Snowmobile

Claim 2

An endless track vehicle for travel over snow covered terrain comprising, in combination; a pair of endless track assemblies disposed in spaced-apart parallel relation; a chassis assembly extending longitudinally between said track assemblies in elevated position relative thereto; suspension means carried by said chassis and interconnecting said track assemblies for constraining the latter to move in relatively opposite vertical directions with respect to said chassis; means for driving said endless track assemblies; and means for steering said vehicle, said means for steering comprising a ski disposed ahead of each track assembly, means mounting each ski on its respective track assembly for articulation in a vertical direction and for turning motion in horizontal direction, tie rod means interconnecting said skis, and means for turning said skis.

Claim 3

The endless track vehicle as defined in claim 1 wherein said suspension means comprises a pair of shafts extending transversely though said chassis in longitudinally spaced relation to each other, each shaft being journaled in said chassis and being provided with relatively oppositely directed arms at its opposite ends and with a laterally outwardly directed pivot shaft at the free end of each arm, the arms at one side of said chassis extending forwardly of the vehicle and the arms at the other side of said chassis extending rearwardly of the vehicle, and said pivot shafts being journaled to said track assemblies.

Claim 4

An endless track vehicle for travel over snow-covered terrain comprising, in combination; a pair of endless track assemblies disposed in spaced-apart parallel relation; a chassis assembly extending longitudinally between said track assemblies in elevated position relative thereto; suspension means carried by said chassis and interconnecting said track assemblies for constraining the latter to move in relatively opposite vertical directions with respect to said chassis; means for driving said endless track assemblies; and means for steering said vehicle, said suspension means comprising a pair of shafts extending transversely through said chassis in longitudinally spaced relation to each other, each shaft being journaled in said chassis and being provided with relatively oppositely directed arms at its opposite ends and with a laterally outwardly directed pivot shaft at the free end of each arm, the arms at one side of said chassis extending forwardly of the vehicle and the arms at the other side of said chassis extending rearwardly of the vehicle, and said pivot shafts being journaled to said track assemblies, each endless track assembly including a frame, a tread drive sprocket journaled at the rear of said frame, an idler sprocket journaled at the front of said frame, and an endless tread device trained about said sprockets; an intermediate chain sprocket journaled on each end of the rearward shaft of said suspension means; and

Claim 5

An endless track vehicle for travel over snow-covered terrain comprising, in combination; a pair of endless track assemblies disposed in spaced-apart parallel relation; a chassis assembly extending longitudinally between said track assemblies in elevated position relative thereto; suspension means carried by said chassis and interconnecting said track assemblies for constraining the latter to move in relatively opposite vertical directions with respect to said chassis; means for driving said endless track assemblies; and means for steering said vehicle, said suspension means comprising a pair of shafts extending transversely through said chassis in longitudinally spaced relation to each other, each shaft being journaled in said chassis and being provided with relatively oppositely directed arms at its opposite ends and with a laterally outwardly directed pivot shaft at the free end of each arm, the arms at one side of said chassis extending forwardly of the vehicle and the arms at the other side of said chassis extending rearwardly of the vehicle, and said pivot shafts being journaled to said track assemblies, each endless track assembly including a frame, a tread drive sprocket journaled at the rear of said frame, an idler sprocket journaled at the front of said frame, and an endless tread device trained about said sprockets; an intermediate chain sprocket journaled on each end of the rearward shaft of said suspension means; and

Claim 6

The endless track vehicle as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for steering includes a ski fixed to the forward end of each track assembly in forwardly displaced relation thereto, each ski being dirigible and being mounted for pivoted motion about a transverse horizontal pivot.

Claim 7

An endless track vehicle for travel over snow-covered terrain comprising, in combination; a pair of endless track assemblies disposed in spaced-apart parallel relation; a chassis assembly extending longitudinally between said track assemblies in elevated position relative thereto; suspension means carried by said chassis and interconnecting said track assemblies for constraining the latter to move in relatively opposite vertical directions with respect to said chassis; means for driving said endless track assemblies; and means for steering said vehicle each endless track assembly including a frame, a tread drive sprocket journaled at the rear of said frame, an idler sprocket journaled at the front of said frame, and an endless tread device trained about said sprockets; said means for steering including an extension fixed to each track frame and projecting forwardly thereof beyond the associated endless tread device, a support shaft journaled in the forward portion of each extension and inclining forwardly and downwardly therefrom, a ski pivotally connected about a horizontal transverse axis to the lower end of each support shaft, and a steering arm connected to the upper end of each support shaft.

