Crank-type Machines Patents (Class 184/6.5)
  • Patent number: 7597083
    Abstract: A clamp (26) has a main body (30) that is attached to an engine block (28). A right-angled flange (32) extends from the main body to enter a downwardly open concave interior of an outturned flange (18) of an oil pan rim (16) and provides underlying support for an insert (46) on which the outturned flange of the oil pan rim rests. Fretting of the rim is avoided because the presence of the insert avoids any substantial contact between the flange (32) and the rim (16) that could lead to fretting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company LLC
    Inventor: James B. Nachtman
  • Publication number: 20090218169
    Abstract: An engine lubrication system for a multi-cylinder engine, comprising: plurality of crank chambers that are partitioned by crankshaft bearing portions of the engine; pumps that take out oil from a lower portion of the engine; oil collection passages that are respectively provided for the crank chambers, a designated number of the oil collection passages being merged and connected to at least one of suction ports of the pumps; an oil storage section that temporarily stores the oil taken out from the lower portion of the engine; a lubrication part that supplies the oil in the oil storage section to a portion to be lubricated of the engine; and a pressure variation suppression section that is provided between the suction ports of the pumps and the designated number of the crank chambers to be merged, the pressure variation suppression section suppressing pressure variations in the crank chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawamura, Shunji Mamiya, Noboru Nowatari, Hitoshi Uema
  • Publication number: 20090205601
    Abstract: An oil system for selectively deactivating valves for specified cylinders of an internal combustion engine includes a cylinder head having a lash adjuster oil passage and a cylinder deactivation oil passage. Plugs are coupled to the cylinder head separating the cylinder deactivation oil passage into separate portions. A clearance between a portion of each plug and the head allows a controlled flow of oil to pass from the lash adjuster oil passage to the cylinder deactivation oil passage to purge air from the cylinder deactivation oil passage. A valve is operable to selectively supply pressurized oil to the cylinder deactivation oil passage to deactivate the specified cylinders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Rodney E. Baker
  • Publication number: 20090203272
    Abstract: A power transmitting portion of an outboard motor has a power transmitting shaft connected to an output shaft of an engine to rotate together therewith, an oil pump disposed on the power transmitting shaft, and a driving force acquisition mechanism arranged to acquire driving force from the power transmitting shaft. The power transmitting portion is able to provide an outboard motor capable of ensuring a pump discharge amount without incurring an increase in the pump size and the oil amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihiko OKABE
  • Publication number: 20090188755
    Abstract: An engine oil system comprises an oil condition sensing device and a control module. The oil condition sensing device includes an electrically actuated member and is in fluid communication with an engine oil reservoir. The control module selectively causes current to be supplied to the oil condition sensing device to actuate the member, measures the current, determines a parameter of the current, and selectively identifies at least two of an oil level, an oil change event, and an oil viscosity level based on the parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: David R. Staley, Bryan K. Pryor, William C. Albertson, Timothy L. Neal, Mike M. Mc Donald
  • Publication number: 20090123314
    Abstract: An oil pump for an internal combustion engine for drawing up the lubricating oil situated in an oil collector device has an oil pump housing wherein at least two pairs of gears are disposed. The pairs of gears, in order to form the pumping stages, are connected on the suction side to a suction passage formed in the oil pump housing and on the delivery side to a delivery passage. The oil pump housing is further formed with an oil supply passage that is connected to the suction passage of a first pumping stage and via which lubricating oil can be delivered to the suction side of the first pumping stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicants: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, SCHWABISCHE HUTTENWERKE AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Norman Wockel, Jurgen Bohner, Kurt Schlegel, Sven Peters, Paul Wahl, Hilmar Gartner
  • Publication number: 20090095571
    Abstract: A cast oil manifold (10) has entrance openings (28) from a reservoir (18) to cast-in gooseneck outlet tubes (16) that are substantially elliptical, enabling less material to be used in the vicinity in comparison to the amount of material used when the openings are circular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander L. Gnesin, Gregory A. Griffin
  • Publication number: 20090084343
    Abstract: Disclosed is oil flow passage formation in a cylinder block 11 from an oil pump 12 to an oil cooler 13, having a side surface of the cylinder block 11 on which the oil pump 12 is formed, and an oil flow passage 14 formed in and along the side surface of the cylinder block 11 on which the oil pump 12 is formed. This makes it unnecessary to change the flow direction of the engine oil and suppresses increase in resistance of the engine oil to cause the engine oil to flow smoothly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: HINO MOTORS LTD.
