Abstract: A snowmobile has a frame with an engine compartment and a tunnel, a front suspension, at least one ski, an engine, a bracket having a first portion joined to the engine and a second portion having an aperture defined therein, an output shaft, a countershaft passing through the aperture, a motion decoupler disposed around the countershaft and being supported by the second portion of the bracket, the countershaft being rotationally supported in the motion decoupler, a driving pulley disposed on the output shaft, a driven pulley disposed on the countershaft, a drive belt looped around the driving and driven pulleys, and an endless drive track. The driving pulley, the driven pulley and the drive belt together form a continuously variable transmission.

Abstract: A snowmobile has a frame with an engine compartment and a tunnel, a front suspension, at least one ski, an engine, a bracket having a first portion joined to the engine and a second portion having an aperture defined therein, an output shaft, a countershaft passing through the aperture and being supported by the second portion of the bracket, a motion decoupler disposed in the aperture around the countershaft, the countershaft being rotationally supported in the motion decoupler, a driving pulley disposed on the output shaft, a driven pulley disposed on the countershaft, a drive belt looped around the driving and driven pulleys, and an endless drive track. The driving pulley, the driven pulley and the drive belt together form a continuously variable transmission.

Abstract: A noise-reducing engine enclosure for an engine includes first and second members removably mounted to one another in cooperating relation to define an engine receiving space therebetween. The first and second members each include a noise-reducing layer of material to reduce noise transmission to the atmosphere outside of the engine enclosure during operation. The first and second members are movable between (1) an engine accessing position, wherein the first and second members are positioned to allow access to the engine during operation and (2) an engine enclosing position, wherein the first and second members cooperate to define the engine receiving space to receive and enclose the engine therein such that noise transmission to the atmosphere during operation is reduced.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a thick stator vane that effects continuous acceleration of the water stream within the jet pump, a non-uniform spacing of stator vanes or impeller blades to reduce noise output of the jet pump during operation, and a coupling structure positioned between the impeller and engine that prevents transfer of axial thrust to the engine caused by jet pump failure.

Abstract: A watercraft comprises a hull, an internal combustion engine, a propulsion system, and an air/water separating device. The separating device comprises a container having an inlet port and an outlet port. The inlet port enables at least ambient air to enter the container and the outlet port is communicated to the air intake of the engine. The separating device has structure providing spaced apart generally vertical surfaces that define a plurality of elongated tortuous paths between the inlet and outlet ports. The tortuous paths have one or more angular portions and are positioned and configured such that the ambient air passes through the elongated tortuous paths so that water suspended in the air is separated from the air as the air passes through angular portions of the paths with the separated water flowing downwardly along the surfaces to a bottom of the container by gravity.

Abstract: A personal watercraft with an exhaust system including a first and second mufflers each disposed in opposite sides of the hull. A manifold pipe communicates the engine with the first muffler. A transfer pipe communicates the first muffler with the second muffler. An outlet pipe communicates the second muffler to the atmosphere at an exhaust point located at an opposite side of the hull. The outlet pipe has a raised portion between the second muffler and the exhaust point so that only rotation of the watercraft in a first rotational direction will cause entrant water in the outlet pipe to flow into the second muffler. The transfer pipe has a raised portion between the first and second mufflers so that only rotation of the watercraft in second rotational direction about the longitudinal axis opposite the first rotational direction will cause water that has flowed into the second muffler to flow into the first muffler.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a thick stator vane that effects continuous acceleration of the water stream within the jet pump, a non-uniform spacing of stator vanes or impeller blades to reduce noise output of the jet pump during operation, and a coupling structure positioned between the impeller and engine that prevents transfer of axial thrust to the engine caused by jet pump failure.

Abstract: A personal watercraft with an exhaust system including a first and second mufflers each disposed in opposite sides of the hull. A manifold pipe communicates the engine with the first muffler. A transfer pipe communicates the first muffler with the second muffler. An outlet pipe communicates the second muffler to the atmosphere at an exhaust point located at an opposite side of the hull. The outlet pipe has a raised portion between the second muffler and the exhaust point so that only rotation of the watercraft in a first rotational direction will cause entrant water in the outlet pipe to flow into the second muffler. The transfer pipe has a raised portion between the first and second mufflers so that only rotation of the watercraft in second rotational direction about the longitudinal axis opposite the first rotational direction will cause water that has flowed into the second muffler to flow into the first muffler.

