Longitudinally Extending Coil Spring Patents (Class 180/9.56)
  • Patent number: 11440600
    Abstract: A rail brace system is designed for use with a snowmobile monorail. The rail brace system includes a brace having a first end, a second end, a length extending from the first end to the second end, a top side, a bottom side, a height extending from the top side to the bottom side, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a width extending between the inner surface and the outer surface. The inner surface is shaped complementary to a first side of a monorail of a snowmobile. The brace includes an opening extending through the width. The brace extends towards the second end to provide support to the monorail. The opening is positioned along the length of the brace to be concentric to a suspension mount hole of the monorail and the outer surface around the opening is configured to provide a mounting surface for a suspension arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Inventor: Trevor Hansen
  • Patent number: 9149000
    Abstract: An agricultural machine is disclosed. The agricultural machine includes a frame including a first axle on a first side of the frame and a second axle on a second side of the frame; and a bogie axle pivotably mounted on each of the first and second axles of the frame. Each bogie axle includes a body with a front axle disposed at a front end of the body and a rear axle disposed at a rear end of the body. A front tire is mounted on the front axle of each bogie axle and a rear tire is mounted on the rear axle of each bogie axle. The front tire is a different size than the rear tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: KUHN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: William J. Bassett, Daniel R. Brauer, Matthew J. Flood, John Joseph Jewison, Jeffrey Marggi
  • Patent number: 8978794
    Abstract: A snowmobile rear suspension is shown comprised of a linear force element (LFE) positioned outside the envelope of the snowmobile endless track. The LFE is attached at one end to the frame and at the other end to a bell crank. The bell crank is operatively connected to the slide rails, and carrier rollers extend from the bell crank. When the slide rails collapse in normal operation, the bell crank strokes the LFE, and the suspension is progressive throughout the range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy James Giese, Richard H. Bates, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8820458
    Abstract: A snowmobile rear suspension is shown comprised of a linear force element (LFE) positioned outside the envelope of the snowmobile endless track. The LFE is attached at one end to the frame and at the other end to a bell crank. The bell crank is operatively connected to the slide rails. When the slide rails collapse in normal operation, the bell crank strokes the LFE, and the suspension is progressive throughout the range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy James Giese
  • Patent number: 8042628
    Abstract: A vehicle, having a main body is equipped to be fitted mechanically with devices to form a wheeled vehicle, or with devices to form a crawler vehicle. The main body having of the vehicle houses the common components utilized in both configurations such as the engine and the gear box of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventor: Giorgio Bordini
  • Patent number: 7891454
    Abstract: A snowmobile rear suspension is shown comprised of a linear force element (LFE) positioned outside the envelope of the snowmobile endless track. The snowmobile frame includes a chassis mounted to a tunnel, where the chassis includes a central mounting bracket. The LFE is attached at one end to the bracket and at the other end to a bell crank. The bell crank is operatively connected to the slide rails. When the slide rails collapse in normal operation, the bell crank strokes the LFE, and the suspension is progressive throughout the range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy James Giese, Gustavo Augusto Aramayo, II
  • Patent number: 7644788
    Abstract: A trailer that includes a belts that each encompass a front wheel and a rear wheel and have a ground engaging surface and a wheel engaging surface, the wheel engaging surface having lugs thereon for mating with the apertures in the front wheel and the rear wheel such that when the at least one of the front wheel or the rear wheel rotates, the belt is positively driven and at least one belt tensioning system for maintaining tension on the plurality of belts, the at least one belt tensioning system includes a track tension cylinder operatively mounted between an axle of the at least one of the front wheel or the rear wheel and the main frame, wherein the track tension cylinder maintains tension on the belt by moving the axle of the at least one of the front wheel or the rear wheel in a horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Scheetz Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy R. Scheetz
  • Patent number: 7641006
    Abstract: A military vehicle, e.g., tank, that includes a turret, a gun mounted on the turret, a plurality of belts, wherein each of the plurality of belts encompass a front wheel and a rear wheel to provide a positive belt drive system for rotating the belt, at least one suspension system for absorbing load stresses, each suspension system having a suspension cylinder that is operatively and pivotably mounted to a military vehicle frame pivot on a main frame of the military vehicle, at least one belt tensioning system for maintaining tension on the plurality of belts, by moving the axle of the at least one of the front wheel or the rear wheel in a horizontal direction, and at least one electric drive system that includes electric drive motors for rotation of the at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel and braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Scheetz Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy R. Scheetz
  • Patent number: 6832659
    Abstract: A small loader has a central body that is formed as a unitary frame that has spaced apart side walls. The body is supported on drive and support units that are independently assembled, and have mounting plates that bolt to the exterior of the respective side walls of the body when the loader is to be assembled. The mounting plates support a framework for mounting spaced rotatable members, as shown members that mount a drive track for propelling and supporting the body. In one form a separate track drive sprocket is positioned above a slidably mounted track idler that creates a tension in the drive track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Clark Equipment Company
    Inventors: Mark F. Bares, James H. Page
  • Patent number: 6390219
    Abstract: A snowmobile suspension that provides a substantially constant motion-ration (i.e. reduced falling rate) over the entire suspension stroke of the suspension system. The suspension system includes a suspension assembly that includes a lower arm assembly, a suspension arm, and a shock absorber. The lower arm assembly pivotally interconnects the lower portion of the suspension arm and the lower end of the shock absorber to the slide frame at a location relative to the chassis and within the endless track. The upper portion of the suspension arm and the upper end of the shock absorber pivot independently from each other, and the upper portion of the suspension arm is positioned lower and forward of the upper end of the shock absorber. The upper end of the shock absorber is positioned relative to the chassis and within the endless track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Bombardier Inc.
    Inventor: Esa Vaïsanen
  • Patent number: 6206124
    Abstract: An adjustable rear suspension system for a tracked vehicle comprises a slide frame for guiding a portion of the endless track, the slide frame having a pair of substantially parallel slide rails, the slide rails defining a longitudinal direction. The rear suspension system further comprises at least one spring-like member for urging the slide frame away from the chassis. A front suspension arm assembly has an upper end pivotally connected to the chassis and a lower end pivotally connected to the slide frame. A rear suspension arm assembly has ail upper arm pivotally connected to the chassis and a lower end connected to at least one block capable of limited displacement in the longitudinal direction between a front stopper and a rear stopper. The rear suspension system further includes a rocker arm having an upper end connected to at least one block and a lower end pivotally connected to the slide frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Bombardier Inc.
    Inventors: Bertrand Mallette, Steve Langlais
  • Patent number: RE38124
    Abstract: In a snowmobile track suspension, the slide frame is supported upon downwardly and rearwardly angled front and rear suspension arm assemblies. The suspension arm assemblies are of similar construction, length, and orientation, having upper ends connected to fixed pivots in the snowmobile chassis and lower ends pivoted to the slide frame. The lower end of the rear suspension arm assembly has a pivot mount that is movable longitudinally of the slide frame. Movement in the forwards direction being blocked by an abutment which ensures that during suspension travel the front end of the slide frame cannot move higher than the rear end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignees: Bombardier Inc., Polaris Industries Partners L.P.
    Inventors: Bertrand Mallette, Gerard J. Karpik