    Inventor: Kenji Hisatomi
  • Publication number: 20090084633
    Abstract: A power unit includes a transmission mechanism installed in a crankcase with a clutch apparatus for connecting and disconnecting the transmission of power between a crankshaft and the transmission mechanism being installed in a clutch chamber. An oil filter is set between an oil pump driven by the power transmitted from the crankshaft and portions to be supplied with oil is attached to a clutch cover. The provided power unit guarantees a certain degree of freedom in design for the size of the inner diameter of the cylinder bore, the location of the timing transmission mechanism, and the like. A smaller size of the power unit along the axial direction of the crankshaft needs to be achieved. The oil filter is disposed between the axis of the crankshaft and the axis of the clutch apparatus and below the axis of the crankshaft and the axis of the clutch apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Yasushi FUJIMOTO, Atsushi Ogasawara
  • Publication number: 20090050102
    Abstract: A combined oil filtration and metering assembly for filtering and metering oil in an oil gallery, such as in a Lifter Oil Manifold Assembly of an internal combustion engine. The filtration and metering assembly includes a filtration element at an oil entrance leading to an internal chamber having a metering orifice as an outlet to a downstream portion of the oil gallery. Preferably the metering orifice has a diverging exit cone. Preferably, the assembly replaces directly a prior art metering valve in a LOMA socket without requiring retooling of the LOMA top plate. The assembly may be readily formed by molding of the filtration element into the oil entrance in an injection overmolding process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Alan G. Strandburg, Dominic Borraccia, Michael J. Dinkel
  • Publication number: 20090038575
    Abstract: A pump chamber is arranged on the side of a balancer shaft on a vehicle backward side of the two balancer shafts. An oil strainer for sucking oil into an inlet passage is arranged on a vehicle forward side of the axis of the balancer shaft on the vehicle forward side of said two balancer shafts. The inlet passage and the delivery passage are overlaid in the vertical direction and oriented to one side in the circumferential direction of the pump chamber, and the inlet passage and the delivery passage are arranged in a state where they are rectilinearly extended from the pump chamber in the vehicle forward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ohsawa
  • Publication number: 20090026015
    Abstract: A system and method for managing return oil flow in a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine having a plurality of pistons reciprocating within corresponding cylinders of an engine block to rotate a crankshaft include an oil pan having a shallow portion and a deeper sump portion, wherein the shallow portion includes at least one tunnel extending between the shallow portion and the sump portion to block airflow generated by rotation of the crankshaft and facilitate oil flow through a localized high pressure region between the shallow portion and the sump portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gary David Liimatta, John Matthew Pieprzak
  • Publication number: 20090014247
    Abstract: An oil sump for use in internal combustion engines or transmissions, where the oil sump consists of sheet metal shaped by deep drawing and has a reinforced edge, by means of which it rests, in its mounted state, in the internal combustion engine or the transmission with a seal positioned between them. The reinforcement consists of at least one separate metal part, which is mounted on the edge of the oil sump by positive locking and/or nonpositive locking with deformation of the edge of the oil sump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang BURKHARDT
  • Publication number: 20090014246
    Abstract: A lubrication system for a small lightweight four-stroke engine is disclosed. The lubrication system, provided with a weight at one end of a flexible oil tube inserted into an oil reservoir, is capable of providing a sufficient lubrication to components of the engine which may operate in a horizontal posture, a vertical posture, or any posture therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventor: Szu Liang Lin
  • Publication number: 20090013959
    Abstract: A lubrication system for a small lightweight four-stroke engine is disclosed. The lubrication system, provided with a weight at one end of a flexible oil tube inserted into an oil reservoir, is capable of providing a sufficient lubrication to components of the engine which may operate in a horizontal posture, a vertical posture, or any posture therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventor: Szu Liang Lin
  • Publication number: 20090008191
