Dual Pass Intercooled Supercharger

Abstract

The dual pass intercooled supercharger includes a supercharger and intercooler. The system is configured such that air leaving the supercharger traverses the intercooler from one side to an opposing side two or more times.

1 . A dual pass intercooled supercharger, comprising:
 a supercharger; and   an intercooler in fluid communication with an exit of the supercharger, the intercooler having first and second portions defining a heat exchange area, where the second portion has two second portions, and one of the two second portions is positioned on a first side of the first portion and another of the two second portions is positioned on a second side of the first portion opposite the first side, the intercooler having a seal positioned between the first portion and one of the two second portions such that the intercooler is configured such that an airflow path from the supercharger contacts the first portion, leaves the heat exchange area, reenters the heat exchange area, and contacts the second portion.   
     
     
         2 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of  claim 1 , wherein the dual pass intercooler comprises a heat exchange medium in fluid communication from an inlet to an outlet across the heat exchange area. 
     
     
         3 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of  claim 2 , wherein the supercharger is a front drive, front inlet supercharger. 
     
     
         4 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of  claim 3 , wherein the first portion and second portion of the intercooler overlap in a depth dimension along an air flow direction. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of  claim 4 , further comprising a single housing enclosing the first portion and the second portion within a common cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of  claim 6 , further comprising a second seal between an exterior edge of the intercooler and the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of  claim 7 , further comprising a first chamber between the supercharger and the intercooler, wherein the first seal circumscribes a portion of the first chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of  claim 8 , further comprising a second chamber between the intercooler and the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of  claim 9 , wherein the second chamber is coextensive with a substantial portion of a second side of the intercooler, and the second seal circumscribes a portion of the second chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of  claim 10 , wherein a heat exchange medium inlet, a heat exchange medium outlet are on a same side of the dual pass intercooled supercharger. 
     
     
         12 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of  claim 11 , wherein the heat exchange medium inlet is adjacent the second portion and the heat exchange medium outlet is adjacent the first portion. 
     
     
         13 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of  claim 12 , wherein an air intake to the supercharger is on the same side of the dual pass intercooled supercharger as the heat exchange medium inlet and heat exchange medium outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of air outlets directed toward a lower side of the dual pass intercooled supercharger on opposing sides of the supercharger, and the intercooler is positioned above the supercharger. 
     
     
         15 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of  claim 14 , wherein the intercooler is configured such that air enters and leaves the intercooler on a lower side of the intercooler. 
     
     
         16 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of  claim 15 , wherein the heat exchanger is planar along an entire area with a generally constant thickness. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of  claim 1 , wherein the intercooler comprises a heat exchange surface enclosing a heat exchange fluid medium. 
     
     
         19 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of  claim 18 , wherein the air flow path is in opposite directions when contacting the first portion and contacting the second portion. 
     
     
         20 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of  claim 19 , wherein the heat exchange fluid medium is configured to move in opposite directions past the first portion and past the second portion. 
     
     
         21 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of  claim 20 , wherein the heat exchange fluid medium flow path is perpendicular to the air flow path through the heat exchange area. 
     
     
         22 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of  claim 21 , wherein an inlet and an outlet of the heat exchange fluid medium and an inlet of the air flow through the supercharger and the supercharger pulley are on a same side of the dual pass intercooled supercharger. 
     
     
         23 - 26 . (canceled)