Snowmobile with a supercharged engine

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 further including the step of passing ram air through the heat exchanger and the snow/ice.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 further including the steps of: melting the snow/ice into liquid water; and blocking a portion of the heat exchanger to prevent flow of the liquid water out of the heat exchanger, thereby causing the liquid water to vaporize.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of compressing intake air includes the steps of: communicating engine exhaust from the engine exhaust assembly to the air charging assembly to thereby drive the air charging assembly, compressing intake air in the air charging assembly, and communicating the compressed intake air to the heat exchanger.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of locating snow/ice on the heat exchanger includes the steps of: providing a snow/ice retention area adjacent to the heat exchanger, and causing snow/ice to be propelled into the snow/ice retention area.

Claim 9

The method of claim 6 further including the step of passing ram air through the heat exchanger and the snow/ice.

Claim 10

The method of claim 6 wherein the step of locating snow/ice on the heat exchanger includes the steps of: providing a snow/ice retention area adjacent to the heat exchanger, and causing snow/ice to be propelled into the snow/ice retention area.

Claim 11

The method of claim 6 further including the steps of: monitoring operating conditions of the engine; and injecting the intercooler liquid into the air intake assembly under a predetermined set of the operating conditions.

Claim 12

The method of claim 9 wherein the step of monitoring the operating conditions of the engine includes the steps of: monitoring the amount of intercooler liquid, measuring the temperature of the compressed intake air in the air intake assembly, and detecting if an engine knock is occurring in the engine.

Claim 13

A snowmobile comprising: a chassis that includes a track tunnel portion having a front end, with the front end of the tunnel portion including an intercooler opening, and a wall located adjacent to the front end of the track tunnel and the intercooler opening defining a snow/ice retention area; a track located within the tunnel portion; an engine mounted to the chassis, and including an air intake assembly and an exhaust assembly; an air charging system; and an intercooler system including a heat exchanger being disposed adjacent to the intercooler opening and the wall, with the heat exchanger including a charge air inlet and a charge air outlet, and with the charge air inlet being in fluid communication with the air charging system and the charge air outlet being in fluid communication with the air intake assembly.

Claim 14

A snowmobile comprising: a chassis that includes a track tunnel portion having a front end, with the front end of the tunnel portion including an intercooler opening, and a wall located adjacent to the front end of the track tunnel and the intercooler opening defining a snow/ice retention area; a track located within the tunnel portion; an engine mounted to the chassis, and including an air intake assembly and an exhaust assembly; an air charging system; and an intercooler system including a heat exchanger being disposed adjacent to the intercooler opening and the wall, with the heat exchanger including a charge air inlet and a charge air outlet, and with the charge air inlet being in fluid communication with the air charging system and the charge air outlet being in fluid communication with the air intake assembly.

Claim 15

The snowmobile of claim 11 wherein the air charging system includes a turbocharger, with the turbocharger having a turbine in fluid communication with the exhaust assembly and a compressor adapted to be in fluid communication with intake air.

Claim 16

A snowmobile comprising: a chassis that includes a track tunnel portion having a front end, with the front end of the tunnel portion including an intercooler opening; a track located within the tunnel portion; an engine mounted to the chassis, and including an air intake assembly and an exhaust assembly; an air charging system; and an intercooler system including heat exchanger being disposed adjacent to the intercooler opening, with the heat exchanger including a charge air inlet and a charge air outlet and with the charge air inlet being in fluid communication with the air charging system and the charge air outlet being in fluid communication with the air intake assembly, and wherein the heat exchanger has a lower portion, and a flap sealingly mounted to the lower portion.

Claim 17

A snowmobile comprising: a chassis that includes a track tunnel portion having a front end, with the front end of the tunnel portion including an intercooler opening; a track located within the tunnel portion; an engine mounted to the chassis, and including an air intake assembly and an exhaust assembly; an air charging system; and an intercooler system including heat exchanger being disposed adjacent to the intercooler opening, with the heat exchanger including a charge air inlet and a charge air outlet and with the charge air inlet being in fluid communication with the air charging system and the charge air outlet being in fluid communication with the air intake assembly, and wherein the heat exchanger has a lower portion, and a flap sealingly mounted to the lower portion.

Claim 18

A snowmobile comprising: a chassis that includes a track tunnel portion having a front end with the front end, of the tunnel portion including an intercooler opening; a track located within the tunnel portion; an engine mounted to the chassis, and including an air intake assembly and an exhaust assembly; an air charging system; an intercooler system including a heat exchanger being disposed adjacent to the intercooler opening, with the heat exchanger including a charge air inlet and a charge air outlet, and with the charge air inlet being in fluid communication with the air charging system and the charge air outlet being in fluid communication with the air intake assembly; and a screen covering the intercooler opening.