    Abstract: In order to decrease internal friction of a heat engine that converts a reciprocating motion of a piston into a rotational motion, a piston apparatus (1) forms an air bearing between a crankshaft (30) and a bearing unit (9B) provided in a crankcase (9) and between an eccentric portion (30c) of the crankshaft (30) and a large end portion (201) of a connecting rod (20) by feeding a gas therebetween from a crank-side hollow portion (31) of the crankshaft (30). The piston apparatus 1 also forms an air bearing between a piston pin (40) and a small end portion (202) of the connecting rod (20) by feeding a gas therebetween from a piston pin-side hollow portion (43) in the piston pin (40).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Daisaku Sawada, Shinichi Mitani, Hiroshi Yaguchi
  • Publication number: 20090000871
    Abstract: A lubrication system and method are disclosed. The system includes a main engine bearing and a crankshaft in operational association with the bearing. The crankshaft includes an end having a cavity with a power transmitting element (e.g., splines). The cavity can receive and engage a mating mechanism to transmit power thereto. The crankshaft further includes a first oil passage that is disposed within the end and a second oil passage that extends from the main engine bearing into the crankshaft. The first oil passage intersects the second oil passage. The system can also include a pump mechanism for circulating lubricating oil from the main engine bearing to the crankshaft through the second oil passage and the first oil passage, and to the cavity to lubricate the power transmitting element. During engine operation, a constant supply of lubricating oil can be provided to the power transmitting element to reduce component wear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Peter J. McClave, George A. Jankuski, Laura K. Mueller
  • Publication number: 20080314686
    Abstract: The invention resides in an internal combustion engine (20) comprising an air intake system (24) operatively connected to a cylinder (21), a gaseous phase fuel delivery system (25) operatively connected to the cylinder (21), and a liquid phase lubricant injection system (10) operatively connected to the cylinder (21). An atomised portion of liquid phase lubricant is injected into a mixture of gaseous phase fuel and air by the liquid phase lubricant injection system (10) to lubricate components of the cylinder (21) prior to burning the mixture in the cylinder (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: CRR DEVELOPMENTS PTY LTD
    Inventors: Robert Romano, Christopher Romano
  • Publication number: 20080314687
    Abstract: A power unit for a motorcycle includes an internal combustion engine provided with a crankcase rotatably supporting a crankshaft with an axial line extending in a vehicle-width direction. An oil pump is mounted on the crankcase with a balancer rotatably supported by the crankcase. Rotational power from the crankshaft is transmitted to a pump driven member provided on a pump shall of the oil pump and to a balancer driven member coaxially interlinked with and connected to the balancer so as to transmit power to the balancer. The power unit is downsized by bringing a balancer and an oil pump into a close arrangement. The pump driven member and the balancer driven member are offset from each other in a vehicle-width direction and are located at such a position so as to at least partially overlap each other as viewed from the side of the vehicle-width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Tomoo SHIOZAKI, Masahiro Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20080308353
    Abstract: This lubrication system includes a pump feeding a main line which provides oil to a support interface for a crank shaft of oil engine and an auxiliary line connected to at least one piston cooling jet. The pump is a variable flow pump controlled on the basis of oil pressure in the main line. A proportional means is mounted on the auxiliary line. This means is adapted to control oil flow in the auxiliary line depending on the working conditions of the engine, e.g. oil temperature, torque to be delivered or rotational speed of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: RENAULT TRUCKS
    Inventor: Luc Aixala
  • Publication number: 20080296092
    Abstract: A crankcase of an internal combustion engine with at least one main lubricant channel for supplying the internal combustion engine with lubricant and with at least one oil return flow channel (10) for return guidance of the excess lubricant into a reservoir container (11), wherein the oil return flow channel (10) exhibits a peg-shaped widening (12), which is formed by the attachment a bearing support of an oil channel core (18). The invention further concerns an oil channel core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Uwe BINDEL, Werner Hofheinz
  • Patent number: 7451736
