Abstract: Provided is a cover member (7) such as chain cover member for engines, configured to reduce significantly its own vibrations and noises generated or transmitted therefrom compared to other conventional cover members. On its central portion, the cover member (7) of the present invention is provided with circular compartments (17) each defined by a concave surface facing outward and a convex surface facing inward. At least, the concave surfaces facing outward jointly define a continuous curved surface. Therefore, the flat surfaces (flat portions) on the cover member (7) decrease, thereby reducing sound emission, and thus noises from the cover member (7). In addition, when the cover member (7) of the present invention has at least three circular compartments (17), in each three circular compartments (17) adjoining to each other, the three circular compartments (17) are arranged in a triangular pattern, and each one of them circumscribe the other two circular compartments (17).

Abstract: In an engine, an oil level sensor (47) provided in a bottom part of an oil pan (15) storing engine oil so as to stand vertically upright is placed between a mutually parallel pair of balancer shafts (27, 28) housed in a balancer housing (21) provided between a lower face of a cylinder block and the oil pan (15). This not only enables the oil level sensor (47) to be placed compactly by utilizing effectively dead space formed between the pair of balancer shafts (27, 28), but also enables agitation of engine oil to be suppressed by the pair of balancer shafts (27, 28) and any degradation in detection precision due to engine oil splashing over the oil level sensor (47) to be prevented.

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.

Abstract: Provided is a cover member (7) such as chain cover member for engines, configured to reduce significantly its own vibrations and noises generated or transmitted therefrom compared to other conventional cover members. On its central portion, the cover member (7) of the present invention is provided with circular compartments (17) each defined by a concave surface facing outward and a convex surface facing inward. At least, the concave surfaces facing outward jointly define a continuous curved surface. Therefore, the flat surfaces (flat portions) on the cover member (7) decrease, thereby reducing sound emission, and thus noises from the cover member (7). In addition, when the cover member (7) of the present invention has at least three circular compartments (17), in each three circular compartments (17) adjoining to each other, the three circular compartments (17) are arranged in a triangular pattern, and each one of them circumscribe the other two circular compartments (17).

Abstract: In an engine, an oil level sensor (47) provided in a bottom part of an oil pan (15) storing engine oil so as to stand vertically upright is placed between a mutually parallel pair of balancer shafts (27, 28) housed in a balancer housing (21) provided between a lower face of a cylinder block and the oil pan (15). This not only enables the oil level sensor (47) to be placed compactly by utilizing effectively dead space formed between the pair of balancer shafts (27, 28), but also enables agitation of engine oil to be suppressed by the pair of balancer shafts (27, 28) and any degradation in detection precision due to engine oil splashing over the oil level sensor (47) to be prevented.

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.

Abstract: An oil strainer includes: a lower member having an oil suction hole opening in oil stored in an oil pan; an upper member having an oil discharge hole leading to an oil pump; and a strainer element. The lower member and the upper member are joined to each other with the strainer element held between joint surfaces of the upper and lower members. Thus, it is possible to form the oil strainer into a flat shape so as to be compactly arranged in a narrow space, and also maximize an area of the strainer element to prevent clogging. Further, the lower member and the upper member, which are die-molded articles, are highly flexible in their shapes, whereby the oil suction hole and the oil discharge hole can be arranged in the most suitable positions, and the cross-sectional area of oil flow can be sufficiently secured.

Abstract: A metal member to be cast-wrapped by a metal cast article, a manufacturing method thereof and a metal cast article including the metal member cast-wrapped are provided. A hollow cylindrical metal member having an outer surface with projections to be cast-wrapped by a metal cast article is manufactured in such a manner that a hollow cylindrical metal raw material 13 is inserted in a die 17 having a inner peripheral surface with longitudinal grooves of a depth H and a width W, and the hollow cylindrical metal raw material 13 is subjected to hot-extrusion.

Abstract: An accessory mounting structure has an accessory bracket holding accessories thereon and attached to the engine body of an internal combustion engine, to provide a shortest possible overall length. The accessory mounting structure includes an end part, with respect to a direction parallel to a crankshaft, of the engine body, provided with a passage, a part of the engine body, provided with a recess extending along the passage, and the accessory bracket partly sunk in the recess and fastened to the engine body. At least one accessory, such as an automatic tensioning device is held on the accessory bracket.

Abstract: An auxiliary machinery mounting structure of an engine which can reduce the entire length of the engine, enhance the rigidity of a cover seal surface to improve the sealing effect, and also enhance the mounting rigidity of an auxiliary machinery. The auxiliary machinery mounting structure includes a mount seat that is integrally formed on an end surface of a cylinder block extending vertically to a crank shaft of the engine to lie outward of and along a cover seal surface that is a surface engaging with a cover laid over the end surface, and the auxiliary machinery is mounted on the mount seat.

Abstract: An accessory mounting structure has an accessory bracket (20) holding accessories thereon and attached to the engine body (1) of an internal combustion engine, to provide a shortest possible overall length. The accessory mounting structure includes an end part, with respect to a direction parallel to a crankshaft (2), of the engine body (1), provided with a passage (7), a part of the engine body (1), provided with a recess (3d) extending along the passage (7), and the accessory bracket (20) partly sunk in the recess (3d) and fastened to the engine body (1). At least one accessory, such as an automatic tensioning device (33) is held on the accessory bracket (20).

Abstract: A metal member to be cast-wrapped by a metal cast article, a manufacturing method thereof and a metal cast article including the metal member cast-wrapped are provided. A hollow cylindrical metal member having an outer surface with projections to be cast-wrapped by a metal cast article is manufactured in such a manner that a hollow cylindrical metal raw material 13 is inserted in a die 17 having a inner peripheral surface with longitudinal grooves of a depth H and a width W, and the hollow cylindrical metal raw material 13 is subjected to hot-extrusion.

Abstract: An auxiliary machinery mounting structure of an engine is provided, which can reduce the entire length of the engine, enhance the rigidity of a cover seal surface to improve the sealing effect, and also enhance the mounting rigidity of an auxiliary machinery. The auxiliary machinery mounting structure includes a mount seat (3a) that is integrally formed on an end surface of a cylinder block (3) extending vertically to a crank shaft of the engine to lie outward of and along a cover seal surface (3d) that is a surface engaging with a cover 10 laid over the end surface (3), and the auxiliary machinery (26) is mounted on the mount seat (3a).

Abstract: A harness holder is disposed to extend along the inside of a cover member which covers a driving pulley and a timing belt, and a harness extending from a crank angle sensor is supported in the harness holder and prevented from contacting the belt and/or pulley. A locking claw projectingly provided at an end of the harness holder is fitted into a grommet mounted on the cover member to guide the harness 21 to the outside of the cover member. Thus, a fixing device such as a bolt for fixing the harness holder can be eliminated and moreover, a tip end of the locking claw can be visually observed from the outside of the cover member to confirm the mounted state of the harness holder.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus for an unbuffered reel-to-reel drive system including independently operable first and second drive motors including first and second sensors for detecting rotation of reels and a circuit for controlling the drive motors cooperatively to maintain tension applied to a tape. The drive motor control circuit controls the drive motors on the basis of a servo-mechanism control algorithm and a stop-lock control algorithm using control signals having hysteresis curves in response to position deviation and a transport direction of the tape.