Claim 8

An endless track vehicle for travel over snow-covered terrain comprising, in combination; a pair of endless track assemblies disposed in spaced-apart parallel relation; a chassis assembly extending longitudinally between said track assemblies in elevated position relative thereto; suspension means carried by said chassis and interconnecting said track assemblies for constraining the latter to move in relatively opposite vertical directions with respect to said chassis; means for driving said endless track assemblies; and means for steering said vehicle each endless track assembly including a frame, a tread drive sprocket journaled at the rear of said frame, an idler sprocket journaled at the front of said frame, and an endless tread device trained about said sprockets; said means for steering including an extension fixed to each track frame and projecting forwardly thereof beyond the associated endless tread device, a support shaft journaled in the forward portion of each extension and inclining forwardly and downwardly therefrom, a ski pivotally connected about a horizontal transverse axis to the lower end of each support shaft, and a steering arm connected to the upper end of each support shaft.

Claim 9

The endless track vehicle as defined in claim 5 including a tie rod pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the forward ends of said steering arms, a drag link pivotally connected at one end to the rearward end of an associated steering arm, and a pitman arm pivotally carried by said chassis and to which the opposite ends of said drag links are connected.

Claim 10

An endless track vehicle for travel over snow-covered terrain comprising, in combination; a pair of endless track assemblies disposed in spaced-apart parallel relation; a chassis assembly extending longitudinally between said track assemblies in elevated position relative thereto; suspension means including a rearward shaft carried by said chassis and interconnecting said track assemblies for constraining the latter to move in relatively opposite vertical directions with respect to said chassis; means for driving said endless track assemblies; and means for steering said vehicle each endless track assembly including a frame, a tread drive sprocket journaled at the rear of said frame, an idler sprocket journaled at the front of said frame, and an endless tread device trained about said sprockets; an intermediate chain sprocket journaled on each end of the rearward shaft of said suspension means; and a driven chain sprocket fixed to the inboard ends of said tread drive sprockets in alignment with respective ones of said intermediate chain sprockets; said means for driving including means for driving said intermediate chain sprockets.

Claim 11

An endless track vehicle for travel over snow-covered terrain comprising, in combination; a pair of endless track assemblies disposed in spaced-apart parallel relation; a chassis assembly extending longitudinally between said track assemblies in elevated position relative thereto; suspension means including a rearward shaft carried by said chassis and interconnecting said track assemblies for constraining the latter to move in relatively opposite vertical directions with respect to said chassis; means for driving said endless track assemblies; and means for steering said vehicle each endless track assembly including a frame, a tread drive sprocket journaled at the rear of said frame, an idler sprocket journaled at the front of said frame, and an endless tread device trained about said sprockets; an intermediate chain sprocket journaled on each end of the rearward shaft of said suspension means; and a driven chain sprocket fixed to the inboard ends of said tread drive sprockets in alignment with respective ones of said intermediate chain sprockets; said means for driving including means for driving said intermediate chain sprockets.

Claim 12

The endless track vehicle as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for steering includes a ski fixed to the forward end of each track assembly in forwardly displaced relation thereto, each ski being dirigible and being mounted for pivoted motion about a transverse horizontal pivot.

Claim 13

An endless track vehicle for travel over snow-covered terrain comprising, in combination; a pair of endless track assemblies disposed in spaced-apart parallel relation; a chassis assembly extending longitudinally between said track assemblies in elevated position relative thereto; suspension means carried by said chassis and interconnecting said track assemblies for constraining the latter to move in relatively opposite vertical directions with respect to said chassis; means for driving said endless track assemblies; and means for steering said vehicle each endless track assembly including a frame, a tread drive sprocket journaled at the rear of said frame, an idler sprocket journaled at the front of said frame, and an endless tread device trained about said sprockets; an intermediate chain sprocket journaled on each end of the rearward shaft of said suspension means; and a driven chain sprocket fixed to the inboard ends of said tread drive sprockets in alignment with respective ones of said intermediate chain sprockets; said means for driving including means for driving said intermediate chain sprockets; said means for steering including an extension fixed to each track frame and projecting forwardly thereof beyond the associated endless tread device, a support shaft journaled in the forward portion of each extension and inclining forwardly and downwardly therefrom, a ski pivotally connected about a horizontal transverse axis to the lower end of each support shaft, and a steering arm connected to the upper end of each support shaft.