    Abstract: An oil pan for attachment to the lower wall of the engine block housing of an internal combustion engine by bolts in such a way that lubricating oil is stored in the oil pan and transported from the oil pan to various parts of the engine to be lubricated by a suction line connected to an oil pump, in which excess oil flows back directly into the oil pan. The oil pan has a pan body (1) which is formed of a synthetic material and is closed along its upper portion by a connecting plate (2), also formed of a synthetic material, in which each of the two surfaces of the connecting plate is provided with a circumferential seal (8,9) that is cast onto the plate to ensure a tight seal between the pan body (1) and the engine block. The bottom portion of the connecting plate (2) extends as a tubular connecting piece (5), which is provided at its free end with a filter screen (6), and which forms a segment of the suction line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Jerome Migaud, Gerald De Cara
  • Publication number: 20080277201
    Abstract: An engine supercharger lubricating apparatus is provided with an oil passage, a pump and an air introducing passage. The oil passage is configured and arranged to supply a lubricating oil to a supercharger of an engine and to return the lubricating oil from the supercharger to an oil pan. The pump is arranged in the oil passage at a location downstream of the supercharger for pumping the lubricating oil from the supercharger to the oil pan. The air introducing passage is arranged to introduce air into the oil passage at a location downstream of the supercharger and upstream of the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Arata TAGUCHI, Hidetsugu KOMATSU
  • Publication number: 20080274919
    Abstract: A method and system to reduce fuel consumption and environmental impact in a two-stroke engine. Fresh system oil having a TBN less than 10 is provided and used in the two-stroke engine to produce partially used system oil. The partially used system oil is withdrawn from the two stroke engine and at least one friction modifier is added to at least some of the withdrawn partially used system oil, wherein the addition of the at least one friction modifier reduces the friction coefficient of the withdrawn system oil, resulting in a system oil having reduced friction. The system oil with reduced friction is combined with partially used system oil remaining in said two-stroke and the combined system oil is used to lubricate pistons of said two-stroke engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Giuseppe Natoli, Giulio Giovanni Pometto, Alfio Bonciolini, Hans Heinrich Petersen, Jorn Dragsted, Claus Martin Olesen, Klaus-Werner Damm
  • Publication number: 20080257298
    Abstract: A crankcase structure of an internal combustion engine has a desirable shaft support achieved by maintaining the strength of a side wall of a crankcase at a high level without increasing the weight and the size of the internal combustion engine even when the internal combustion engine has an output shaft projecting from the crankcase. A crankcase structure has a crankshaft and a counter shaft that are rotatably supported on a partitioning plane of a crankcase. A main shaft is oriented in the fore-and-aft direction and is rotatably supported on opposed front and rear walls of either one of the upper and lower crankcases. An output shaft to be driven by a power of the counter shaft penetrates through the front and rear walls of one of the upper and lower crankcases by which the main shaft is not rotatably supported, and projects to the front and rear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Inui, Hiromi Sumi, Eiji Kittaka
  • Publication number: 20080245613
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having pressure lubrication according to the dry sump principle, in particular for an opposed cylinder engine, has a crankcase in which an oil suction space (dry sump) is formed in the lower part. The lubricant oil is conveyed from the oil suction space to an oil supply container (wet sump) via an oil return pump equipped with an oil suction line. The lubricant oil in the oil supply tank and/or in the oil supply space is conveyed to the consumer via a main delivery pump. An annular space arranged around the cylinder is provided as part of the oil returned to the oil supply tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: Dr.Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Erwin Rutschmann, Thorsten Wieg
  • Publication number: 20080236950
    Abstract: An internal-combustion engine having a pressure lubrication system according to the dry-sump principle, particularly for an opposed-cylinder engine, having a crankcase in which an oil scavenging space is constructed in the lower part feeds the lubricating oil by way of an oil return feed pump equipped with an oil scavenging pipe to an oil storage tank. The lubricating oil situated in the oil storage tank is fed by way of a main feed pump to the consuming devices. The oil storage space forming the wet sump is also integrated in the crankcase of the internal-combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thorsten Wieg, Erwin Rutschmann
  • Publication number: 20080202465
