Snowmobile Vibration Damper for Uneven Terrain

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Solution Overview

Problem

Straddle-type vehicles, such as snowmobiles and ATVs, experience unique vibrations due to ground touching portions receiving mutually different reaction forces in magnitude, causing moments that push up one side of the axle, leading to body frame vibrations not present in conventional four-wheeled vehicles.

Innovation Solution

A straddle-type vehicle equipped with a vehicle body vibration control damper that extends between spaced-apart portions of the vehicle body frame and a member fixed to it, generating a damping force to counteract vibrations resulting from varying reaction forces, using high-pressure sealed oil dampers with cylinders and piston rods to absorb and dissipate energy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a suspension system with links is used to allow the track belt to swing up and down, then the transmission unit can adapt to ground variations, but moments are transmitted to the vehicle body frame causing unique vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptation to ground variationsVSAvoidvehicle body frame vibrations

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A vibration control damper is introduced as an intermediary component between the vehicle body frame and the transmission unit. This damper absorbs and dissipates the vibrational energy transmitted through the suspension links, preventing the harmful moments from reaching the vehicle body frame while allowing the suspension to continue adapting to ground variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The suspension system's inherent motion, which causes harmful vibrations, is converted into a beneficial function by adding the vibration control damper. The damper transforms the harmful vibrational energy into heat through controlled damping, allowing the suspension to maintain its adaptability while eliminating the harmful effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Adaptability or versatility

If ground touching portions spaced apart in vehicle width direction receive different reaction forces, then the vehicle can handle uneven terrain, but moments push up one side of the axle causing body frame vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling uneven terrainVSAvoidvehicle body frame stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The vibration control damper serves as a mediator that decouples the connection between the transmission unit and the vehicle body frame. It allows the transmission unit to experience different reaction forces for terrain adaptation while preventing these asymmetric forces from causing destabilizing moments on the vehicle body frame.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The vibration control damper provides beforehand cushioning by being pre-installed in the suspension system to absorb and mitigate the harmful moments before they can transmit to the vehicle body frame. This preventive measure ensures stability is maintained even when uneven terrain causes asymmetric reaction forces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 vehicle body vibration control damper effectively dampens the unique vibrations caused by differing ground reaction forces, improving the stability and comfort of the vehicle by reducing the transmission of these forces to the vehicle body frame.

Implementation Method 1

a vehicle body vibration control damper extending between a first portion and a second portion that are spaced apart from each other of the vehicle body frame and a member fixed to the vehicle body frame, the vehicle body vibration control damper generating a damping force against variations that change a distance between the first portion and the second portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS10046830B2Straddle-type vehicle

Publication Date: 2018.08.14 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A snowmobile includes a transmission unit that transmits a driving force generated by an engine to the ground surface, in which ground touching portions of the transmission unit that are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction receive reaction forces mutually different in magnitude from the ground surface; a suspension that supports the transmission unit so as to swing in the up-down direction; and a vehicle body vibration control damper extending between a first portion and a second portion that are spaced apart from each other of the vehicle body frame and a member fixed to the vehicle body frame, the vehicle body vibration control damper generating a damping force against variations that change the distance between the first portion and the second portion.