Claim 14

An endless track vehicle for travel over snow-covered terrain comprising, in combination; a pair of endless track assemblies disposed in spaced-apart parallel relation; a chassis assembly extending longitudinally between said track assemblies in elevated position relative thereto; suspension means carried by said chassis and interconnecting said track assemblies for constraining the latter to move in relatively opposite vertical directions with respect to said chassis; means for driving said endless track assemblies; and means for steering said vehicle each endless track assembly including a frame, a tread drive sprocket journaled at the rear of said frame, an idler sprocket journaled at the front of said frame, and an endless tread device trained about said sprockets; an intermediate chain sprocket journaled on each end of the rearward shaft of said suspension means; and a driven chain sprocket fixed to the inboard ends of said tread drive sprockets in alignment with respective ones of said intermediate chain sprockets; said means for driving including means for driving said intermediate chain sprockets; said means for steering including an extension fixed to each track frame and projecting forwardly thereof beyond the associated endless tread device, a support shaft journaled in the forward portion of each extension and inclining forwardly and downwardly therefrom, a ski pivotally connected about a horizontal transverse axis to the lower end of each support shaft, and a steering arm connected to the upper end of each support shaft.

Claim 15

The endless track vehicle as defined in claim 9 including a tie rod pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the forward ends of said steering arms, a drag link pivotally connected at one end to the rearward end of an associated steering arm, and a pitman arm pivotally carried by said chassis and to which the opposite ends of said drag links are connected.

Claim 16

An endless track vehicle for travelling over snow-covered terrain, comprising in combination; a chassis comprising an elongate frame provided with an occupant''s seat and a prime mover; a track assembly at each side of said chassis, each track assembly including an elongate frame, a drive sprocket journaled at the rear of the frame, an intermediate idler sprocket journaled just behind the forward end of said frame in alignment with said drive sprocket, a main idler sprocket journaled at the forward end of said frame in elevated position with respect to said drive and intermediate idler sprockets, an endless tread member trained about said drive and main idler sprockets and having its lower flight passing beneath said intermediate idler sprocket whereby the forward portion of said lower flight slopes upwardly from said intermediate idler sprocket and said main idler sprocket, while the remaining rearward portion of said lower flight extends horizontally between said intermediate idler and drive sprockets, an extension for said frame projecting forwardly beyond said endless tread member, and a dirigible ski carried by the forward end of said extension, said ski having a runner surface normally disposed substantially coplanar with said rearward portion of said lower flight; means for steering the skis; and means supporting said chassis from said track assemblies for retaining said chassis in upright position despite relative vertical movement between said track assemblies.

Claim 17

An endless track vehicle for travelling over snow-covered terrain, comprising in combination; a chassis comprising an elongate frame provided with an occupant''s seat and a prime mover; a track assembly at each side of said chassis, each track assembly including an elongate frame, a drive sprocket journaled at the rear of the frame, an intermediate idler sprocket journaled just behind the forward end of said frame in alignment with said drive sprocket, a main idler sprocket journaled at the forward end of said frame in elevated position with respect to said drive and intermediate idler sprockets, an endless tread member trained about said drive and main idler sprockets and having its lower flight passing beneath said intermediate idler sprocket whereby the forward portion of said lower flight slopes upwardly from said intermediate idler sprocket and said main idler sprocket, while the remaining rearward portion of said lower flight extends horizontally between said intermediate idler and drive sprockets, an extension for said frame projecting forwardly beyond said endless tread member, and a dirigible ski carried by the forward end of said extension, said ski having a runner surface normally disposed substantially coplanar with said rearward portion of said lower flight; means for steering the skis; and means supporting said chassis from said track assemblies for retaining said chassis in upright position despite relative vertical movement between said track assemblies.

Claim 18

The vehicle according to claim 11 wherein the last-mentioned means comprises a pair of shafts journaled in and extending transversely of said chassis, a pair of rearwardly extending cranks fixed to the respective ends of said shafts at one side of said chassis, a pair of forwardly extending cranks fixed to the respective ends of said shafts at the other side of said chassis; and means journaling said cranks to respective ones of said frames.

Claim 19

The vehicle according to claim 12 wherein the rearward one of said shafts carries means coupling said prime mover to said drive sprockets.

Claim 20

The vehicle according to claim 12 whereIn the last-mentioned means includes mechanism coupling said prime mover to said drive sprockets.