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine having an injector which functions as a positive displacement pump and dispenses an amount of lubricant fixed for each and every operation of the injector. The fluid dispensed could be a lubricant delivered directly to crankshaft bearings, camshaft bearings, tappets or cylinder sleeve. Alternatively the fluid could be fuel, water or urea delivered to an exhaust system upstream of a catalytic converter. The injector can have a one-way valve with a valve element having a domed or conical surface for directing fluid flow across a sharp edge which induces turbulence in the fluid flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen, Paul Bartholomew Ravenhill, Steven Barraclough
  • Publication number: 20080190699
    Abstract: A crankshaft of an internal combustion engine has journals provided with shaft oil passages for carrying the oil to crankpins, and guide grooves having parts in which the shaft oil passages open, respectively, and opening in the cylindrical surfaces of the journals, respectively. The guide grooves has downstream end parts into which the shaft oil passages open, respectively, and extend in a circumferential direction in which the crankshaft rotates from the downstream end parts, respectively. First half bearing members of bearings are provided in their bearing surfaces with oil grooves through which the oil is supplied to the guide grooves, respectively. Each of the oil grooves are diametrically opposite to each of the guide grooves. The oil grooves have an axial width (W5) smaller than the axial width (W3) of the guide grooves. Thus oil leakage from gaps between each of the bearings and each of the journals of the crankshaft is reduced and hence an oil pump having a small capacity can be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Ohta
  • Publication number: 20080173275
    Abstract: A tensioner for applying tension to a balancer drive chain is mounted in a balancer housing which accommodates balancer shafts. Oil is supplied from a reservoir chamber to the tensioner. An oil jet member for lubricating the balancer drive chain is mounted at a position downstream in an oil flow direction from the reservoir chamber. Therefore, while enabling foreign matter contained in the oil to be discharged from the oil jet member without being accumulated within the tensioner, a predetermined pressure can be maintained in the reservoir chamber by a resistance to the flow of oil passing through the oil jet member. Also, a constriction is provided between the reservoir chamber and the oil jet member. Therefore, it is difficult for the oil to flow out of the reservoir chamber even after stoppage of an engine, thereby supplying the oil to the tensioner upon the next start of the engine without delay. Thus, it is possible to prevent the foreign matter from entering the tensioner for the balancer drive chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Koyama
  • Publication number: 20080149423
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a lubrication system and method. The system includes a main engine bearing and a crankshaft in operational association with the bearing. The crankshaft includes an end having a cavity with a power transmitting element (e.g., splines). The cavity can receive and engage an additional mechanism to transmit power thereto. The crankshaft further includes a first oil passage that is disposed within the end and a second oil passage that extends from the main engine bearing into the crankshaft. The first oil passage intersects the second oil passage. The system also includes a pump mechanism for circulating lubricating oil from the main engine bearing to the crankshaft through the second oil passage and the first oil passage, and to the cavity to lubricate the power transmitting element. During engine operation, a constant supply of lubricating oil can be provided to the power transmitting element to reduce component wear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventor: George A. Jankuski
  • Publication number: 20080153722
    Abstract: Provided are formulations, methods of making, and methods of using one or more Fischer-Tropsch Base Oils of the present invention in a low sulfur, low sulfated ash, and low phosphorus engine lubricant to enhance thermal stability of the lubricant as well as the high-temperature preformance of an engine housing the lubricant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Jeroen Van Leeuwen, Peter Kleijwegt
  • Publication number: 20080128210
    Abstract: This invention involves an internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle with a lubricant pump to transport a fluid, almost incompressible lubricant, especially a motor oil, as well as a lubricant guide element (1b) to guide the lubricant to the lubrication points of the internal combustion engine. In the internal combustion engine of the invention an elastic, flexible dampening element (2b) to accept pressure pulsations in the lubricant is associated with the lubricant guide element (1b). A dampening element (2b), for example, can have a bypass resonator with a calmed lubricant reservoir (4b). Use, for example, is in passenger motor vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: Daimlerchrysler AG
