Crankcase, Pressure Control Patents (Class 123/196CP)
  • Patent number: 6161515
    Abstract: A lubrication system is provided, including a pressure control valve for regulating oil pressure in an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. An oil pump for circulating oil through the lubrication system is connected in flow communication with an engine lubrication circuit and a sump. A control valve in the oil pump is slidably movable in response to a control oil pressure. As oil pressure increases, the control valve functions to recirculate some of the oil back into the oil pump. By recirculating the oil, the control valve controls the flow of oil from the oil pump, and thereby regulating oil pressure in the lubrication system. During a cold engine start, the pressure control valve is actuated using a combined oil pressure, where a check valve is used to blend a first pressure prevailing at the outlet of said oil pump and a second pressure prevailing at or near the end of the lubrication circuit and.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Kopec
  • Patent number: 6145484
    Abstract: A four-cycle engine in which a mixed gas of a fuel and air containing a lubricating oil is transferred from a carburetor to a cylinder or a crank chamber, the gas is pushed out in the stage of descending the piston to the passage on the reverse side, transferred into a rocker arm chamber including an intake valve at the top of the cylinder via a passage including a valve gear mechanism, and it is directed to the cylinder in the intake stage, whereby the engine is lubricated by the lubricating oil. The engine has no oil pan and can be run at any inclination angle (360.degree.). Also disclosed is that it is also possible for the four-cycle engine to provide a diverged second passage extending to the crank room, to provide a lead valve on a portion of the second the passage, to provide a diverged third passage extending to the lower end of the crank chamber, to provide a lead valve or rotary valve, and to provide a fourth and/or fifth passage(s) to circulate the mixed gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Shin-Daiwa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Funakoshi, Kazuaki Aizawa, Kenji Imafuku
  • Patent number: 6116205
    Abstract: A lubrication system for a motorcycle engine includes a camshaft support plate that is separable from an ornamental cam cover. The camshaft support plate at least partially defines a cam chest of the engine. A crankcase defines a crankcase sump and the cam chest defines a cam chest sump. A divider wall is disposed between the crankcase sump and the cam chest sump to prevent oil from draining from one sump into the other. An oil pump is mounted on the camshaft support plate, with a pressure chamber of the oil pump being at least partially defined by the camshaft support plate. The oil pump independently draws oil from the crankcase sump and the cam chest sump through a split-kidney intake assembly. Oil pumped from the sumps is delivered to a reservoir, and is then drawn back out of the reservoir by the oil pump and delivered to components of the engine through a series of oil passages, some of which are defined by the camshaft support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company
    Inventors: Paul J. Troxler, Timothy J. Trenkle, Jeffrey P. Coughlin, Robert L. Leppanen
  • Patent number: 6073618
    Abstract: An engine oil fill assembly includes a tubular pipe portion with an upper end forming with an oil inlet and a lower end forming an oil outlet and air inlet adapted to be connected to the engine crankcase. The fill pipe inlet has an enlarged mouth to facilitate the introduction of oil. The fill assembly has an air vent mechanism to vent air from the engine crankcase when its pressure is greater than atmosphere. A positive crankcase ventilation valve inhibits a reverse flow of air into the crank case. A baffle member in the fill pipe portion intercepts and collects oil from an intermixture of air and oil form the crankcase preventing the oil from passing to the engine air intake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Brian V. Sanders, Larry S. Rogosin
  • Patent number: 6067952
    Abstract: A lubrication system for an internal combustion engine provides drain openings at locations within individual crankcase portions where residual oil collects during normal operation. The drain openings are connected to orifices formed through cylinder walls of other crankcase portions of the engine. Conduits connect preselected drain openings to associated orifice check valves to pump the residual oil from the collecting regions to the cylinder walls of other crankcase portions using differential pressures that occur naturally between the associated crankcase portions. The drain openings located at the collecting regions can be located directly under primary oil entry points of the crankcase portions, but this relationship is not absolutely necessary as long as the drain openings are placed at the collecting regions or, alternatively stated, as long as the drain openings are placed at locations where oil will tend to flow from the points of primary oil entry into the crankcase portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Neil M. Andrasko, Kenneth G. Appleby, David W. Kusche, Steven W. Habeck
  • Patent number: 6058900
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided with fluid passages between adjacent cylinders. The fluid passages extend through walls that separate adjacent cylinders and are located axially within the cylinders at positions which advantageously define the periods when the fluid passages are blocked and unblocked by pistons moving within lower cylinders. Pressure differentials between adjacent crankcases cause pooled liquid lubricant to be pumped downward through the fluid passages and placed in liquid communication with the walls of the lower cylinder. This pumping action removes pooled lubricant from the transfer passages of one cylinder and causes the liquid lubricant to flow along the walls of a lower cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Kusche, Neil M. Andrasko
  • Patent number: 6032635
    Abstract: A single cylinder, internal combustion engine with a dry sump lubrication system. The engine includes an engine housing in which the overhead camshaft and crankshaft are rotatably supported, and the housing includes an integrally formed cylinder and head. A timing belt disposed externally of the engine housing interconnects the crankshaft and camshaft, and a piston connected to the crankshaft reciprocates within an internal bore provided in the engine housing cylinder. The cylinder wall around the internal bore is of a generally uniform thickness and circumscribed by cooling fins such that the cylinder resists bore distortion during operation. Dry sump lubrication is obtained by an external oil reservoir connected to a pump which supplies pressurized oil to the bearing journals of the camshaft. A portion of the oil at the camshaft bearing journals flows through passages provided within the cylinder to lubricate the bearing journals of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventors: James W. Moorman, Erik J. Christiansen, Roberto Molina, Gar M. Adams
  • Patent number: 5975042
    Abstract: An oil supply passage is provided for connecting an oil chamber with a valve chamber, an oil feed passage for connecting a valve chamber with a crank chamber, and an oil return passage for connecting the crank chamber with the oil chamber. The oil return passage is connected with the crank chamber via a plurality of return vents formed on an inner surface of the crank chamber at approximately equal intervals. Providing a bypass passage, one end of the bypass passage opens adjacent to a ceiling of the valve chamber. Another end of the bypass passage opens into a portion facing the restrictor formed adjacent to an outlet of the oil feed passage. Accordingly, the crank chamber and the valve chamber are lubricated by pressure fluctuations of the crank chamber according to the reciprocation of a piston. Thus, it is possible to lubricate the engine even when the engine is tilted in any direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Ishiakawjima-Shibaura Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigemitsu Aizawa, Toshio Hirabayashi, Masatomi Nijoh
  • Patent number: 5964198
    Abstract: A lubrication system of an internal combustion engine is composed of an engine oil case and an engine oil pump located in the engine oil case such that an inlet of the engine oil pump is located in proximity of a geometrical center of the interior of the engine oil case. The engine oil kept in the engine oil case can be thus conveyed efficiently to all moving parts of the internal combustion engine even at the time when the internal combustion engine is tilted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventor: Yuh-Yih Wu
  • Patent number: 5960764
    Abstract: A four-stroke internal combustion engine in accordance with the present invention comprises a piston, a valve chamber, a crankcase, an oil chamber separated from the crankcase, and an oil mist feeding passage extending from the oil chamber to the crank case via the valve chamber for supplying oil mist in the oil chamber. The oil mist feeding passage has a first passage extending from the oil chamber to the valve chamber, a second passage extending from the valve chamber to the crankcase, and a third passage extending from the crankcase to the first passage. The first passage has a first opening directed toward the oil chamber. The second passage has a second opening directed toward the crankcase located at a point where it can be closed by the piston when it travels downwardly. The third passage has a third opening directed toward the crankcase located at a point below a bottom dead center of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Kioritz Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuneo Araki
  • Patent number: 5947230
