Abstract: A forced air induction system for use with a powered vehicle is disclosed as including a centrifugal supercharger supported by the vehicle's engine and a recirculating induction coolant system that cools the supercharger and the compressed induction fluid provided by the supercharger. The induction coolant system operates by providing coolant to the supercharger and to an intercooler of the forced air induction system. The supercharger case includes internal passageways for cooling the transmission and compressor. The forced air induction system further includes spacers and radiant heat shields for rejecting heat transferred conductively and radiantly from the engine.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for mechanically driving a supercharger and a combination harmonic pulley system and supercharger mounted on a powered vehicle including a crankshaft, the supercharger having a supercharger driveshaft and adapted to provide boost air to the intake of the internal combustion engine, driving the crankshaft which rotates the harmonic pulley system. In general the harmonic pulley system includes a harmonic balancer, a drive shaft pulley, a crankshaft bolt, an alignment structure and a drive belt. The harmonic balancer having a first and second ledge, an annular ring and a central aperture, the driveshaft pulley having an inner and outer region, the inner region includes a first shoulder and presenting a pulley aperture aligned with the central aperture, the outer region including a second shoulder and providing an engaging surface.

Abstract: A personal watercraft is disclosed as having a forced air induction system that is particularly suitable for aftermarket installation. The induction system includes support structure for supporting the compressor in a non-cantilevered manner within the watercraft body. In supercharger applications, the induction system provides a drive arrangement for powering the supercharger that eliminates or reduces the need to remove the jet pump driveshaft. The belt drive embodiment includes a pulley having a fluid flow passageway extending inwardly from the belt-engaging surface so as to relieve any hydrodynamic forces between the belt and pulley. A body-engaging plate of the support structure is associated with a high-friction material pad for frictionally enhancing the securement of the plate to the body. The support structure further includes a fire extinguisher mount removably supporting a fire extinguisher within the interior space of the body.

Abstract: A multi-phase centrifugal supercharging system (10) configured for supplying compressed induction fluid to an engine (E) is disclosed. The air induction system (10) broadly includes a drive assembly (12) powered by the engine (E), a supercharging assembly (14) driven by the drive assembly (12) to compress induction fluid, and an induction fluid flow control assembly (16) in communication with the supercharging assembly (14) to control operation of the supercharging assembly (14) and cooperating therewith to deliver the compressed induction fluid to the intake manifold (IM) of the engine (E). The supercharging assembly (14) includes a pair of centrifugal superchargers (28 and 30) that are phased by the control assembly (16) between multiple operating phases, including a series phase (172) and a parallel phase (176). An alternative air system (306) is also disclosed, in use with a pneumatic conveyor (300), that phases between normal series operation and parallel, clog-displacing operation.

Abstract: A multi-phase centrifugal supercharging system (10) configured for supplying compressed induction fluid to an engine (E) is disclosed. The air induction system (10) broadly includes a drive assembly (12) powered by the engine (E), a supercharging assembly (14) driven by the drive assembly (12) to compress induction fluid, and an induction fluid flow control assembly (16) in communication with the supercharging assembly (14) to control operation of the supercharging assembly (14) and cooperating therewith to deliver the compressed induction fluid to the intake manifold (IM) of the engine (E). The supercharging assembly (14) includes a pair of centrifugal superchargers (28 and 30) that are phased by the control assembly (16) between multiple operating phases, including a series phase (172) and a parallel phase (176), to supply constant target boost to the intake (IM) over the entire rev range of the engine (E).

Abstract: A flammable gel is arranged for extrusion through a nozzle of the associated container, wherein the container includes support legs pivotally mounted about a cylindrical collar secured to the container adjacent a top portion of the container, with the collar including the pivotal legs each including feet secured to the floor of the container in a first position relative to a second position, wherein the legs are projected beyond the container cap member to position the cap member for extrusion of the gel. Agitator structure is provided within the container to effect agitation of the gel for use in projecting the gel in a convenient manner to assist in a starting of fires.