Snowmobile Ski Runner Adjustable Keel Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing snowmobile ski assemblies with adjustable keels face challenges in maintaining orientation and are cumbersome to adjust, especially when transitioning between different riding conditions such as soft-packed snow and hard-packed snow or ice, requiring inconvenient tool use and complex adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A snowmobile ski runner system with a flat, U-shaped body and an arcuate slot allows for adjustable keel height through a pin-driven mechanism, enabling easy adjustment without tools and maintaining orientation relative to the ski, allowing for optimal performance across varying snow conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If deeper keels are used to improve steering effectiveness on soft-packed snow, then steering responsiveness is improved, but the load on the steering assembly increases when riding on hard-packed snow or ice
Solution Approach 1:
The ski runner system allows dynamic adjustment of the keel depth by moving the ski runner in and out of the ski, enabling the rider to change from deeper keels for soft-packed snow to reduced keel depth for hard-packed snow or ice, thus adapting steering characteristics to different riding conditions
2Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable ski runners are provided to change keel height for different riding conditions, then adaptability to different snow conditions is improved, but the complexity of the adjustment device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ski runner combines multiple functions into a single integrated component: it provides the metallic running surface for hard-packed snow, acts as an adjustment mechanism through its movable connection, and controls the keel depth. The movable connection at the front end merges the adjustment function with the structural connection, eliminating the need for separate adjustment devices
Solution Approach 2:
The ski runner serves multiple purposes: it protects the keel from wear, enables adjustment of keel depth, and provides a metallic surface for ground engagement. The single component performs what would traditionally require multiple separate devices, reducing overall system complexity
3Ease of operation
If multiple devices are used at the front and rear of the ski runner to move it in and out, then the ski runner can be adjusted, but it becomes difficult to maintain the orientation of the ski runner relative to the ski during adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The movable connection at the front end combines the functions of positioning, orienting, and adjusting the ski runner into a single mechanism. This unified connection point ensures the ski runner maintains proper orientation relative to the ski while being adjusted, eliminating the orientation control problems associated with separate front and rear devices
4Ease of operation
If prior art adjustment systems are used, then ski runner position can be changed, but tools are required to make the adjustment which is inconvenient during a snowmobile ride in cold weather
Solution Approach 1:
The movable connection enables the ski runner to be adjusted directly by the rider through manual manipulation of the connection mechanism itself, without requiring external tools. The design allows the rider to easily move the ski runner in and out during a ride by simply operating the movable connection at the front end
Data Source
AI summary
A snowmobile ski runner has a flat ski runner body. The flat ski runner body has a generally uniform width, a front flat wall at a front thereof, and a rear flat wall at a rear thereof. The front and rear flat walls are parallel to each other. A snowmobile ski assembly having the ski runner and a snowmobile having the snowmobile ski assembly are also disclosed.