Lubricating system for internal combustion engine

• US 7,600,500 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2006
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Mizuno, Kinya, Arai, Dai, Sotani, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin; Stephen K
• Assistant Examiner(s): VILAKAZI, SIZO BINDA
• Application Number:
  US11/604,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20070119405A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 123/196.R, 123/198.C, 123/196.CP, 123/195.C, 123/198.P, 123/197.5
• 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 2001/126 Dry-sumps

Abstract

A lubricating system for an internal combustion engine in which oil in a crankcase is supplied into an oil tank by a scavenging pump wherein it is possible to reduce the size of an engine body and the size of the scavenging pump. An oil tank is provided in an engine body adjacent, in the direction along the axis of a crankshaft, to a centrifugal clutch contained in a clutch containing chamber communicating with the inside of a crank chamber. A wall portion for partitioning the inside of the oil tank and the clutch containing chamber from each other is provided with an opening portion for communication between the clutch containing chamber and the inside of the oil tank, the opening portion being located on the outer side relative to the outermost rotational locus of a centrifugal clutch as viewed in the direction along the axis of the crankshaft.

Claims

1. A lubricating system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

an oil tank provided in an engine body having a crankcase which rotatably bears a crankshaft fitted with a centrifugal clutch at one end portion thereof and which defines a crank chamber;

a feed pump for supplying oil in said oil tank to a portion to be supplied with the oil of said engine body; and

a scavenging pump for returning the oil collecting in a bottom portion of said crank chamber into said oil tank;

wherein said oil tank is provided in said engine body adjacent, in the direction along the axis of said crankshaft, to said centrifugal clutch contained in a clutch containing chamber communicating with the inside of said crank chamber;

a wall portion partitioning the inside of said oil tank and said clutch containing chamber from each other is provided with an opening portion for communication between said clutch containing chamber and the inside of said oil tank; and

said opening portion is located on the outer side relative to the outermost rotational locus of said centrifugal clutch as viewed in the direction along the axis of said crankshaft,

wherein said oil tank includes a crankcase cover joined to said crankcase in a manner for defining said clutch containing chamber between the oil tank and said crankcase and a tank cover joined to said crankcase cover, and

a return hole, for returning into said oil tank the oil discharged from an oil pressure control unit attached to said crankcase cover at a portion corresponding to an upper side of said oil tank, is provided in said crankcase cover so as to communicate with the inside of said oil tank,

wherein said crankcase cover includes a rib that is integral therewith and projects therefrom for leading to said return hole the oil discharged from said oil pressure control unit attached to said crankcase cover.

2. The lubricating system for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said opening portion is disposed on the upper side relative to the axis of rotation of said crankshaft.

3. The lubricating system for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said oil tank provided at the crankcase cover constituting a part of the engine that is adjacent, in a direction along the axis of the crankcase, to the centrifugal clutch contained in the clutch containing chamber communicating with the inside of the crank chamber.

4. The lubricating system for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said oil tank includes a crankcase cover constituting a part of the engine body that is adjacent, in a direction along the axis of the crankshaft, to the centrifugal clutch contained in the clutch containing chamber communicating with the inside of the crank chamber.

5. The lubricating system adapted for use with an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 3, wherein said oil pressure control unit is attached to said crankcase cover at a portion corresponding to a skew upper side of the oil tank.

6. The lubricating system adapted for use with an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 4, wherein said oil pressure control unit is attached to said crankcase cover at a portion corresponding to a skew upper side of the oil tank.

7. A lubricating system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

an oil tank;

a feed pump for supplying oil in said oil tank to an engine body; and

a scavenging pump for returning the oil collecting in a bottom portion of a crank chamber into said oil tank;

wherein said oil tank is provided in said engine body adjacent, in a direction along an axis of a crankshaft, to a centrifugal clutch that is in communication with an inside of said crank chamber;

a wall portion partitioning an inside of said oil tank and a clutch containing chamber from each other, said wall portion being provided with an opening portion for communication between said clutch containing chamber and the inside of said oil tank; and

said opening portion being located on an outer side relative to an outermost rotational locus of said centrifugal clutch as viewed in the direction along the axis of said crankshaft,

wherein said oil tank includes a crankcase cover joined to a crankcase in a manner for defining said clutch containing chamber between the oil tank and said crankcase and a tank cover joined to said crankcase cover, and

a return hole, for returning into said oil tank the oil discharged from an oil pressure control unit attached to said crankcase cover at a portion corresponding to an upper side of said oil tank, is provided in said crankcase cover so as to communicate with the inside of said oil tank,

wherein said crankcase cover includes a rib that is integral therewith and projects therefrom for leading to said return hole the oil discharged from said oil pressure control unit attached to said crankcase cover.

