Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously discharging inadvertently accumulated water from the automatic transmission housing and/or air filter housing of an all terrain vehicle is disclosed. The continuous water discharge system employs a one-way valve structure that is mounted at the lower end portion of either or both of the automatic transmission housing and air filter housing.

Abstract: A device for precluding induction of impurities with raw air inducted into an internal combustion engine, wherein at least one air intake stub of an air filter container draws air from an air accumulation chamber which is sealed off on the front side by a front end covering and on the back side by a convex separating partition adjacent to the engine chamber, and which contains at least one air intake opening located in the floor area of the partition which communicates with air intake openings in the front end of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A device to reduce the visible and infrared signature of a military combat vehicle by diluting the engine's exhaust and cooling gases. The device includes a caisson receiving both sources of heat flow to ensure a single outlet for both the exhaust gases and the cooling air. The caisson is constituted by an enclosure and a shutter. The enclosure ensures a homogeneous mixture of the two fluids and the shuttering provides a way by which the mixture is evacuated. The air outlet of the dilution device may be positioned between the axles of a wheeled-type vehicle.

Abstract: A cooling air path is formed by an air duct provided in front of an engine and below main frames. The air duct has a cooling air port that is almost the same width, in plan view, as the lateral width of the main frames and a discharge port is formed thinner than the cooling air port, further to the rear than the cooling air port and in the vicinity of the engine.

Abstract: In a fuel cell powered electric vehicle having a fuel cell system and an electricity storing device for storing electricity generated by the fuel cell system, the fuel cell system and the electricity storing device stored in a box are fixed to a lower side of a floor of a cabin. A plate is provided to separate the fuel cell system and the electricity storing device in the interior of the box from each other. In addition, through holes are provided in the floor of the cabin for connecting between a refrigerant inlet port and a refrigerant outlet port of the electricity storing device and the cabin.

Abstract: A snow vehicle which is capable of increasing the cooling efficiency of an intercooler thereof by reducing the influence of intense heat from a supercharger thereof, while suppressing the overall height of an engine thereof. An engine hood covers a front part of the body frame from above, and an engine room is formed under the engine hood. A supercharger is disposed in the engine room at a location forward of the engine, and an intercooler is disposed rightwardly of the engine. High-temperature air from the supercharger is cooled by the intercooler and supplied to the engine. An air inlet port is formed through a front left half of the engine hood, for taking in air for cooling the supercharger etc., and another air inlet port is formed through a front right half of the engine hood separately from the air inlet port, for taking in air for cooling mainly the intercooler and a battery.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a cooling structure for a continuous variation transmission system of an all-terrain vehicle. Primarily speaking, it has an inlet conduit attached to the air inlet of the gearbox, with said inlet conduit extending in front of the engine until it reaches the below of the front mud guard, and an inlet box attached to the inlet conduit. An exhaust conduit is also being attached to the exhaust of the gearbox, with said exhaust pipe extending to the rear of the engine until it reaches the below of the rear mud guard, and an exhaust box is attached to the exhaust conduit. Both the inlet box and the exhaust box are placed above the tail of the engine exhaust conduit, and situated on the outer surface of the chassis. The inlet and exhaust box design prevents dust, dirt and water from entering the gearbox. Furthermore, the conduits are installed on the outer surface of the chassis to enable ease of assembly and maintenance, and to reduce the difficulty of installing other components.

Abstract: A small vehicle has a frame assembly that is supported by rear wheels. An engine is supported by the frame assembly. The rear wheels are driven by the engine through a shaft drive arrangement. A brake assembly is connected to the shaft drive arrangement. An exhaust system extends away from the engine. An air cleaner is positioned along an air induction system of the engine. The air cleaner is positioned between the exhaust system and a cooling air duct that supplies cooling air to the brake assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an air intake apparatus for an internal combustion engine of an automobile. The apparatus has an enclosure with an air supply path running throughout. Within the enclosure is an electrically driven supercharger, an automotive battery arid possibly other electronics. The enclosure is divided by a partition with an air passage into a battery compartment and a supercharger compartment. The battery compartment is upstream of the supercharger compartment. Air enters the battery compartment through an inlet, travels through the air passage in the partition, enters the supercharger and leaves through an outlet in the supercharger compartment to feed the engine. When the supercharger is running it draws in additional cool air from outside the enclosure through the inlet.

Abstract: A heat deflector for a Harley-Davidson™ v-twin engine motorcycle or a similarly designed and styled motorcycle having a similar v-twin engine. The heat deflector is mounted above the rear cylinder of the v-twin engine and between the leg of a user and the rear cylinder of the v-twin engine. The heat deflector deflects hot air away from the leg of the user and away from saddlebags that may be mounted behind the leg of the user bilaterally on the rear wheel of the motorcycle. The heat deflector provides greater comfort for a user on a long distance drive. It is constructed to blend seemlessly with the appearance of the motorcycle and it reduces condensation in saddlebags. The heat deflector of this invention provides much of the comfort of an alternative designed motorcycle with a fairing enclosing the engine while retaining the distinctive appearance of the Harley-Davidson™ or a Harley-Davidson™ type v-twin engine motorcycle.

