Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.

Bombardier Inc.

Michel Lefebvre

Jean-Sebastien Pard

Mathieu Gauthier

Andr&eacute; Fournier

Jonathan Claveau

Roger Rioux

Luc Champigny

Sebastien Thibault

Frederic Desjardins

Michel Bernier

Sylvain Matte

Christian Berger

Benoit Pion

Gaetan Lecours

Bruno Schuehmacher

Max Richer

Pierre-Luc Milot

Francois Leboeuf

Yvon Bedard

Roland Ennsmann

Richard Lefebvre

Yvon Bédard

Jean-François Desmarais

André Fournier

Andre Fournier

A snowmobile including: a frame; an engine supported by the frame; an exhaust pipe connected to the engine; and a turbocharger connected to the exhaust pipe. The turbocharger includes a bypass conduit fluidly communicating with the turbocharger housing and including an exhaust inlet fluidly connected to the exhaust pipe; a valve in the bypass conduit for controlling the flow of exhaust gas, and an exhaust collector. The valve is movable between first and second positions, a first flow path passing through the exhaust inlet, through the bypass conduit, and into the exhaust collector, a second flow path passing through the exhaust inlet, through the bypass conduit, through the exhaust turbine, and into the exhaust collector, in the first position, a majority of the exhaust gas flowing along the first flow path and in the second position, a majority of the exhaust gas flowing along the second flow path.

Exhaust system for an engine

A snowmobile including a frame; at least one ski; an engine with an engine air inlet and an exhaust outlet; a turbocharger including an exhaust turbine, and a compressor. An air intake system includes a first flow path connecting the compressor to the atmosphere; a second flow path connecting the compressor to the engine air inlet; an intake bypass flow path connecting atmosphere to the engine air inlet for bypassing the compressor; and an intake bypass valve for controlling the flow through the intake bypass flow path. An exhaust system includes a third flow path connecting the exhaust outlet to the exhaust turbine; a fourth flow path connecting the exhaust turbine to the atmosphere; an exhaust bypass flow path connecting the exhaust outlet to the atmosphere for at least partially bypassing the exhaust turbine; and an exhaust bypass valve for controlling the flow through the exhaust bypass flow path.

Air intake and exhaust systems for a snowmobile engine

A snowmobile has a frame including a tunnel having a passage therethrough, at least one ski, an engine having an engine air inlet and an engine exhaust outlet, and a drive track operatively connected thereto and disposed at least partly below the tunnel around a rear suspension. A heat exchanger connected to the tunnel has heat exchanger engine air inlet and outlet, a cooling air inlet and a cooling air outlet fluidly connected between the cooling air inlet and the passage. A snowmobile has a pipe fluidly connected to the exhaust outlet and having first and second pipe outlets. The snowmobile further has a muffler having first and second muffler inlets and a muffler outlet, a turbocharger, first and second exhaust flow passages, and a valve disposed between the pipe and the first muffler inlet for selectively controlling the flow of exhaust gas flowing through the first exhaust flow path.

A snowmobile having a frame, a seat, at least one ski, a front suspension assembly connected to the frame and the at least one ski, a rear suspension assembly connected to the frame and to an endless track and an engine operatively connected to the frame and the endless track. The frame includes a longitudinal tunnel, an engine cradle connected thereto and extending forwardly therefrom. A front suspension module connected to the engine cradle and extending forwardly therefrom, is connected to the front suspension assembly. A forward support, connected either to the front suspension module or the engine cradle, extends rearwardly and upwardly therefrom. A fuel tank connected to the tunnel extends forwardly and upwardly from the tunnel to the forward support so as to form a structural connection between the tunnel and the forward support for transmitting loads therebetween. Frames for the snowmobile are also disclosed.

Snowmobile fuel tank and frame

A snowmobile includes a frame with a tunnel, a fuel tank disposed thereon and an engine connected thereto. A throttle body fluidly communicates with the engine. A throttle valve is disposed in the throttle body for regulating fluid flow through the throttle body into the engine, a position of the throttle valve being movable between an open position and a closed position. A throttle operator connected to the frame to control the position of throttle valve is moveable between an idle position and a drive position. A throttle valve actuator operatively connected to the throttle valve and the throttle operator controls a position of the throttle valve based at least in part on the throttle operator position, the throttle valve actuator being an electric throttle valve actuator and disposed longitudinally between the fuel tank and the engine. Vehicles and methods of operating the vehicles are also disclosed.

