Intake system of engine

Claim 2

In an intake system of a vehicle internal combustion engine, said system including an intake manifold, a surge tank, an air cleaner, and a resonator or intercooler, the improvement wherein said surge tank is disposed at the rear of said engine, said air cleaner is disposed at one side of said engine, and said resonator or intercooler is fixedly disposed above the engine and adjacent to both said surge tank and said air cleaner, and said surge tank, said air cleaner, and said resonator or intercooler all being positioned such that upper surfaces thereof are located at substantially the same height above said engine.

Claim 3

In a system according to claim 1, wherein said surge tank, said air cleaner, and said resonator or intercooler are all positioned entirely above the engine.

Claim 4

In a system according to claim 2, wherein the engine is disposed in a vehicle engine compartment so that a crankshaft of the engine extends sidewardly relative to the front-to-back direction of the vehicle.

Claim 5

In a system according to claim 2, wherein said surge tank is fixedly mounted on and carried directly by said engine, and wherein said resonator or intercooler is fixedly mounted on and carried directly by said engine, whereby said resonator or intercooler is positioned closely adjacent but sidewardly of said air cleaner and is positioned closely adjacent but forward of said surge tank.

Claim 6

In a vehicle having a body defining an engine compartment, a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine positioned within said engine compartment, and an air intake system associated with said engine for supplying air thereto, said air intake system including an air cleaner which is coupled to and supplies air to an intermediate air connection box which in turn is coupled to and supplies air to a surge tank which in turn is coupled to and supplies air to an intake manifold which in turn is coupled to and supplies air to combustion chambers of the engine, comprising the improvement wherein said surge tank is directly attached to and carried by said engine and is disposed adjacent a rearward end of said engine, said air cleaner being fixedly attached to and carried directly by said engine adjacent one side thereof, said air cleaner and said surge tank both being disposed at an elevation generally above said engine, and said intermediate air connection box being positioned directly over and fixedly attached to and carried directly by said engine, said air connection box being disposed forwardly of and in adjacent relationship to said surge tank, said air connection box also being disposed closely adjacent and sidewardly from said air cleaner, the direct attachment of said surge tank, said air cleaner, and said intermediate air connection box to said engine reducing propagation of vibrations from said surge tank, said air cleaner, and said intermediate air connection box to said vehicle body.

Claim 7

In a vehicle having a body defining an engine compartment, a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine positioned within said engine compartment, and an air intake system associated with said engine for supplying air thereto, said air intake system including an air cleaner which is coupled to and supplies air to an intermediate air connection box which in turn is coupled to and supplies air to a surge tank which in turn is coupled to and supplies air to an intake manifold which in turn is coupled to and supplies air to combustion chambers of the engine, comprising the improvement wherein said surge tank is directly attached to and carried by said engine and is disposed adjacent a rearward end of said engine, said air cleaner being fixedly attached to and carried directly by said engine adjacent one side thereof, said air cleaner and said surge tank both being disposed at an elevation generally above said engine, and said intermediate air connection box being positioned directly over and fixedly attached to and carried directly by said engine, said air connection box being disposed forwardly of and in adjacent relationship to said surge tank, said air connection box also being disposed closely adjacent and sidewardly from said air cleaner, the direct attachment of said surge tank, said air cleaner, and said intermediate air connection box to said engine reducing propagation of vibrations from said surge tank, said air cleaner, and said intermediate air connection box to said vehicle body.

Claim 8

In a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein said intake system includes a first connection hose joined between said surge tank and said air connection box, a second connection hose joined between said air connection box and said air cleaner, said air connection box including an intermediate air intake pipe associated therewith for providing a connection between said first and second connection hoses.

Claim 9

In a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein said air connection box comprises a resonator.

Claim 10

In a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein said air connection box comprises an intercooler for a supercharger.

Claim 11

In a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein said engine is disposed in said engine compartment so that the crankshaft axis extends sidewardly in transverse relation to the front-to-back orientation of the vehicle.

Claim 12

In a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein said first and second connection hoses are free of accordion portions.

Claim 13

In a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein said surge tank is fixedly and directly attached to said engine by a bracket.

Claim 14

In a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein said air cleaner is fixedly and directly attached to said engine by a bracket.