Abstract: A personal watercraft with an exhaust system including a first and second mufflers each disposed in opposite sides of the hull. A manifold pipe communicates the engine with the first muffler. A transfer pipe communicates the first muffler with the second muffler. An outlet pipe communicates the second muffler to the atmosphere at an exhaust point located at an opposite side of the hull. The outlet pipe has a raised portion between the second muffler and the exhaust point so that only rotation of the watercraft in a first rotational direction will cause entrant water in the outlet pipe to flow into the second muffler. The transfer pipe has a raised portion between the first and second mufflers so that only rotation of the watercraft in second rotational direction about the longitudinal axis opposite the first rotational direction will cause water that has flowed into the second muffler to flow into the first muffler.

Abstract: A noise-reducing engine enclosure for an engine includes first and second members removably mounted to one another in cooperating relation to define an engine receiving space therebetween. The first and second members each include a noise-reducing layer of material to reduce noise transmission to the atmosphere outside of the engine enclosure during operation. The first and second members are movable between (1) an engine accessing position, wherein the first and second members are positioned to allow access to the engine during operation and (2) an engine enclosing position, wherein the first and second members cooperate to define the engine receiving space to receive and enclose the engine therein such that noise transmission to the atmosphere during operation is reduced.

Abstract: A watercraft comprises a hull, an internal combustion engine, a propulsion system, and an air/water separating device. The separating device comprises a container having an inlet port and an outlet port. The inlet port enables at least ambient air to enter the container and the outlet port is communicated to the air intake of the engine. The separating device has structure providing spaced apart generally vertical surfaces that define a plurality of elongated tortuous paths between the inlet and outlet ports. The tortuous paths have one or more angular portions and are positioned and configured such that the ambient air passes through the elongated tortuous paths so that water suspended in the air is separated from the air as the air passes through angular portions of the paths with the separated water flowing downwardly along the surfaces to a bottom of the container by gravity.

Abstract: A noise reducing system for a personal watercraft. The system includes a pump insulating system which insulates the pump housing from the hull. More particularly, the pump insulating system includes at least one insulating attachment for connecting a pump housing to a supporting surface of a personal watercraft. Such insulating attachment includes an insulator having a portion mounted between the pump housing and the supporting surface. Advantageously, the system also includes a resonator and a shield, both mounted on the exhaust system, and an insulating material mounted inside an air intake pipe.

Abstract: A personal watercraft with an exhaust system including a first and second mufflers each disposed in opposite sides of the hull. A manifold pipe communicates the engine with the first muffler. A transfer pipe communicates the first muffler with the second muffler. An outlet pipe communicates the second muffler to the atmosphere at an exhaust point located at an opposite side of the hull. The outlet pipe has a raised portion between the second muffler and the exhaust point so that only rotation of the watercraft in a first rotational direction will cause entrant water in the outlet pipe to flow into the second muffler. The transfer pipe has a raised portion between the first and second mufflers so that only rotation of the watercraft in second rotational direction about the longitudinal axis opposite the first rotational direction will cause water that has flowed into the second muffler to flow into the first muffler.

Abstract: A noise reducing system for a personal watercraft. The system includes a pump insulating system which insulates the pump housing from the hull. More particularly, the pump insulating system includes at least one insulating attachment for connecting a pump housing to a supporting surface of a personal watercraft. Such insulating attachment includes an insulator having a portion mounted between the pump housing and the supporting surface. Advantageously, the system also includes a resonator and a shield, both mounted on the exhaust system, and an insulating material mounted inside an air intake pipe.

Abstract: A noise reducing system for a personal watercraft. The system includes a pump insulating system which insulates the pump housing from the hull. More particularly, the pump insulating system includes at least one insulating attachment for connecting a pump housing to a supporting surface of a personal watercraft. Such insulating attachment includes an insulator having a portion mounted between the pump housing and the supporting surface. Advantageously, the system also includes a resonator and a shield, both mounted on the exhaust system, and an insulating material mounted inside an air intake pipe.

Abstract: The noise generated by a snowmobile track in operation can be reduced and attenuated by arranging for the track elements such as the drive lugs and ground-engaging lugs to have a degree of non-uniformity in their repeating pattern and thus to avoid the generation of peak noise levels at particular frequencies.

Abstract: A variable ratio drive pulley designed for use in a belt drive transmission of a snowmobile includes fixed and movable flanges, the movable flange being controlled by centrifugally responsive thrust means employing pivoted weighted levers cooperating with shaped cam surfaces. The dynamic response of the pulley can be adjusted in a simple manner by abutment means supporting the ramps on which the cam surfaces are provided, these abutment means being accessible for adjustment from the exterior of the pulley.