    Abstract: A relief valve, anchored to a rotor plate, is centered in a concave housing area in a front journal bearing of an engine. Insetting the relief valve into the front of the engine correspondingly reduces the overall length of the engine. A semi-cylindrical auxiliary housing area is contiguous with the concave housing area. The auxiliary housing area and the concave housing area are spaced from the relief valve to provide a relief passageway for oil flow. The auxiliary housing area overhangs at least a portion of the relief valve. A relief hole in the relief valve leads to the relief passageway. Splashing of excess oil which is relieved from the relief valve is prevented, and smooth recovery of oil is enabled. Aeration is also lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuya Ohta
  • Patent number: 5857442
    Abstract: To prevent oil in which air is mixed from being led to an oil pump, preventing the number of parts from being increased in a lubricating system of an internal combustion engine wherein an oil relief valve dipped in oil in an oil pan is connected to a halfway part of a feed oil passage connecting the oil pan and an oil filter. An oil passage extends approximately horizontally and a connecting hole is provided with an axis approximately perpendicular to the oil passage for communicating with the oil passage which is open on the upper surface of a passage forming part formed in the passage forming part integrated with the bottom of an oil pan. An oil relief valve is coaxially connected to the connecting hole with the pressure receiving surface of its plunger directed downwardly. A wall part surrounds the oil relief valve on the side of an oil strainer and is integrated with the bottom of the oil pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiromi Sumi
  • Patent number: 5852992
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes separated oil drain-back and crankcase ventilation passages. The oil drain-back passages extend from the cylinder head to a position below the top level of oil in the engine's crankcase. The crankcase ventilation passages extend from passages formed in the main bearing bulkheads from positions above the oil level in the crankcase and ultimately through the cylinder head. Oil dams surrounding the uppermost portions of the crankcase ventilation passages prevent oil from running downwardly through the crankcase ventilation passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Lee Boggs, Daniel James Baraszu, David Mark Foulkes, Enio Goyannes Gomes
  • Patent number: 5794581
    Abstract: An engine lubrication system according to the present invention includes a pair of lubrication galleries which extend through the engine block between the ends of the engine crankshaft and communicate with the crankshaft bearing journals through a plurality of lubrication passages. The lubrication galleries are connected to the lubricant pump at opposite ends of the engine. Lubrication passages of one gallery combine with lubrication passages of the other gallery at the crankshaft bearing journals to compensate for the lubricant pressure loss through the galleries with distance from the lubricant pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Torque Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond B. Wedel, Jr., Richard Moser
  • Patent number: 5709185
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lubricating system for lubricating moving parts in a crank case of a four-stroke-cycle engine. The lubricating system comprises an oil tank for holding oil, an oil passage connected to the oil tank and an engine crank chamber, an oil supply means for supplying fine particles of oil held in the oil tank to the moving parts in the crank chamber via the oil passage, and an oil removing means for removing the fine particles of oil applied to the moving parts in the crank chamber, from the crank chamber without forming oil accumulation. To supply the fine particles of oil to the moving parts in the crank chamber, the oil of a liquid form is thrown to impinge against the moving parts in the crank chamber or is mixed with a gas entering the crank chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Shibaura Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigemitsu Aizawa, Naohiro Maruyama, Toshio Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 5704770
    Abstract: An air passage insert for an oil fill spout disposed on a side of an oil crankcase which includes an air communication passageway having a first end thereof disposed within an interior portion of such oil crankcase at a position above an oil full level and a second end thereof being in communication with atmosphere for communicating air from such interior portion of such oil crankcase in a space located above such oil full level. There is an further provided an attachment device which is engageable with both such air communication passageway and such oil fill spout for attaching the air communication passageway at least to one of such oil fill spout and such interior portion of such oil crankcase thereby enabling air to be vented from such space located above such oil fill level during an oil filling process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventor: Brian Cunkelman
  • Patent number: 5606943