Vehicle operation system and method

A vehicle has a frame, and an engine and a steering assembly including a handlebar 5 connected to the frame. The laterally extending handlebar defines a handlebar axis. A throttle body, in fluid communication with the engine, has a throttle valve having open and closed positions for controlling fluid flow to the engine. A throttle control module, controlling the position of the throttle valve, comprises a housing rotatably connected to the handlebar and a lever operatively connected to the throttle valve to control its position. The lever extends 10 laterally from the housing and connects pivotably thereto. The pivot axis is perpendicular to the handlebar axis and spaced from the handlebar. The lever pivots between an idle and drive position.

Throttle control module and vehicle

A method of operating a vehicle having an engine, an engine control unit (ECU), a throttle operator, and a throttle body fluidly communicating with the engine. A throttle valve disposed in the throttle body regulates fluid flow to the engine. A throttle valve actuator is connected thereto for controlling a throttle valve position. A key receiver is configured to link to a key. The method includes linking a key to the key receiver and initiating engine operation. If the key is linked to the key receiver and engine operation has been initiated, an identification code of the key is read and an authorization status of the key is thereby determined. If the key is determined to be authorized, the throttle valve position is controlled based in part on a throttle operator position. If the key is determined to be unauthorized, the throttle valve position is limited to a security limit.

A snowmobile has a frame including a tunnel, a least one ski operatively connected to the frame, a seat disposed above the tunnel, a fuel tank disposed on the frame, and an engine connected to the frame forwardly of the fuel tank. The engine has at least one cylinder, at least one intake port, at least one exhaust port, and a laterally extending output shaft defining an output shaft axis. An endless track is disposed at least in part under the tunnel and is operatively connected to the engine. An air intake system is fluidly connected to the at least one intake port. An exhaust system is fluidly connected to the at least one exhaust port. The exhaust system includes a muffler disposed between the output shaft axis and the fuel tank in a longitudinal direction of the snowmobile.

Snowmobile exhaust system

A snowmobile has a frame with an engine compartment and a tunnel, a front suspension, at least one ski, an engine, a bracket having a first portion joined to the engine and a second portion having an aperture defined therein, an output shaft, a countershaft passing through the aperture, a motion decoupler disposed around the countershaft and being supported by the second portion of the bracket, the countershaft being rotationally supported in the motion decoupler, a driving pulley disposed on the output shaft, a driven pulley disposed on the countershaft, a drive belt looped around the driving and driven pulleys, and an endless drive track. The driving pulley, the driven pulley and the drive belt together form a continuously variable transmission.

Continuously variable transmission mounting assembly

A snowmobile has a frame with an engine compartment and a tunnel, a front suspension, at least one ski, an engine, a bracket having a first portion joined to the engine and a second portion having an aperture defined therein, an output shaft, a countershaft passing through the aperture and being supported by the second portion of the bracket, a motion decoupler disposed in the aperture around the countershaft, the countershaft being rotationally supported in the motion decoupler, a driving pulley disposed on the output shaft, a driven pulley disposed on the countershaft, a drive belt looped around the driving and driven pulleys, and an endless drive track. The driving pulley, the driven pulley and the drive belt together form a continuously variable transmission.

A side panel for a recreational vehicle, such as a snowmobile is disclosed. The side panel extends from the windshield portion of the snowmobile to the pan portion. The side panel is hingedly attached at a front edge to the snowmobile so that the side panel opens outwardly along vertically oriented hinges. The side panel includes a windshield to protect the operator's legs. The side panel also includes an airbox which provides an air charge to the engine for combustion. In addition, an airbox, divisible into two parts is also disclosed. The airbox includes a portion adapted to be attached to the interior of the side panel or to a belt guard. A second portion of the air box can be disposed within the engine compartment.

Side panel for a recreational vehicle

An engine mount for a vehicle, such as a snowmobile, that can be used when space for the engine within a chassis is limited and which is easily accessed from the side of the chassis for assembly and repair. The engine mount can be attached to the bottom of an engine that is positioned within a chassis. The engine mount can include four hollow, cylindrical portions. Each cylindrical portion having an axis extending transverse to the longitudinal direction of the snowmobile chassis and receiving a damping mount. Fasteners can be inserted through the chassis to couple with the damping mounts and cylindrical portions in a direction that is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the chassis. The configuration of the damping mounts permits effective damping especially in a direction transverse to the direction of forward travel of the vehicle.

Growing community of inventors

Valcourt, Canada

Michel Lefebvre