Abstract: A centrifugal blower (70) for an electric-drive vehicle (71) having three independent air outlets (82, 86, 90) receiving air from a single impeller (78). A first radial airflow (84) provides cooling air to an alternator (106) of the vehicle, a second radial airflow (88) provides cooling air to a control group (102) of the vehicle, and an axial airflow (92) provides cooling air to an electric drive motor (108) of the vehicle. The first and second radial airflows are provided through respective first and second outlets (82, 86) formed at radially separated locations in a perimeter of the blower housing (72). The axial airflow is provided through a generally ring-shaped third outlet (90) formed in a sidewall (94) of the housing. An air dam (110) provides a pressure barrier between the radial and axial airflows proximate a location where the first radial airflow is redirected to flow in a generally axial direction.

Abstract: An elongated air intake screen is provided for vehicles such as commercial mowers that operate in conditions having substantial airborne foreign materials that tend to clog the screen. The exterior surface of the screen is provided with intake openings throughout its 360 degree surface to draw air over a substantial area. It is located at the upper edge of the vehicle to separate it from the cutting decks and area where airborne grasses and similar foreign materials are encountered. Air drawn into the screen is used to cool the engine and hydraulic fluid heat exchangers and provide for engine combustion needs.

Abstract: A small vehicle has a frame assembly that is supported by rear wheels. An engine unit is supported by the frame assembly. The engine unit comprises a belt drive assembly. A cooling system delivers and removes cooling air to the belt drive assembly. A storage compartment is positioned below a seat. An exhaust chamber is formed to the rear of the storage compartment. Heated air from the cooling system is exhausted into the chamber prior to being exhausted to the atmosphere. The storage compartment provides a buffer air pocket to reduce the amount of heat transmitted to the seat from the exhaust chamber.

Abstract: A cooling system for an engine transmission in a saddle type vehicle such as an all-terrain-vehicle. In one embodiment, the cooling system has an induction duct, connected to a belt case that houses a transmission, for inducting cooling air into the belt case. The system further includes a discharge duct connected to the belt case for exhausting the cooling air from the belt case, the discharge duct extending toward a rear fender of the vehicle. In addition, the system has an air exhaust aperture through which the cooling-air exits the discharge duct, the exhaust aperture located at an end of the discharge duct, the discharge duct generally forming an inverted “U” shape as viewed from a rear end of the vehicle, and the air exhaust aperture positioned so that the cooling air exiting the discharge duct does not directly strike the rear fender of the vehicle.

Abstract: A motor vehicle with a forward-mounted engine and a forward-situated air intake has a tubular chassis element running in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Between the air intake and the chassis element there is a guide arrangement for leading air into and through the chassis element past at least one major vehicle component, advantageously the vehicle's gearbox, situated inside the chassis element. Downstream from that major vehicle component there is an air outlet.

Abstract: An inlet 51 is disposed at a position which is on an upper side relative to an axial flow fan 60 and is opposite to a direction of air flow produced by the rotation of the axial flow fan 60, whereas an intercooler 30 is disposed at a position which is on a lower side relative to the axial flow fan 60 and is downstream along the direction of air flow produced by the rotation of the axial flow fan 60, whereby it can be prevented that an air cleaner 50 constitutes a resistance to an air flow to thereby reduce the volume of air which passes through the intercooler 30. Consequently, intake air can be sufficiently cooled to thereby increase the output of an engine 40.

Abstract: In an air conditioner for an automobile, restriction on arrangement of electric apparatus is removed, small-sized and light-weighted formation is achieved by promoting cooling capacity of the electric apparatus by a cooling fluid by an inexpensive constitution and firm defrosting is enabled by closing an air flow path of an exterior heat exchanger. For that purpose, there are provided a refrigeration cycle having an electrically driven compressor and an exterior heat exchanger and a radiator used in an electric automobile having a driving motor for driving the automobile and a motor driving power source for driving the driving motor and connected to cool a heat generating electric apparatus such as the driving motor or the motor driving power source via the cooling fluid, the radiator is arranged in the air flow path of exterior fan and an opening and closing apparatus for opening and closing the air flow path of the exterior heat exchanger is provided.

