# US 10,119,458 B2 · Vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,458 B2 - Document ID: US10119458B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/841,758 - Filed: 2015-09-01 - Published: 2016-03-31 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-26 - Assignees: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Manabu Kai; Akihiko Nakamura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119458B2 ## CPC - F02B 39/12: Drives characterised by use of couplings or clutches therein (using fluid slip couplings for varying gear ratio F02B39/08) - B62M 27/02: power driven - F02B 39/04: Mechanical drives; Variable-gear-ratio drives (non-mechanical pump drives having variable gear ratio F02B39/08) - B62M 2027/023: {Snow mobiles characterised by engine mounting arrangements} - F02B 29/04: Cooling of air intake supply - Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies - F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G) - B62M: RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR {SINGLE-TRACK} CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of transmissions in vehicles in general B60K; transmission elements per se F16) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A vehicle includes a frame supporting an engine, a transmission including an input shaft and an output shaft, a driving device linked to the output shaft so that power is transmitted therebetween, and a supercharger including a rotation shaft linked to the output shaft so that power is transmitted therebetween. The supercharger is fixed to the frame. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle comprising: an internal combustion engine including a crankshaft; a frame supporting the internal combustion engine; a transmission including an input shaft linked to the crankshaft to transmit power therebetween, and an output shaft linked to the input shaft and that rotates at a rotational speed lower than a rotational speed of the input shaft; a driving device linked to the output shaft to transmit power therebetween and to generate a driving power; and a supercharger including a rotation shaft linked to the output shaft to transmit power therebetween and to compress air and supply the compressed air to the internal combustion engine; wherein the transmission is a continuously variable transmission or a stepped transmission; a transmission ratio of the transmission is changeable during operation of the transmission; and the supercharger is fixed to the frame without the engine interposed therebetween; and wherein the output shaft includes a driving device link portion linked to the driving device, and a supercharger link portion linked to the rotation shaft of the supercharger; and wherein the driving device link portion is located between the supercharger link portion along the output shaft and the transmission. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the internal combustion engine is fixed to the frame via an elastic member therebetween. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the internal combustion engine is movable relative to the frame, and the supercharger is fixed to the frame so as to be immovable relative to the frame. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the internal combustion engine includes an intercooler including a suction port to take in air; the supercharger includes a discharge port to discharge air; the vehicle includes an air passage connecting the discharge port of the supercharger and the suction port of the intercooler with each other; and at least a portion of the air passage is made of a flexible member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the supercharger is located above the internal combustion engine as the vehicle is seen from a side. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the rotation shaft of the supercharger is linked to the output shaft to transmit power therebetween; and the continuously variable transmission includes a driving pulley attached to the input shaft, a driven pulley attached to the output shaft, and a belt wound around the driving pulley and the driven pulley. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the rotation shaft of the supercharger is linked to the supercharger link portion of the output shaft via at least one of a belt, a chain, and a gear. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a clutch located between the crankshaft and the input shaft or between the output shaft and the rotation shaft. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the clutch is a centrifugal clutch. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the transmission is located to a side of the internal combustion engine, and the supercharger is located on an opposite side of the internal combustion engine from the transmission. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the crankshaft extends in a vehicle width direction; the transmission is located on a first side of the internal combustion engine in the vehicle width direction; and the supercharger is located on a second side, opposite to the first side, of the internal combustion engine in the vehicle width direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a snowmobile. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an off-road vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the supercharger is fixed directly to the frame. ### Claim 15 A snowmobile comprising: an internal combustion engine including a crankshaft; a frame supporting the internal combustion engine; a transmission including an input shaft linked to the crankshaft to transmit power therebetween, and an output shaft linked to the input shaft and that rotates at a rotational speed lower than a rotational speed of the input shaft; a driving device linked to the output shaft to transmit power therebetween and to generate a driving power; and a supercharger including a rotation shaft linked to the input shaft or to the output shaft to transmit power therebetween and to compress air and supply the compressed air to the internal combustion engine; wherein a transmission ratio of the transmission is changeable during operation of the transmission; the supercharger is fixed to the frame without the engine interposed therebetween; the supercharger is located above the internal combustion engine; and wherein the output shaft includes a driving device link portion linked to the driving device, and a supercharger link portion linked to the rotation shaft of the supercharger; and wherein the driving device link portion is located between the supercharger link portion along the output shaft and the transmission. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The snowmobile according to claim 15, wherein the internal combustion engine includes a crankcase, and the supercharger is located above the crankcase as seen from a side of the snowmobile. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The snowmobile according to claim 15, further comprising: a brake disc linked to the output shaft; wherein the supercharger is located above the brake disc as seen from a side of the snowmobile. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The snowmobile according to claim 15, wherein the frame includes: a steering shaft extending diagonally toward a lower front side of the snowmobile as seen from a side of the snowmobile; a steering frame rotatably supporting the steering shaft and extending diagonally toward a lower rear side of the snowmobile as seen from the side of the snowmobile; a side frame supporting the internal combustion engine; and at least a portion of the supercharger is located in an area surrounded by the steering shaft, the steering frame, and the side frame as seen from the side of the snowmobile. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The snowmobile according to claim 15, wherein the frame includes: a steering shaft extending diagonally toward a lower front side of the snowmobile as seen from a side of the snowmobile; a steering frame rotatably supporting the steering shaft and extending diagonally toward a lower rear side of the snowmobile as seen from the side of the snowmobile; a side frame supporting the internal combustion engine; and the rotation shaft of the supercharger is located in an area surrounded by the steering shaft, the steering frame, and the side frame as seen from the side of the snowmobile.