SNOW SCOOTER

Abstract

The invention relates to a snow scooter (100), which includes—a frame (10) comprising a first end (23) and a second end (24), the frame (10) forming a standing platform (25) for a user (102),—a steering column (21) joined to the first end (23) of the frame (10) in an articulated manner for steering the snow scooter (100),—a steering runner (8) joined to the lower end (28) of the steering column (21) for supporting the snow scooter (100) on a surface of a substrate (104),—a track drive unit (14) connected to the second end (24) of the frame (10) for supporting the snow scooter (100) on the snow (104) and for transmitting thrust to the surface of the substrate (104),—an electric motor (2) for driving the track drive unit (14), arranged inside the track drive unit (14), and—a battery (11) for storing electricity for the electric motor (2). The frame (10) includes a battery space (32) formed in the frame (10) for the battery (11), the battery space (32) being formed together with the first end (23) of the frame (10) in front of the track drive unit (14) in direction of travel of the snow scooter (100) so as to direct weight of the battery (11) onto the steering runner (8) in order to improve steerability.

Claims

1. A snow scooter (100), which includes a frame (10) comprising a first end (23) and a second end (24), the frame (10) forming a standing platform (25) for a user (102), a steering column (21) joined to the first end (23) of the frame (10) in an articulated manner for steering the snow scooter (100), a steering runner (8) joined to the lower end (28) of the steering column (21) for supporting the snow scooter (100) on the surface of a substrate (104), a track drive unit (14) connected to the second end (24) of the frame (10) for supporting the snow scooter (100) on the snow (104) and for transmitting thrust to the surface of the substrate (104), an electric motor (2) for driving the track drive unit (14), arranged inside the track drive unit (14), and a battery (11) for storing electricity for the electric motor (2), characterized in that the frame (10) includes a battery space (32) formed in the frame (10) for the battery (11), which battery space (32) is formed in connection with the first end (23) of the frame (10) in front of the track drive unit (14) in the direction of travel of the snow scooter (100) so as to direct the weight of the battery (11) onto the steering runner (8) in order to improve steerability.

2. The snow scooter according to claim 1, characterized in that the track drive unit (14) includes a track frame (7) for supporting the track drive unit (14) on the frame (10) of the snow scooter (100), the track frame (7) comprising a front end (44) and a rear end (46), a drive sprocket (1) arranged in the front end (44) or rear end (46) of the track frame (7), a rotation cylinder (3) arranged at an opposite end of the track frame (7) relative to the drive sprocket (1), a track (4) arranged in a loop around the track frame (7) and supported by the drive sprocket (1) and the rotation cylinder (3), and support means (48) arranged on a lower surface of the track frame (7) for supporting the track (4) between the drive sprocket (1) and the rotation cylinder (3).

3. The snow scooter according to claim 2, characterized in that, in the track drive unit (14), an angle of coverage of both the drive sprocket (1) and the rotation cylinder (3) in relation to the track (4) is 170-180°.

4. The snow scooter according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that height of the track drive unit (14) is 20-40%, advantageously 30-38%, of the length of the track drive unit (14).

5. The snow scooter according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the standing platform (25) is continuous and even with a length of 95-100% of the length of the frame (10).

6. The snow scooter according to any one of claims 2-5, characterized in that the snow scooter (100) further includes a chain (18) or belt for transmitting power from the electric motor (2) to the drive sprocket (1).

7. The snow scooter according to any one of claims 2-6, characterized in that the track frame (7) is joined to the frame (10) in an articulated manner by means of a transverse shaft (13a) in order to improve suitability of the track drive unit (14) to terrain.

8. The snow scooter according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the steering column (21) comprises an upper end (26) and a lower end (28), wherein the steering runner (8) is joined to the lower end (28) in an articulated manner and handlebars (9) are connected to the upper end (26) for steering the snow scooter (100).

9. The snow scooter according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that the battery space (32) is formed in the frame (10) in position of use of the snow scooter (100) underneath the standing platform (25).

10. The snow scooter according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that height of the frame (10) from the substrate surface (104) to the standing platform (25) is 200-400 mm, advantageously 270-330 mm.