    Abstract: A gear 11 on a crankshaft 10 is made to engage with an internal gear 21 having twice the number of teeth of the gear 11, cams 22 are formed on the exterior surface of the internal gear 21, and the cams 22 are connected with valve actuating mechanisms 40 for actuating an exhaust valve 44 and an intake valve 40 to open or close. The gear 11, the internal gear 21, etc. have the function of an oil pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Tamba, Yoshiro Yamane
  • Patent number: 5582145
    Abstract: Air is drawn into the crank chamber when the negative pressure is built up in the crank chamber, and the air mixed with the blowby drawn into the crank chamber is led as the secondary air to the exhaust gas discharge section when the positive pressure is built up in the crank chamber. Thus the secondary air is mixed with the exhaust gases discharged from the combustion chamber, and the mixture of the exhaust gases and the secondary air is burned again (oxidized) in the exhaust gas cleaning section, thereby cleaning up the exhaust gases. Furthermore, the present invention is provided with two valves for checking the back flow of the air while maintaining the air flow from the crank chamber to the exhaust gas discharge section. One valve (first valve) is disposed within the intake passage and opens when the negative pressure is built up in the crank chamber. The other valve (second valve) is disposed within the guide passage and opens when the positive pressure is built up in the crank chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Shibaura Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigemitsu Aizawa, Naohiro Maruyama, Yuichi Momose
  • Patent number: 5570662
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an internal combustion engine including first and second adjacent oppositely acting crankcases defined, in part, by a wall intermediate the first and second crankcases, a passageway through the wall and including a central portion and end portions which extends in opposite directions from the central portion, which are outwardly divergent, and which communicate with the first and second crankcases, whereby the central portion acts as a venturi consequent to air passage through the passageway between the crankcases incident to the pressure differential between the crankcases, and a conduit communicating with the central portion of the passageway for alternately supplying lubricating oil to the crankcases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Niemchick, Gerald Haft
  • Patent number: 5555855
    Abstract: A water circulation system of a marine engine improves the consistency of engine combustion by stabilizing the temperature of water flowing through the engine water jacket and by heating the intake manifold to a temperature within a desired temperature range. The desired temperature range is defined so as to optimize fuel vaporization without significantly affecting the volumetric efficiency of the engine. The water circulation system includes a control valve which directs water flow through the circulation system according to the water temperature exiting the engine water jacket. The valve recirculates water between the engine water jacket and a recirculation path until the water temperature reaches a predetermined lower temperature limit. The control valve then allows a portion of the water to flow through a heating jacket around the intake manifold to heat the intake manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masanori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5513608
    Abstract: A lubricating system for a reciprocating machine such as a two cycle internal combustion engine having the cylinder bores horizontally disposed. A drain system is provided for draining lubricant from the lowermost crankcase chambers to the upper cylinders so as to maintain uniformity of lubrication and insure even and smooth running. A check valve is provided for precluding reverse flow and the lubricant is delivered both to the crankcase chambers and to the piston through either the piston and/or cylinder liner. The lubricant supplied to the piston is supplied at its upper area so as to insure complete lubrication of its circumference and of the associated cylinder bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Takashima, Tomohiro Kanamaru
  • Patent number: 5474041
    Abstract: The present invention provides for automatic relief of excess pressure within an engine lubrication system in such a way as to recover a significant portion of the energy that was used to create the excess oil pressure. A pressure regulator creates a directed flow of oil in order to relieve pressure within the lubrication system. This directed flow of oil is caused to impact an impulse/momentum wheel, thereby imparting momentum from the oil to the wheel, creating a torque therein. The impulse/momentum wheel is advantageously coupled to the engine gear train, thereby reducing the engine power required to run the gear train by recovering energy from the lubrication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: P. Doug Free, Thomas L. McKinley
  • Patent number: 5471958
