Snowmobile Tunnel Resilient Rear Bendable Impact Absorption
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Prior snowmobile tunnels are inflexible and prone to permanent damage from impacts, lacking the ability to return to their original shape after deformation.
Innovation Solution
A tunnel design featuring a metal part combined with a resilient part made of a different material, allowing the resilient part to bend downward upon impact and return to its original configuration, while resisting upward bending to facilitate lifting and maintaining structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the tunnel is made of inflexible metal, then structural strength is improved, but the tunnel becomes vulnerable to permanent damage from impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The tunnel is divided into two distinct segments: a front metal portion and a rear resilient portion. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specialized function - the metal front provides structural strength while the resilient rear absorbs impacts without permanent deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The tunnel combines two different materials - metal and resilient material - into a single composite structure. This composite design allows the tunnel to simultaneously achieve the strength of metal and the impact-absorbing properties of resilient material, resolving the contradiction between strength and damage resistance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the tunnel rear end is extended beyond attachment points, then snow deflection capability is improved, but the rear end becomes cantilevered and vulnerable to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The material parameter of the rear tunnel portion is changed from rigid metal to resilient material. This parameter change allows the rear end to extend beyond attachment points for effective snow deflection while the resilient material absorbs impact forces, preventing the vulnerability associated with cantilevered metal structures.
3Reliability
If the tunnel is made of resilient material, then impact absorption is improved, but the tunnel cannot provide sufficient structural strength
Solution Approach 1:
The tunnel is segmented into a front metal portion for structural strength and a rear resilient portion for impact absorption. This segmentation allows each material to be used where it provides the most benefit, with the metal front handling structural loads and the resilient rear handling impact forces.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the tunnel have different material qualities - the front portion uses strong metal while the rear portion uses resilient material. This local differentiation of material properties allows the structure to optimize both strength and impact absorption in their respective locations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design enhances the snowmobile's durability by allowing the tunnel to absorb impacts without permanent deformation and enables easy lifting of the rear end, reducing damage and maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
The second part is made of a second material. The second material is different from the first material and the second material is resilient. When a downward force is applied to a rear end of the second part, the second part bends downward from an original configuration such that at least the rear end of the second part moves toward the endless drive track. The second part returns at least approximately to its original configuration after removal of the downward force.
Implementation Method 2
when an upward force is applied to the rear end of the second part, the second part resists bending upward to allow a user to lift a rear end of the snowmobile by the rear end of the second part
Data Source
AI summary
A snowmobile has a frame, a tunnel, at least one ski operatively connected to the frame, a motor supported by the frame, and an endless drive track operatively connected to the motor. The tunnel extends above the endless drive track and has a first part and a second part. The second part extends rearward from the first part. The first part is made of a first material. The second part is made of a second material that is resilient. The second material is different from the first material. When a downward force is applied to a rear end of the second part, the second part bends downward from an original configuration such that the rear end of the second part moves toward the endless drive track. The second part returns at least approximately to its original configuration after removal of the downward force.