11. The snow scooter according to any one of claims 2-10, characterized in that the support means (48) include a plurality of sliding pads (74) arranged on an inner surface of the loop of the track (4) in a row in longitudinal direction of the track (4) on both sides of the rotation cylinder (3), and sliding guide supports (20) connected to the lower surface of the track frame (7), which sliding guide supports (20) are adapted to slide on top of the sliding pads (74) of the track (4), thus supporting the track (4) between the drive sprocket (1) and the rotation cylinder (3).

12. The snow scooter according to any one of claims 1-11, characterized in that the snow scooter (100) additionally includes a controller (30) for controlling use of the electric motor (2), and in that the controller (30), the battery (11) and the electric motor (2) are adapted to operate at a voltage of 24-72 V, advantageously 48 V.

13. The snow scooter according to any one of claims 1-12, characterized in that the electric motor (2) is a brushless direct-current motor, maximum output of which is 0.5-2.0 kW, advantageously 1.0-1.6 kW.

14. The snow scooter according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the controller (30) and the electric motor (2) are adapted to function as a generator in order to charge the battery (11) and utilize kinetic energy of the snow scooter (100) when travelling downhill.

15. The snow scooter according to any one of claims 12-14, characterized in that the controller (30) is arranged in the battery space (32) or in some other housing structure (72) belonging to the frame (10) and the snow scooter (100) further includes a heat-transfer element (34) running through a wall of the battery space (32) or housing structure (72), the heat-transfer element (34) comprising a third end (36) attached to the controller (30) for transferring heat from the controller (30) to the exterior of the battery space (32) and a fourth end (38), as well as a cooling element (40) connected to the fourth end (38) of the heat-transfer element (34) in an outer surface of the housing structure (72), advantageously in a surface delimiting a vent (52) formed in the housing structure (72) for the track drive unit (14).

Description

[0045] The invention is illustrated in the following in detail with reference to the attached drawings illustrating embodiments of the invention, wherein

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a general schematic representation of the snow scooter in accordance with the invention in a side view,

[0047] FIG. 2 shows the standing platform and frame, to which the track drive unit and the battery are attached, of the snow scooter according to the invention as a schematic representation illustrated from the side,

[0048] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of the steering column and handlebars folded together onto the standing platform,

[0049] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of the electrically driven snow scooter in a top view,

[0050] FIG. 5 shows a view of the track frame on its own from above,

[0051] FIG. 6 shows a partial, exploded and oblique view of the track drive unit, auxiliary frame and frame,

[0052] FIG. 7 shows an oblique view of the track drive unit, auxiliary frame and frame together,

[0053] FIG. 8 shows an oblique view of the track on its own as well as of the sliding pads attached thereto,

[0054] FIGS. 9a and 9b show cross-sectional views of two alternative realizations of the support means,

[0055] FIG. 10 shows an oblique view of a realization of the cooling of the controller.

[0056] The following references are used in the figures:

TABLE-US-00001 1 drive sprocket 2 electric motor 3 rotation cylinder 4 track 5 roller belt 6 support roller assembly 7 track frame 8 steering runner 9 handlebars 10 frame 11 battery 12 connecting cable 13 three-point trestle  13a shaft 14 track drive unit 15 latch mechanism 16 kingpin element 17 brake caliper 18 chain 19 brake disc 20 sliding guide support 21 steering column 22 shock-absorbing element 23 first end of frame 24 second end of frame 25 standing platform 26 upper end of steering column 28 lower end of steering column 30 controller 32 battery space 34 heat-transfer element 36 third end 38 fourth end 40 cooling element 42 battery space opening 44 front end of track frame 46 rear end of track frame 48 support means 50 sliding pin guide 52 track drive unit vent 54 track ridge 56 electric motor housing 58 curved end of sliding guide support 60 attachment slot for rotation cylinder 62 attachment opening for drive sprocket 64 chain tensioner 66 auxiliary frame 68 joint pin 70 sliding pins 72 frame housing structure 74 sliding pads 76 bolt 78 row of sliding pads 80 engagement hole 82 nut   82′ alternative location of sliding pads 84 sliding pad opening 86 sliding surface 88 gap 90 spike 100 snow scooter 102 user 104 substrate surface.