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an internal combustion engine including first and second adjacent oppositely acting crankcases defined, in part, by a wall intermediate the first and second crankcases, a passageway through the wall and including a central portion and end portions which extends in opposite directions from the central portion, which are outwardly divergent, and which communicate with the first and second crankcases, whereby the central portion acts as a venturi consequent to air passage through the passageway between the crankcases incident to the pressure differential between the crankcases, and a conduit communicating with the central portion of the passageway for alternately supplying lubricating oil to the crankcases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Niemchick, Gerald Haft
  • Patent number: 5465693
    Abstract: Air-cooled reciprocating engines usually have a lubrication and cooling oil system providing positive oil delivery to a valve operating mechanism above the cylinder heads and a gravity flow return to the crankcase. In many such engines, the flow return channels are bored or cast conduits within the cylinder jacket structure which surrounds the piston guiding cylinder sleeve. These cylinder jackets are assembled to the engine crankcase by several long drawbolts which clamp each jacket between the respective head and the crankcase. Cylinder jacket bases have turned cylindrical surfaces which socket into a corresponding bore in the crankcase against an annular face. The socket relationship between the jacket base and crankcase positionally confines the jacket base literally relative to the crankcase. Locator pins bridging the interface between the jacket and crankcase secure the jacket from rotation within the crankcase socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Inventor: Laurance L. Poole
  • Patent number: 5339776
    Abstract: A lubrication system (10) has a bypass valve (34) with an inlet port (60) connected to the outlet side of the oil pump (18). The valve (34) is connected to a electronic control unit (40) that has inputs (76), (78), (80), and (82) to receive information on oil pressure, coolant temperature, oil temperature, engine speed and engine load to control the operation of an electric motor (38) which opens and closes the bypass valve (34). The oil pressure within the engine supply passage (22) is thereby controlled by the position of valve (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Jose F. Regueiro
  • Patent number: 5317999
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine for portable power generating equipment includes a camshaft assembly having an integral gerotor oil pump at one end thereof. The camshaft, which is preferably formed of two dissimilar materials, is mounted for axial movement in response to increased oil pressure so as to provide automatic oil pressure regulation. Structure is provided for reducing engine compression at low speeds to reduce cranking resistance during starting. Speed control is provided by a stepper motor coupled through a cam to the engine throttle. The cam is shaped so as to counteract the non-linear relationship between throttle position and engine power and speed so as to provide a desired relationship between the position of the stepper motor and the engine power and speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Generac Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Kern, Gerald Ruehlow, Herb Hoenisch, Mark Sarder
  • Patent number: 5287833
    Abstract: A lubricating oil supplying system for a two cycle engine that includes a reciprocating engine drive lubricant pump and a solenoid controlled bypass valve for selectively delivering lubricant to the engine of by bypassing it back to the inlet side of the lubricant pump to control the amount of lubricant supplied to the engine. The duty cycle of solenoid is increased as the engine speed is decreased and the duty cycle is also decreased when the throttle is opened rapidly so as to insure the proper amount of lubricant flow to the engine under all conditions, both transient and steady state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Yashiro
  • Patent number: 5249556
    Abstract: An adjustable lubricating system for an internal combustion engine such as the Harley-Davidson 74 and 80 cubic inch twin-v engines. An oil pump having a pressure relief valve connected to a plurality of passages adjacent the pump outlet through which pressurized oil flows to lubricate various parts depending upon the positioning of the valve. A pressure relief cap is provided with a bore extending therethrough in which an adjusting screw is positioned. The cap, bore and screw have mating threads allowing the screw to be movably positioned within the bore. The cap has external threads thereon mating with the internal threads of the pressure relief valve bore of the fuel pump of the lubricating system of the engine. An oil seal is provided within the cap bore which engages the screw. The screw engages the pressure relief spring of the pressure relief valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Inventor: William J. Emmitt
