U.S. patent application number 15/649675 was filed with the patent office on 2018-01-18 for oil level gauge guide of engine.
The applicant listed for this patent is YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Eiji KATO, Kenichi SAKURAI.
Application Number | 20180016953 15/649675 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59350704 |
Filed Date | 2018-01-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180016953 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KATO; Eiji ; et al. |
January 18, 2018 |
OIL LEVEL GAUGE GUIDE OF ENGINE
Abstract
An oil level gauge guide includes a cylindrical portion, a first
pipe, and a second pipe. The cylindrical portion is provided on a
crank case wall which defines a crank chamber including an oil
reservoir of an engine, and includes a through hole which
communicates the interior and exterior of the crank chamber with
each other. The first pipe includes a first end held by the
cylindrical portion, and a second end extending outside the crank
chamber and fixed to the engine. The second pipe includes a first
end held by the cylindrical portion, and a second end extending to
the bottom of the crank chamber and fixed to the engine. The oil
level gauge guide uses an arrangement pointing toward the lowermost
portion of an oil pan, and yet has a high degree of freedom of the
attaching position.
Inventors: |
KATO; Eiji; (Shizuoka,
JP) ; SAKURAI; Kenichi; (Shizuoka, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Iwata-shi |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
59350704 |
Appl. No.: |
15/649675 |
Filed: |
July 14, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01M 11/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F01M 11/12 20060101
F01M011/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 15, 2016 |
JP |
2016-140108 |
Claims
1. An oil level gauge guide of an engine, the oil level gauge guide
comprising: a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical portion
provided on a wall that defines a crank chamber including an oil
reservoir of the engine, the cylindrical or substantially
cylindrical portion including a through hole that allows an
interior and an exterior of the crank chamber to communicate with
each other; a first pipe including a first end held by the
cylindrical or substantially cylindrical portion, and a second end
extending outside the crank chamber and fixed to the engine; and a
second pipe including a first end held by the cylindrical or
substantially cylindrical portion, and a second end extending to a
bottom of the crank chamber and fixed to the engine.
2. The oil level gauge guide of the engine according to claim 1,
wherein the through hole of the cylindrical or substantially
cylindrical portion includes: a first hole into which the first
pipe is inserted; a second hole into which the second pipe is
inserted; a communication hole that connects the first hole and the
second hole; and first and second O-rings respectively fitted on
the first end of the first pipe and the first end of the second
pipe; wherein the first pipe is held in the first hole by the first
O-ring; and the second pipe is held in the second hole by the
second O-ring.
3. The oil level gauge guide of the engine according to claim 2,
wherein the communication hole has a diameter smaller than a
diameter of each of the first hole and the second hole; a boundary
portion between the first hole and the communication hole includes
a tapered surface that decreases in diameter toward the
communication hole; and an opening edge of the first end of the
second pipe includes a tapered surface that increases in diameter
toward the communication hole.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of priority to
Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-140108 filed on Jul. 15, 2016,
the entire contents of which application are hereby incorporated
herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an engine oil level gauge
guide that holds an oil level gauge of an engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] There is always a demand that automobile engines are to be
made more compact. In an engine of this type, engine accessories
are arranged close to a cylinder block, and an oil level gauge is
arranged so as to avoid the engine accessories. The oil level gauge
is used to check the amount of oil stored in a crank chamber of the
engine, and is retractably inserted into and held in an oil level
gauge guide provided on the cylinder body side. An example of a
conventional oil level gauge guide is disclosed in Japanese Patent
Laid-Open No. 2007-231904.
[0004] This oil level gauge guide disclosed in Japanese Patent
Laid-Open No. 2007-231904 is formed by a straight pipe. The oil
level gauge guide is fixed to the cylinder block in a state in
which the lower part of the guide projects into the crank chamber
through a through hole in the cylinder block. The lower end of the
oil level gauge guide points toward the bottom of an oil pan.
[0005] Generally, the oil level gauge guide has a function as a
guide to lead an oil change hose to the bottom of the oil pan, in
addition to the function of holding the oil level gauge. The oil
change hose is used to draw out and discharge engine oil remaining
in the lowermost portion of the oil pan. Accordingly, the oil level
gauge guide is arranged in a position in which the oil level gauge
guide points toward the lowermost portion of the oil pan as the oil
level gauge guide avoids obstacles in the oil pan.
