two inner strut members in fixed relation.
Additional and other objects, features and advan-tages of the invention will become apparent from the description set forth hereinafter when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawiny, in which:
The single drawing is a side view, with certain parts being shown in section, of the suspension and steering assembly comprising one embodiment of the invention.
~ preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by referring to the drawing. As shown, two strut means 1 and 2 are mounted parallel to each other between a ski 9 and a body 10 of the snowmobile. The strut means 1 comprises a first strut member (inner member) 1a and a second strut member (outer member) 1b telescopically sliding one into the other. The first strut member 1a is fitted at its lower end to an opening formed on an upper -surface of a ski mounting me~ber 3 and fixed in place. The strut means 2 comprises a third strut member (inner member) 2a and a fourth
-3 ~ .... ~, ....

-: , : . , . ~ ~. : . . :

:~ : :

~2~5~
.:

strut member (outer member) 2b telescopically sliding one into the -~
other, and a housing 2c connected to an upper end of the fourth strut member 2b. The third strut member 2a is fitted at its lower :~
end in an opening formed in the upper surface of the ski mounting member 3 and fixed in place. The strut means 2 can be telescopical :
ly expanded and contracted as the third strut member (inner member) ~
2a axially move in sliding motion in the fourth strut member (outer ~:
member) 2b. :~
A coil spring 4 is mounted in the interior of the strut :
means 2 and maintained in pressing engagement at its lower end ~:
with the bottom of the third strut member 2a and at its upper end with an upper end of the housing 2c. A shock absorber 5 is also mounted in the interlor oE the strut means 2 and includes a shock absorbiny chamber 5a secured to the upper end of the housing 2c, and a shock absorbing piston rod 5b secured at its lower end to the bottom of the third strut member 2a, to perform the function of braking a sudden expanding or contracting movement of the strut means 2.
The second strut member 1b which is the outer me.mber of the .
strut means 1 is supported by a support member 7 fixedly secured to a stay 6 secured to the body 10, for rotation about its own axis but agai.nst axial movement and lateral movement with respect to ~;
the body 10.
The second strut member 1b and the housing 2c are fixedly connected to each other by a steering arm 8 of a spectacle frame form having two openings compatible with the outer diameters of the member 1b and housing 2c. A connecting opening 8a formed in ;
a projection at one side of the steering arm 8 receives therein and .. . ..

.: , , . :
:
':`'' !

5~35 securedly supports one end of a steering rod connected to a steering gear, not shown, and another connecting opening 8b formed in a pro-jection at tbe other side of the steering arm 8 has fitted therein :~
one end of a tie rod connected to the corresponding member of the ~:
other suspension and steering assembly for the snowmobile for steer-ing the latter.
The ski mounting member 3 is formed wi:th a transversely exten~ing opening 3a which receives therein a bolt inserted in openings formed in projections 9a of the ski 9 disposed on opposite sides of the opening 3a, to pivotally connect the ski 9 to the sus-pension and steering assernbly. An end portion of the ski mo~m ting member 3 opposite the transversely extending openi.ng 3a is held at opposite sides thereof by members 9b secured -to the ski 9. ~:
The suspension and steering assembly according to the invention is constructed as described hereinabove. The snowmobile provided with the assembly can travel smoothly because the vibration and oscillation of the body 10 are relieved since the pitching move-ment and the vertical movement of the ski when the surface of the snow is rough are absorbed by the shock absorber 5 and the coil :~
spring ~.
In steering the snowmobile, manipulation of the steering mechanism, not shown, causes the steering arm 8 through the steering rod to rotate about the axis of the strut means 1, so that the strut means 1, strut means 2 and ski mounting member 3 rotate as a unit about the axis of the strut member 1. As aforesaid, the ski mount-ing member 3 is pivotally connected to the ski 9 by the connecting bolt and held at the opposite sides of its forward portion by the members 9b secured to the ski 9. Thus when the ski mounting member -5- :.

, 5~35 : ~

3 is rotated, the forward portion of the member 3 presses one of the members 9b secured to the ski 9 to thereby cause the ski 9 to rotate about the axis of the strut means 1. At this time, trans- ;~
mission of a steering torque does not depend on the torsional rigid-ity alone of the strut as is the case with a suspension and steering assembly of the prior art having a single strut, but moves the strut means 2 through the steering arm 8 to thereby rotate the ski mounting member 3. Thus the provision of the two strut means offers the advantage that the torsional rigidity can be reduced as compared ~-with the prior art. Moreover, the leverage of moment for turning the ski 9 has a length equal to the distance between the pivot 3a and the members 9b holding the forward end of the member 3, so that no concentrated load of a high magnitude is applied to the connecting bolt and the mounting portion.
The strut means 1 and 2 are disposed in parallel relation and unitarily connected to each other at the upper, intermediate and lower portions, so that the rigidity of the suspension and steering assembly is markedly increased as compared with the prior art using a single strut. This arrangement is conductive to reduce considerably fluttering of the ski when the snowmobile travels at high speed or makes a turn.
In the embodiment shown and described hereinabove, the shock absorber and the coil spring are both mounted in the second strut means. However, the invention is not limited to this specific mounting of the shock absorber and the coil spring, and that they may be mounted in the first strut means or separately mounted in the first and second strut means. When only one ski is used for support-ing the front portion of the body of a snowmobile, the tie rod : ' ' . . : :
" ', ' . : ~ , s connecting together the steering arms of the left and right sus-pension and steering assemblies may, of course, be dispensed with.
A member separate from the ski mounting member may be used for maintaining the two strut means in mutually fixed relation.
From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the invention enables the torsional moment applied to the strut means forming the suspension for the front half of the body of the snowmobile and the stresses applied to the means for connecting the strut means to the ski to be reduced, and permits fluttering of the ski to be minimized. Thus the invention can achieve excellent effects in improving the dynamic characteristics of the snowmobile, increasiny the riding comfort of the riders and reducing accidents cluring travel of the snowmobile.

Claims (2)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR
PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A suspension and steering assembly for a snowmobile including at least one ski for supporting a front half of its body and also for steering the snowmobile, comprising:
two strut means disposed parallel to each other and each comprising an inner member and an outer member telescopically sliding one into the other;
spring means operative to cause at least one of the two strut means to telescopically expand;
shock absorber means operative to dampen the telescopic movement of at least one of the two strut means;
means for supporting the outer member of one strut means for rotation relative to the body of the snowmobile while preventing same from moving axially or laterally of the body;
steering arm means rigidly connecting the outer member of one strut means to the outer member of the other strut means for causing the two strut means to rotate about the axis of the strut means supporting the body of the snowmobile by the action of a steering mechanism; and ski mounting means for pivotally connecting to the ski the two inner strut members in rigidly fixed relation.
2. A suspension and steering assembly for a snowmobile as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said ski mounting means is pivotally connected to the ski at one point and held laterally at another point between members secured to the ski.
CA350,983A 1980-04-30 1980-04-30 Suspension and steering assembly for snowmobile Expired CA1128585A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA350,983A CA1128585A (en) 1980-04-30 1980-04-30 Suspension and steering assembly for snowmobile

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA350,983A CA1128585A (en) 1980-04-30 1980-04-30 Suspension and steering assembly for snowmobile

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1128585A true CA1128585A (en) 1982-07-27

Family

ID=4116828

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA350,983A Expired CA1128585A (en) 1980-04-30 1980-04-30 Suspension and steering assembly for snowmobile

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1128585A (en)

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