  • Patent number: 5247845
    Abstract: A power takeoff adapter for extending a power shaft such as the crankshaft of an engine. The power takeoff adapter includes a male pin adapted to be received in a complementary female receptacle in the crankshaft, wherein torque applied during operation initially tightens the coupling between the adapter and the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventor: James M. Grayson
  • Patent number: 5193500
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine including an engine block defining first and second cylinders with first and second crankcases associated with the first and second cylinders. An oil passageway communicates with each of the crankcases and a conduit is connected to the oil passageway to supply oil to the crankcases. A check valve is located in either the oil passageway or the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventor: Gerald Haft
  • Patent number: 5052354
    Abstract: A horizontally-opposed multiple-cylinder engine provided with a cylinder block having two banks respectively including cylinders in which pistons are moved to bottom dead centers in order. A gas baffle is disposed between the lower portion of a crank chamber defined between the two banks in the cylinder block and lubrication oil in an oil pan disposed below the crank chamber. The gas baffle is made of steel plate by drawing treatment and is provided with an opening formed at an end portion thereof opposed to one cylinder which operates to force gas in the crank chamber to an upper space thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahito Kindaichi
  • Patent number: 4996956
    Abstract: Breather apparatus is disclosed for relieving engine crankcase pressure when the engine is tipped or rotated. The breather apparatus consists of a duct intake connected to the crankcase, an elongated duct, and a drain hole for draining oil back into the crankcase. The duct intake should be positioned in an area of low oil splash. The drain hole should be positioned so that it is not submerged in oil while being tipped 90.degree. in either a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction about the engine's vertical centerline. The breather assembly is particularly suitable for lawnmowers that are tipped during cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory L. Hupfer, Gregory R. Schmidt, Thomas A. McNabb
  • Patent number: 4898207
    Abstract: An oil relief valve for lubrication systems for internal combustion engines comprising a valve body having a hollow cylindrical shape, a valve seat provided at a bottom end of the valve body, a valve plug placed in the seat, a port bored in the seat to bring the oil relief valve into fluid communication with a lubrication line which supplies oil from an oil pump to various engine parts to be lubricated, a spring mounted on top of the valve plug and adapted to urge the plug against the seat to close the port, and slits cut in the valve body and provided to bring the valve in fluid communication with an oil pan. The spring has a free length smaller than the distance of the space defined between the valve plug and the top end of the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriyuki Ueki, Shigeru Nishimura
  • Patent number: 4885953
    Abstract: A gear train housing of an engine of the type having an internal gear space located within housing parts which include at least one housing body part and at least one cover part. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the lower end of the gear space is substantially embodiment, the lower end of the gear space is substantially of a V-shape defined laterally on opposite sides by a radially facing sloping walls of the housing body part. In order to minimize oil related problems, bosses on the upwardly facing sloping walls have a wedge-like shape with a downwardly inclined, inwardly facing surface and are free of upwardly sloping surface portions which can collect fluid flowing over the bosses in proximity to a gasket seal between edge faces of the housing parts, and a splash shield is formed for preventing excessive quantities of oil from being splashed, by a crankshaft gear, into the area of other gears of the gear train, so as to reduce associated frictional losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger D. Sweetland, Francis M. Hager
  • Patent number: 4869213
    Abstract: A system is provided for relieving gas pressure developed in a crank case under an internal combustion engine piston as the reciprocating piston travels from top dead center toward and beyond bottom dead center, and wherein a rotary breather valve is employed. The rotary valve has a rotary sleeve rotatable within a fixed sleeve, the rotary and fixed sleeves respectively having first and second arcuate ports which come into increasing and decreasing registration in timed relation to the piston travel, such decreasing registration terminating after the piston reaches bottom dead center. Oil and air mist are discharged through the registered ports during said piston travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: Custom Chrome, Inc.