Claim 19

A snowmobile comprising: a chassis that includes a track tunnel portion having a front end with the front end, of the tunnel portion including an intercooler opening; a track located within the tunnel portion; an engine mounted to the chassis, and including an air intake assembly and an exhaust assembly; an air charging system; an intercooler system including a heat exchanger being disposed adjacent to the intercooler opening, with the heat exchanger including a charge air inlet and a charge air outlet, and with the charge air inlet being in fluid communication with the air charging system and the charge air outlet being in fluid communication with the air intake assembly; and a screen covering the intercooler opening.

Claim 20

A snowmobile comprising: a chassis that includes a track tunnel portion having a front end, with the front end of the tunnel portion including an intercooler opening; a track located within the tunnel portion; an engine mounted to the chassis, and including an air intake assembly and an exhaust assembly; an air charging system; an intercooler system including a heat exchanger being disposed adjacent to the intercooler opening, with the heat exchanger including a charge air inlet and a charge air outlet, and with the charge air inlet being in fluid communication with the air charging system and the charge air outlet being in fluid communication with the air intake assembly; and a ram air duct having a first end adapted to be open to air around the snowmobile and a second end adjacent to the heat exchanger.

Claim 21

A snowmobile comprising: a chassis that includes a track tunnel portion having a front end, with the front end of the tunnel portion including an intercooler opening; a track located within the tunnel portion; an engine mounted to the chassis, and including an air intake assembly and an exhaust assembly; an air charging system; an intercooler system including a heat exchanger being disposed adjacent to the intercooler opening, with the heat exchanger including a charge air inlet and a charge air outlet, and with the charge air inlet being in fluid communication with the air charging system and the charge air outlet being in fluid communication with the air intake assembly; and a ram air duct having a first end adapted to be open to air around the snowmobile and a second end adjacent to the heat exchanger.

Claim 22

A snowmobile comprising: a chassis that includes a track tunnel portion having a front end, with the front end of the tunnel portion including an intercooler opening, and with the chassis including a portion that is made of aluminum; a track located within the tunnel portion; an engine mounted to the chassis, and including an air intake assembly and an exhaust assembly; an air charging system; and an intercooler system including a heat exchanger being disposed adjacent to the intercooler opening, with the heat exchanger including a charge air inlet and a charge air outlet, and with the charge air inlet being in fluid communication with the air charging system and the charge air outlet being in fluid communication with the air intake assembly, and wherein the heat exchanger is mounted to the aluminum chassis portion, thereby allowing for heat exchange between the heat exchanger and the chassis portion.

Claim 23

A snowmobile comprising: a chassis that includes a track tunnel portion having a front end, with the front end of the tunnel portion including an intercooler opening, and with the chassis including a portion that is made of aluminum; a track located within the tunnel portion; an engine mounted to the chassis, and including an air intake assembly and an exhaust assembly; an air charging system; and an intercooler system including a heat exchanger being disposed adjacent to the intercooler opening, with the heat exchanger including a charge air inlet and a charge air outlet, and with the charge air inlet being in fluid communication with the air charging system and the charge air outlet being in fluid communication with the air intake assembly, and wherein the heat exchanger is mounted to the aluminum chassis portion, thereby allowing for heat exchange between the heat exchanger and the chassis portion.

Claim 24

A snowmobile comprising: a chassis that includes a track tunnel portion having a front end, with the front end of the tunnel portion including an intercooler opening; a track located within the tunnel portion; an engine mounted to the chassis, and including an air intake assembly and an exhaust assembly; an air charging system; and an intercooler system including a first heat exchanger being disposed adjacent to the intercooler opening, with the first beat exchanger including a first intercooler fluid inlet and a first intercooler fluid outlet; a second heat exchanger being in fluid communication with the air charging system and the air intake assembly, and including a second intercooler fluid inlet in communication with the first intercooler fluid outlet and a second intercooler fluid outlet; and an intercooler fluid storage assembly in fluid communication with the second intercooler fluid outlet and the first intercooler fluid inlet.

Claim 25

A snowmobile comprising: a chassis that includes a track tunnel portion having a front end, with the front end of the tunnel portion including an intercooler opening; a track located within the tunnel portion; an engine mounted to the chassis, and including an air intake assembly and an exhaust assembly; an air charging system; and an intercooler system including a first heat exchanger being disposed adjacent to the intercooler opening, with the first beat exchanger including a first intercooler fluid inlet and a first intercooler fluid outlet; a second heat exchanger being in fluid communication with the air charging system and the air intake assembly, and including a second intercooler fluid inlet in communication with the first intercooler fluid outlet and a second intercooler fluid outlet; and an intercooler fluid storage assembly in fluid communication with the second intercooler fluid outlet and the first intercooler fluid inlet.

Claim 26

The snowmobile of claim 17 further including a wall located adjacent the front end of the track tunnel and the intercooler opening, defining a snow/ice retention area adjacent to the heat exchanger.

Claim 27

The snowmobile of claim 17 further including a ram air duct having a first end adapted to be open to air around the snowmobile and a second end adjacent to the heat exchanger.

Claim 28

The snowmobile of claim 17 wherein the intercooler system further includes a conduit connected between the fluid storage assembly and the air intake assembly, and an injector valve adapted for selectively blocking flow through the conduit.