Patents by Inventor Timothy J. Trenkle

Timothy J. Trenkle has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • 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: 6047667
    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: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company
    Inventors: Robert L. Leppanen, Timothy J. Trenkle, Jeffrey P. Coughlin