EP2103786B1 - Lubrication apparatus for engines - Google Patents
Lubrication apparatus for engines Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2103786B1 EP2103786B1 EP09155281A EP09155281A EP2103786B1 EP 2103786 B1 EP2103786 B1 EP 2103786B1 EP 09155281 A EP09155281 A EP 09155281A EP 09155281 A EP09155281 A EP 09155281A EP 2103786 B1 EP2103786 B1 EP 2103786B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- chamber
- oil
- crankshaft
- engine
- oil reservoir
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01M—LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING
- F01M11/00—Component parts, details or accessories, not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F01M1/00 - F01M9/00
- F01M11/06—Means for keeping lubricant level constant or for accommodating movement or position of machines or engines
- F01M11/062—Accommodating movement or position of machines or engines, e.g. dry sumps
- F01M11/065—Position
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01M—LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING
- F01M1/00—Pressure lubrication
- F01M1/04—Pressure lubrication using pressure in working cylinder or crankcase to operate lubricant feeding devices
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01M—LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING
- F01M11/00—Component parts, details or accessories, not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F01M1/00 - F01M9/00
- F01M11/02—Arrangements of lubricant conduits
Description
- The present invention relates to a lubrication apparatus for an engine, and more particularly, to a lubrication apparatus adapted to be used in a four-stroke internal combustion engine, where appropriate lubrication can be applied to the engine no matter the engine is situated at any state of declination.
- A comparison between a four-stroke engine and a two-stroke engine shows that the former prevails over the latter in terms of cleaner exhaust and fuel saving. Under strict environmental regulations, compact-sized apparatuses for agricultural usage or compact-sized power devices for leisure usage have been changed into four-stroke engines, such as mowers, sawing machines, and so forth. In the above-mentioned applications, since apparatuses are likely to be operated at any directions, engines are required to be maneuvered at various angles of declination. This indicates that engine lubrication systems have to satisfy such demands that lubrication needs to accurately apply to engine components when engines are operated at various angles of declination.
- Currently, hand-held four-stroke engines are, mostly, lubricated in such a manner that lubricant in an oil pan is first agitated by rotation of a fork, and then the lubricant is sucked into a crankcase for lubricating components such as a crankshaft, pistons and so forth. Nevertheless, such an agitating-lubricating manner not only causes power loss and reduces power output of the engine; but also causes lubricant-level changed when engines are declined such that quantity of the lubricant to be agitated becomes less and less. As a result, lubrication becomes insufficient and fails to achieve the purpose of lubrication.
- Taiwan Patent No.
I242622 US 2005/0274349 ) discloses a lubrication apparatus for a four-stroke engine, comprising a crankshaft chamber independently formed in a cylinder block of the engine, a camshaft chamber, and an oil reservoir chamber, incorporated additionally with an oil distributing chamber in communication with the above chambers. The oil reservoir chamber stores lubricants, and there is arranged with an oil-suction piping path, together with a plurality of oil-suction orifices provided on wall of the oil-suction piping path, and an air-suction vent is provided at an end of the piping path. Therefore, upon rising of a piston where a negative-pressure status is effected in the crankshaft chamber, communication between the crankshaft chamber and the oil-suction pipe in the oil reservoir chamber is achieved through the oil distributing chamber, such that the air being sucked can flow rapidly in the oil-suction piping path. As such, a pressure difference so effected will atomize the lubricant sucked through the oil-suction orifices, and eventually the lubricant flows into the crankshaft chamber. During a descending stroke of the piston, the oil distributing chamber builds communication between the crankshaft chamber and the camshaft chamber, so that the atomized lubricant is distributed to the camshaft chamber for lubricating engine components. - In
EP 0887520 A1 , considered to be the closest prior art, there is disclosed a lubrication apparatus for an engine which includes an oil suction pipe in communication with an oil chamber. - The pipe is elastic, with a weight at its free end to ensure that the pipe tilts in the oil chamber so it is always positioned at the low end of the chamber. The teaching of this document has not been used to set the pre-characterising portion of claim 1.
- As mentioned above, it is undesirable for the conventional lubrication apparatus because design in the oil distributing chamber is complicated. Besides, after review and simulation, the quantity of lubricant supplied by the negative-pressure effect for lubricating the engine is found, in the overall circulation cycle, much more than what is actually required.
