Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.

Sebastien Vezina

Jonathan Fortier

Yvon Bedard

Alain Lavoie

Martin Gagnon

Christian Labbe

Jean-Sebastien Pard

Mathieu Mercier

Jean-Simon Lavallee

A heat exchanger assembly has: a front portion; a middle portion rearward of the front portion; a rear portion rearward of the middle portion, at least one of the front and rear portions being curved from the middle portion, the at least one of the front and rear portions extending below the middle portion; a top part, the top part defining at least one top recess; and a bottom part disposed below the top part and being joined to the top part, the bottom part defining at least one bottom recess. The top and bottom parts define therebetween a passage formed in part by the at least one top recess and the at least one bottom recess. The passage has an inlet and an outlet. A snowmobile having the heat exchanger assembly is also disclosed.

Snowmobile heat exchanger assembly

According to one aspect of the present technology, there is provided a snowmobile having: a tunnel; a motor; at least one ski; and a drive track. At least a portion of the tunnel is formed by a heat exchanger assembly having: a front portion; a middle portion; a rear portion; a top part; and a bottom part. The bottom part defines at least one recess. The top and bottom parts define therebetween a passage formed in part by the at least one recess. A first portion of the passage is defined by the at least one recess extending longitudinally. The drive track has: a plurality of lugs; and a plurality of studs. Portions of the plurality of lugs being laterally aligned with the first portion of the passage being free of studs.

A heat exchanger assembly has a top par and a bottom part joined to the top part. At least one of the top and bottom parts defines a recess. The top and bottom parts define therebetween a passage formed in part by the recess. The passage has a first portion of the passage extending along a first side of the heat exchanger assembly; a second portion of the passage extending along a second side of the heat exchanger assembly; an inlet fluidly communicating with the first portion of the passage near a first end of the passage; and an outlet fluidly communicating with the second portion of the passage near a second end of the passage. Fluid enters the passage via the inlet, then flows in the first portion of the passage, then flows in the second portion of the passage, and then exits the passage via the outlet.

A fuel tank includes a lower fuel tank wall and an upper fuel tank wall. The lower fuel tank wall is connected to an inner surface of the upper fuel tank wall. Each of the lower and upper fuel tank walls is constructed of a single piece of sheet metal. The lower and upper fuel tank walls enclose a volume therebetween configured to be in fluid communication with an engine of a vehicle.

Snowmobile fuel tank

A snowmobile includes a tunnel having an inverted U-shape, having top, left side and right side portions which at least partly enclose a space. A drive track is disposed around a rear suspension assembly and at least in part in the space. A first heat exchanger has a heat exchanger liquid inlet and outlet. The heat exchanger liquid outlet fluidly communicates with the heat exchanger liquid inlet and with an engine liquid inlet. The first heat exchanger forms part of the top portion and is operable to dissipate heat toward the space from liquid passing therethrough. A second heat exchanger has a heat exchanger air inlet and outlet. The heat exchanger air outlet fluidly communicates with the heat exchanger air inlet and with the engine air inlet. The second heat exchanger forms part of the top portion and is operable to dissipate heat toward the space from air passing therethrough.

Heat exchanger for a snowmobile engine air intake

A snowmobile includes a frame, a motor, an endless track and a straddle seat. A left and a right footrest are each connected to the frame extend laterally outwardly therefrom. The footrests extend generally horizontally and are disposed vertically lower than the straddle seat for supporting a left foot of the driver. The left footrest is disposed on a left side of the snowmobile and the right footrest is disposed on a right side thereof. A left toe hold disposed above the left footrest is supported at an inner portion thereof and extends laterally outwardly therefrom to an outer portion thereof, the outer portion of the left toe hold being freely suspended. A right toe hold disposed above the right footrest is supported at an inner portion thereof and extending laterally outwardly therefrom to an outer portion thereof, the outer portion of the right toe hold being freely suspended.

Toe hold for a snowmobile

A snowmobile has a frame having a motor module, a tunnel connected to the motor module, a suspension module connected to the motor module, a motor, a handlebar, a ski operatively connected to the handlebar and a front suspension assembly operatively connecting the ski to the suspension module and to the motor module. The front suspension assembly has a suspension arm having a proximal end positioned longitudinally between the motor module and the suspension module. The proximal end pivots about a pivot axis extending through an interior portion of the suspension module. A proximal fastener passes through the proximal end of the suspension arm and extends from the interior portion of the suspension module to the motor module. The proximal fastener thereby pivotally connects the suspension arm to the suspension module and to the motor module about the pivot axis.

Frame and front suspension assembly for a snowmobile

A snowmobile has a frame including an inverted U-shaped tunnel having top, left and right portions at least partly enclosing a space. A drive track, operatively connected to an engine, is disposed around a rear suspension and at least partly in the space. An air intake system has a heat exchanger surface disposed in or adjacent to the space. Air flowing through the intake system contacts the heat exchanger surface to be cooled thereby before entering the engine.

