The Utah snow-mobile

TitleThe Utah snow-mobile
Publication TypeConference Proceedings
Year of Conference1944
AuthorsClyde, G. D.
Conference Name12th Annual Western Interstate Snow Survey Conference
Series TitleProceedings of the 12th Annual Western Interstate Snow Survey Conference
Date PublishedFebruary 1944
PublisherAmerican Geophysical Union, Transactions, Part I:
Conference LocationBerkeley, California
KeywordsOversnow vehicles, Utah snowmobile
Abstract

The two basic principles making the Utah snowmobile successful for transportation over deep snowpack are the split track and the guide runner. The excessive weight of an ordinary tractor was overcome in the Utah Snow-mobile by mounting wide, light metal tracks on the rubber tires of an ordinary automobile. The tracks were wide to reduce the unit load on the snow surface. Snow packing between the tracks and the wheels was overcome by designing a split track with the wheels operating between the two segments of the track. This arrangement provided a self-cleaning device, preventing accumulation of snow between the tracks. Conventional steering tends to overturn the vehicle when one track was stopped. A movable runner, projected in front of the vehicle, operated on fixed swivel at the end of a frame which was rigidly fastened to the chassis. This runner was operated through a cable-chain mechanism fastened to the steering column of the vehicle. Photographs show the mechanical design and features of construction, also transportation over highways. Specifications and performance records are listed.