[0057] FIGS. 1-4 show schematic representations of a basic structure of the snow scooter 100 according to the invention.

[0058] In accordance with FIG. 1, the electrically driven snow scooter according to the invention comprises a frame 10, handlebars 9, a steering column 21, a steering runner 8 and a track drive unit 14, which are assembled in such a manner as to form a snow scooter 100 in accordance with the invention. The handlebars 9, the steering column 21 and the steering runner 8 can be joined to one another by a shock-absorbing element 22, thus forming a steering unit, which is attached to the frame 10 by a kingpin element 16. The steering runner can also be called steering ski. The kingpin element 16 allows a free 180° steering movement. The steering column 21 can have a latch mechanism 15, which allows a folding of the steering column 21 into a storage position on top of the frame 10 in the direction of the formed standing platform 25. The track drive unit 14 and a battery 11 are attached to the frame 10, on which a standing platform 25 of the snow scooter 100 is formed.

[0059] In accordance with FIGS. 1-3, 6 and 7, the track drive unit 14 is composed of a track frame 7, a track 4, a rotation cylinder 3 and a drive sprocket 1, which receives its driving force from an electric motor 2 arranged inside the loop of the track 4 advantageously by means of a chain 18 acting as the transmission. The drive sprocket 1 and the rotation cylinder 3 are connected together by a track frame 7 of the track drive unit 14. A simplified depiction of the track frame 7 is shown in FIGS. 1-4, while a realization according to an embodiment is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0060] The lower guiding and support system of the track 4 can be formed by means of support means 48. The support means 48 can be realized by means of the shown support roller assembly 6, sliding guide supports 20 or a roller belt 5 or by combinations of the same schematically illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. However, the support means 48 are most advantageously realized by means of the sliding guide supports 20 visible in FIGS. 6, 7, 9a and 9b. Attached to the track frame 7 in this embodiment are sliding guide supports 20, which are attached to the lower surface of the track frame 7 between the drive sprocket and the rotation cylinder on both sides of the drive sprocket and rotation cylinder. The sliding guide supports 20 support the track frame 7 on sliding pads 74 formed in the surface of the track 4 shown in FIGS. 8-9b in such a manner that the sliding guide supports 20 do not come into contact with the material of the track 4, but rather remain at a distance from the inner surface of the track 4 by a gap 88 in accordance with FIGS. 9a and 9b. In accordance with FIG. 8, the sliding pads 74 can be formed in two rows 78 of sliding pads on the inner surface of the track 4 on both sides of the drive sprocket and rotation cylinder. The sliding pads can be realized, for example, by means of thin, flat-headed bolts, the heads of which form the sliding pads 74 on the inner surface of the track 4, while the tip of the bolt in turn forms a stud on the outside of the track 4, the stud increasing the traction of the track 4. The bolts 76 as well as the nuts 82 used for anchoring them are illustrated in FIGS. 9a and 9b. Attached to the end of the bolt 76 in FIG. 9b is a separate spike 90, by means of which the traction of the track 4 can be increased. The sliding pads are most advantageously attached in alignment with the ridges 54 of the track 4 visible in FIG. 9b and designated by the reference 82′.

[0061] The sliding pads 74 can be made, for example, of metal, in which case a plastic sliding surface 86, which is illustrated in FIGS. 9a and 9b, is attached to the sliding guide support 20. Alternatively, the sliding pads can be made of plastic, in which case the sliding guide supports in turn can be made of metal. Other material pairs can also be used with which one material is more durable than the other material which functions as a consumable surface. The attachment of the sliding pads to the track advantageously occurs by means of glue, screws or small hooks that can be folded through the track, or a combined effect of the foregoing. If the sliding pads or sliding guide supports are made of plastic, the component in question must be easy to replace.