- The object of the present invention is to provide a lubrication apparatus for an engine, comprising a crankshaft chamber, a camshaft chamber, and an oil reservoir chamber. The crankshaft chamber is in communication with a space underneath a piston, and includes a crankshaft chamber inlet and a crankshaft chamber outlet. The oil reservoir chamber is provided for storing lubricants.
An oil-suction piping path is provided in the oil reservoir chamber, and is communicated between the crankshaft chamber inlet and the oil reservoir chamber. A first one-way valve is arranged between the crankshaft chamber and the oil reservoir chamber, where a valve inlet and a valve outlet are communicated, respectively, with the crankshaft chamber outlet and the oil reservoir chamber. The oil-suction piping path includes, among others, a rotatable pipe which is pivotally arranged along an axis of a cylinder block. The rotatable pipe includes a plurality of oil-suction orifices located at wall of the rotatable pipe and an air-suction vent at an end of the rotatable pipe. No matter the engine is situated any state of declination, the air-suction vent is kept above a surface of the lubricant, and that at least one of the oil-suction orifices is kept under the surface of the lubricant. - With the help of the oil-suction piping path and of the first one-way valve, the lubrication apparatus for an engine according to the present invention can supply an appropriate amount of lubricant to corresponding chambers either at a rising stroke or at a descending stoke of the piston. Besides, even under various declination states, a four-stroke engine can be appropriately lubricated, namely, unlike the conventional fork-supply manner which has an un-predetermined quantity of lubricant, or the prior art supply manner which has an over-supply of lubricant.
- A crankshaft chamber may be defined by an upper crankcase and a lower crankcase which are anchored to each other. The oil-suction piping path may further include, in sequence, an oil-pan built-in passage, a connecting pipe, and a lower-crankcase built-in passage. The oil-pan built-in passage is connected with the rotatable pipe, and that the lower-crankcase built-in passage with the crankshaft chamber inlet. The rotatable pipe may include a C-shaped tube.
- In one embodiment, according to the present invention, the lubrication apparatus for an engine may further include a rocker arm chamber which, through a first communicating passage, is communicated with the crankshaft chamber. In the first communicating passage there is provided with a second one-way valve, where an inlet and an outlet of the second one-way valve are in communication with the rocker arm chamber and the camshaft chamber, respectively. The camshaft chamber can, through a second communicating passage, be communicated with the oil reservoir chamber.
- Further, in another embodiment, the camshaft chamber can, through two communicating passages, be communicated with the oil reservoir chamber and the crankshaft chamber, respectively. In one of the two communicating passages there is arranged with a one-way relief valve for pressure release, wherein a valve inlet and a valve outlet of the one-way relief valve are communicated with the oil reservoir chamber and the camshaft chamber, respectively. The two communicating passages may be two piping paths independent from each other, or both have a common path section. In this embodiment, the lubrication apparatus for an engine may further include a rocker arm chamber. A second one-way valve is arranged between the rocker arm chamber and the crankshaft chamber, such that the rocker arm chamber and the crankshaft chamber are in a one-way communication, and that a valve inlet and a valve outlet of the second one-way valve are communicated with the rocker arm chamber and the crankshaft chamber, respectively.
- Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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FIG 1 is an exploded view illustrating a lubrication apparatus for an engine according to a first embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the lubrication apparatus for an engine according to the first embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a rotatable pipe according to the first embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating recycle of lubricant in a rocker ann chamber, as viewed from one angle, according to the first embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lubricant applied in the camshaft chamber/rocker arm chamber according to the first embodiment of present invention; -
