Lubrication system for an engine

• US 4,345,797 A
• Filed: 02/01/1980
• Issued: 08/24/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Americas Company (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ballheimer, Benny
• Primary Examiner(s): Stearns, Richard R.
• Application Number:
  US06/117,715
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 308/23, 308/78, 308/122, 308/240, 74/579 E, 74/580, 74/605, 123/196 R, 184/6.5, 184/6.8
• US Class Current: 384/397
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2240/30 Angles, e.g. inclinations
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 3/14 Features relating to lubrication
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/1055 from radial inside, e.g. via a passage through the shaft and/or inner sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 9/04 Connecting-rod bearings; Attachments thereof

Abstract

An engine (10) has a journal (18), a connecting rod (14) and a bearing (16) positioned between the journal (18) and rod (14). A lubrication system (36) for the engine (10) has a first passage (38) in the journal (18) and second and third passages (40,42) disposed between the journal (18) and bearing (16). The first passage (38) is positionable in fluid communication with the second and third passages (40,42) in response to rotation of the journal (18) for supplying lubricant therethrough to the bearing (16), journal (18) and piston areas. The first passage (38) is in continuous fluid communication with at least one of the second and third passages (40,42) to supply an uninterrupted flow of lubricant for maximum lubrication and cooling of the bearing (16), journal (18) and piston areas of the engine (10). The second and third passages (40,42) are positioned at preselected angles (A₄, A.sub. 7 ; A₅, A₆) from principal loading areas (26,28) of the bearing (16) to maximize bearing area for carrying the loads exerted through the connecting rod (14).

Claims

1. In a lubrication system (36) for an engine (10) having a crankshaft journal (18) having a central axis (20) and a normal axis (22), a connecting rod (14) connected to said journal (18) and a bearing (16) having first and second substantially opposed loading areas (26,28) and being positioned between the journal (18) and connecting rod (14), said first and second loading areas (26,28) being positioned at locations sufficient for receiving principal loads in response to movement of said connecting rod (14), said normal axis (22) intersecting said first and second loading areas (26,28) and said central axis (20), said lubrication system (36) having a first passage (38) in the journal (18) and second and third passages (40,42) disposed between the bearing (16) and said journal (18), said first passage (38) being positionable in fluid communication with said second and third passages (40,42) in response to rotation of said journal (18), the improvement comprising:

said first passage (38) having first, second and third passage portions (48,50,52) positioned at preselected angles (A₁,A₂,A₃) one from the other and being in continuous fluid communication through said passage portions (48,50,52) with at least one of said second and third passages (40,42) in response to rotation of the crankshaft journal (18), said preselected angles (A₁,A₂,A₃) each being about 120°

; and

said second and third passages (40,42) each being spaced at preselected angles (A₄,A₇,A₅,A₆) relative to said central axis (20) from said points of intersection (32,34) of said normal axis (22) and said first and second loading areas (26,28), said preselected angles (A₄,A₅,A₆,A₇) each having a magnitude greater than 45° and

less than about 60°

.

2. The lubrication system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the connecting rod (14) has a bearing surface (24) in contact with the bearing (16) and including a fourth passage (54) positioned in said rod (14), connecting the second and third passages (40,42) in fluid communication and being spaced from portions (55) of said bearing surface (24) adjacent the first and second loading areas (26,28) of the bearing (16).