[0062] The support means using sliding guide supports and sliding surfaces are compact in size and fit, i.e. can be arranged, inside the loop of the track of the track drive unit, where there is very little space. There is particularly limited space within the track loop because the physical dimensions of the track drive unit are very small and, moreover, because the transmission realized by means of the electric motor and chain or belt is also realized by means of the drive sprocket and electric motor within the track loop.

[0063] The battery 11 housed in the frame 10 can provide power along a connecting cable 12 to the electric motor 2 arranged inside the loop of the track 4. In accordance with an embodiment, the thus formed self-contained track drive unit 14 can be attached to two three-point trestles 13 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. The three-point trestles can be mounted by bearings on the frame 10 on both sides of a shaft 13a running through the frame 10.

[0064] Alternatively, the track drive unit 14 can be attached to the frame 10 by means of the auxiliary frame 66 visible in FIGS. 6 and 7. In FIGS. 6 and 7, the frame 10 is a housing structure 72 realized from wood, inside which a battery and a controller are arranged. The upper surface of the housing structure 72 is formed by the standing platform 25, visible in FIG. 1, for the user 102 of the snow scooter 100, who stands on the standing platform 25. The battery space can be a separate housing formed inside the housing structure and arranged in front of the track drive unit. The battery space can also be a cradle, on which the battery is supported in front of the track drive unit, suspended underneath the standing platform.

[0065] The speed of the electrically driven snow scooter can be reduced or the snow scooter can be stopped with a brake unit that can be installed in the drive sprocket 1 as shown in FIGS. 1-3, said brake unit being formed by a brake disc 19 and brake caliper 17.

[0066] In accordance with FIGS. 6 and 7, the rear end 46 of the track frame 7 includes an attachment slot 60 for the rotation cylinder and the front end 44 includes an attachment opening or attachment openings 62 for the drive sprocket. By means of the attachment slot for the rotation cylinder, the rotation cylinder can be moved in relation to the drive sprocket so as to tighten or loosen the track loop. A rough adjustment can be carried out by choosing a suitable attachment opening for the drive sprocket and performing a final tightening by changing the position of the rotation cylinder in the attachment slot 60.

[0067] The transmission from the electric motor 2 to the drive sprocket 1 can be advantageously realized using a chain 18 or belt. The electric motor uses a notably small gearwheel with the power take-off shaft relative to the gearwheel of the drive sprocket, so that the electric motor at a high operating speed supplies sufficient torque for the needs of the snow scooter. For the tightening of the chain, the track drive unit can include the chain tensioner 64 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, by means of which the housing 56 of the electric motor can be moved in relation to the drive sprocket in order to tighten or loosen the chain.

[0068] In accordance with FIG. 6, the track frame 7 can be attached to the frame 10 using an auxiliary frame 66. The auxiliary frame 66 can be attached, for example, by means of bolts to the wooden housing structure 72 acting as the frame 10. Joint pins 68, which can fit into a tube acting as the shaft 13a, thus forming a joint between the track drive unit 14 and the frame 10, are formed in the auxiliary frame 66. For receiving the transverse forces of the track drive unit acting on the shaft 13a, the auxiliary frame 66 can include sliding pins 70, which are in contact with the sliding pin guides 50 belonging to the track frame 7 and support the track frame 7 swinging around the shaft 13a in a lateral direction relative to the auxiliary frame 66.

[0069] In FIG. 10, a partial, exploded view of the structure of the controller 30 controlling the operation of the electric motor is shown. The controller 30 is advantageously arranged together with the battery 11 in the battery space 32 shown in FIGS. 1-3, which can also be a partially open space in the front part of the frame 10, in which the battery and the controller are arranged. The controller can also be arranged elsewhere in the housing structure 72. The battery space 32 is, however, advantageously closable in a water-tight manner, thus avoiding that water enters into contact with the battery 11 and the controller 30 advantageously arranged in connection with the battery. The controller can also be arranged in a separate space relative to the battery. As the current travelling from the battery to the electric motor flows via the controller, the controller can heat up when there is a heavy load, for example, when driving uphill. In order to avoid a reduction of the service life of the controller due to overheating, a cooling is advantageously set up for the controller.

