Lubrication system and method, and engine incorporating same
First Claim
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1. An engine, comprising:
- a crankcase having an oil pan disposed at a lower portion thereof;
a crankshaft which is rotatably supported in the crankcase;
a rotary member for scooping oil from the oil pan, the rotary member attached to the crankshaft for concurrent rotation therewith; and
an oil distribution system, comprising;
an oil receiver for receiving oil which has been scooped up by the rotary member;
an oil path formed inside of said engine for circulating lubricating oil from the oil receiver to other parts of the crankcase; and
an oil guide plate operatively attached to the crankcase for guiding oil, which has been scooped up by the rotary member, to the oil receiver;
wherein the oil receiver is formed on a side of the crankcase.
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Abstract
An improved lubrication structure is provided in an engine by optimizing the structure for recovering scooped oil for enhanced oil recovery efficiency. The oil, which has been scooped up and scattered by the rotation of a clutch, is captured within a concave groove provided within a cylindrical inner surface of a case cover facing the clutch. The captured oil is smoothly guided from the concave groove to an oil receiver of a crankcase via a bent upper edge part of an oil guide plate. The recovered oil passes through dropping holes of a recovered oil path and is supplied to a gear engagement part of a transmission system located below the recovered oil path.
14 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An engine, comprising:
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a crankcase having an oil pan disposed at a lower portion thereof; a crankshaft which is rotatably supported in the crankcase; a rotary member for scooping oil from the oil pan, the rotary member attached to the crankshaft for concurrent rotation therewith; and an oil distribution system, comprising; an oil receiver for receiving oil which has been scooped up by the rotary member; an oil path formed inside of said engine for circulating lubricating oil from the oil receiver to other parts of the crankcase; and an oil guide plate operatively attached to the crankcase for guiding oil, which has been scooped up by the rotary member, to the oil receiver; wherein the oil receiver is formed on a side of the crankcase. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An engine comprising:
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a crankcase having an oil pan at a lower portion thereof; a crankshaft which is rotatably supported in the crankcase; a rotary member attached to the crankshaft for concurrent rotation therewith, and for scooping up oil from the oil pan at the lower portion of the crankcase, wherein said rotary member comprises a clutch; and an engine lubricating structure, comprising; an oil receiver for receiving oil which has been scooped up by the rotary member, the oil receiver communicating with the interior of the crankcase via an opening formed in a side wall of the crankcase; an oil guide plate attached to the side wall of the crankcase for guiding oil, which has been scooped up by the rotary member, to the oil receiver, wherein the oil guide plate is fixed to the side wall of the crankcase so as to partially cover said opening in the side wall of the crank case; and an oil path formed in said crankcase for circulating lubricating oil from the oil receiver to selected parts of the crankcase. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of circulating lubricating oil within an engine, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) accumulating oil in an oil pan disposed at a lower portion of a crankcase of said engine; b) scooping oil from the oil pan using a rotary member attached to a crankshaft rotatably mounted in said crankcase; c) guiding oil, which has been scooped up by the rotary member, across an oil guide plate and to an oil receiver formed on a side of the crankcase; and d) circulating lubricating oil from the oil receiver along an oil path formed inside of said engine to other parts of the crankcase. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification