대표
청구항
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1. A snowmobile, comprising: a frame comprising a tunnel;a swing arm having a forward end and a rearward end, the forward end being operably coupled to the frame and extending into the tunnel, the tunnel extending below the forward end of the swing arm;endless track at least partially positioned in the tunnel;slide rails for mounting the endless track;at least one linkage between the slide rails and frame, the linkage comprising a pivot link directly coupled to the tunnel at a first point with a first coupler received by the pivot link and the tunnel, wh...
1. A snowmobile, comprising: a frame comprising a tunnel;a swing arm having a forward end and a rearward end, the forward end being operably coupled to the frame and extending into the tunnel, the tunnel extending below the forward end of the swing arm;endless track at least partially positioned in the tunnel;slide rails for mounting the endless track;at least one linkage between the slide rails and frame, the linkage comprising a pivot link directly coupled to the tunnel at a first point with a first coupler received by the pivot link and the tunnel, where the pivot link pivots in response to movement between the slide rails and the frame; andat least one linear force element (LFE) positioned between the pivot link and the frame, the at least one LFE being coupled to the pivot link at a second point and coupled to the frame at a third point, the second point being positioned rearward of the first point and rearward of the rearward end of the swing arm, and the third point being forward of the first point, whereby pivotal movement of the pivot link strokes the LFE, and the first, second, and third points are positioned above an upper run of the endless track. 2. The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the at least one LFE is positioned above the frame. 3. The snowmobile of claim 2, wherein the at least one LFE is substantially horizontal throughout the movement of the LFE. 4. The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the at least one linkage is positioned adjacent to a rear of the slide rails and defines a rear suspension system. 5. The snowmobile of claim 4, wherein the pivot link is comprised of a bell crank, which connects to one end of the LFE. 6. The snowmobile of claim 5, wherein the linkage is further comprised of a rear suspension frame operatively linked to the slide rails and the bell crank. 7. The snowmobile of claim 6, wherein the rear suspension frame is comprised of straddle links, which flank the endless track. 8. The snowmobile of claim 7, wherein the straddle links are defined as A-shaped links, having plural attachments to the slide rails and a single upper pivot link. 9. The snowmobile of claim 5, wherein the bell crank is pyramidally shaped, with front corners attached to the frame, rear corners operatively connected to the slide rails, and an apex attached to the LFE. 10. The snowmobile of claim 1, further comprising front swing arms coupled between the slide rails and the tunnel. 11. The snowmobile of claim 10, further comprising a second LFE coupled between the front swing arms and the slide rails. 12. The snowmobile of claim 10, wherein the frame, the front swing arms, the slide rails, and the pivot link define at least one four bar linkage. 13. The snowmobile of claim 10, further comprising a driveshaft rotatably mounted at an upper free end of the front swing arms. 14. A snowmobile, comprising: a frame;endless track;a first slide rail for mounting endless track;a second slide rail for mounting the endless track;a first rear linkage pivotably coupled to the slide rails and frame;a second rear linkage pivotably coupled to the slide rails and the frame;a first front swing arm pivotably coupled to the slide rails and frame, a rear end of the first front swing arm being positioned forward of the first rear linkage and being coupled to the first slide rail;a second front swing arm pivotably coupled to the slide rails and the frame, a rear end of the second front swing arm being positioned forward of the second rear linkage and being coupled to the second slide rail, wherein the frame, the first rear linkage, the first swing arm and the first slide rail are configured to pivot relative to each other and define a first four bar linkage, and the frame, the second rear linkage, the second swing arm, and the second slide rail are configured to pivot relative to each other and define a second four bar linkage;at least one linear force element (LFE) positioned directly above the frame and the endless track, and operatively connected to the frame and to the first and second four bar linkages; anda straddle seat positioned over the at least one LFE. 15. The snowmobile of claim 14, wherein the first and second rear linkages are positioned adjacent to a rear of the slide rails and define a rear suspension system. 16. The snowmobile of claim 15, wherein the first and second rear linkages are comprised of a bell crank, which connects to one end of the LFE. 17. The snowmobile of claim 16, wherein the first and second four bar linkages are further comprised of a rear suspension frame operatively linked to the slide rails and the bell crank. 18. The snowmobile of claim 17, wherein the rear suspension frame is comprised of straddle links, which flank the endless track. 19. The snowmobile of claim 18, wherein the straddle links are defined as A-shaped links, having plural attachments to the slide rails and a single upper pivot link. 20. The snowmobile of claim 19, wherein the bell crank is pyramidally shaped, with front corners attached to the frame, rear corners operatively connected to the slide rails, and an apex attached to the LFE. 21. A snowmobile, comprising: a frame comprising a tunnel;endless track;slide rails for mounting endless track;a swing arm pivotably coupled to the slide rails, the swing arm having a first end and a second end rearward of the first end;at least one linkage between the slide rails and frame; andat least one linear force element (LFE) positioned substantially horizontally and having a first end and a second end rearward of the first end, with one of the first and second ends of the LFE attached to the frame and the other of the first and second ends of the LFE connected to the at least one linkage, the first end of the LFE being positioned above the swing arm and forward of the second end of the swing arm,wherein the linkage has a lower portion coupled to the slide rails and an upper portion pivotally coupled to the lower portion and the LFE, the linkage having three coupling positions, a first coupling position coupling the linkage to the tunnel, the second coupling position coupling the linkage to the slide rails and the third coupling position coupling the linkage to the second end of the LFE. 22. The snowmobile of claim 21, wherein the at least one LFE is positioned above the frame. 