Abstract: A drive belt cooling structure for an offroad vehicle including an internal combustion engine. The engine has at least one cylinder, a piston positioned in the cylinder, and a crankshaft. The transmission includes a transmission chamber defined by a transmission case. A primary shaft of the transmission is driven by the crankshaft. A main shaft of the transmission is offset from the primary shaft and is driven by the primary shaft through a drive belt. The main shaft is arranged to drive at least one of the wheels. The primary shaft is supported by a support bracket, the support bracket being connected to the crankcase. An air inlet is adapted to permit entry of cooling air into the transmission chamber, and an air guide is configured to direct a flow of cooling air into the transmission chamber along the drive belt, the air guide being connected to the support bracket.

Abstract: The air intake apparatus comprises a hollow unitary enclosure (50), housing a motor vehicle battery (16), an engine air supply path (3) through the enclosure, an air compressor (10) within the enclosure for assisting airflow along the air supply path (3) to the engine (1). The enclosure is partly divided by a partition (92) into a battery compartment (56) and a compressor compartment (58). The partition (92) has an air passage (90) therethrough and the battery (16) is in the air path (3) upstream of the partition (92). The air inlet (54) is at a lower level than the air passage (90) through the partition (92), and the air passage (90) through the partition (2) is at a lower level than the air inlet (98) to the compressor (10).

Abstract: A heat deflector for a Harley-Davidson™ v-twin engine motorcycle or a similarly designed and styled motorcycle having a similar v-twin engine. The heat deflector is mounted above the rear cylinder of the v-twin engine and between the leg of a user and the rear cylinder of the v-twin engine. The heat deflector deflects hot air away from the leg of the user and away from saddlebags that may be mounted behind the leg of the user bilaterally on the rear wheel of the motorcycle. The heat deflector provides greater comfort for a user on a long distance drive. It is constructed to blend seemlessly with the appearance of the motorcycle and it reduces condensation in saddlebags. The heat deflector of this invention provides much of the comfort of an alternative designed motorcycle with a fairing enclosing the engine while retaining the distinctive appearance of the Harley-Davidson™ or a Harley-Davidson™ type v-twin engine motorcycle.

Abstract: An assembly comprises a mounted component that is located relative to a mounting component through one or more complimentary locating-structure pairs that comprise locating structures of the mounted component and of the mounting component that are engaged to one another. One or more of the locating structures of the complimentary locating-structure pairs includes a locating-point insert that is integrally molded or cast into parent material of the locating structure.

Abstract: An air intake for a motorized vehicle, for obtaining a low radar and IR signature of a ballistically protected air intake (10) of the vehicle. The air intake (10) has a perforated armour plate (12) lying level with an outer bodywork plate (14) of the vehicle, and a fresh-air duct (18) which adjoins the inside of the perforated armour plate (12) and which has a fan (20) for sucking the fresh air necessary for running the vehicle into the duct via air intake openings (16) in the armour plate. A wall section (22) of the fresh-air duct (18) situated between the air intake openings (16) and a heat-generating source (24) in the vehicle is air-cooled.

Abstract: Motor vehicle comprising a passenger compartment (12), a front compartment (14), which is arranged in the front of the passenger compartment (12), and a heat exchanger unit (16), comprising an engine cooling radiator arranged in the area separating the passenger compartment (12) from the front compartment (14). The motor vehicle comprises a manifold for conveying a flow of air (22), with an air flow inlet section (28) arranged in the front part of the motor vehicle and an air flow outlet section (30) arranged in the rear part of the front compartment (14), in correspondence to said heat exchanger unit (16).

Abstract: An auxiliary cooling, heating and electrical power unit for vehicles with large capacity internal combustion engines. The unit includes a small capacity auxiliary engine driving an auxiliary coolant pump, alternator and refrigerant compressor, a separate air conditioning unit and an auxiliary battery. A heat exchanger attached to the auxiliary engine transfers heat from the exhaust gases to coolant circulating through the heat exchanger. The coolant pump circulates the heated coolant through the main heater core and the main engine before returning to the heat exchanger. The refrigerant compressor provides refrigerant to the auxiliary air conditioning unit. The auxiliary alternator provides electrical power to the auxiliary battery, the main battery and other electrical equipment. An interlock prevents the simultaneous operation of the auxiliary engine and the main engine.

Abstract: A small vehicle has a frame assembly that is supported by rear wheels. An engine is supported by the frame assembly. The rear wheels are driven by the engine through a shaft drive arrangement. A brake assembly is connected to the shaft drive arrangement. An exhaust system extends away from the engine. An air cleaner is positioned along an air induction system of the engine. The air cleaner is positioned between the exhaust system and a cooling air duct that supplies cooling air to the brake assembly.

Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle (10) includes an internal combustion engine (12) which drives a generator (20) to produce electrical energy for a traction motor (44) of the vehicle. The generator (20) is provided with a cooling air intake port (20i). A air mover or compressor (30) is driven from the engine (12) or from an auxiliary motor (84), to produce air under positive pressure. The air from the air mover (30) is coupled by air paths (60, 62, 64) to the cooling air input port (20i) of the generator (20) and to the combustion air aspiration or input port (16) of the engine (12). If the air mover serves the purpose of cooling the generator (20) and, if a non-positive-displacement pump, also provides an effect similar to turbocharging, and if a positive-displacement type, supercharges the engine (12).

Abstract: The present invention provides a front-end structure comprising a panel body (400) to which a center member (500), being fixed to a body of a vehicle at a front end of the vehicle and supporting, at least, a driving engine (E/G), is joined, wherein the panel body (400) is molded out of aluminum by die-casting and a joining section (421) of the panel body (400) to which the center member (500) is joined has a mechanical strength higher than that of any other sections of the panel body (400) near the joining section (421) except the joining section (421).

Abstract: A vehicle heater of the type that uses diverted engine coolant is provided with an accelerated warm up process that takes the coolant to a temperature suitable for passenger space heating more quickly. The fan that normally pulls outside air through the front end grill is, after vehicle start up, run in reverse, so as to actually retard the flow of air through the grill. The net effect of a separate structure that physically blocks air flow is achieved merely by using existing components in a new way.

Abstract: An air inlet is provided at the bottom of a vehicle to open downwardly. The air inlet is connected by a first tube to an air cooler for a PDU and a down converter. A fan for inputting the flow of air and turning its direction 90 degrees is connected at the downstream of the air cooler. The fan is further connected by a second tube to an exhaust outlet. The air inlet is located above a fuel tank thus to prevent any object jumping up from the road surface from straightforwardly entering the air inlet while the vehicle is running. The exhaust outlet is located above a silencer and can thus be prevented from being frozen in the winter. Using the above arrangement, the present invention embodies an air intaking and exhausting apparatus in an air cooling system for air cooling the PDU and the down converter at higher efficiency without the help of the air cooler mounted in the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: A thermal management system for an electrochemical engine in a vehicle comprises a coolant pump and a radiator. The radiator is oriented substantially parallel to a plane defined by longitudinal and lateral vehicle axes and defined by an inlet face as the upper surface and an outlet face as the lower surface. The radiator is packaged in a rear underbody compartment of the vehicle to allow a large cooling surface area. An air duct delivers air from outside the vehicle to the inlet face of the radiator. A fan forces air from the air duct through the radiator. A coolant circuit extends between a fuel cell stack of the electrochemical engine, the coolant pump, and the radiator.

Abstract: A straddle-type four wheeled all terrain vehicle comprises: a bar-type handle provided forward of a straddle-type seat; a vehicle body cover covering a portion of a vehicle body including a steering shaft of the handle, the steering shaft penetrating through the vehicle body cover; and a belt converter, wherein an opening of the vehicle body cover through which the steering shaft pass is an intake port of a cooling air into the belt converter.

Abstract: A circulation apparatus for coolant in a vehicle, wherein a feature of the invention is that with a circulation apparatus for coolant in a vehicle, it is separated into a coolant circulation system having a first radiator 8 for an engine cooling, and a coolant circulation system having a second radiator 9 for electric motor and engine equipment cooling. With the second radiator 9, various apparatus to be cooled, namely the drive motor and engine equipment are cooled, and there is provided circulation quantity control devices 53, 54, 57 for controlling the quantity of coolant circulated to the various apparatus to be cooled.

Abstract: The invention provides a temperature controller for a vehicular battery which uses the waste heat of the engine to control the temperature of a high temperature battery, to thereby enable miniaturization of the vehicle and energy savings, and which can accurately control the high temperature battery to an optimum efficiency temperature.

Abstract: A method of establishing a baseline filter for an air quality sensor in a motor vehicle includes the step of providing an air quality sensor for intake air into an occupant compartment of the motor vehicle. The method also includes the step of establishing a moving baseline for a background signal level from the air quality sensor. The method further includes the step of shutting off intake air into an occupant compartment of the motor vehicle when the background signal level exceeds a certain threshold above the moving baseline, thereby preventing undesired gases in the intake air from reaching occupants in the occupant compartment.

Abstract: A modular engine enclosure comprised of a hood and baffle is provided to channel cooling air along passages formed between their adjacent surfaces to the radiator of a water cooled engine. The passages provide acoustic air barriers and along with selected enclosure surfaces covered with sound absorbing foam, serve to contain engine sounds within the enclosure. The passages receive air from a generally upright inlet opening and direct it evenly over the top surface of the horizontally oriented radiator. After being drawn through the radiator, the air is exhausted generally horizontally out the back of the engine compartment. The modular construction of the enclosure allows it to be easily raised and/or removed so that maintenance and service activities can be performed on the engine and its components.