8. The lubricating system for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 7, wherein said opening portion is disposed on the upper side relative to the axis of rotation of said crankshaft.

9. The lubricating system for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 7, wherein said oil tank is provided at the crankcase cover constituting a part of the engine body that is adjacent, in a direction along the axis of the crankshaft, to the centrifugal clutch contained in the clutch containing chamber communicating with the inside of the crank chamber.

10. The lubricating system for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 8, wherein said oil tank is provided at the crankcase cover constituting a part of the engine body that is adjacent, in a direction along the axis of the crankshaft, to the centrifugal clutch contained in the clutch containing chamber communicating with the inside of the crank chamber.

11. The lubricating system adapted for use with an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 9, wherein said oil pressure control unit is attached to said crankcase cover at a portion corresponding to a skew upper side of the oil tank.

12. The lubricating system adapted for use with an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 10, wherein said oil pressure control unit is attached to said crankcase cover at a portion corresponding to a skew upper side of the oil tank.

13. A lubricating system adapted for use with an internal combustion engine, comprising:

an oil tank;

a feed pump adapted for supplying oil in said oil tank to an engine body; and

a scavenging pump adapted for returning the oil collecting in a bottom portion of a crank chamber into said oil tank, and in order to contrive a reduction in size of the engine body, said oil tank is provided in said engine body adjacent, in a direction along an axis of a crankshaft, to a centrifugal clutch that is in communication with an inside of said crank chamber, and is shaped so as to overlap an axial end of the crankshaft and a portion of a water pump;

a wall portion partitioning an inside of said oil tank and a clutch containing chamber from each other, said wall portion being provided with an opening portion for communication between said clutch containing chamber and the inside of said oil tank; and

said opening portion being located on an outer side relative to an outermost rotational locus of said centrifugal clutch as viewed in the direction along the axis of said crankshaft,

wherein said oil tank includes a crankcase cover joined to a crankcase by a plurality of bolts in a manner for defining said clutch containing chamber between the oil tank and said crankcase and a tank cover joined to said crankcase cover, and

a return hole, for returning into said oil tank the oil discharged from an oil pressure control unit attached to said crankcase cover at a portion corresponding to an upper side of said oil tank, is provided in said crankcase cover so as to communicate with the inside of said oil tank,

wherein said crankcase cover includes a rib that is integral therewith and projects therefrom for leading to said return hole the oil discharged from said oil pressure control unit attached to said crankcase cover.

14. The lubricating system adapted for use with an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 13, wherein said opening portion is disposed on an upper side relative to the axis of rotation of said crankshaft.

15. The lubricating system adapted for use with an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 14, wherein said oil tank includes a crankcase cover attached to a crankcase by a plurality of bolts in a manner for defining said clutch containing chamber between the oil tank and said crankcase and a tank cover joined to said crankcase cover, and

a return hole, for returning into said oil tank the oil discharged from an oil pressure control unit attached to said crankcase cover at a portion corresponding to an upper side of said oil tank, is provided in said crankcase cover so as to communicate with the inside of said oil tank.

16. The lubricating system adapted for use with an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 13, wherein said oil pressure control unit is attached to said crankcase cover at a portion corresponding to a skew upper side of the oil tank.

17. The lubricating system adapted for use with an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 13, when the engine is viewed in an axial direction of the crankshaft, an oil sump and an output shaft are disposed on opposite lateral sides of the oil tank.

18. The lubricating system adapted for use with an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 13, when the engine is viewed in an axial direction of the crankshaft, the oil tanks extends further on both lateral sides of the crankshaft than an outermost rotational locus of the centrifugal clutch.