    Inventors: Dirk Lieske, Walter Zipp
  • Patent number: 7373913
    Abstract: A small internal combustion engine including a crankcase, a crankshaft rotatably mounted in an interior of the crankcase by crankshaft bearings of the crankcase, a first oil passage disposed below the crankshaft bearings to extend substantially in parallel with the crankshaft, the first oil passage being configured to feed lubricating oil to the crankshaft bearings, and a second oil passage disposed at a location higher than the first oil passage to extend substantially in parallel with the first oil passage, the second oil passage being configured to feed the lubricating oil to a component other than the crankshaft bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Publication number: 20080110698
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a construction machine having a main drive and a secondary drive, the secondary drive being functionally connected to an add-on assembly, and having a lubricant oil diversion, which diverts a partial lubricant oil quantity from the lubricant oil supply of the main drive. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an engine having a lubricant oil diversion for an add-on assembly, as well as an add-on assembly which has a lubricant oil diversion for attachment to a lubricant oil supply system of the main drive. Finally, the present invention also relates to a lubricant oil supply system and a method for the oil lubrication of an add-on assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventor: Manfred Hammes
  • Patent number: 7363904
    Abstract: An engine lubrication system in which a transmission 13 having a main shaft 14 and a drive shaft 15 each having a plurality of change-speed gears mounted thereon is arranged within a separate-type crankcase which is separated into left and right case portions, characterized in that a connecting bolt 60 for connecting the left and right case portions 2a, 2b together is inserted to be disposed in the vicinity of the main shaft 14 or the drive shaft 15 and in parallel with the shafts, in that left and right boss portions 60c having bolt bores 60a into which the connecting bolt 60 for connecting the left and right case portions 2a, 2b together is inserted are extended in a tubular fashion so as to abut with each other face-to-face, in that a space between an inner circumferential surface of the bolt bore 60a in the left and right boss portions 60c and an outer circumferential surface of the connecting bolt 60 is made to constitute a lubricating oil passageway 15a, in that an end of the lubricating oil passageway
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoji Utsumi, Masahiro Ito
  • Patent number: 7334556
    Abstract: A motorcycle is provided in which a seat and a storage box are arranged so as to be vertically stacked on each other in a rear portion of a body frame, and a pivotally mounted powertrain unit is suspended from the body frame under the storage box. The powertrain unit extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the body frame, and the engine has a crank chamber and a lubricant oil chamber provided separately from each other. A lubrication-oil passage structure for the engine is provided between each of a pair of journal bearing portions of a crankcase. The crankcase has an enclosed crank chamber and a crankshaft which is freely rotatably supported by the journal bearing portions with plain bearings. The journal bearing portions are provided with protrusion bosses for resisting entry of lubricating oil into the crank chamber from outside of the crankcase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Wachigai, Yoshiyuki Sekiya
  • Patent number: 7331323
    Abstract: A lubricating oil supplying system for an internal combustion engine includes a lubricating oil storage section for storing lubricating oil. A driven pump is driven by the internal combustion engine to suck the lubricating oil from the lubricating oil storage section and discharge the lubricating oil to a discharge passage. An electric pump is provided for sucking the lubricating oil discharged from the driven pump to the discharge passage and discharge the lubricating oil to a lubricating oil requiring section in the internal combustion engine. A controlling mechanism is provided for drivingly controlling the electric pump in accordance with a control signal. A bypass passage is provided for bypassing the driven pump. A check valve is disposed in the bypass passage to allow the lubricating oil in the lubricating oil storage section to flow only through a path bypassing the driven pump and toward the discharge passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Seinosuke Hara
  • Publication number: 20080017450
