Motorized Snow Vehicle

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vehicle and particularly to a vehicle adapted for movement in the snow. The invention relates more particularly to an improvement of this type of vehicle.

2. Discussion of Background and Material Information

Numerous vehicles are known which are adapted to move on snow. Such conventional vehicles are commonly referred to as snow mobiles or snow machines and are typically composed of a rear support assembly equipped with a motor for activating a tread, and a steering mechanism in the front including journalled handlebars connected to one or more skis by a steering column. The vehicle described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,645,347 is a representative example of prior art snow machines. This type of motorized snow vehicle includes an assembly of numerous elements. These snow vehicles are thus heavy, expensive, unreliable and particularly awkward.

The present invention thus attempts to overcome these various disadvantages and proposes a particularly simple and reliable vehicle. To this end the vehicle according to the present invention includes a front steering assembly and a rear support assembly composed of a support chassis and a motor for activating a tread. The front steering assembly includes a pivotable steering column on the chassis connected at its lower portion to a front runner or ski and at its upper portion to a handlebar or similar steering mechanism.

A unique and novel feature of the snow machine of the present invention is that the chassis is composed of a principaL beam extending towards the rear above which the motor is positioned. Preferably, the motor is attached above the front portion of the chassis and behind the steering column.

According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the chassis is composed of a hollow beam which serves as a reservoir adapted to hold fuel for the motor.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the chassis forms in the longitudinal vertical plane of the vehicle, an obtuse angle which opens upwardly.

In accordance with the invention, the motor is positioned sufficiently high to be protected from snow and, if the air has cooled, such a placement of the motor makes it possible to warm the driver. Furthermore inasmuch as the starter is positioned in the vicinity of the driver it is relatively easy to start the motor while the driver is seated on the machine.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clear from the description which follows with reference to the annexed drawings which are given by way of non-limiting example only.

FIG. 1 is a lateral exterior view showing the motorized snow vehicle according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the vehicle without its aerodynamic shell.

FIG. 3 is a top view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top view illustrating the chassis.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the vehicle.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the chassis and of the front retention arm of the tread support.

FIG. 7 is a cross section along VII--VII of the chassis.

FIG. 8 is cross sectional view along VIII--VIII of the chassis.

FIG. 9 is a side view similar to FIG. 2 showing an alternative embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a top view illustrating the motor and its transmission to the tread.

As illustrated in the drawings, the motorized snow vehicle is constituted by a front steering assembly (1) journalled around an axis (XX') on a rear support assembly (2). The front steering assembly (1) includes a steering column (3) connected at its lower portion (4) to a front runner or ski (5) and at its upper end (6) to handlebars or similar means for steering (7). The rear support assembly (2) includes a chassis (8), a motor (9) for activating a tread (10), and a seat (11) adapted to support the driver. The motor is preferably positioned in an aerodynamic shell (12) assuring a pleasing asthetic appearance to the motorized snow vehicle as well as serving different functions such as housing an air inlet (120) and an air outlet (13). The tread (10) is mounted on a support (14) which is itself supported by a front arm (15) and a rear arm (16). The front arm (15) is journalled on the central portion of the chassis (8), while the rear arm is journalled at the rear end thereof. The chassis (8) is composed of a support extending from front to rear and according to the invention the motor (9) is attached above the front portion of the chassis (8). To this end the chassis includes four attachment bolts (17) at its front upper portion. The axis (XX') of pivoting of the steering column (3) is formed by a sleeve (18) traversing the front end of the chassis and welded thereto. Preferably the axis (XX') is perpendicular to the general plane of the front end of the chassis. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the chassis (8) is composed of a hollow beam serving as a reservoir for the fuel necessary to feed the motor (9). As shown in FIGS. 1-8, the chassis or beam support forms in the longitudinal vertical plane of symmetry (P) an obtuse angle (alpha) which opens upwardly. In this end the chassis (8) includes a front portion (80) towards the rear and downwardly, connected to a rear portion (81) extending towards the rear and upwardly. The sleeve (18) is composed of a tube comprising a hollow center (180) allowing for the passage of the steering column (3). The motor (9), according to the invention, is positioned within the angle (alpha) formed by the junction of the front portion (80) and the rear portion (81) of the chassis. To this end the chassis (8) comprises a front portion (80) extending toward the rear and downwardly, connected to a rear portion extending towards the rear and upwardly. The sleeve (18) crosses perpendicularly with respect to the front portion (80) and the motor (9) is attached behind the sleeve (18) on the upper portion (811) of the front portion (80) of the chassis (8). According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the rear end of the chassis includes a filling tube (19) closed by a cap (20). The front arm (15) for retention of the tread support is journalled around an axis (21) positioned transversely at the level of the central portion of the chassis (8) while the rear arm (16) is journalled around a transverse axis (220) positioned at the rear portion of the chassis. The rear arm (16) includes an upper bent extension (160) retained at its end by a suspension system (23, 24), well known in itself, which we will not further describe in detail. Suffice it to say that it is composed of a shock absorber (23) around which is positioned a compression spring (24). The shock absorber (23) positioned above the rear portion (81) of the chassis (8) is positioned under the seat (11) and is retained on the chassis by virtue of a vertical flap (25).

The motor (9) activates the drive axis (21) by virtue of a drive train or notched belt (26) and a transmission or variator (27). These elements are positioned, for example, on the left side of the vehicle. The drive system (29) of the tread, composed of two pinions (30) and (31) connected by a chain (32) is positioned on the left side. This entire system (29) is positioned in a closed casing (33) containing oil (34). The front arm (15) for retention of the support of the treads (14) is located on one side of the casing (33) connected by a frontal protection element (35) to another arm (290) positioned on the other side of the vehicle.

Although the snow machine can be provided with an electronic ignition system, start-up motor occurs manually, by virtue of a starter (28) preferably positioned on the right side of the vehicle and in the vicinity of the right hand of the driver.

The cooling of the motor is accomplished by the air inlets (36) through the frontal opening (120). As shown in the drawings, hot air exhaust (37) exits through openings (13) provided in the lateral rear walls of the aerodynamic shell (12) at the level of the operator.

The admission of the necessary air to the carburetor (39), occurs through openings (40) formed in the central portion of the aerodynamic shell (12).

As may be seen in FIGS. 4 and 7, the rear end of the muffler (37) is positioned above the chassis and adjacent to the suspension system (23, 24).

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the chassis is composed of a support or frame (800) extending towards the rear and upwardly. The chassis is substantially rectilinear and forms an acute angle (beta) with the ground (50). Preferably the chassis frame (800) is a hollow support serving as a reservoir for the fuel (810), and is provided with a filling tube (19) and a closure cap (20). As in the preceding embodiment, the motor (9) is positioned behind the steering column and attached above the front portion of the chassis (8). Similarly, the tread support (14) is retained by a front arm (15) and a rear arm (16) journalled respectively on the chassis around axis (21) and (22) by their upper end which extend downwardly and towards the rear. The lower ends of the said arms are connected respectively to the tread support by two transverse axes (210), (220). The front arm 15 has a length (l) while the rear arm has a length (L) such that the length l is less than the length L. It is seen also (FIG. 2) that the front arm forms an acute angle (A1) while the rear arm (16) forms an angle (A2) such that the angle (A1) is less than the angle (A2).

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated by way of example, but it comprises all technical equivalents as well as their combinations.

From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modification of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions .