초록 ▼

A snowmobile rear suspension is shown comprised of a linear force element (LFE) positioned outside the envelope of the snowmobile endless track. The snowmobile frame includes a chassis mounted to a tunnel, where the chassis includes a central mounting bracket. The LFE is attached at one end to the b

A snowmobile rear suspension is shown comprised of a linear force element (LFE) positioned outside the envelope of the snowmobile endless track. The snowmobile frame includes a chassis mounted to a tunnel, where the chassis includes a central mounting bracket. The LFE is attached at one end to the bracket and at the other end to a bell crank. The bell crank is operatively connected to the slide rails. When the slide rails collapse in normal operation, the bell crank strokes the LFE, and the suspension is progressive throughout the range. The suspension includes front pivot links which are connected to the tunnel coaxially with a drive shaft.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A snowmobile, comprising a frame, slide rails coupled to the frame by front and rear linkages, the front linkage being pivotal about the frame along a pivot axis, endless track wrapped around the slide rails, an engine mounted to the frame and operatively coupled to the endle

What is claimed is: 1. A snowmobile, comprising a frame, slide rails coupled to the frame by front and rear linkages, the front linkage being pivotal about the frame along a pivot axis, endless track wrapped around the slide rails, an engine mounted to the frame and operatively coupled to the endless track, and a drive shaft comprising drive sprockets coupled to the endless track and being driven about an axis coincident with the pivot axis, at least a portion of the drive shaft and the drive sprockets being removable from the frame in a direction transverse to the pivot axis, two front linkages, each front linkage connects one slide rail to the frame, and the front linkages are positioned inside of the frame, each linkage includes a bearing adjacent its end, and the drive shaft extends through the bearings and has sprockets attached thereto, the driveshaft is held on one side of the frame by a bracket mounted on the outside thereof, and on the opposite side by a chain drive mounted on the outside of the frame, each linkage includes a bearing adjacent its end, and the drive shaft is comprised of a hollow shaft and an internal shaft and the hollow shaft connects the linkages to the frame, and the internal shaft extends through the hollow shaft; the hollow shaft having drive sprockets attached thereto, and said hollow shaft being torsionally coupled to the internal shaft. 2. The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the drive shaft is mounted to the frame, and the front linkage pivots about the drive shaft. 3. The snowmobile of claim 2, wherein the frame is comprised of a tunnel. 4. The snowmobile of claim 3, wherein the drive shaft is mounted transversely through the tunnel, and wherein the front linkage is attached to the tunnel, at a position coaxial with the drive shaft. 5. The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the hollow shaft and internal shaft are connected together by way of a fastener. 6. The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the hollow shaft and internal shaft are connected together by way of splines. 7. A snowmobile, comprising: a frame; slide rails; at least one front linkage operatively connecting the slide rails to the frame; endless track wrapped around the slide rails; a drive mounted to the frame; a drive shaft mounted through the frame, and being coupled at one end to the drive, and journalled to the frame at the opposite end, the drive shaft being removable from the drive and from the frame without removal of the drive; and an engine mounted to the frame and operatively coupled to the drive, the tunnel on the opposite side is slotted downwardly, and a bracket is mounted on the outside of the tunnel, overlying said tunnel slot, said bracket retaining a bearing upon which the driveshaft is journalled; whereby when the bracket is removed the driveshaft can be removed downwardly through the tunnel, without removing the chain drive, each linkage includes a bearing adjacent its end, and the drive shaft comprises a hollow shaft and an internal shaft and the hollow shaft connects the linkages to the frame, and the internal shaft extends through the hollow shaft; the hollow shaft having drive sprockets attached thereto, and said hollow shaft being torsionally coupled to the internal shaft. 8. The snowmobile of claim 7, wherein the front linkage pivots about the same axis as the drive shaft. 9. The snowmobile of claim 7, wherein each linkage includes a bearing adjacent its end, and the driveshaft extends through the bearings, and has sprockets attached thereto. 10. The snowmobile of claim 7, wherein the hollow shaft and internal shaft are connected together by way of a fastener. 11. The snowmobile of claim 7, wherein the hollow shaft and internal shaft are connected together by way of splines. 12. A snowmobile, comprising a frame, slide rails coupled to the frame by at least two front linkages and rear linkages, the front linkages being pivotal about the frame along a pivot axis, an endless track wrapped around the slide rails, an engine mounted to the frame and operatively coupled to the endless track, the endless track being driven about an axis coincident with the pivot axis, each front linkage connects one slide rail to the frame, and the front linkages are positioned inside of the frame, wherein each linkage includes a bearing adjacent its end, and the drive shaft extends through the bearings and has sprockets attached thereto, wherein the driveshaft is held on one side of the frame by a bracket mounted on the outside thereof, and on the opposite side by a chain drive mounted on the outside of the frame, wherein each linkage includes a bearing adjacent its end, and the driveshaft comprised of a hollow shaft and an internal shaft extending through the hollow shaft; the hollow shaft having drive sprockets attached thereto and connecting the linkages to the frame, and said hollow shaft being torsionally coupled to the internal shaft. 13. The snowmobile of claim 12, wherein the drive shaft is mounted to the frame, and the front linkage pivots about the drive shaft. 14. The snowmobile of claim 13, wherein the frame is comprised of a tunnel. 15. The snowmobile of claim 14, wherein the drive shaft is mounted transversely through the tunnel, and wherein the front linkage is attached to the tunnel, at a position coaxial with the drive shaft. 16. The snowmobile of claim 12, wherein the hollow shaft and internal shaft are connected together by way of a fastener. 17. The snowmobile of claim 12, wherein the hollow shaft and internal shaft are connected together by way of splines.