23. The snowmobile of claim 21, wherein the at least one LFE is substantially horizontal throughout the movement of the LFE. 24. The snowmobile of claim 21, wherein the linkage is comprised of a pivot link which pivots in response to movement between the slide rails and the frame, and LFE is positioned between the pivot link and the frame, whereby pivotal movement of the pivot link strokes the LFE. 25. The snowmobile of claim 21, wherein the at least one linkage is positioned adjacent to a rear of the slide rails and defines a rear suspension system. 26. The snowmobile of claim 24, wherein the pivot link is comprised of a bell crank, which connects to one end of the LFE. 27. The snowmobile of claim 26, wherein the linkage is comprised of a rear suspension frame operatively linked to the slide rails and the bell crank. 28. The snowmobile of claim 27, wherein the rear suspension frame is comprised of straddle links, which flank the endless track. 29. The snowmobile of claim 28, wherein the straddle links are defined as A-shaped links, having plural attachments to the slide rails and a single upper pivot link. 30. The snowmobile of claim 27, wherein the bell crank is pyramidally shaped, with front corners attached to the frame, rear corners operatively connected to the slide rails, and an apex attached to the LFE. 31. The snowmobile of claim 21, wherein all of the three coupling positions are above a top run of the endless track. 32. A snowmobile, comprising: a frame, comprising a tunnel having a top wall and side walls extending downwardly from the top wall;slide rails coupled to the frame;endless track mounted to the slide rail;a first linear force element (LFE) positioned outside of an inner envelope defined by the endless track and positioned directly over the endless track and above the top wall of the tunnel;a suspension assembly coupling the slide rails to the frame, where a coupling between the suspension assembly and the frame is outside of the inner envelope; anda second LFE positioned between the suspension assembly and the slide rails,whereby one end of the first LFE is attached to the tunnel and an opposite end of the first LFE is attached to the suspension assembly, with the endless track passing through the suspension assembly. 33. The snowmobile of claim 32, wherein the at least one LFE is positioned above the frame. 34. The snowmobile of claim 32, wherein the at least one LFE is substantially horizontal throughout the movement of the LFE. 35. The snowmobile of claim 32, wherein the suspension assembly is comprised of a pivot link which pivots in response to movement between the slide rails and the frame, and LFE is positioned between the pivot link and the frame, whereby pivotal movement of the pivot link strokes the LFE. 36. The snowmobile of claim 35, wherein the pivot link is comprised of a bell crank, which connects to one end of the LFE. 37. The snowmobile of claim 36, wherein the bell crank is pyramidally shaped, with front corners attached to the frame, rear corners operatively connected to the slide rails, and an apex attached to the LFE. 38. The snowmobile of claim 32, wherein the suspension assembly is comprised of straddle links, which flank the endless track. 39. The snowmobile of claim 38, wherein the straddle links are defined as A-shaped links, having plural attachments to the slide rails and a single upper pivot link. 40. A snowmobile, comprising: a frame;endless track;slide rails for mounting endless track, a bottom surface of the slide rails being engaged with the endless track; anda suspension system mounted intermediate the frame and the slide rails, the suspension stiffness increasing at least substantially throughout the entire range of suspension travel, the suspension system having a pivot link with a first arm and a second arm, the first arm being pivotably mounted to the slide rails with at least one coupler, the at least one coupler having a first side, a second side, and a slot positioned intermediate the first side and the second side, the slot being configured to receive the slide rails such that the first side extends along an outer side of the slide rails and the second side extends along an inner side of the slide rails, the first and second sides of the at least one coupler being coupled to the slide rails in a flanked arrangement, and the second arm of the pivot link being coupled to the slide rails and configured for vertical movement relative to the bottom surface of the slide rails. 41. The snowmobile of claim 40, wherein the suspension system is comprised of at least one linear force element (LFE) positioned outside of an envelope defined by the endless track and a suspension assembly coupling the slide rails to the frame; whereby one end of the LFE is attached to the frame and an opposite end of the LFE is attached to the suspension assembly, with the endless track passing through the suspension assembly. 42. The snowmobile of claim 41, wherein the at least one LFE is positioned above the frame. 43. The snowmobile of claim 41, wherein the suspension assembly is comprised of a pivot link which pivots in response to movement between the slide rails and the frame, and the LFE is positioned between the pivot link and the frame, whereby pivotal movement of the pivot link strokes the LFE. 44. The snowmobile of claim 43, wherein the pivot link is comprised of a bell crank, which connects to one end of the LFE. 45. The snowmobile of claim 40, wherein the suspension system is comprised of forward links operatively coupled adjacent to a front of the slide rails having an effective length (A); rearward links operatively coupled adjacent to a rear of the slide rails having an effective length (B); and at least one linear force element (LFE) positioned intermediate the rearward links and the frame. 46. The snowmobile of claim 45, wherein a ratio of the links (A/B) is between 1.6 to 2.0. 47. A snowmobile, comprising: a frame extending in a longitudinal direction and comprising a tunnel having a top wall and side walls extending downwardly from the top wall;an endless track;slide rails for mounting the endless track, each of the slide rails including an inner side and an outer side;a front swing arm having a first member and a second member spaced apart from the first member, the first and second members being mounted intermediate the frame and the slide rails;at least one shaft extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction between the inner sides of the slide rails, the at least one shaft being coupled with the first and second members to couple the front swing arm to the slide rails;at least one linkage operably coupled between the frame and slide rails; anda linear force element (LFE) pivotably coupled to the at least one linkage at a position above a top wall of the tunnel, the at least one linkage being configured to stroke the LFE. 48. The snowmobile of claim 47, wherein the at least one shaft includes a first shaft coupled to the first member of the front swing arm and a second shaft coupled to the second member of the front swing arm.
