Engine air intake system for engine-powered walk-behind working machine

An engine air intake system for an engine-powered walk-behind working machine having an operation handle connected at one end to a body of the working machine for operation by a human operator to steer the working machine, and an operation control lever mounted to the operation handle for operation by the human operator to control operation of at least one of the working machine and an engine mounted on the body of the working machine, said engine air intake system comprising:

• an air-cleaner case mountable on the engine and having an air-cleaner element accommodated within the air-cleaner case;
• a first cover which covers at least a base portion of the operation control lever from above;
• a second cover disposed inside the first cover so as to define jointly with the first cover a hollow space, the hollow space communicating with the outside air;
• an air intake portion having an air inlet opening for introducing therefrom the outside air into the air intake portion, the air intake portion being disposed in the first cover such that at least the air inlet opening is disposed within the hollow space defined between the first and second covers;
• and
• a fresh air guide conduit interconnecting the air intake portion and an internal space of the air-cleaner case.