[0006] In the conventional oil level gauge guide disclosed in
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-231904, there is a problem that
it is difficult to make the engine more compact. This is because
the position of the oil level gauge guide is restricted. To make
the engine compact, it is effective to arrange accessories close to
the cylinder block. However, the oil level gauge guide has to be
arranged in a position that allows the lower end of the oil level
gauge guide to point toward the lowermost portion of the oil pan as
the oil level gauge guide avoids obstacles in the oil pan.
[0007] As the engine accessories and oil level gauge interfere with
each other, it becomes a hindrance in making the engine more
compact. Note that it may be possible to change the position of the
oil level gauge guide and avoid the interference by bending the
upper portion of the oil level gauge guide extending outside the
crank chamber and the lower portion thereof in the crank chamber.
However, the oil level gauge guide bent like this cannot be
inserted into the through hole of the cylinder block.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide oil
level gauge guides in which a lower end of the oil level gauge
guide points toward the lowermost portion of an oil pan, and yet
has a high degree of freedom of the attaching position of the oil
level gauge guide.
[0009] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, an oil level gauge guide of an engine includes a
cylindrical or substantially cylindrical portion (hereinafter,
cylindrical portion) provided on a wall that defines a crank
chamber including an oil reservoir of the engine, the cylindrical
portion including a through hole that allows the interior and
exterior of the crank chamber to communicate with each other, a
first pipe including a first end held by the cylindrical portion,
and a second end extending outside the crank chamber and fixed to
the engine, and a second pipe including a first end held by the
cylindrical portion, and a second end extending to the bottom of
the crank chamber and fixed to the engine.
[0010] The above and other elements, features, steps,
characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become
more apparent from the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a structure of an engine
including an oil level gauge guide according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing main portions in an
enlarged scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] Oil level gauge guides of engines according to preferred
embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail
below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0014] An engine 1 shown in FIG. 1 is preferably an automobile
engine, for example, and is mounted in a vehicle body (not shown)
in a state in which an oil pan 2 shown in the lowermost position in
FIG. 1 is positioned in the lower portion of the vehicle body. For
the sake of convenience, the right side of the engine 1 in FIG. 1
will be called one side, and the left side of the engine 1 will be
called the other side.
[0015] The oil pan 2 preferably has a box shape which opens upward,
and is attached to the lower end portion of a cylinder block 3. An
oil pump 4 is accommodated in the oil pan 2, and engine oil is
stored in the oil pan 2. The interior of the oil pan 2 defines an
oil reservoir 5 of the engine 1. An oil drain bolt 6 is threadably
provided near the bottom of the oil pan 2.
[0016] The oil pump 4 is supported by the lower end portion of the
cylinder block 3 via a bracket (not shown). The oil pump 4 draws up
engine oil 7 in the oil pan 2 and supplies the engine oil 7 to
portions of the engine 1 to be lubricated.
[0017] The cylinder block 3 includes a crank case wall 11
preferably having a box shape which opens downward, and a cylinder
unit 12 extending upward from the crank case wall 11.
[0018] The crank case wall 11 closes the opening of the oil pan 2.
A crank chamber 13 that includes the oil reservoir 5 is located
between the crank case wall 11 and the oil pan 2.
[0019] The crank case wall 11 includes a cylindrical portion 15
that defines a portion of an oil level gauge guide 14 (to be
described below). The crank case wall 11 is a wall that defines a
crank chamber in a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0020] A crank shaft 16 is accommodated in the crank chamber
13.
[0021] A starter motor 17 is located on one side of the crank case
wall 11. The starter motor 17 is attached to a bracket 18 provided
in one end (the end positioned behind the drawing surface of FIG.
1) of the crank case wall 11 in the axial direction of the crank
shaft 16 (the direction perpendicular to the drawing surface of
FIG. 1). The starter motor 17 is attached to the bracket 18 by
locating the starter motor 17 toward the bracket 18 from the other
side (the side positioned forward of the drawing surface of FIG. 1)
in the axial direction of the crank shaft 16.
[0022] A plurality of cylinder holes 21 are provided in the
cylinder unit 12. Pistons 22 movably fit in the cylinder holes 21.
Each piston 22 is connected to the crank shaft 16 by a connecting
rod 23. On one side of the cylinder unit 12, a surge tank 24 (to be
described below) and an alternator 25 are provided. The alternator
25 is supported by the other end (the end forward of the drawing
surface of FIG. 1) of the cylinder block 3 in the axial direction
of the crank shaft 16 via a bracket (not shown).
[0023] The cylinder holes 21 open in the upper end of the cylinder
unit 12, and are closed by a cylinder head 26.