FIG 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating recycle of lubricant in the rocker arm chamber, as viewed from another angle, according to the first embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating recycle of lubricant in the camshaft chamber according to the first embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating recycle of lubricant in a rocker arm chamber, as viewed from one angle, according to a second embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating communication of the oil reservoir chamber and the camshaft chamber according to the second embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating recycle of lubricant in the rocker ann chamber, as viewed from another angle, according to the second embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating communication of the camshaft chamber and the crankshaft chamber according to the second embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating layout of a third communicating passage and a fourth communicating passage, independent from each other, according to the second embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the lubrication apparatus for an engine according to a third embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the lubrication apparatus for an engine according to a third embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from a different angle; and -
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a common path section for a fifth communicating passage and a sixth communicating passage according to the third embodiment of the present invention. - Referring to
FIGs. 1 to 2 , an exploded view and a cross-sectional view illustrating a lubrication apparatus for an engine according to the present invention, the lubrication apparatus is installed in a four-stroke engine including acylinder block 21, anupper crankcase 22, alower crankcase 23, and anoil pan 24. Theupper crankcase 22 and thecylinder block 21 are integrally made in one piece; or on the other hand, are made separately from each other. Thelower crankcase 23 and theupper crankcase 22 are configurated correspondingly to each other, and are anchored to each other by bolts. Theupper crankcase 22 is formed, at underside, with a concave; and thelower crankcase 23 is formed, both at top and underside, with a concave, respectively. Acrankshaft chamber 11 is defined, together, by the lower concave of theupper crankcase 22 and the upper concave of thelower crankcase 23. Anoil reservoir chamber 13 is defined, together, by the lower concave of thelower crankcase 23 and theoil pan 24. - According to the present invention, a
crankshaft 29 is arranged in thecrankshaft chamber 11, such that when the engine runs, thecrankshaft 29 revolves. Thecylinder block 21 is, inside, provided with apiston 25, and that thecrankshaft chamber 11 is communicated with an internal space of thecylinder block 21, namely is communicated with a space underneath thepiston 25. Inside thecylinder block 21, there is also provided with acamshaft chamber 12 accommodated with acam device 28, and arocker arm chamber 26 accommodated with arocker arm assembly 27, where thecamshaft chamber 12 and therocker arm chamber 26 are communicated with each other directly. Therocker arm assembly 27 is, in a power-connection manner, connected with thecam device 28, and complies with the piston stroke for a timing control manner, so that air-fuel mixture and inlet/exhaust gas can be controlled. - The lubrication apparatus for an engine, according to the embodiment, comprises the
crankshaft chamber 11, thecamshaft chamber 12, and theoil reservoir chamber 13. Thecrankshaft chamber 11 includes acrankshaft chamber inlet 111 and acrankshaft chamber outlet 112. Theoil reservoir chamber 13 is provided for storing lubricants, where an oil-suction piping path is provided in theoil reservoir chamber 13, and theoil reservoir chamber 13 is communicated with thecrankshaft chamber 11 through the oil-suction piping path. Concretely speaking, the oil-suction piping path includes, in sequence, arotatable pipe 15, an oil-pan built-inpassage 16, a connectingpipe 17, and a lower-crankcase built-inpassage 18. - According to the embodiment, the lower-crankcase built-in
passage 18 is in connection with thecrankshaft chamber inlet 111, and therotatable pipe 15 is pivotally arranged along an axis X of thecylinder block 21. Therotatable pipe 15 includes three oil-suction orifices 152 located at wall of therotatable pipe 15 and an air-suction vent 151 at an end of therotatable pipe 15. According to various structures for theoil reservoir chamber 13 and a total amount of lubricant to be filled in theoil reservoir chamber 13, therotatable pipe 15 is so designed that no matter the engine is situated at any state of declination, the air-suction vent 151 is kept above a surface of the lubricant and is communicated with theoil reservoir chamber 13, and that at least one of the three oil-suction orifices 152 is kept under the surface of the lubricant. Details of therotatable pipe 15 will be described later. - Further, it should be noted that the oil-
suction orifices 152 can be so arranged that under a planar visual angle, all the oil-suction orifices 152 are located at a remotest edge of therotatable pipe 15. Preferably, this plane is constituted by the axis X of thecylinder block 21 and an axis Y of thecrankshaft 29. Such a plane happens to be a plane on which the engine is posed rightly. By way of such an arrangement for the oil-suction orifices 152, the object of the present invention, i.e. "appropriate lubrication can be applied to the engine even though the engine is situated at various angles of declination" can be achieved easily.FIG. 2 shows clearly a relationship of the special arrangement of the oil-suction orifices 152. - A first one-