    Inventor: Ignatius J. Panzica
  • Patent number: 4846307
    Abstract: A separate lubricating system for a two-stroke-cycle outboard engine comprises a sealed oil tank disposed above the engine for storing therein a lubricating oil used in the separate lubricating system. Compressed air from a crankcase of the engine passes through a check valve attached to the crankcase and is introduced into the oil tank by a pipeline. The separate lubricating system is also provided with a plunger pump for forcibly delivering oil supplied from the oil tank under the compressive force of the compressed air to lubricated parts of the engine. The separate lubricating system of the engine can correctly meter the quantity of the lubricating oil even when air is charged into and trapped in the plunger pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sosuke Kinouchi, Yukikazu Sumitomo
  • Patent number: 4727834
    Abstract: A lawn mower or other similar walk behind type of implement that is designed to be operated in a normally erect position and which is tilted to its side for servicing. An engine is provided for the lawn mower having an output shaft rotatable about a vertically extending axis. The engine includes a lubricating system incorporating a crankcase in which the engine output shaft rotates and a crankcase ventilating system. The crankcase ventilating system is designed so as to prevent lubricant from flowing into the induction system when the engine is tilted on its side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Isaka, Kiyohiko Oguri
  • Patent number: 4716638
    Abstract: A method for aligning bearing covers at bearing sections of a crankcase in which bearing covers of a crankshaft bearing are aligned by way of fastening bolts and subsequently machined-in fitting pins and wherein the bearing bore for the crankshaft is subsequently machined. Thereafter, the crankshaft is assembled whereby the bearing cover is at first aligned by the fitting pins and is then fixed by means of the fastening bolts. Not only a secure support of the bearing cover at the bearing sections is assured thereby, but also narrow tolerances which favorably influence the bearing support of the crankshaft, can be maintained without problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Herbert Ampferer
  • Patent number: 4649870
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the life of a lubricant seal located around a movable shaft where it exits a fluid-containing housing on a vehicle with an internal combustion engine having a crankcase. The invention includes removing blowby, which contains lubricating oil mist, from the crankcase and channeling it into contact with the outside surface of the lubricant seal. The apparatus and method of this invention also involve isolating the lubricant seal from dust and dirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: J. I. Case Company
    Inventor: James C. Hoelzer
  • Patent number: 4583416
    Abstract: A speed-reduction transmission for a reciprocating piston aircraft engine, in which the oil-collecting space of the speed-reduction transmission housing arranged between the piston engine and the propeller is connected with the oil-collecting space of the crankcase of the engine by way of an overflow pipe; the upper part of the speed-reduction transmission housing is in communication with the air space of the crankcase by way of a vent pipe; the vent pipe and the overflow pipe are so arranged that their functions are interchanged during upside-down flights of the aircraft and the oil volume disposed in the bottom of the transmission housing remains constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1986
    Assignee: Ing. h.c.F. Porsche A.G.
    Inventor: Robert Muller
  • Patent number: 4579092
    Abstract: An improved engine construction is disclosed having a valve train including valves and corresponding valve stems for controlling the intake and exhaust ports, cams for imparting reciprocating motion to the valves by way of the valve train, and a valve spring for biasing each valve toward its closed position and the valve train into tracking relation with the cam. The only element of the valve train coupling a cam to a stem is a cam follower with a depression for receiving the corresponding stem end and a cam engaging surface opposite the depression with the cam follower being held captive intermediate the stem and cam solely by the spring biasing of the stem toward the cam and the engagement of the stem end and the depression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1986
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventor: William C. Kandler
  • Patent number: 4579093
    Abstract: A two-cycle, spark ignition engine is improved in order to eliminate the need for the typical reed valves and carburetor, while eliminating the carbon build-up inherent in mixing of the lubricant with the fuel mixture. Fuel and air are injected into the combustion chamber, and oil is injected into the crankcase, while eliminating communication therebetween. The improvement may be provided as a retrofit kit, for the standard two cycle engine, or the original casting of the engine may include the required modifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1986
    Assignee: American Fits Engine Company, Limited
    Inventor: Swanson L. Eanes
  • Patent number: 4495909
    Abstract: The invention is designed for use with diesel engine over-the-road trucks and periodically extracts a given quantity of oil from the oil pan of the engine and ejects that quantity into the fuel tank for burning along with the regular fuel. In turn, an automatic oil level sensing device continually senses the level of oil in the engine while the engine is running thus insuring a constant infusion of fresh oil into the engine oil supply thereby effectively changing the oil as the vehicle is operated and removing the need for the discrete oil change operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1985
    Inventor: Erwin E. Hurner
  • Patent number: 4493295
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine, especially for motor vehicles, includes separate oil return and vent channels extending between a crank space of a cylinder crankcase and a valve-actuating space formed by a cylinder head and a cover. For the defined and separate guidance of the media passing through the oil return channels and vent channels, the oil return channels are arranged at a distance to the vent channels and the vent channels are connected to an air guide device inside of the valve-actuating space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1985
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche A.G.