[0024] Although details are not shown, the cylinder head 26
includes an intake valve, an exhaust valve, valve gears that drive
these valves, and the like. An intake manifold 27 is attached to
one side of the cylinder head 26, and an exhaust device (not shown)
is attached to the other side thereof. A head cover 28 is attached
to the upper end of the cylinder head 26.
[0025] The intake manifold 27 guides intake air to all of the
cylinders from the surge tank 24 positioned on one side of the
cylinder unit 12.
[0026] The oil level gauge guide 14 is an element of the engine
that includes a function of holding an oil level gauge 31, and a
function of guiding an oil change hose 32 to a lowermost portion 2a
of the oil pan 2 to change engine oil. The oil level gauge guide 14
includes the cylindrical portion 15 provided on the crank case wall
11, a first pipe 33 extending upward from the cylindrical portion
15, and a second pipe 34 extending downward from the cylindrical
portion 15.
[0027] The oil level gauge 31 includes a narrow band-shaped main
gauge body 31a inserted into the oil level gauge guide 14, and a
ring 31b provided on one end (the upper end) of the main gauge body
31a. The oil level gauge 31 is held by the oil level gauge guide 14
such that the ring 31b is extends out of the upper end of the first
pipe 33.
[0028] The lower end of the main gauge body 31a projects downward
from the second pipe 34, and enters the engine oil 7. When the
engine 1 is not in operation, a liquid surface L of the engine oil
7 is positioned lower than the lower end of the oil level gauge
guide 14.
[0029] The ring 31b is used by a person who puts his or her finger
in it to pull out or insert the main gauge body 31a from or into
the oil level gauge guide 14 when checking the storage amount of
the engine oil 7.
[0030] One end of the oil change hose 32 is connected to an oil
suction device (not shown), and the other end portion thereof is
inserted into the oil level gauge guide 14 in this state. When the
suction device operates in a state in which the distal end of the
oil change hose has reached the lowermost portion 2a of the oil pan
2, the engine oil 7 remaining at the bottom of the oil pan 2 is
drawn out by the oil change hose 32.
[0031] The cylindrical portion 15 is preferably integral with the
crank case wall 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the cylindrical portion 15
includes a first cylindrical portion 41 projecting from the crank
case wall 11 to the side opposite to the crank chamber 13, and a
second cylindrical portion 42 projecting into the crank chamber 13
from the crank case wall 11.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, the cylindrical portion 15 according to
the present preferred embodiment is positioned closer to the
cylinder unit 12 than the starter motor 17 when viewed in the axial
direction of the crank shaft 16. Since the cylindrical portion 15
is located in this position, the first pipe 33 (to be described
below) is not an obstacle when the starter motor 17 is assembled in
the engine 1.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, the cylindrical portion 15 includes a
through hole 43 which communicates the interior and exterior of the
crank chamber 13 with each other. The through hole 43 includes a
first hole 44 in the first cylinder 41, a second hole 45 in the
second cylinder 42, and a communication hole 46 that connects the
first hole 44 and the second hole 45.
[0034] The first hole 44 and the second hole 45 preferably have the
same diameter, and are aligned on the same axis. The diameter of
the communication hole 46 is preferably smaller than the diameter
of each of the first hole 44 and the second hole 45.
[0035] The boundary portion between the first hole 44 and the
communication hole 46 includes a first tapered surface 47 which
gradually decreases in diameter in the direction from the first
hole 44 to the communication hole 46.
[0036] The boundary portion between the communication hole 46 and
the second hole 45 includes a second tapered surface 48 which
gradually increases in diameter in the direction from the
communication hole 46 to the second hole 45.
[0037] The first pipe 33 is preferably made by bending a metal pipe
having a circular or substantially circular cross-section into a
predetermined shape. One end (the lower end) of the first pipe 33
is held by the cylindrical portion 15, and the other end thereof
extends outside the crank chamber 13. The other end of the first
pipe 33 is fixed to the cylinder unit 12 by a first support stay 49
(see FIG. 1).
[0038] The first pipe 33 according to the present preferred
embodiment includes a first straight pipe 51 extending upward and
parallel or substantially parallel to an axis C of the cylinder
unit 12 from the crank case wall 11, and a second straight pipe 53
connected to the first straight pipe 51 by a first curved portion
52.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 2, the first straight pipe 51 is inserted
into the first hole 44 of the cylindrical portion 15 from above.
The distal end of the first straight pipe 51 preferably has a
bellow shape, for example, by pressure forming, and includes a
first large diameter portion 51a and a second large diameter
portion 51b. The outer diameter of the first and second large
diameter portions 51a and 51b is preferably larger than the outer
diameter of the rest of the first pipe 33, and smaller than the
diameter of the first hole 44.
