Abstract: A front snowmobile suspension of the type having left and right skis being secured to the chassis by left and right trailing arm ski suspension systems. The front end of the trailing arm includes a generally cylindrical sleeve for pivotably receiving the ski spindle. The top end of the cylindrical sleeve is located rearwardly of the bottom end, giving the sleeve and the ski spindle a rearwardly angled caster. The rear end of the trailing arm is pivotably secured to an adjustable link which in turn is secured to the chassis. The adjustable link is movable to change the caster of the cylindrical sleeve and the ski spindle.

Abstract: A frame for an all terrain vehicle (ATV). The frame includes a bottom frame portion which has one or more bottom plates. Each of these plates is a sheet metal stamping with precision located mounting holes stamped into it for mounting vehicle components. The plates are secured to a pair of elongated reinforcing members oriented generally horizontally and generally parallel to one another along the length of the bottom frame portion. The bottom plates are of a length and width sufficient to shield a substantial portion of an engine and/or transmission mounted to the frame. The frame also includes a top frame portion and several structural support members supporting the top frame portion with respect to the bottom frame portion. Preferably at least some of the structural support members supporting the top frame portion with respect to the bottom frame portion are sheet metal stampings. In one preferred embodiment, one of the structural support members is a portion of the ATV's transmission.

Abstract: A suspension system mountable to the chassis of a snowmobile and about which an endless track is carried. The suspension includes a slide frame for engagement with a lower portion of the endless track and one or more springs for urging the slide frame downwardly away from the chassis. The suspension system also includes a downwardly angled suspension arm having an upper end pivotally mounted to the snowmobile chassis. The lower end of the arm is pivotally connected to the slide frame so as to permit limited longitudinal movement of the lower end of the arm with respect to the slide frame. An adjustable limit is provided for adjustably limiting the degree of longitudinal movement of the lower end of the arm with respect to the slide frame to adjustably control the range of orientations of the slide frame with respect to the snowmobile chassis.

Abstract: A snowmobile construction comprising a body frame and having slide rails suspended from the body frame through a front and rear suspension arm, and an endless track which runs under tension upon a drive and a plurality of driven wheels rotatably borne on the slide rails. The rear suspension has front and rear suspension arms which connect the body frame and the slide rails in parallelogram linkage fashion. Compression coil springs and shock absorbers are operatively mounted between the slide rails and the front and rear suspension arms. An inclined slide block and slot coupling interconnects the rear suspension arm and each slide rail to automatically react both front and rear suspension arms upon initial encounter of the slide rails with a snow bump at either end of the slide rail. This coupling also urges the snowmobile into an upwardly pitched condition upon acceleration with the forward ends of the slide rails digging into the ground surface for enhanced traction.

Abstract: An exhaust valve system for internal combustion engine. The engine includes a cylinder having an exhaust port with an axial extent along the axis of the cylinder structure. An exhaust port valve is mounted adjacent to the exhaust port and is adjustable between a full-flow position, in which the exhaust port valve exposes the exhaust port throughout its axial extent, and a restricting position, in which the exhaust port valve restricts the axial extent of the exhaust port. A valve control module is connected to the exhaust port valve and functions to adjust the exhaust port valve between the full-flow and restricting positions in response to the cylinder bore gas pressure. At low speeds and low output conditions, the valve is in its restricting position. As the cylinder develops higher pressures at higher speeds and under higher output conditions, the valve control module moves the valve to its full-flow position.

Abstract: An improved filter bag is provided for mounting onto a suction mast of a pool cleaner to retain and collect debris and the like vacuumed by the pool cleaner from submerged floor or wall surfaces of a swimming pool. The filter bag includes a porous bag-shaped filter element having an open mouth mounted to a latch collar adapted for quick release coupling to a downstream end of the pool cleaner suction mast. The filter element and latch collar include interfitting alignment members to insure filter element assembly with the latch collar in a desired front-to-rear orientation. The suction mast and latch collar further include additional interfitting alignment members for latch collar mounting onto the pool cleaner in a desired front-to-rear orientation, thereby insuring proper orientation of the filter bag on the pool cleaner.

Abstract: A suspension system mountable to the chassis of a snowmobile and about which an endless track is carried. The suspension includes a slide frame for engagement with a lower portion of the endless track and one or more springs for urging the slide frame downwardly away from the chassis. The suspension system also includes a downwardly angled suspension arm having an upper end pivotally mounted to the snowmobile chassis. The lower end of the arm is pivotally connected to the slide frame so as to permit limited longitudinal movement of the lower end of the arm with reset to the slide frame. An adjustable limit is provided for adjustably limiting the degree of longitudinal movement of the lower end of the arm with respect to the slide frame to adjustably control the range of orientations of the slide frame with respect to the snowmobile chassis.

Abstract: A snowmobile construction comprising a body frame and having slide rails suspended from the body frame through a front and rear suspension arm, and an endless track which runs under tension upon a drive and a plurality of driven wheels rotatably borne on the slide rails. The rear suspension has front and rear suspension arms which connect the body frame and the slide rails in parallelogram linkage fashion. Compression coil springs and shock absorbers are operatively mounted between the slide rails and the front and rear suspension arms. An inclined slide block and slot coupling interconnects the rear suspension arm and each slide rail to automatically react both front and rear suspension arms upon initial encounter of the slide rails with a snow bump at either end of the slide rail. This coupling also urges the snowmobile into an upwardly pitched condition upon acceleration with the forward ends of the slide rails digging into the ground surface for enhanced traction.

Abstract: A compression adjustment mechanism for a shock absorber includes a screw cam which is screwed into a bore in the endcap of the shock absorber and which abuts the spring seat for the compression or blow off valve spring. Tightening or loosening the screw cam, relative to the endcap, causes the preload of the compression valve spring to increase or decrease, thereby increasing or decreasing, respectively, the compression forces in the shock absorber. The compression adjustment mechanism can act on the spring seat from any direction, thereby eliminating the need to selectively orient the working cylinder and compression head assembly to the outer cylinder and endcap assembly during assembly of the shock absorber.