way valve 19 is arranged between thecrankshaft chamber 11 and theoil reservoir chamber 13, where avalve inlet 191 and avalve outlet 192 of the first one-way valve 19 are communicated, respectively, with thecrankshaft chamber outlet 112 and theoil reservoir chamber 13, such that the lubricant can backflow from thecrankshaft chamber 11, through a specific path, into theoil reservoir chamber 13. - Now referring to
FIG. 3 , a cross-sectional view illustrating the rotatable pipe according to the first embodiment of the present invention, therotatable pipe 15 includes a C-shapedtube 15a and astraight tube 15b, wherein thestraight tube 15b is provided with anupper portion 154 and alower portion 153 which are opposite to each other, and independent from each other. Thelower portion 153 is communicated with the C-shapedtube 15a, whereas theupper portion 154 is provided with aside opening 155. Therotatable pipe 15 can be pivotal such that the C-shapedtube 15a pivots about thestraight tube 15b. Preferably, theside opening 155 is located adjacent to a center of theoil reservoir chamber 13 and slightly above the surface of the lubricant. - Now referring to
FIGs. 4 and6 , cross-sectional views illustrating recycle of lubricant in therocker arm chamber 26, as viewed from different angles, according to the present invention, therocker arm chamber 26 is, through a first communicatingpassage 14, communicated with thecrankshaft chamber 11. A second one-way valve 31 is arranged in the first communicatingpassage 14, such that the second one-way valve 31 opens toward thecrankshaft chamber 11, namely, avalve inlet 311 is communicated with therocker arm chamber 26 and avalve outlet 312 with thecrankshaft chamber 11. As shown inFIG. 4 , position P and position Q (indicates an outlet of the first communicating passage 14) are independent and separated from each other, though actually both the two positions P,Q are in the first communicatingpassage 14. The interrelation between the two positions P,Q can be clarified if reference is made toFIG 6 . - Further, referring to
FIG 7 , a cross-sectional view illustrating recycle of lubricant in the camshaft chamber according to the first embodiment of the present invention, thecamshaft chamber 12 is, through a second communicatingpassage 30, communicated with theoil reservoir chamber 13. To the effect, theupper portion 154 of therotatable pipe 15 is connected to a passage inside thelower crankcase 23. Namely, lubrication-recycle paths of therocker arm chamber 26 and of thecamshaft chamber 12 are all constituted by theupper portion 154 of therotatable pipe 15 together with built-in passages formed in thelower crankcase 23, theupper crankcase 22, and thecylinder block 21. - Referring to
FIG. 5 , a cross-sectional view illustrating lubricant applied in the camshaft chamber/rocker arm chamber according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a view taken from a view angle different from that taken fromFIG. 4 , it is noted that the path for flowing the lubricant for lubricating thecamshaft chamber 12 is the same as the path for recycling the lubricant, and this is achieved by the second communicatingpassage 30. Because the art of oil passage built in the crankcase has been well known, no further description therefor is necessary. - As shown in
FIGs. 2 ,4 and7 , during a rising stroke of thepiston 25, a negative-pressure status is produced in thecrankshaft chamber 11. Due to the negative pressure, air is sucked into the oil-suction piping path through the air-suction vent 151, a pressure difference produced by a rapid flow of the air in the narrowed piping path will atomize the lubricant sucked through the oil-suction orifices 152. The atomized lubricant in theoil reservoir chamber 13 will, through the oil-suction piping path, reach to thecrankshaft chamber 11, so that components inside the engine can be lubricated.FIG 2 shows that during a rising stroke of thepiston 25, the lubricant, due to the pressure difference, will not flow back into theoil reservoir chamber 13 from the first one-way valve 19. - On the other hand, the lubricant in the
camshaft chamber 12 and in therocker arm chamber 26, due to a positive pressure difference against theoil reservoir chamber 13, can flow back into theoil reservoir chamber 13 through thesecond communication passage 30 and theside opening 155, relating to a recycle for the lubricant. InFIG. 7 , arrows indicate a flowing direction of the lubricant at this stage. - It should be noted that at this stage, there still is a positive pressure difference for the
rocker arm chamber 26 against thecrankshaft chamber 11, part of the lubricant in therocker arm chamber 26 will flow into thecrankshaft chamber 11 through the first communicatingpassage 14 and the second one-way valve 31. In other words, therocker arm chamber 26 can use the first communicatingpassage 14 as a path for flowing the lubricant back into thecrankshaft chamber 11 for purpose of appropriate oil discharge. Further, when the engine stands at a normal angle of use, the lubricant in therocker arm chamber 26 and thecamshaft chamber 12, at this stage, is still possible to flow back into theoil reservoir chamber 13, due to gravity, through the second communicatingpassage 30. - Now referring to
