Patent ID: 7469689
Filing Date: 2008-12-30
Classification: F02B,F04D,F05B

Abstract:
1. An air induction system for delivering compressed induction fluid to an engine, wherein the engine is cooled by a closed-loop engine coolant system, the air induction system comprising: a centrifugal supercharger configured to be mechanically driven by the engine, said supercharger including a case that presents a compressor chamber, said case including a wall that defines a volute section of the compressor chamber, said supercharger including a rotatable impeller within the compressor chamber and operable to compress induction fluid when powered by the engine, said case presenting a compressor coolant passageway that is defined at least partly by the wall, said compressor passageway extending along at least part of the volute section of the compressor chamber; and a recirculating induction coolant system fluidly connected to the compressor passageway and operable to recirculate coolant through the compressor passageway, said case including a plurality of ridges projecting from the wall into said at least part of the volute section and thereby being configured to improve the transfer of heat from the compressed induction fluid to the coolant, said volute section presenting a generally circular cross-sectional shape to present an outer circumference, said ridges being spaced about the outer circumference of the volute section, said ridges each having a helical shape to facilitate flow of compressed induction fluid along the volute section.