IP Library Granted Patent US 12,331,705
Granted Patent B2
US 12,331,705 · App. 18/230,161 · Granted Jun 17, 2025

Off-road vehicle

Inventor: Kengo Shimatani (Akashi, JP)
Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
F02M35/10177F02B29/0425F02M35/10157F02M35/10216F02M35/10262F02M35/162B60Y2200/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,331,705
App. No.
18/230,161
Granted
Jun 17, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An off-road vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a supercharger, an intercooler, an intake tank, a throttle body, first injectors, and at least one second injector. The engine includes cylinders. The supercharger supplies intake air to the engine. The intercooler is provided at an intake conduit provided between the supercharger and the engine. The intake tank is provided at the intake conduit and defines an intake chamber inside the intake tank. The throttle body is provided at the intake conduit, and includes intake conduits and throttle valves. The intake conduits are respectively connected to intake ports of the cylinders. The throttle valves are respectively provided in the intake conduits. The plurality of first injectors are provided at the throttle body and inject fuel to the respective intake conduits. The at least one second injector is provided at the intake tank and injects fuel to the intake chamber.

Claims (51)

1. An off-road vehicle comprising:

a pair of right and left front wheels;

a pair of right and left rear wheels;

a vehicle body frame including a cabin frame that surrounds a cabin where a passenger seat is located and a rear frame that is located behind the cabin frame, the vehicle body frame being supported by the front wheels and the rear wheels;

a cargo bed supported by the rear frame and defining a storage space that has a depressed shape and is open to an outside of the off-road vehicle;

an internal combustion engine including a plurality of cylinders, the internal combustion engine being behind the cabin frame and under the cargo bed;

an air cleaner connected to a downstream side of an intake air inlet into which ambient air is absorbed;

a supercharger connected to a downstream side of the air cleaner;

an intercooler connected to a downstream side of the supercharger;

an intake tank connected to a downstream side of the intercooler and defining an intake chamber inside the intake tank;

a throttle body connected to a downstream side of the intake tank and comprising:

a plurality of intake conduits respectively connected to intake ports of the plurality of cylinders; and

a plurality of throttle valves respectively in the plurality of intake conduits;

a plurality of first injectors at a front side of the throttle body in a front-rear direction of the off-road vehicle and configured to inject fuel to respective ones of the plurality of intake conduits; and

at least one second injector at a front side of the intake tank in the front-rear direction of the off-road vehicle and configured to inject fuel to the intake chamber, wherein a front end of the at least one second injector is located forward of a front end of the intake tank.

2. The off-road vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:

the intake tank comprises a plurality of exhaust ports respectively corresponding to the plurality of intake conduits of the throttle body, and

the at least one second injector comprises a plurality of second injectors which correspond to respective ones of the plurality of exhaust ports.

3. The off-road vehicle according to claim 2 ,

wherein the intake tank comprises an air guide at the intake chamber, the air guide comprising:

a plurality of intake ports facing the intake chamber;

the plurality of exhaust ports; and

a plurality of guide conduits respectively connecting the plurality of intake ports to the plurality of respective exhaust ports,

wherein each guide conduit of the plurality of guide conduits is tapered from narrow to wide toward each intake port of the plurality of intake ports,

wherein the each intake port is larger than each exhaust port of the plurality of exhaust ports, and

wherein each second injector of the plurality of second injectors has an injection hole which faces the each intake port.

4. The off-road vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein:

the each second injector is at a position away from an axis of the each intake port in a direction orthogonal to the axis,

the each second injector is inclined relative to the axis, and

the injection hole faces the axis and a downstream of the each guide conduit.

5. The off-road vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:

the intake tank is above the throttle body, and the intercooler is above the intake tank, and

the intercooler, the intake tank, and the throttle body overlap in position in the front-rear direction of the off-road vehicle.

6. The off-road vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:

the air cleaner is fixed to the rear frame.

7. The off-road vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:

the air cleaner is located further outward than the rear frame in a width direction of the off-road vehicle.

8. The off-road vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an intake box including the intake air inlet, wherein the intake box is behind the cabin and in front of the storage space of the cargo bed.

9. The off-road vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising an intake box including the intake air inlet,

wherein:

the internal combustion engine and the intercooler are located substantially at a center of the off-road vehicle in a width direction of the off-road vehicle; and

the intake box and the air cleaner are located at one side of the off-road vehicle in the width direction of the off-road vehicle.

10. The off-road vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:

the intercooler is located rearward from the intake tank in the front-rear direction of the off-road vehicle.

11. The off-road vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an engine room cover located between the cabin frame and the cargo bed in the front-rear direction,

wherein:

the engine room cover and the cargo bed cover an engine room where the internal combustion engine is located;

the engine room cover includes a window opening being open in a vertical direction; and

the intercooler is located in the engine room and is exposed through the window opening.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2023
From: SHIMATANI, KENGO
To: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 065266/0579 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250043757A1 · Feb 6, 2025
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