FIGs. 2 and5 , it should be noted that in spite of the fact thatFIG 2 shows schematically a rising stroke of thepiston 25, this figure is only used for explaining as to how, under the same structure, the engine is to be lubricated during a descending stroke. When thepiston 25 is under a descending stroke, thecrankshaft chamber 11 produces, through the same structure as shown inFIG 2 , a positive pressure. The positive pressure is so functioned as to discharge, from thecrankshaft chamber 11, a great amount of the lubricant to theoil reservoir chamber 13 through the first one-way valve 19. - On the other hand, the lubricant in the
oil reservoir chamber 13, due to a negative pressure difference for thecamshaft chamber 12 and therocker arm chamber 26 against theoil reservoir chamber 13, can flow to thecamshaft chamber 12 and therocker arm chamber 26 through theside opening 155, theupper portion 154, and the second communicatingpassage 30 so as to lubricate thecam device 28 and therocker ann assembly 27. In the meantime, the second one-way valve 31 in the first communicatingpassage 14 will stop the lubricant flowing from thecrankshaft chamber 11 to therocker ann chamber 26. Arrows inFIG. 5 indicates a flowing direction of the lubricant at this stage. - In the present invention, a forced lubrication is applied. That is to say, the negative-pressure effect is used to bring the lubricant, during the rising stroke of the
piston 25, to thecrankshaft chamber 11 for lubrication; while during the descending stroke of thepiston 25, to bring the lubricant to thecamshaft chamber 12 for lubrication. In the meantime, recycle of the lubricant is carried out during the two strokes so as to solve, effectively, the problem of the prior art where quantity of lubricant supplied by the negative-pressure effect for lubricating the engine is much more than what is actually required. - Further, referring to
FIGs. 8 and10 , cross-sectional views illustrating recycle of lubricant in the rocker arm chamber, as viewed from different angles, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the second embodiment is substantially similar to the first embodiment, in terms of structure, except that a one-way relief valve 32 for pressure release is arranged on a third communicatingpassage 30a which acts to communicate theoil reservoir chamber 13 and thecamshaft chamber 12. - In the second embodiment of the present invention, as described for the first embodiment, the
rocker ann chamber 26 is, through the first communicatingpassage 14, communicated with thecrankshaft chamber 11. The second one-way valve 31 is arranged in the first communicatingpassage 14, such that the second one-way valve 31 opens toward thecrankshaft chamber 11, namely, thevalve inlet 311 is communicated with therocker arm chamber 26 and thevalve outlet 312 with thecrankshaft chamber 11. For clear understanding purpose, position P and position Q shown inFIG. 8 can correspond to those shown inFIG 10 . - Now referring to
FIGs. 2 ,9 , and11 ,FIG 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating communication of the oil reservoir chamber and the camshaft chamber,FIG 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating communications between the camshaft chamber and the crankshaft chamber according to the second embodiment of the present invention, a fourth communicatingpassage 113a is interposed between thecrankshaft chamber 11 and thecamshaft chamber 12. The third communicatingpassage 30a is provided between theoil reservoir chamber 13 and thecamshaft chamber 12; and that in the third communicatingpassage 30a there is provided with the one-way relief valve 32, with avalve inlet 321 communicated with theoil reservoir chamber 13, and with avalve outlet 322 communicated with thecamshaft chamber 12. - When the
piston 25 is under a descending stroke, thecrankshaft chamber 11 has a pressure greater than that of thecamshaft 12. After lubricating relevant components of thecrankshaft chamber 11, the lubricant, on the one hand, through the first one-way valve 19, flows back into theoil reservoir chamber 13 in a great amount; and on the other, a little amount of the lubricant is delivered, through the fourth communicatingpassage 113a, to thecamshaft chamber 12 to lubricate relevant components. - In the meantime, the positive pressure of the
crankshaft chamber 11 exerting on theoil reservoir chamber 13 will force and release the pressure of theoil reservoir chamber 13 to thecamshaft chamber 12 through theupper portion 154 of therotatable pipe 15, the one-way relief valve 32, and the third communicatingpassage 30a. - At this stage, the second one-way valve 31 (see
FIG 10 ) of the first communicatingpassage 14 acts to retard the lubricant flowing from thecrankshaft chamber 11 to therocker arm chamber 26, so that an inappropriate and additional amount of the lubricant can be avoided. - Further referring to
