Air intake apparatus for four wheeled utility vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9410512-B2
Application number	US-201313836800-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2013
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Aug 9, 2016
Grant date	Aug 9, 2016

Abstract

An air intake apparatus is provided for a utility vehicle having a front seat, a rear seat, a cargo bed, an engine arranged below the rear seat and/or the cargo bed, and a V-belt type continuously variable transmission arranged sideward of the engine. The apparatus includes an air cleaner connected to an air intake portion of the engine via a intake manifold, a cooling duct connected to an air intake portion for cooling the V-belt type continuously variable transmission, and a space in which front, rear, right, left, and lower sides thereof are surrounded by surrounding members arranged below the front seat or the rear seat. The air cleaner, an air intake opening thereof, and an air intake opening at an end of the cooling duct are arranged in the space.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An air intake apparatus for a utility vehicle having a front seat, a rear seat, a cargo bed, an engine arranged below the rear seat and/or the cargo bed, and a V-belt type continuously variable transmission arranged sideward of the engine, the apparatus comprising:
an air cleaner to be connected to an air intake portion of the engine via an intake manifold;
a cooling duct to be connected to an air intake portion of the V-belt type continuously variable transmission for cooling the V-belt type continuously variable transmission; and
a space arranged below the rear seat and in which front, rear, right, left, and lower sides thereof are surrounded by surrounding members;
wherein the air cleaner, an air intake opening thereof, and an air intake opening at an end of the cooling duct are arranged in the space and located at a side of the engine opposite the V-belt type continuously variable transmission;
wherein the air intake portion of the V-belt type continuously variable transmission is located at a side wall of the V-belt type continuously variable transmission facing the engine; and
wherein an entire length of the cooling duct is located in an area extending between a front end of the V-belt type continuously variable transmission and a rear end of the V-belt type continuously variable transmission with respect to a longitudinal axis of the utility vehicle.

2. The air intake apparatus for the utility vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:
at least a side wall of the surrounding members forming the space near the air cleaner is detachable, and
the air cleaner has an air cleaner case divided into two portions arranged in a vehicle width direction.

3. The air intake apparatus for the utility vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the surrounding members surrounding the space comprise an under cover, a front wall, a right wall, a left wall, and a rear wall.

4. The air intake apparatus for the utility vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising an exhaust duct having:
a first end to be connected to an air exhaust portion of the V-belt type continuously variable transmission;
a second end opposite the first end; and
an air exhaust opening at the second end, the second end of the exhaust duct being located outside of the space.

5. The air intake apparatus for the utility vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein the exhaust opening at the second end of the exhaust duct is located at a rear of a vehicle width-wise plane in which rear-side fenders are located.

6. The air intake apparatus for the utility vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein the exhaust opening at the second end of the exhaust duct is located at a rear of a rear side of the space.

7. The air intake apparatus for the utility vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:
the engine is arranged so that a cylinder line thereof extends in a vehicle width direction, and the engine has an exhaust portion at a front thereof and an intake portion at a rear thereof; and
the cooling duct is arranged so as to extend below the air intake portion of the engine.

8. The air intake apparatus for the utility vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the V-belt type continuously variable transmission includes:
a housing;
a drive shaft to be coupled to a crankshaft of the engine;
a drive pulley arranged on the drive shaft; and
a partition plate partitioning an inside of the housing in a vehicle width direction, the partition plate extending forward from a back side of the air intake portion of the V-belt continuously variable transmission, and has an opening around the drive shaft.

Assignees

• Kawasaki Heavy Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Takahashi Keiji
• Yasui Yoko
• Kouma Yuji

Classifications

• B60K11/06

  with air cooling · CPC title

• F02M35/161

  Arrangement of the air intake system in the engine compartment, e.g. with respect to the bonnet or the vehicle front face · CPC title

• F02M35/164 Primary

  Heavy duty vehicles, e.g. trucks, trains, agricultural or construction machines · CPC title

• B60K13/02

  concerning intake · CPC title