    Inventor: Herbert Ampferer
  • Patent number: 4479463
    Abstract: An engine sump 4 has an oil suction passage 7 formed in its side wall to communicate with the sump well 6 at its lower end and to open upwards at its upper end to communicate with a passage in a crankcase 3. Preferably, the passage 7 opens into an upwardly opening gallery 13 in the top of the sump wall along part of its length. Two such oil suction pipes 7, 8 may be provided at opposite locations relative to a central point so that the sump 4 can be rotated 180 degrees about this point from one fitting position to another. A filter element 11 may be provided in the oil suction passage 7 and held therein by the crankcase 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1984
    Assignee: Perkins Engine Group Limited
    Inventors: Laurence D. Curley, David A. Whitehead, Rodney A. Bedborough
  • Patent number: 4476836
    Abstract: A fuel-injecting apparatus supplies fuel to an internal combustion engine in a timing and at a rate adapted for its operation. The internal combustion engine includes a lubricant trap provided at the bottom of the internal combustion engine to collect lubricant for lubricating the internal combustion engine and a fuel pump for supplying the lubricant held in the lubricant trap to a fuel-injection device. In the fuel-injecting apparatus the intermediate part of a passage through which lubricant is delivered to a fuel-injection timing control device is branched off, and the branched division of the lubricant passage is made to communicate with the lubricated section of the fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nizo Enomoto, Fumiaki Murayama
  • Patent number: 4475488
    Abstract: A lubricating system for crankcase compression two-cycle engines embodying a positively driven oil pump. The oil pump is driven from the crankshaft by means of gears and a portion of the lubricating oil is delivered to a cavity in which these gears are located for lubricating the gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1984
    Assignees: Yamama Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha, Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Rou Odashima
  • Patent number: 4471727
    Abstract: A lubricating system for a two-cycle outboard motor in which lubricant is mixed with the fuel prior to delivery to the fuel bowl of the carburetor in a chamber located externally of the carburetor. The lubricant is supplied by a relatively large storage tank to a relatively smaller delivery tank that is positioned in proximity to the engine. A float operated control device is provided for maintaining an adequate lubricant level in the delivery tank and an arrangement is incorporated for insuring against operation of the pump in response to momentary changes in liquid level in the delivery tank due to inertial effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1984
    Assignees: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha, Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Rou Odashima
  • Patent number: 4470389
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a combined breather-lubricator system for an internal combustion engine having a horizontal cylinder, a crankcase, a vertical crankshaft journalled by an upper and a lower bearings in the crankcase, and a valve spring chamber in the crankcase.The system includes two breather passages. The first breather passage extends from the crankcase through a check valve and the spring chamber and opening into the atmosphere, the valve being adapted to pass fluid therethrough in the direction from the crankcase to the atmosphere. The second breather passage extends back from the atmosphere through an oil drain hole in the spring chamber into the crankcase.The system further includes a lubrication system connected to the first breather passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Mitadera, Tetsuaki Shirai, Fumikazu Miyanaga
  • Patent number: 4462350
    Abstract: A lubrication apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided which has a crank chamber with an oil pan detachably mounted on the lower surface of the crank chamber. An oil pump and an oil filter are coupled together by an oil passage in the crank chamber. A relief valve is provided in the oil passage, the relief valve being opened by an oil pressure above a predetermined value. The oil passage includes an opening directed towards the oil pan and the oil pan includes a rib formed on the upper surface thereof, wherein the relief valve is inserted in the opening and is supported therein by the rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1984
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noboru Kurata