Date Approved

1-9-2025

Graduate Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Engineering (M.S.E.)

Degree Program

School of Engineering

First Advisor

Dr. Christopher Pung

Second Advisor

Dr. Janice Pawloski

Third Advisor

Professor Ted Kocharian

Academic Year

2024/2025

Abstract

Snowmobile tow bars are devices used to rigidly connect two snowmobiles, such that a disabled snowmobile can be recovered from a remote location with a working snowmobile. These devices, however, are not widely used or readily available. An existing tow bar design was evaluated and redesigned to improve its structural capacity and performance. This evaluation provided a baseline to quantify improvement and included Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Design Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (DFMEA), and Design for Assembly analysis (DFA). A review of existing snowmobile tow bar patents was also performed. An updated design was then fabricated and similarly evaluated. Additionally, experimental testing was performed to validate the new FEA. The new device was found to be structurally insufficient, oversized, and overweight, but to be significantly better in these regards than the initial design. Additional design work and FEA showed that a triangle shaped tow bar may be able to withstand load and collapse in size better than an “A” shaped or “T” shaped tow bar.

Comments

Note on Community Partners:

My appreciation is extended to the staff at Fox Powersports and Village Motorsports for their time and assistance.

Download

Share

COinS