    Abstract: A lubrication system comprising a bore including an inlet for receiving lubrication, an outlet for distributing lubrication, and a inner passageway extending between the inlet and outlet is provided. The outlet may be provided with a wider opening than the passageway. The outlet may further include a groove having a radius of curvature, and defined by a pair of flat or curved sidewalls, and a pair of curved end walls each extending toward the inner passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventor: Douglas Lloyd Glass
  • Patent number: 7320384
    Abstract: A gearbox includes a housing having therein a receiving chamber, a transmission gear wheel mounted in the receiving chamber for rotation driven by an external driving force, an eccentric shaft assembly mounted in the receiving chamber and coupled to the transmission gear wheel for rotation together with the transmission gear wheel and driving action of a cutter, and a lubricating blade mounted at a bottom side of the receiving chamber, rotatably connected with the eccentric shaft assembly for rotation together with the eccentric shaft assembly, and having a plurality of arched grooves for delivering the lubricating oil located at the bottom side of the receiving chamber to the transmission gear wheel and the eccentric shaft assembly by a centrifugal force generated by the rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Inventor: Andy Huang
  • Patent number: 7314115
    Abstract: A lubricating system for an internal combustion engine includes a recovery pump by which a lubricating oil dropping to and dwelling in a bottom portion of a crankcase after lubricating individual portions of the internal combustion engine is sucked through a pump suction port opened in the bottom portion of the crankcase and is fed to a lubricating oil tank. A supply pump is provided for supplying the lubricating oil from the oil tank to the individual portions of the internal combustion engine. The lubricating tank is integral with the crankcase and is partitioned from a crank chamber by a partition wall projecting from the inside wall of the crankcase. The lubricating system includes an overflow oil passage through which the lubricating oil that flows over the upper edge of a partition wall of the lubricating tank is led to a suction port of the recovery pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Ito, Noriaki Takano, Shinya Koyama
  • Patent number: 7314353
    Abstract: A pump assembly includes a cam member arranged to rotate about an axis, and a piston pump having a cylinder body with a biased piston drivingly displaceable within the cylinder body and engageable with the cam member such that rotation of the cam member corresponds to reciprocating movement of the piston. The pump assembly is arranged for use in a food cutting machine for transporting cooling fluid from a reservoir to at least one bearing arrangement provided to support a rotating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Urschel Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel W. King, Steven Gregory Redelman
  • Publication number: 20070277751
    Abstract: An oil pump system is provided for a motorcycle, and includes at least one oil pump, a water pump, a drive shaft, a support frame, a drive gear, and an oil collector lid. The oil pump is supported by a crankshaft case and is coupled to the drive shaft. The drive shaft has an end section on which the drive gear is mounted. The drive gear is coupled to a crankshaft of an engine by a chain. The oil collector lid is arranged outside the drive gear. The water pump is coupled to the end of the drive shaft. Mechanical power is transmitted from the crankshaft, through the chain, to drive the drive gear and the drive shaft to also drive the water pump. The support frame is provided to rotatably support the drive shaft at a location spaced from the oil pump so as to form an enhanced support to the drive shaft and improve stability of operation and durability of the drive shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Ching-Huei Lin, Chao-Chang Ho
  • Publication number: 20070272196
    Abstract: A lubricating system for a vehicle transmission is provided by which the transmission is effectively lubricated, without increasing the number of component parts. The transmission includes an input shaft, an intermediate shaft and an output shaft, each of which are contained in the inside of a power unit case. The intermediate shaft has with an axially extending oil passage that establishes communication between both opposed ends of the intermediate shaft such that one end of the intermediate shaft permits communication between the axial oil passage and a first oil passage formed in a first case half, and a second end of the intermediate shaft permits communication between the axial oil passage and a second oil passage formed in a second case half. The intermediate shaft also includes radial oil passages extending radially outward from the axial oil passage and opening in an outer peripheral surface thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Nishi, Kazuaki Iino
  • Publication number: 20070272195
