Roots Superchargers
 The Eaton supercharger, a modified Roots supercharger. |
There are three types of superchargers: Roots, twin-screw and
centrifugal. The main difference is how they move air to the intake manifold of
the engine. Roots and twin-screw superchargers use different types of meshing
lobes, and a centrifugal supercharger uses an impeller, which draws air in.
Although all of these designs provide a boost, they differ considerably in
their efficiency. Each type of supercharger is available in different sizes, depending
on whether you just want to give your car a boost or compete in a race.
The Roots supercharger is the oldest design. Philander and
Francis Roots patented the design in 1860 as a machine that would help
ventilate mine shafts. In 1900, Gottleib Daimler included a Roots supercharger
in a car engine.
Roots supercharger
As the meshing lobes spin, air trapped in the pockets between
the lobes is carried between the fill side and the discharge side. Large
quantities of air move into the intake manifold and "stack up" to
create positive pressure. For this reason, Roots superchargers are really
nothing more than air blowers, and the term "blower" is still often
used to describe all superchargers.
 A 1940s Ford pickup with a Roots supercharger. |
Roots superchargers are
usually large and sit on top of the engine. They are popular in muscle cars and
hot rods because they stick out of the hood of the car. However, they are the
least efficient supercharger for two reasons: They add more weight to the vehicle
and they move air in discrete bursts instead of in a smooth and continuous flow
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