Engine crankcase

• US 20040159496A1
• Filed: 02/14/2003
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: S&S Cycle Incorporated
• Original Assignee: S&S Cycle Incorporated
• Inventors: Tiller, Timothy T., Roethel, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,299,895 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 184/6.5
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2001/126 Dry-sumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/0058 Fastening to the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: F02F 7/0012 Crankcases of V-engines
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2057/0203 the gearbox is associated or combined with a crank case of an engine
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/04 Features relating to lubrication or cooling or heatingin hydrokinetic gearing F16H41/30; control of lubrication or cooling in hydrostatic gearing F16H61/4165
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2186 Gear casings

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. The first oil routing device includes first oil line fittings for receiving first oil lines extending toward oil fittings on the first transmission housing, and second oil routing device includes oil line fittings for receiving second oil lines extending toward oil fittings on the second transmission housing.

Claims

1. An engine crankcase, comprising:

a mounting portion configured for mounting to a first transmission housing and a second transmission housing;

first and second interchangeable oil fitting devices, the first oil fitting device defining a first flow path for routing oil in a first direction for the first transmission housing, and the second oil fitting device defining a second flow path for routing oil in a second direction for the second transmission housing.

2. A crankcase according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portion includes an adapter configured for mounting to the mounting portion and the second transmission housing.

3. A crankcase according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portion comprises a first section and a second section spaced apart from the first section.

4. A crankcase according to claim 1, wherein the housing has an expanded section protruding outward beyond the mounting portion.

5. A crankcase according to claim 1, wherein the expanded section includes a receiving portion for connecting to the oil routing device.

6. A crankcase according to claim 1, wherein the first oil routing device includes first fittings configured for receiving oil lines associated with the first transmission and the second oil routing device includes second fittings configured for receiving oil lines associated with the second transmission.

7. A crankcase according to claim 6, wherein the first fittings and the second fittings are at different locations.

8. A crankcase according to claim 6, wherein the first fittings and the second fittings extend in different directions.

9. A crankcase according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portion includes first and second spaced apart engagement sections.

10. An oil routing system for an engine crankcase and at least interchangeable first and second transmission housings having associated first and second oil reservoirs, comprising:

an oil routing device configured for mounting to the engine crankcase, the oil routing device comprising;

first transmission oil fittings configured for fluid communication with first oil lines to the first oil reservoir associated with the first transmission housing;

second transmission oil fittings configured for fluid communication with second oil lines to the second oil reservoir associated with the second transmission housing.

11. A crankcase and transmission assembly, comprising:

a crankcase having a mounting portion;

a first transmission housing mounting to the mounting portion;

a second transmission housing having an adapter mounting to the second transmission housing and the mounting portion, and an oil reservoir;

an oil routing system mounting to the crankcase, the system including interchangeable first and second oil routing devices with oil line fittings for receiving complementary oil lines, wherein the first oil routing device includes first oil line fittings for receiving first oil lines extending to the first transmission, and the second oil routing device includes second oil line fittings for receiving second oil lines extending to the oil reservoir of the second transmission.

12. A crankcase and transmission assembly according to claim 11, wherein the fittings are in different locations.

13. A crankcase and transmission assembly according to claim 12, wherein the fittings extend in different directions.

14. A crankcase and transmission assembly according to claim 11, wherein the mounting portion includes first and second spaced apart sections.

15. An engine crankcase, comprising:

a rear mounting portion configured for mounting to a transmission housing, the mounting portion including an upper section and a lower section spaced apart from the upper section; and

an oil sump including an outer surface extending rearward beyond a plane defined by the mounting portion.

16. An engine crankcase and transmission assembly, comprising:

a first transmission housing including a forward mounting portion;

a crankcase including a rear mounting portion configured for mounting to a transmission forward mounting portion, the rear mounting portion including an upper section and a lower section spaced apart from the upper section; and

an oil sump at a lower portion of the crankcase including an expanded section having an outer surface extending rearward beyond a plane defined by the rear mounting portion of the crankcase.

17. An engine crankcase and transmission assembly according to claim 16, wherein the mounting portion includes an adapter configured for mounting to the mounting portion and a second transmission housing.

18. An engine crankcase and transmission assembly according to claim 17, wherein the expanded section includes a receiving portion for connecting to an oil routing device.

19. An engine crankcase and transmission assembly according to claim 17, wherein the expanded section includes a receiving portion for connecting to interchangeable oil routing devices.

20. An engine crankcase and transmission assembly according to claim 17, wherein the expanded section includes a receiving portion for connecting to interchangeable first and second oil routing devices with oil line fittings for receiving complementary oil lines, wherein the first oil routing device includes first oil line fittings for receiving first oil lines extending toward oil fittings for the first transmission housing, and the second oil routing device includes second oil line fittings for receiving second oil lines extending toward oil fittings for the second transmission housing.

21. An engine crankcase and transmission assembly according to claim 20, wherein the first oil routing device includes first fittings configured for receiving oil lines from the first transmission housing and the second oil routing device includes second fittings configured for receiving oil lines from the second transmission housing.

22. An engine crankcase and transmission assembly according to claim 21, wherein the first fittings and the second fittings are at different locations.

23. An engine crankcase and transmission assembly according to claim 21, wherein the first fittings and the second fittings extend in different directions.