FIGs. 2 ,8 and10 , when thepiston 25 is at a rising stroke, thecrankshaft chamber 11 will be subject to a negative pressure. Under the circumstances, the oil-suction piping path will suck in air through the air-suction vent 151, so that the air flowing rapidly in the narrower piping path will produce a pressure difference, making the lubricant entering into the oil-suction orifices 152 atomized. The atomized lubricant in theoil reservoir chamber 13 will reach to thecrankshaft chamber 11 through the oil-suction piping path, so that components inside the engine can be lubricated. The lubricant inside the engine will not flow back to theoil reservoir chamber 13 through the first one-way valve 19. - Further, at this moment the
camshaft chamber 12 has a pressure greater than that of thecrankshaft chamber 11, and because the lubricant in thecamshaft chamber 12 cannot flow reversely back to theoil reservoir chamber 13 through the one-way relief valve 32, the lubricant in thecamshaft chamber 12, due to a pressure difference, is sucked back to thecrankshaft chamber 11 through the fourth communicatingpassage 113a. - At this stage, the
rocker arm chamber 26, relative to thecrankshaft chamber 11, has a positive pressure difference. As such, part of the lubricant in therocker arm chamber 26 will flow into thecrankshaft chamber 11 through the first communicatingpassage 14 and the second one-way valve 31. In other words, therocker arm chamber 26 can use the first communicatingpassage 14 as a path for flowing the lubricant back to thecrankshaft chamber 11 so as to discharge the lubricant effectively - References may be made to
FIGs. 8 ,9 and11 , and to 12, a cross-sectional view illustrating layout of the third communicatingpassage 30a and the fourth communicatingpassage 113a independent from each other according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Location marks M1, N1, F, and G are employed for explanation conveniently. - Referring to
FIG. 13 , a cross-sectional view illustrating a lubrication apparatus for an engine according to a third embodiment of the present invention, toFIG 14 , a cross-sectional view illustrating the lubrication apparatus for an engine according to the third embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from a different angle; and toFIG 15 , a cross-sectional view illustrating a common section for a fifth communicating passage and a sixth communicating passage according to the third embodiment of the present invention, this embodiment is similar to the second embodiment, except that the former adopts a three-way path to communicates thecrankshaft chamber 11, theoil reservoir chamber 13, and thecamshaft chamber 12. There are provided with first, second and third path sections P1, P2, P3 extending from an intersection O, wherein the first path section P1 is communicated with thecrankshaft chamber 11, the second path section P2 with thecamshaft chamber 12, and the third path section P3 with theoil reservoir chamber 13. - Therefore, the
camshaft chamber 12 and theoil reservoir chamber 13 are communicated with each other through the second path section P2 and the third path section P3 which constitute a fifth communicatingpassage 30b; whereas thecamshaft chamber 12 and thecrankshaft chamber 11 are communicated with each other through the first path section P1 and the second path section P2 which constitute a sixth communicatingpassage 113b. The third one-way valve 32 of the fifth communicatingpassage 30b is arranged in the third path section P3. Both the fifth and the sixth communicatingpassages - Of course, the path for pressure release can alternatively be an external piping path, and it is not intended to limit it to the built-in version in the embodiment.
- Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims (8)
- A lubrication apparatus for an engine, comprising:a crankshaft chamber (11); being in communication with a space underneath a piston (25); and including a crankshaft chamber inlet (111) and a crankshaft chamber outlet (112);a rocker ann chamber (26) which, through a first communicating passage (14) is communicated with the crankshaft chamber (11)a camshaft chamber (12); andan oil reservoir chamber (13) for storing lubricants;wherein an oil-suction piping path is provided in the oil reservoir chamber, and is communicated between the crankshaft chamber inlet (111) and the oil reservoir chamber (13), and wherein the oil-suction piping path includes a rotatable pipe (15) which is pivotally arranged along an axis of a cylinder block, and an air-suction vent (15) at an end of the rotatable pipe (15), and no matter the engine is situated at any state of declination, the air-suction vent (151) is kept above a surface of the lubricant, and at least one of the oil-suction orifices (152) is kept under the surface of the lubricant, wherein the rotatable pipe (15) includes a plurality of oil-suction orifices (152) located at wall of the rotatable pipe and characterised in that a first one-way valve (19) is arranged between the crankshaft chamber (11) and the oil reservoir chamber (13); where a valve inlet (191) and a valve outlet (192) are communicated, respectively, with the crankshaft chamber outlet (112) and the oil reservoir chamber (13), and that the first communicating passage (14) there is provided with a second one-way valve (31), and a valve inlet (311) and a valve outlet (312) of the second one-way valve (31) are in communication with the rocker arm chamber (26) and the crankshaft chamber (11); respectively.
