Lubricating apparatus for an internal combustion engine

• US 7,124,732 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2004
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ihara Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Yamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Miura, Jun, Wada, Hiroko, Sugamuna, Noboru, Miyata, Shigeaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamen, Noah P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Benton, Jason
• Application Number:
  US11/001,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20050126532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 123/196.R
• US Class Current: 123/196.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 1/02 using lubricating pumps pumps in general F04; lubricating pumps per se F16N
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2001/0253 characterised by the pump driving means
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2001/123 using two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2001/126 Dry-sumps

Abstract

A lubricating apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes an oil pump 12 comprising a feed pump 13 and scavenging pumps 14 and 15. Then oil pump 12 and an oil tank 16 are arranged at the outside of the internal combustion engine 9. A pump shaft for the pumps 13, 14 and 15 can be arranged in a same direction as that of a crank shaft of the engine 9. The feed pump 13 and two scavenging pumps 14 and 15 are arranged in serial order with the feed pump being farthest from the engine 9. A check valve 24 can be arranged in a passage of the discharge side of the feed pump 13. A relief valve 23 can be arranged between a passage of the discharge side of the feed pump 13 and a passage of the intake side of the scavenging pump 14.

Claims

1. A lubricating apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprising a feed pump configured to feed lubricating oil from an oil tank to portions of the engine to be lubricated, and at least first and second scavenging pumps configured to return the lubricating oil accumulated in an oil reservoir of the engine to the oil tank, the oil reservoir being separated into at least first and second partitioned reservoirs, the first and second scavenging pumps configured to draw oil from the first and second partitioned reservoirs, respectively, the feed pump and the first and second scavenging pumps being formed by a plurality of rotors arranged on one pump shaft and being parallel with each other and forming an oil pump unit, wherein the oil tank and the oil pump unit are arranged on an outside of the internal combustion engine, and wherein the pump shaft is arranged in a same direction as that of a crank shaft of the engine.

2. A lubricating apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the feed pump and the first and second scavenging pumps are arranged in serial order along a direction extending away from the engine, the feed pump being disposed farthest from the engine, a check valve is arranged in a passage of the discharge side of the feed pump, and a relief valve is arranged between a passage of the discharge side of the feed pump and the scavenging pumps.

3. A lubricating apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein a relief valve is arranged between a passage of the discharge side of the feed pump and a passage of the intake side of the first and second scavenging pumps.

4. A lubricating apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the oil pump unit comprises a die cast aluminum alloy housing and a plurality of walls defining individually independent pumping chambers, the walls being formed by plates of aluminum alloy.

5. A lubricating apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein the oil pump unit comprises a die cast aluminum alloy housing and a plurality of walls defining individually independent pumping chambers, the walls being formed by plates of aluminum alloy.

6. A lubricating apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 3, wherein the oil pump unit comprises a die cast aluminum alloy housing and a plurality of walls defining individually independent pumping chambers, the walls being formed by plates of aluminum alloy.