[0070] In this case, the cooling is formed by making an opening 42 in the battery space or housing structure, through which a heat-transfer element 34 is arranged. In this connection, the heat-transfer element is a cooling heat sink attached by a third end 36 to the controller 30, a cooling element 40 being in turn attached to a fourth end 38 of the same. The cooling element can be, for example, a track drive unit vent 52 in a surface of the frame 10 closest to the track drive unit, i.e. in the frame 10 in accordance with FIG. 6, where snow, water or slush thrown up by the track of the track drive unit comes into contact with the cooling element. This way, the heat to be transferred from the controller via the heat-transfer element to the cooling element is transferred for the heating of the snow or water on its surface, thus cooling the controller. The controller can be controlled by means of a potentiometer arranged on the handlebars or a thumb throttle known, for example, from ATVs.

[0071] In part, existing components can be used when realizing the snow scooter according to the invention. The drive sprocket of the track drive unit in the snow scooter can be, for example, the No-slip drive sprocket offered for sale on the Finnish website Wanda-motor.fi, which has a partition of 2.52, 11/54 teeth and an outer diameter of 200 mm. The track in turn can be made of rubber in which there are metal buckles for the protection of the engagement holes as well as a fibre reinforcement for the reinforcement of the rubber track. The track can have a length of 1200-2000 mm and a width of 100-350 mm. The electric motor used can be, for example, a 36 V or 48 V direct-current electric motor, the maximum output of which is 0.5-2.0 kW, advantageously 1.0-1.6 kW. The motor speed of the electric motor can be 2500-5000 rpm, which is modified by means of a transmission so as to be suited to the use of a snow scooter, in such a manner that the maximum speed is 25 km/h. The battery is a 10-40 Ah battery naturally with a voltage corresponding to the electric motor.

[0072] The width of the snow scooter can be 100-350 mm, advantageously 150-200 mm; the height from the standing platform to the surface of the snow acting as the substrate 200-400 mm, advantageously 270-330 mm; the overall height up to the handlebars 1000-1500 mm, advantageously 1100-1300 mm; and the overall length in a position of use from the tip of the steering runner to the rear edge of the track drive unit 1500-2000 mm, advantageously 1600-1800 mm, and in the transport position with a folded steering column 1000-1500 mm, advantageously 1100-1300 mm. The standing platform can have a length of 700-1300 mm, advantageously 900-1100 mm. The length of the track drive unit in terms of the perimeter of the endless track can be 500-900 mm, advantageously 600-750 mm. The track drive unit protrudes beyond the frame by 0-400 mm, advantageously 100-300 mm. The housing structure of the frame of the snow scooter is advantageously wooden and made of a composite and the frame of the track drive unit and the auxiliary frame can be made of, for example, aluminium. The overall weight of the snow scooter is thus in a range of 15-40 kg.

[0073] It should be noted in this connection that the support of the track of the track drive unit illustrated in connection with the snow scooter according to the present invention, wherein the support means include a plurality of sliding surfaces arranged on the inner surface of a track loop in the longitudinal direction of the track in a row on both sides of the rotation cylinder as well as sliding guide supports connected to the lower surface of the track frame, the sliding guide supports being adapted so as to slide on top of the sliding surfaces of the track between the drive sprocket and the rotation cylinder, can also be implemented independently as an independent invention for other objects not related to the snow scooter according to the present invention.

[0074] It should be noted in this connection that the cooling of the controller illustrated in connection with the snow scooter according to the present invention, wherein the controller is arranged in a battery space and the snow scooter further includes a heat-transfer element running through the battery space, the heat-transfer element comprising a third end attached to the controller for transferring heat from the controller to the exterior of the battery space as well as a fourth end and a cooling element connected to the fourth end of the heat-transfer element to the outside of the battery space between the track drive unit and the frame, where the snow and water thrown up by the track drive unit cools the cooling element as well as the controller by way of the heat-transfer element, can also be implemented independently as an independent invention for other objects not related to the snow scooter according to the present invention.