Internal-combustion engines – Lubricators – Crankcase – pressure control
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-01
2001-12-25
McMahon, Marguerite (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Lubricators
Crankcase, pressure control
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332444
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dry sump type lubricating device for an internal combustion engine.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
In accordance with the background art, a dry sump structure includes an oil tank separated from an engine. Oil, having been used for lubrication, is collected on a bottom of a case of the engine, and is pumped up by a scavenging pump to be returned again to the oil tank. The bottom of the case is partially recessed, at the sacrifice of the height of the engine, so that oil can be collected in the recessed bottom, and pumped up therefrom by the scavenging pump.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 4-298618 discloses a dry sump type lubricating device in which an oil tank is provided under a clutch in a crank case. Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho 56-54321 discloses a dry sump type lubricating device in which an oil pan is provided as an oil sump on the bottom of a crank case.
In the above-described background art, the lowest portion of the case must be further recessed for ensuring the pumping performance of the scavenging pump. Further, the pumping must be performed from the lower portion of the recess. This arrangement results in an overall height increase of the engine. Also, since the background art's lubricating devices use an oil pan, the number of parts is increased, and the weight and cost of the engine are increased. Further, a portion of the feed pump and scavenge pump are located on a tank side of the case, thereby enlarging the size of the case on the tank side and complicating the layout of the engine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to solve one or more of the drawbacks associated with the background art.
These and other objects are accomplished by an internal combustion engine comprising: a crankcase; an oil tank formed inside said crankcase; an oil pump including a feed pump and a scavenge pump, said feed pump for supplying lubricating oil inside said oil tank to respective components of the internal combustion engine, and said scavenge pump for returning lubricating oil that has accumulated in a bottom of said crankcase to said oil tank; a crankshaft disposed in said crankcase; a transmission chamber disposed in said crankcase to one side of said crankshaft; and a transmission including a main shaft, a counter shaft, and an output shaft disposed in said transmission chamber, wherein said oil tank is disposed on a side of said transmission chamber opposite said crankshaft, and wherein said oil tank has an approximately crescent shaped cross section, with a lower end of said cross section extending under at least one of said main shaft, said counter shaft, and said output shaft.
Further, these and other objects are accomplished by a combination comprising: a vehicle; and an internal combustion engine including: a crankcase; an oil tank formed inside said crankcase; an oil pump including a feed pump and a scavenge pump, said feed pump for supplying lubricating oil inside said oil tank to respective components of the internal combustion engine, and said scavenge pump for returning lubricating oil that has accumulated in a bottom of said crankcase to said oil tank; a crankshaft disposed in said crankcase, with said crankshaft extending in a direction parallel to a direction of travel of said vehicle; a transmission chamber disposed in said crankcase to one side of said crankshaft; and a transmission including a main shaft, a counter shaft, and an output shaft disposed in said transmission chamber, wherein said oil tank is disposed on a side of said transmission chamber opposite said crankshaft, and wherein said oil tank has an approximately crescent shaped cross section, with a lower end of said cross section extending under at least one of said main shaft, said counter shaft and said output shaft.
Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5031591 (1991-07-01), Shinoda et al.
patent: 5887564 (1999-03-01), Kawamoto
patent: 6029638 (2000-02-01), Funai et al.
Kubota Toshiyuki
Narita Satoru
Takano Noriaki
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
McMahon Marguerite
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