US3977485A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Snow vehicle suspension system
Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Inc
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Filing: 1974-10-25
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Granted: 1976-08-31
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Expires: 1994-10-25
Abstract
Abstract A snow vehicle suspension system including a pair of suspension struts associated one with each of the two steerable skis of the vehicle; each of the struts including a first generally tubular shaped housing fixably secured to the underside of the vehicle above the associated of the skis, a second generally tubular housing telescopically disposed within the first housing and connected at the lower end thereof to the associated ski, shock absorbing means within the second housing and including a reciprocable piston mounted on one end of a piston rod extending axially outwardly from the upper end of the first housing, the upper end of the piston rod being secured to a portion of the vehicle above the strut and having a helical coil spring extending coaxially thereof between the upper end of the strut and the aforesaid vehicle portion, a steering arm having a first portion operatively connected to the vehicle steering mechanism and a second portion rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the strut, with a second portion of the steering arm being slidably and non-rotatably connected to the second housing whereby the second housing is movable longitudinally thereof relative to the arm and is rotatable in response to actuation of the steering mechanism concomitantly with the arm.
Inventors
- 👤 Burke A. West
- 👤 Michael R. Bethell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:29
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62B; B62B17/00; B62B17/02; B62B17/04; B62M; B62M27/00; B62M27/02; B62M2027/026
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A suspension strut for a snow vehicle having at least one steerable ski, said strut comprising first and second telescopically slidable housings, one of said housings being fixedly secured to an associated portion of the vehicle, means on one of said housings for securing said strut directly to the steerable ski, shock absorbing means within one of said housings and including a damping piston cooperable with a quantity of damping fluid, and a piston rod extending axially from one end of said strut, said shock absorbing means being operable to dampen relative telescopic movement between said first and second housings, a helical coil spring means arranged coaxially of said strut, said spring means comprising the main suspension spring for said ski and yieldably resisting movement of said ski toward the vehicle, and a steering element for rotating said ski relative to the vehicle upon actuation of an associated vehicle steering mechanism, said steering element being longitudinally slidably connected to one of said housing members and being simultaneously rotatable therewith about an axis extending generally coaxially of said strut when a steering force is applied to said element by said associated vehicle steering mechanism.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
A suspension strut for a snow vehicle having at least one steerable ski, said strut comprising first and second telescopically slidable housings, one of said housings being fixedly secured to an associated portion of the vehicle, means on one of said housings for securing said strut directly to the steerable ski, shock absorbing means within one of said housings and including a damping piston cooperable with a quantity of damping fluid, and a piston rod extending axially from one end of said strut, said shock absorbing means being operable to dampen relative telescopic movement between said first and second housings, a helical coil spring means arranged coaxially of said strut, said spring means comprising the main suspension spring for said ski and yieldably resisting movement of said ski toward the vehicle, and a steering element for rotating said ski relative to the vehicle upon actuation of an associated vehicle steering mechanism, said steering element being longitudinally slidably connected to one of said housing members and being simultaneously rotatable therewith about an axis extending generally coaxially of said strut when a steering force is applied to said element by said associated vehicle steering mechanism.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first housing is of a generally cylindrical configuration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second housing is of a generally cylindrical shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spring is non-rotatable relative to the vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 which includes bearing means interposed between said first and second housings to provide for longitudinal sliding movement of said second housing relative to said first housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shock absorbing means comprises a direct acting hydraulic shock absorber disposed within said second housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said steering means is rotatably mounted adjacent the upper end of said first housing and is rotatable relative thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention as set forth in claim 7 wherein said steering means comprises a steering arm having an opening at one portion thereof through which the upper end of said second housing means extends.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention as set forth in claim 8 wherein said opening in said steering arm and said upper end of said second housing are complementary in cross sectional shape.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention as set forth in claim 9 wherein said opening and said upper end of said second housing are of a generally circular shape in transverse cross section and have circumferentially aligned non-circular portions adapted to prevent relative rotation between said second housing and said arm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention as set forth in claim 4 which includes spring retaining means adjacent at least one end of said spring.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shock absorbing means comprises a direct acting hydraulic shock absorber cartridge removably mounted with said second housing, and which includes retaining means for releasably retaining said cartridge within said second housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention as set forth in claim 12 wherein said retaining means comprises a ring nut threadably received within an internally threaded portion at the upper end of said second housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 which includes auxillary stabilizing arm means extending between the vehicle and a portion of said strut extending downwardly from the underside of said vehicle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention as set forth in claim 5 wherein said bearing means comprises first and second axially spaced anti-friction bearings disposed between the inner periphery of said first housing and the outer periphery of said second housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