[0040] Of the first and second large diameter portions 51a and 51b,
the first large diameter portion 51a positioned at the distal end
of the first straight pipe 51 includes a third tapered surface 54
pointing toward the communication hole 46. The third tapered
surface 54 defines the opening edge of one end of the first pipe
33, and preferably has a shape which gradually increases in
diameter toward the communication hole 46 (toward the distal end of
the first straight pipe 51).
[0041] A first annular groove 55 is located between the first and
second large diameter portions 51a and 51b. A first O-ring 56 is
fitted in the first annular groove 55. The first O-ring 56 is
compressed between the first annular groove 55 and the wall of the
first hole 44. Accordingly, the first straight pipe (the lower end
portion of the first pipe 33) is held in the first hole 44 by the
first O-ring 56.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 1, the first curved portion 52 is
positioned on one side of the cylinder unit 12, and includes an
upper end which is bent diagonally upward so as to point toward one
side of the engine 1. The second straight pipe 53 extends from the
first curved portion 52 to one side of the cylinder head 26. The
upper end of the second straight pipe 53 is located in a position
which is opposite to the alternator 25 in the axial direction of
the crank shaft 16, and overlaps the intake manifold 27 when viewed
in the axial direction of the crank shaft 16. The first support
stay 49 is, for example, welded to the second straight pipe 53.
[0043] The second pipe 34 is preferably made by bending a pipe
identical or similar to the first pipe 33 into a predetermined
shape. One end (the upper end) of the second pipe 34 is held by the
cylindrical portion 15, and the other end thereof extends toward
the bottom of the crank chamber 13. The other end of the second
pipe 34 is fixed to the oil pump 4 via the second support stay 57.
That is, the other end of the second pipe 34 is fixed to the engine
1.
[0044] The second pipe 34 according to the present preferred
embodiment includes a third straight pipe 61 extending downward
parallel or substantially parallel to the axis C of the cylinder
unit 12 from the crank case wall 11, and a fourth straight pipe 63
connected to the third straight pipe 61 by a second curved portion
62.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 2, the third straight pipe 61 is inserted
into the second hole 45 of the cylindrical portion 15 from below.
Like the first straight pipe 51, the distal end portion of the
third straight pipe 61 preferably has a bellows shape, for example,
by pressure forming, and includes a third large diameter portion
61a and a fourth large diameter portion 61b.
[0046] The outer diameter of the third and fourth large diameter
portions 61a and 61b is preferably larger than the outer diameter
of the rest of the second pipe 34, and smaller than the diameter of
the second hole 45. Of the third and fourth large diameter portions
61a and 61b, the third large diameter portion 61a positioned at the
distal end of the third straight pipe 61 includes a fourth tapered
surface 64 pointing toward the communication hole 46. The fourth
tapered surface 64 defines the opening edge of one end of the
second pipe 34, and preferably has a shape which gradually
increases in diameter toward the communication hole 46 (toward the
distal end of the third straight pipe 61).
[0047] A second annular groove 65 is located between the third and
fourth large diameter portions 61a and 61b. A second O-ring 66 is
fitted in the second annular groove 65. The second O-ring 66 is
compressed between the second annular groove 65 and the wall of the
third hole. Accordingly, the third straight pipe 61 (the upper end
portion of the second pipe 34) is held in the second hole 45 by the
second O-ring 66.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 1, the second curved portion 62 is
positioned between the oil pump 4 and an inclined side wall 67 of
the oil pan 2, and includes a lower end which is bent along the
side wall 67 of the oil pan 2. The side wall 67 of the oil pan 2
inclines downward so as to gradually approach the other side of the
engine 1, when viewed in the axial direction of the crank shaft
16.
[0049] The fourth straight pipe 63 extends toward the lowermost
portion 2a of the oil pan 2 from the second curved portion 62. The
second support stay 57 is, for example, welded to the fourth
straight pipe 63.
[0050] The first pipe 33 of the oil level gauge guide 14 is
attached to the engine 1 outside the crank chamber 13. This
attachment is performed by inserting one end (the lower end) of the
first pipe 33 into the first hole 44 with the first O-ring 56
fitted therein, and fixing the first support stay 49 to the
cylinder unit 12 after that. Thus, the first pipe 33 is attached to
the engine 1 separately from the second pipe 34 in the crank
chamber 13, so that the first pipe 33 has a shape described above.