A heat exchanger assembly has a front portion, a middle portion rearward of the front portion, a rear portion rearward of the middle portion, a top part and a bottom part disposed below the top part. At least one of the front and rear portions is curved from the middle portion. The at least one of the front and rear portions extends below the middle portion. The bottom part is joined to the top part. At least one of the top and bottom parts defines a recess. The top and bottom parts define therebetween a passage formed in part by the recess. A width of the passage varies along a length of the heat exchanger assembly. The passage has an inlet and an outlet. A snowmobile with a heat exchanger assembly and a method of manufacturing a heat exchanger assembly are also disclosed.

A snowmobile has a frame, a front and a rear suspension assembly connected thereto, at least one ski, an endless drive track, and a motor. The frame includes a longitudinally extending tunnel, the rear suspension assembly being connected thereto. The tunnel includes a top wall extending generally horizontally and comprising a left edge and a right edge. A planar left bevel wall extends downwardly and leftwardly from the left edge. A left side wall extends downwardly from the left bevel wall. A planar right bevel wall extends downwardly and rightwardly from the right edge. A right side wall extends downwardly from the right bevel wall. An upper rear support includes a left leg and a right leg, each having a lower end connected to the corresponding one of the left bevel wall and the right bevel wall and extending forwardly, upwardly and laterally inwardly therefrom to an upper end.

Snowmobile frame structure

A snowmobile has a frame having a motor module. The motor module has a front portion defining a cross member and further defining an aperture below the cross member. The frame further has a tunnel, a suspension module, a motor, a handlebar, front left and right skis both operatively connected to the handlebar and front left and right suspension assemblies operatively connecting the front left and right skis respectively to the suspension module and to the motor module. Each one of the front left and right suspension assemblies have a respective support arm having a proximal end positioned longitudinally forward of the motor module and a proximal fastener pivotally connecting the proximal end to the front portion of the motor module about a pivot axis. A line extending from a left pivot axis to a right pivot axis is contained in the cross member.

Frame for a snowmobile

A snowmobile frame includes a tunnel, an engine cradle, a front suspension, a forward support and a fuel tank having a lower and an upper wall connected together 5 to enclose a volume. The volume fluidly communicates with the engine and has a portion extending upwardly and forwardly from the tunnel to the forward support. The fuel tank is removably connected to the tunnel and the forward support by the upper wall which has a left and a right lower end portion respectively connected to the tunnel on a left and right side of the longitudinal centerplane, and an upper end 10 portion connected to the forward support. The lower wall is connected to the upper wall above lower end portions and below the upper end portion. A force transmitted between the forward support and the tunnel, via the fuel tank, is transmitted through the upper wall without passing through the lower wall.

A tunnel guard for a tunnel of a snowmobile has first and second arms. Each arm has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portions of the first and second arms have first and second connection elements respectively for connecting the first end portions of the arms to an interior of the tunnel. At least one member extends from at least one of the arms and is connected to the at least one of the arms. The at least one member has a third connection element for connecting the at least one member to the interior of the tunnel. The third connection element is disposed at a position that is one of: laterally between the first and second arms, and laterally outward of the first and second arms. A snowmobile having a tunnel guard and a method for connecting a tunnel guard are also disclosed.

Tunnel guard for a snowmobile

A snowmobile has a frame including a tunnel, at least one ski, an engine having an engine air inlet 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 a heat exchanger air inlet and a heat exchanger air outlet fluidly communicating with the heat exchanger air inlet and the engine air inlet. A snowmobile has a frame including an inverted U-shaped tunnel having top, left and right portions at least partly enclosing a space. A drive track, operatively connected to an engine, is disposed around a rear suspension and at least partly in the space. An air intake system has a heat exchanger surface disposed in or adjacent to the space. Air flowing through the intake system contacts the heat exchanger surface to be cooled thereby before entering the engine.

A leaning vehicle has a frame, a straddle seat, a motor, a shock tower pivotally connected the frame, the frame being pivotable relative to the shock tower, and front left and right suspension assemblies connected the frame. Each of the front left and right suspension assemblies comprises a leg operatively connected to a corresponding front left or right ground engaging member and being rotatable about a steering axis, an upper suspension arm having a first end pivotally connected to the frame and a second end pivotally connected to the leg, a lower suspension arm having a first end pivotally connected to the frame and a second end pivotally connected to the leg and a shock absorber having an upper end connected to the shock tower and a lower end connected to the lower suspension arm and a brake assembly connected to the frame and the shock tower.

Growing community of inventors

Sherbrooke, Canada

Sebastien Vezina