IP Library Granted Patent US 12,583,307
Granted Patent B2
US 12,583,307 · App. 18/129,456 · Granted Mar 24, 2026

Vehicle

Inventors: Yoshitaka Nukada (Tokyo, JP); Hitoshi Yokotani (Tokyo, JP); Masaru Odajima (Tokyo, JP); Kei Fukasawa (Tokyo, JP); Yoshiyuki Sato (Tokyo, JP); Takashi Nakamura (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
B60K5/02B60K17/04B62D25/24B60K2005/003
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,583,307
App. No.
18/129,456
Granted
Mar 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle includes a front wheel, a rear wheel, a power unit in which an internal combustion engine and a compressor are modularized, and a seat. The compressor is configured to operate on rotational power generated in the internal combustion engine. The power unit is disposed between the front wheel and the rear wheel in a front-rear direction of the vehicle, and is disposed to place the compressor below the seat.

Claims (41)

1 . A vehicle comprising:

a front wheel and a rear wheel;

a power unit in which an internal combustion engine and a compressor are modularized, the compressor configured to operate on rotational power generated in the internal combustion engine;

a seat; and

a floor panel configured to form a floor surface of a vehicle cabin,

wherein the power unit is disposed between the front wheel and the rear wheel in a front-rear direction of the vehicle, and is disposed to place the compressor below the seat,

the power unit is disposed below the floor panel,

the seat is disposed above the floor panel,

the floor panel is provided with an opening configured to be opened in an upper-ower direction at an under-seat region overlapping the seat when viewed in the upper-lower direction,

the power unit further includes a transmission device configured to transmit rotational power generated in the internal combustion engine to the compressor, and an accommodation wall surrounding the transmission device, and

the power unit and the accommodation wall are disposed at a position where at least a part of the power unit and the accommodation wall overlaps the opening when viewed in the upper-lower direction.

2 . The vehicle according to claim 1 ,

wherein the compressor is disposed forward than a rear end portion of the seat in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

3 . The vehicle according to claim 1 ,

wherein the compressor is disposed within a front-rear width of the seat in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

4 . The vehicle according to claim 1 ,

wherein the internal combustion engine includes a crankshaft,

the compressor includes a rotary shaft, and

the rotary shaft of the compressor is disposed above the crankshaft in an upper-lower direction.

5 . The vehicle according to claim 1 ,

wherein the internal combustion engine includes a crankshaft,

the internal combustion engine includes an output shaft, and

the output shaft is disposed below the crankshaft in an upper-lower direction.

6 . The vehicle according to claim 1 ,

wherein the internal combustion engine includes a crankshaft and an output shaft,

rotation axes of the crankshaft and the output shaft are parallel to each other and extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle,

the compressor is disposed on a side of the crankshaft in a left-right direction, and

the output shaft is disposed on an other side of the crankshaft in the left-right direction.

7 . The vehicle according to claim 1 ,

wherein the transmission device includes:

a drive pulley configured to rotate by the rotational power generated in the internal combustion engine;

a driven pulley coupled to a rotary shaft of the compressor and configured to rotate about a rotation axis parallel to a rotation axis of the drive pulley;

a belt tensioner including a tensioner pulley configured to rotate about a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis of the drive pulley and the rotation axis of the driven pulley; and

a transmission belt wound around the drive pulley, the driven pulley, and the tensioner pulley,

the belt tensioner is disposed to place the rotation axis of the tensioner pulley above the rotation axis of the drive pulley and the rotation axis of the driven pulley,

the accommodation wall extends in a first direction parallel to a rotation axis direction of the drive pulley, the driven pulley, and the tensioner pulley, and

a through hole is provided in an upper portion of the accommodation wall.

8 . The vehicle according to claim 1 ,

wherein the compressor is disposed at a position where at least a part of the compressor overlaps the opening when viewed in the upper-lower direction.

9 . The vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a cover member configured to seal the opening.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2023
From: NUKADA, YOSHITAKA; YOKOTANI, HITOSHI; ODAJIMA, MASARU; FUKASAWA, KEI; SATO, YOSHIYUKI; NAKAMURA, TAKASHI
To: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 064511/0726 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-061358 · Mar 31, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230311633A1 · Oct 5, 2023
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