Snowmobile Throttle Lever Assembly for Side-Hill Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Snowmobile riders face difficulties in controlling the throttle during left side hilling due to the inconvenient placement and activation of existing left throttle levers, which limit their ability to shift weight and maintain control, especially when the brake lever is also activated by the left hand.
Innovation Solution
A throttle lever assembly with a second throttle lever pivotably connected to the handlebar on the opposite side of the steering axis, allowing it to be actuated while holding the mountain strap, thereby enabling better control during left side hilling without compromising normal riding conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a left throttle lever is added to the handlebar, then the rider can control the throttle during left side hilling, but the rider has to grab the mountain strap with the right hand and control the left throttle lever with the left hand, which complicates the operation
Solution Approach 1:
The right throttle lever is designed to be actuable by either the right hand or the left hand. The lever's position and geometry allow the left hand to reach and actuate it when the rider is in a left side hilling position with the left hand on the mountain strap. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate left throttle lever and simplifies the control scheme.
2Ease of operation
If the rider keeps the right hand on the right throttle lever during left side hilling, then the throttle can be controlled, but the rider cannot shift weight as much as possible toward the left side
Solution Approach 1:
The right throttle lever can be operated by either hand, allowing the rider to place the left hand on the mountain strap for optimal body positioning during left side hilling while the right hand remains on the right grip portion. The throttle can still be controlled by reaching across with the left hand or by keeping the right hand on the lever, providing flexibility in hand placement.
3Shape
If the left throttle lever is positioned symmetrically with the right throttle lever, then the design is balanced, but the left throttle lever is not well located for actuation during left side hilling
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing a separate symmetric left throttle lever that would be difficult to reach, the invention utilizes the existing right throttle lever's asymmetric accessibility. The right throttle lever's position allows it to be reached by the left hand when the rider is in a left side hilling position, effectively creating an asymmetric solution that maintains the symmetric appearance of having levers on both sides while improving accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A snowmobile has a frame, a tunnel, an endless drive track, at least one ski, an engine, a handlebar being pivotable about a steering axis, a first throttle lever pivotably connected to the handlebar and operatively connected to the engine, the first throttle lever being disposed on a first side of the steering axis, and a second throttle lever pivotably connected to the handlebar and operatively connected to the engine, the second throttle lever being disposed on a second side of the steering axis. A throttle lever assembly is also disclosed.