Abstract: A snowmobile construction wherein the components are laid out so as to improve the center of gravity of the snowmobile and position the major components so that they will exert a large portion of their weight on the drive belt. The snowmobile includes a built-up frame assembly that defines a cradle in which the engine is positioned and which drives the drive belt through a pair of transmissions. One of these transmissions is disposed within the frame assembly and in a casing carried by an opening in one side of the frame assembly. The snowmobile is steered by a steering shaft that extends across the top of the engine and through a space between the exhaust manifold of the engine and the engine so as to provide a compact assembly. The positioning of the transmission inboard of the frame permits the use of a forwardly positioned seat with foot rests disposed outwardly of the transmission but closely adjacent the sides of the frame.

Abstract: An anti-sway system for a steerable vehicle of the type employing a torsion bar suspension system. Operatively coupled to the torsion bar for each of the vehicle's steerable wheels or skis is a mechanism for increasing the effective spring rate of the suspension upon cornering over that prevailing when steering a straight line course.

Abstract: A mechanism for adjusting vehicle handlebars includes a lower hub intergral with a vehicle steering column, and an upper hub formed as an integral part of the handlebars. Two opposed diamond-shaped plates rotationally receive both hubs. Two locking gears, one integral with each hub, form various interlocking engagement with one of the plates, corresponding to different handlebar position settings. A release lever, pivotally attached to one of the plates, is pivotable to urge the plates away from one another to release the locking engagment of the gears and projection groove, enabling movement of the handlebars to different settings. A spring loaded detent prevents inadvertent release of the mechanism, and must be moved against the force of a torsion spring prior to the pivoting of the release lever.

Abstract: A motor-powered lawn mower is described which includes provisions for converting same from a walk-behind mower to a stand-up riding mower. A driven shaft associated with the rear wheels is journaled for rotation at the lower ends of a pair of pivot arms which are hinged to opposed sides of the mower's frame. Also coupled to the pivot arms is a riding platform. When the rear wheel assembly is swung forward relative to the frame, the riding platform is tucked beneath the frame so as not to obstruct the feet of the operator walking behind the mower and guiding its path of travel. By swinging the rear wheel assembly to extend rearward of the frame, the riding platform becomes deployed in a horizontal position so that the operator may stand upon it as he manipulates the controls to steer the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically operating the transmission of a small internal combustion engine includes an elongate actuator rod pivotally attached at one end to a pivotally mounted gear shift lever. The other end of the rod is contained in a housing, and attached to a diaphragm reciprocable in the housing and dividing the housing into two fluid chambers. Separate fluid conduits join each chamber with the air intake passage of the engine, and are normally open to maintain a relative vacuum in each chamber. A microprocessor receives electrical input signals corresponding to engine RPM, vehicle velocity, throttle setting and other vehicle operating parameters, and generates output signals for momentarily and selectively closing the fluid conduit to one of the chambers, and simultaneously opening the selected chamber to a source of atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: An anti-sway system for a steerable vehicle of the type employing a torsion bar suspension system. Operatively coupled to the torsion bar for each of the vehicle's steerable wheels or skis is a mechanism for increasing the effective spring rate of the suspension upon cornering over that prevailing when steering a straight line course.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for adjusting the steering column and handlebars of a snowmobile. The steering column has upper and lower sections, pivotable with respect to one another about a first lateral axis. A first pawl and cylinder, mounted respectively to the upper and lower sections, rigidly connect these sections when engaged, but permit these sections to pivot relative to each other when the pawl is retracted from the cylinder. A second pawl and cylinder are mounted at the top of the steering column upper section and rigidly connect the upper section and handlebars. Retraction of the second pawl from engagement with the second cylinder frees the handlebars for rotation, relative to the upper steering column section, about a second lateral axis parallel to the first axis. A single lever, pivotally mounted to the column upper section, has a cam which engages and retracts the first and second pawls simultaneously, for maximum ease in steering system adjustment.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a snowmobile stabilizer system which is constructed such that independent suspension systems attached to the right and left of a front portion of a snowmobile body for supporting steering skis, respectively, are equipped with air cushions, respectively, which have their air chambers communicating with an air reservoir through normally open adjusting valves. These normally open adjusting valves are controlled to associate with the steering operation of a steering handle such that the adjusting valve positioned at the side opposite to the steering direction is throttled.

Abstract: A three-wheeled motor vehicle having a two-part frame construction in which a front frame member includes the front steerable wheel assembly and the supports for the driver's seat, and the rear frame assembly includes support for the engine and a driven pair of rear wheels. The front and rear frames are pivotally joined to allow rotational motion of the front frame assembly relative to the rear frame assembly about a generally longitudinal axis, and an arcuate guide bar and associated slide bearings are used to couple the rearmost seat supports of the front frame to the rear frame providing desired rigidity to the composite frame structure.

Abstract: An improved steering and suspension mechanism for a snowmobile. A tubular sleeve is fixed to the frame of the snowmobile in a generally vertical orientation, and a strut having a portion thereof held within the tubular sleeve is arranged so that it is both rotatably and axially movable. At least one steering ski is attached to the lower end of the strut and a steering arm is disposed coaxially with the strut and made to be swingable about the axis of the strut upon actuation of a steering handle. A connecting arm joins to the steering arm in a vertically movable manner and means are provided for securing the lower end of the connecting arm to the steering skis in a longitudinally slidable manner.

Abstract: A V-belt continuously variable transmission in which a V-belt is made to run on a drive pulley having a speed responsive mechanism and a driven pulley having a torque responsive mechanism. The torque responsive mechanism of the driven pulley includes a spring cap slidably mounted on a sleeve to which a fixed pulley half or sheave is affixed. The spring cap has a plurality of studs passing through openings formed through the fixed pulley sheave and connected to a movable pulley sheave slidingly mounted on the sleeve. Formed on opposed faces of the fixed pulley sheave and the spring cap are plural arcuate ramps, each including grooves into which balls are inserted to provide rolling contact and reduced friction between the opposed ramps.

Abstract: A brake arrangement for a snowmobile vehicle of the type having a so-called mono-body suspension system. In this arrangement, the snowmobile's engine shaft is coupled through a conventional variable speed drive system to a jack shaft which is journaled for rotation with respect to the frame of the vehicle. Pivotally coupled on one end of the jack shaft is a chain case which encloses a sprocket wheel. A support arm on the other end of the jack shaft extends parallel to the chain case. Extending between the sprocket wheel on the jack shaft and a further sprocket wheel associated with the snowmobile's track drive shaft is an endless chain. That track drive shaft is journaled for rotation between the spaced-apart rails defining an orbital path of motion for the ground-engaging track of the vehicle. The rail system defining the orbital path is joined to the frame proximate the rear of the snowmobile vehicle by means of shock absorbers.

Abstract: A compact, highly efficient braking assembly for a snowmobile utilizes first and second plates, one of which swings relative to the other to actuate a wedging device therebetween when a brake control lever is actuated by an operator. The wedging device includes cooperating, adjacent, tapered slots on the confronting faces of the first and second plates and which confine a rolling spacer ball therebetween to urge the plates apart as the ball is forced from deep regions of the slots to more shallow regions during swinging of the moving plate. As one plate moves away from the other along a helical path, a pair of brake pads carried by the moving plate engages one side of a brake disc, forces the disc against a stationary pair of brake pads, cooperates with the stationary brake pads to grip the rotating brake disc therebetween and utilizes brake disc momentum to assist movement of the swinging plate toward braking position.