A centrifugal supercharger includes a case presenting a compressor chamber
and a transmission chamber. An impeller in the compressor chamber is
mounted to a shaft that extends into the transmission chamber. The
impeller shaft is drivingly connected to a power input shaft by
intermeshing gears provided on the shafts. A portion of the transmission
chamber defines a fluid reservoir in which lubrication fluid is held. The
intermeshing gears, as well as the bearing assemblies supporting the
shafts, are located outside the fluid reservoir portion of the
transmission chamber. A rotatable fluid-propelling element partly
submerged in the lubrication fluid contained within the reservoir portion
ensures that sufficient but not excessive lubrication fluid is supplied
to the intermeshing gears and the bearing assemblies. A dedicated
lubricant reserve system ensures that the required operating level of
fluid is provided to, and maintained in, the reservoir portion.