    Abstract: A power unit includes a shaft member rotatably supported by the crankcase and a torsional coil spring, disposed at one end of the shaft member, biasing a swing arm in one rotational direction. An oil strainer is fixed to the crankcase through a strainer support bracket extending vertically relative to a strainer element. The torsional coil spring includes a coil portion wound around the shaft member, one end portion retained on the side of the shaft member, and the other end portion retained by a retaining portion formed integrally with the strainer support bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichiro Keyaki, Toru Nishi, Eiichi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20070272193
    Abstract: An oil chamber of an oil pan 6 divided into a main oil chamber that collects oil from a crankcase and an auxiliary oil chamber that is positioned adjacent to the main oil chamber. The main oil chamber is connected with an oil supply pump that supplies oil to lubricated sections of an engine and the auxiliary oil chamber is connected with an oil collecting pump that returns oil to the main oil chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: YAMAHA MARINE KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hitoshi Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 7299895
    Abstract: An engine crankcase and transmission assembly includes a transmission housing including a forward mounting portion and a crankcase including a rear-mounting portion configured for mounting to the transmission. The rear-mounting portion of the crankcase includes an upper section and a lower section spaced apart from the upper section so that the first transmission housing and the crankcase define a passage there between when mounted. An oil sump at a lower portion of the crankcase including an expanded section with an outer surface extending rearward beyond the rear mounting portion of the crankcase. An adapter provides for mounting to a second transmission housing. The crankcase receives interchangeable first and second oil routing devices with oil line fittings for receiving complementary oil lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: S & S Cycle, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy T. Tiller, David Roethel
  • Publication number: 20070266986
    Abstract: A lubricating apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided in which an oil discharge passage, extending from the oil pump, is provided for straddling the oil pump case and the tank body. A direction of the extension of the oil discharge passage is changed in the tank body such that the oil discharge passage further extends in parallel with a junction plane between the oil pump case and the tank body. An opening for pressure reception by a relief valve is provided in the oil discharge passage portion extending in parallel with the junction plane. By attaching the oil pump case such that an outside end portion of the relief valve is held by a portion of the oil pump case, the relief valve is fixed between the tank body and the oil pump case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventor: Yosuke Hoi
  • Patent number: 7290514
    Abstract: To prevent a drop in a lubricating oil supply pressure in a valve train from occurring by disposing a lubricating oil supply path for the exclusive use of the valve train without allowing the lubricating oil to flow through an oil gallery, thereby securing a sufficient amount of supply of the lubricating oil in the valve train to enhance lubrication efficiency. A feed pump rotating with a crankshaft is disposed at a leftward end of the crankshaft. Lubricating oil supplied from the feed pump flows through an oil cooler and an oil filter. Part of the lubricating oil is supplied through a lubricating oil supply path to an oil gallery and to journals, crankpins, and the like of the crankshaft. The other part of the lubricating oil is supplied through lubricating oil supply paths for the exclusive use of the valve train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yosuke Hoi
  • Patent number: 7278516
    Abstract: A lubrication system includes an inlet conduit having an inboard end attached to a bearing support and an outboard end for receiving lubricant. A lubricant inlet assembly is attached to the inlet conduit outboard end and has an inlet cap with a receptacle, an inlet cap body, and a cap base. The inlet receptacle is configured to mate with a lubricant supply line, where the inlet cap body has an outer cap enclosing an inner cap, the outer cap having a convoluted wall. An inlet conduit termination fitting has an outboard fitting section, with an o-ring in a circumferential groove, disposed inside the inlet cap, and an inboard fitting section attached to the inlet conduit outboard end. A cap heat shield encloses the inlet cap and a conduit heat shield is attached to the inlet conduit. The lubricant inlet assembly is mounted to an engine casing with a low-conductivity insulating gasket between the cap base and the engine casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: George J. Zalewski, Daniel J. Robinson, Mark Kyler, Donn Loper