- The lubrication apparatus for an engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the oil-suction piping path further includes, in sequence, an oil-pan built-in passage, a connecting pipe, and a lower-cranlccase built-in passage, and wherein the oil-pan built-in passage is connected with the rotatable pipe, and the lower-craiikcase built-in passage with the crankshaft chamber inlet.
- The lubrication apparatus for an engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the camshaft chamber is, through a second communicating passage, communicated with the oil reservoir chamber.
- The lubrication apparatus for an engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the camshaft chamber is, through two communicating passages, communicated with the oil reservoir chamber and the crankshaft chamber, respectively, and in one of the two communicating passages there is arranged with a one-way relief valve for pressure release, and wherein a valve inlet and a valve outlet of the one-way relief valve are communicated with the oil reservoir chamber and the camshaft chamber, respectively.
- The lubrication apparatus for an engine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the two communicating passages refer to a third communicating passage and a fourth communicating passage which both are independent from each other.
- The lubrication apparatus for an engine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the two communicating passages refer to a fifth communicating passage and a sixth communicating passage which both have a common path section.
- The lubrication apparatus for an engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotatable pipe includes a C-shaped tube.
- The lubrication apparatus for an engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the crankshaft chamber is defined by an upper crankcase and a lower crankcase which are anchored to each other.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
TW97110015A TWI388715B (en) | 2008-03-21 | 2008-03-21 | Engine lubrication device |
TW97141849A TW201016950A (en) | 2008-10-30 | 2008-10-30 | Engine lubrication device |
TW98101479A TW201028529A (en) | 2009-01-16 | 2009-01-16 | Lubrication device for engine |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2103786A2 EP2103786A2 (en) | 2009-09-23 |
EP2103786A3 EP2103786A3 (en) | 2010-12-15 |
EP2103786B1 true EP2103786B1 (en) | 2012-07-04 |
Family
ID=40718534
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP09155281A Not-in-force EP2103786B1 (en) | 2008-03-21 | 2009-03-16 | Lubrication apparatus for engines |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20090235894A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2103786B1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP5414477B2 (en) * | 2009-11-26 | 2014-02-12 | 株式会社やまびこ | 4-cycle engine lubrication system |
JP2012057554A (en) * | 2010-09-09 | 2012-03-22 | Makita Corp | Lubrication structure of four-cycle engine |
CN103511019B (en) * | 2012-06-15 | 2016-12-21 | 苏州科瓴精密机械科技有限公司 | Engine fuel system |
CN111148611A (en) | 2017-09-15 | 2020-05-12 | 百乐帕斯托拉尔有限公司 | Portable wood sawing machine |
Family Cites Families (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5235075A (en) | 1992-12-10 | 1993-08-10 | The Dow Chemical Company | Purification of propylene oxide |
US5456230A (en) * | 1994-05-19 | 1995-10-10 | Outboard Marine Corporation | Four-stroke internal combustion engine with contaminated oil elimination |
EP0887520B1 (en) * | 1997-06-26 | 2002-08-21 | Ishikawajima-Shibaura Machinery Co., Ltd. | Oil supply apparatus of a four-stroke-cycle engine |
US6328004B1 (en) * | 1997-07-08 | 2001-12-11 | Rynhart Research And Development Company Limited | Internal combustion engines |
US6213079B1 (en) * | 1998-06-03 | 2001-04-10 | Fuji Robin Kabushiki Kaisha | Lubricating apparatus for four-cycle engines |
JP2002138898A (en) * | 2000-11-01 | 2002-05-17 | Honda Motor Co Ltd | Valve mechanism for engine |
JP2004068799A (en) * | 2002-08-05 | 2004-03-04 | Fujitec:Kk | Lubricating device for four cycle engine |
TWI242622B (en) * | 2004-06-11 | 2005-11-01 | Shin-Tsang Li | Lubrication device for four-stroke engine |
TWM325381U (en) * | 2007-06-08 | 2008-01-11 | Jenn Feng Ind Co Ltd | Lubricating device for four cycle engine |
TW200905065A (en) * | 2007-07-17 | 2009-02-01 | Si-Liang Lin | Engine lubrication loop device |
-
2009
- 2009-03-16 EP EP09155281A patent/EP2103786B1/en not_active Not-in-force
- 2009-03-20 US US12/382,645 patent/US20090235894A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20090235894A1 (en) | 2009-09-24 |
EP2103786A2 (en) | 2009-09-23 |
EP2103786A3 (en) | 2010-12-15 |
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