More specifically, this shape extends along the cylinder unit 12
while avoiding interference with, e.g., the accessories (for
example, the starter motor 17 and the alternator 25) of the engine
1 and other obstacles (for example, the intake manifold 27).
[0051] The second pipe 34 is attached to the engine 1 from the
crank chamber side with the oil pan 2 being unattached to the crank
case wall 11. The attachment of the second pipe 34 is performed by
inserting one end (the upper end) of the second pipe 34 into the
second hole 45 with the second O-ring 66 fitted therein, and fixing
the second support stay 57 to the oil pump 4 after that. Therefore,
the second pipe 34 has a shape by which the lower end points toward
the lowermost portion 2a of the oil pan 2 while avoiding the
accessory (for example, the oil pump 4) in the crank chamber 13 and
other obstacles.
[0052] Accordingly, the above-described preferred embodiments
provide an oil level gauge guide 14 in which the second pipe 34
points toward the lowermost portion 2a of the oil pan 2, and yet
has a high degree of freedom of the attaching position. The
accessories (for example, the starter motor 17 and the alternator
25) of the engine 1 including the oil level gauge guide 14 are thus
able to be located near the engine 1 while avoiding interference
with the oil level gauge guide 14. Consequently, the engine 1 is
made more compact by using the oil level gauge guide 14 according
to the preferred embodiments described above.
[0053] The cylindrical portion 15 according to a preferred
embodiment preferably includes the first hole 44 into which the
first pipe 33 is inserted, the second hole 45 into which the second
pipe 34 is inserted, and the communication hole 46 that connects
the first and second holes 44 and 45. The first pipe 33 is held in
the first hole 44 by the first O-ring 56, and the second pipe 34 is
held in the second hole 45 by the second O-ring 66.
[0054] In the preferred embodiments described above, one end of the
first pipe 33 and one end of the second pipe 34 are elastically
supported by the cylindrical portion 15 via the first and second
O-rings 56 and 66, respectively, without any contact between
them.
[0055] Although the oil level gauge guide 14 is divided into the
first and second pipes 33 and 34, the work of attaching the oil
level gauge guide 14 to the engine 1 is easily performed. In
addition, the above described preferred embodiments also prevent
the first and second pipes 33 and 34 from being worn by metal
contact or generating noise and vibrations.
[0056] The communication hole 46 according to a preferred
embodiment preferably has a diameter smaller than a diameter of
each of the first and second holes 44 and 45. The boundary portion
between the first hole 44 and the communication hole 46 preferably
includes the first tapered surface 47. One end (the upper end) of
the second pipe 34 preferably includes the fourth tapered surface
64.
[0057] Accordingly, in the process of inserting the oil level gauge
31 and oil change hose 32 into the oil level gauge guide 14, it is
possible to prevent the distal ends of these inserted components
from being caught by the connector between the first and second
pipes 33 and 34 and preventing insertion of these components.
[0058] That is, if these inserted components come into contact with
the first tapered surface 47 when entering the through hole 43 from
the first pipe 33, the advancing direction is changed toward the
center of the through hole 43. Also, if these inserted components
come into contact with the fourth tapered surface 64 when entering
the second pipe 34 from the through hole 43, the advancing
direction is changed toward the center of the second pipe 34.
[0059] Even when the first and second pipes 33 and 34 have highly
bent shapes, the oil level gauge 31 and oil change hose 32 are
smoothly guided into the crank chamber 13, so the degree of freedom
of the position of the oil level gauge guide 14 further
increases.
[0060] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
first pipe is preferably attached to the engine outside the crank
chamber, and the second pipe is preferably attached to the engine
inside the crank chamber. Therefore, the first pipe has a shape
extending along the cylinder while avoiding interference with the
engine accessories and other obstacles. The second pipe has a shape
in which the lower end points toward the lowermost portion of the
oil pan, while avoiding interference with accessories and other
obstacles in the crank chamber.
[0061] Accordingly, preferred embodiments of the present invention
provide an oil level gauge guide in which the lower end of an oil
level gauge points toward the lowermost portion of an oil pan, and
yet has a high degree of freedom of the attaching position. The
accessories of an engine including the above-described oil level
gauge guide are located closer to the engine while avoiding
interference with the oil level gauge guide. As a consequence, the
engine is made more compact by using the oil level gauge guide
according to preferred embodiments of the present invention.
[0062] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have
been described above, it is to be understood that variations and
modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without
departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The
scope of the present invention, therefore, is to be determined
solely by the following claims.
* * * * *