Snowmobile Chain Drive Mounting Sleeve for Removable Drive Axle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Snowmobiles face issues with heat management in their continuously variable transmission (CVT) components, leading to decreased efficiency and potential failure, especially in high-powered snowmobiles or those used at maximum power for extended periods. Additionally, snowmobiles experience noise emission from their air intake systems, which can be mitigated but often results in airflow restrictions, and they require improved comfort, ease of use, particularly in deep snow conditions, and effective illumination from the headlight system.
Innovation Solution
The snowmobile design incorporates a chain drive system with a drive sprocket, driven sprocket, and drive chain, housed in a chaincase, which is connected to a drive axle that propels the endless track. This design includes a mounting sleeve engaged with the driven sprocket, allowing for efficient heat dissipation and easy removal of the drive axle for maintenance. Furthermore, the air intake system is optimized with expansion chambers to reduce noise while maintaining airflow, and the headlight system is designed for improved visibility in low light conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If expansion chambers are added to the air intake system to reduce noise, then noise output is reduced, but air flow is restricted and engine efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the noise reduction function from the air intake system by adding a separate exhaust system with expansion chambers. The exhaust system handles noise control independently, allowing the air intake system to maintain optimal airflow for engine efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary exhaust system that acts as a mediator between the engine and the external environment. The exhaust system with its expansion chambers absorbs noise without interfering with the air intake flow path, thus resolving the contradiction between noise reduction and airflow maintenance.
2Ease of repair
If the drive axle is made removable for maintenance, then ease of repair is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the drive axle into removable components by introducing a mounting sleeve that can be detached from the driven sprocket. This allows the drive axle to be separated into manageable parts for easier maintenance while keeping the overall structure relatively simple through standardized connection interfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
A snowmobile includes a chain drive disposed on one of a left side and a right side of a longitudinal centerplane of the snowmobile, the chain drive including: a drive sprocket; a driven sprocket; and a drive chain operatively connecting the drive and driven sprockets. A drive axle operatively connects the chain drive to the endless track, the drive axle including: a first axle end portion operatively connected to the chain drive; and a second axle end portion rotatably supported by a tunnel of the snowmobile on an other one of the left side and the right side of the longitudinal centerplane. A mounting sleeve is engaged to the driven sprocket in order to be driven thereby, the first axle end portion being operatively and removably connected to the mounting sleeve and rotating therewith about the drive axle axis.