Lubrication system for vehicle engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9951661-B2
Application number	US-201514592655-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 8, 2015
Priority date	Jul 10, 2013
Publication date	Apr 24, 2018
Grant date	Apr 24, 2018

Abstract

An oil filter and an oil cooler of a motorcycle combustion engine are disposed on an outer surface of an engine body side by side in a right-left direction. A first engine lubrication passage extending in the right-left direction is connected to an outflow passage for the oil cooler. A second engine lubrication passage is connected to the first engine lubrication passage, to extend frontward, and is disposed parallel to an inflow passage and an outflow passage for the oil filter. A third engine lubrication passage is connected to the second engine lubrication passage and extends upward from the second engine lubrication passage in front of the first engine lubrication passage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lubrication system for a vehicle combustion engine, the lubrication system comprising:
an oil pump configured to supply a lubricating oil;
an oil filter disposed downstream of the oil pump in a flow direction of the lubricating oil and configured to clean the lubricating oil;
an oil cooler disposed downstream of the oil filter and configured to cool the lubricating oil, the oil filter and the oil cooler being disposed on a front surface of a crankcase of an engine body side by side in a first direction which engine body in a die molded product,
a first lubrication passage connected to an outflow passage of the oil cooler and extending in the first direction;
a second lubrication passage disposed parallel to at least one passage connected to one of the oil filter and the oil cooler, the second lubrication passage being connected to the first lubrication passage and extending at a front surface side of the engine body; and
a third lubrication passage connected to the second lubrication passage and extending in a second direction from the second lubrication passage at the front surface side of the engine body with respect to the first lubrication passage, the second direction being different from the first direction, wherein
an inflow passage and an outflow passage for the oil filter and an inflow passage and an outflow passage for the oil cooler are formed in a front wall of the crankcase made of metal and
the first lubrication passage and the filter-cooler communication passage extend in the crankcase in a widthwise direction of a vehicle, where incoming wind, when the vehicle is moving, collides against the front wall of the crankcase,
the second lubrication passage is disposed between the oil filter and the oil cooler in the vehicle widthwise direction, and is overlapped with the oil filter at a front view, and
the second lubrication passage is disposed above the inflow passage and the outflow passage for the oil filter with respect to a height position of the engine.

2. The lubrication system for the vehicle combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an outflow passage and an inflow passage for the one of the oil filter and the oil cooler are disposed parallel to the second lubrication passage.

3. The lubrication system for the vehicle combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a closing member closing an end portion of the second lubrication passage, the closing member being disposed inward of one of the oil filter and the oil cooler and being inserted to a front end portion of the second engine lubrication passage.

4. The lubrication system for the vehicle combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
the third lubrication passage is a passage for spraying the lubricating oil toward a piston;
the first direction is a vehicle widthwise direction and the second direction is a vertical direction; and
the third lubrication passage extends upward from the second lubrication passage and extends within a front wall of a cylinder of the engine body in the vehicle widthwise direction.

5. The lubrication system for the vehicle combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
a discharge passage for the oil pump is connected to one of inflow passages for the oil filter and the oil cooler,
an outflow passage for the oil filter and the inflow passage for the oil cooler communicate with each other through a filter-cooler communication passage,
an outflow passage for the oil cooler communicates with the second lubrication passage through a part of the first lubrication passage,
the filter-cooler communication passage and the part of the first lubrication passage are provided parallel to each other,
the first direction is a vehicle widthwise direction and the second direction is a vertical direction,
the first engine lubrication passage is disposed above the filter-cooler communication passage, and
the third lubrication passage extends upward from the second lubrication passage.

6. The lubrication system for the vehicle combustion engine as claimed in claim 5 , wherein
the oil filter and the oil cooler are disposed on a front surface of a crankcase of the engine body,
the inflow passage and the outflow passage for the oil filter and the inflow passage and the outflow passage for the oil cooler are formed in a front wall of the crankcase, and
the part of the first lubrication passage and the filter-cooler communication passage extend in the crankcase in a widthwise direction of a vehicle,
the second engine lubrication passage is disposed between the oil filter and the oil cooler in the vehicle widthwise direction, and is overlapped with the oil filter at a front view, and
the second engine lubrication passage is disposed above the inflow passage and the outflow passage for the oil filter.

7. The lubrication system for the vehicle combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
a sub lubrication passage which supplies the lubricating oil to a transmission for a vehicle; and
a filter-cooler communication passage through which an outflow passage for the oil filter and the inflow passage for the oil cooler communicate with each other, the filter-cooler communication passage being fluidly connected to the sub lubrication passage.

8. The lubrication system for a vehicle combustion engine as claimed in claim 5 wherein lubrication passages are formed within the crankcase and the cylinder block and provide lubricating oil to a supercharger, gear teeth of a planetary gear, a power transmission sprocket, a one way clutch, a starter motor gear, balancer shaft, a power transmission, crankshaft bearings, pistons, and wall surfaces of cylinders.

9. The lubrication system for a vehicle combustion engine as claimed in claim 8 including an aluminum die cast engine body.

Assignees

• Kawasaki Heavy Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Matsuda Yoshiharu
• Naruoka Shohei
• Arima Hisatoyo
• Yokoyama Seiji

Classifications

• F01M2011/036

  comprising pumps for the cooling circuit · CPC title

• F01M11/03

  Mounting or connecting of lubricant purifying means relative to the machine or engine; Details of lubricant purifying means (filters B01D) · CPC title

• F01M11/02

  Arrangements of lubricant conduits · CPC title

• F01M1/10 Primary

  Lubricating systems characterised by the provision therein of lubricant venting or purifying means, e.g. of filters · CPC title

• F01M2011/033

  comprising coolers or heat exchangers · CPC title