215 words
In combination with a snow vehicle having a pair of steerable snow engaging skis and an operator controlled steering mechanism for steering the skis, a pair of helical coil springs arranged coaxially of said struts and comprising the main suspension springs for said skis, each of said struts including a first generally tubular shaped housing fixedly secured to the underside of the vehicle above the associated of the skis, a second generally tubular housing telescopically movable relative to said first housing and connected at the lower end thereof directly to said associated ski, shock absorbing means within said strut and including a reciprocable piston mounted on one end of a piston rod extending axially outwardly from said strut, said piston rod being secured to a portion of the vehicle above said strut and having at least a portion of a helical coil spring extending coaxially thereof between the upper end of said strut and said vehicle portion, a steering arm having a first portion operatively connected to the vehicle steering mechanism and a second portion rotatable about the longitudinal axis of said strut, said second portion of said steering arm being longitudinally slidable relative to said strut and adapted to impart rotational movement to at least a portion thereof upon actuation of the steering mechanism.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
215 words
In combination with a snow vehicle having a pair of steerable snow engaging skis and an operator controlled steering mechanism for steering the skis, a pair of helical coil springs arranged coaxially of said struts and comprising the main suspension springs for said skis, each of said struts including a first generally tubular shaped housing fixedly secured to the underside of the vehicle above the associated of the skis, a second generally tubular housing telescopically movable relative to said first housing and connected at the lower end thereof directly to said associated ski, shock absorbing means within said strut and including a reciprocable piston mounted on one end of a piston rod extending axially outwardly from said strut, said piston rod being secured to a portion of the vehicle above said strut and having at least a portion of a helical coil spring extending coaxially thereof between the upper end of said strut and said vehicle portion, a steering arm having a first portion operatively connected to the vehicle steering mechanism and a second portion rotatable about the longitudinal axis of said strut, said second portion of said steering arm being longitudinally slidable relative to said strut and adapted to impart rotational movement to at least a portion thereof upon actuation of the steering mechanism.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention as set forth in claim 16 wherein said first housing is of a circular cylindrical configuration and defines a cylindrical bore within which said second housing is telescopically received.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention as set forth in claim 17 wherein said second housing is of a generally circular cylindrical configuration.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention as set forth in claim 16 wherein said spring is non-rotatably supported.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention as set forth in claim 16 which includes anti-friction bearing means between said first and second housings.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention as set forth in claim 16 wherein said shock absorbing means comprises a direct acting hydraulic shock absorber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention as set forth in claim 16 wherein said steering arm is rotatably mounted adjacent the upper end of said first housing.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention as set forth in claim 22 wherein said steering arm comprises a portion defining an opening within which the upper end of said second housing is disposed.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention as set forth in claim 23 wherein said opening and said upper end of said second housing are of a complementary shape.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
57 words
The invention as set forth in claim 24 wherein said opening and said upper end of said second housing are of a generally circular configuration in cross section and have non-circular circumferentially aligned portions whereby said arm is non-rotatable relative to said second housing when said upper end of said second housing is received within said opening.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention as set forth in claim 19 which includes spring retaining means engaging at least one end of said spring for operatively supporting the same adjacent said strut.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention as set forth in claim 16 wherein said shock absorber comprises a direct acting hydraulic shock absorber cartridge removably received within said second housing.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention as set forth in claim 27 which includes retaining means for releasably retaining said cartridge within said second housing.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention as set forth in claim 16 which includes a pair of auxillary stabilizing arms extending between said vehicle and the portions of said struts projecting downwardly from the underside thereof.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention as set forth in claim 20 wherein said bearing means comprises first and second axially spaced anti-friction bearings disposed between the outer periphery of said second housing and the inner periphery of said first housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-31 | 1980-03-01 | 1980-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-31 | 1984-03-01 | 1984-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-31 | 1988-03-01 | 1988-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |