Patent ID: 6155374
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: F02D,Y02T

Abstract:
A snowmobile comprising at least one ski and an engine driving a track, the engine having a crankshaft and a combustion chamber, an exhaust port leading from the combustion chamber for routing exhaust products therefrom and an exhaust valve cooperable with the exhaust port and movable between a first position for delaying the closing of the exhaust port and a second position for advancing the closing of the exhaust port, the snowmobile further comprising an electrical power source which generates power through a connection to the engine crankshaft, a control unit powered by the electrical power source and a drive control in communication with the control unit, the drive control capable of moving the exhaust valve at least partially between the first position and the second position, the control unit signaling the drive control to extend the valve from the first position to the second position if the engine has an engine speed within a predetermined range, and the control unit signaling the drive control to retract the valve from the second position to the first position if the engine speed is outside of the predetermined range, the predetermined range having a lower limit engine speed below which the electrical power source cannot generate sufficient energy the supply to power control unit.