JPH09228818A - Oil level display of engine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To confirm an oil level suitably even if engines having same inside structures are mounted with different forward tilting angles. SOLUTION: In the oil level display of an engine, a lens 14 is fitted to window holes 12, or 13a, 13b formed on the side wall of the oil pan 6a of the engine, an oil level in the oil pan 6a is visually confirmed from an engine outside by the lens 14, indexes L1, L2, L3 are integratedly formed on three positions of oil pan 6a side walls to indicate the upper limit and the lower limit of the oil level, two indexes in the indexes L1, L2, L3 are combined selectively, and thereby, the upper limit and the lower limit of the oil level are indicated to two kinds of engine forward tilting angles α and β.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an engine oil indicator for confirming the amount of oil stored in an engine mounted on a motorcycle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A motorcycle (motorcycle) is generally known in which an oil level indicator is provided on a side wall of an engine cover so that passengers can easily check the amount of engine oil stored. There is. As the oil level indicator, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, a circular window hole EC1 is formed in a lower portion of a side wall of an engine cover EC that constitutes an oil reservoir, and a lens T is fitted into the window hole EC1. It is known that the oil level OL can be visually recognized from here. With this kind of oil indicator,
An index Iu indicating the upper limit of the oil level OL and an index Id indicating the lower limit thereof are engraved at two upper and lower positions along the peripheral edge of the window hole EC1, and the oil level OL visually recognized through the lens T is When it is between the upper limit index Iu and the lower limit index Id, it can be determined that an appropriate amount of oil is stored.

[0003]

However, there is a demand to equip a plurality of types of motorcycles with the same type of engine to share the engines. In this case, the conventional oil level indicator described above If the forward tilt angle when the engine is mounted is changed due to a change in the type of the frame on which the engine is mounted, etc., the position and shape of the oil storage section in the engine changes, so that the oil is less than the upper limit index Iu and the lower limit index Id. There arises a problem that the level OL changes. For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, when an engine having a display configured to be mounted at a forward tilt angle α is mounted at a forward tilt angle β, the same figure (b) is used. )
As shown in, the actual oil level OL is the upper limit index Iu.
And the lower limit index Id, and both indices Iu,
Id ceases to function as an index.

Therefore, in the engine using the conventional oil level indicator, even if the internal structure is the same, the forward tilt angle is changed if the forward tilt angle when mounted is different. Each time, a new mold for the engine cover was designed and manufactured, and a new engine cover in which only the position of the index was different was manufactured. For this reason, a large amount of die cost is required, resulting in an increase in manufacturing cost. Further, as a result of manufacturing various types of engine covers for each engine mounting angle, management of the product numbers thereof becomes extremely complicated, and there is a risk that the engine cover may be assembled incorrectly during manufacturing or repair.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to the problems of the above-mentioned prior art. Even when the engine is mounted on the frame by changing the forward tilt angle, the upper and lower limits of the oil level are properly displayed. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an oil level indicator for the engine.

[0006]

An oil level indicator for an engine according to the present invention has a lens fitted in a window hole formed in a side wall of an oil storage section of the engine, and an oil level in the oil storage section is indicated by the lens. While making it visible from the outside of the engine, indexes for instructing the upper and lower limits of the oil level are integrally molded in at least three locations on the side wall of the oil reservoir. Therefore, it is possible to indicate the upper limit and the lower limit of the oil level for at least two or more kinds of engine forward lean angles by selectively using two indexes out of the three or more indexes. Becomes For this reason, it is possible to share the engine cover etc. with the display, reducing the die cost,
It is possible to simplify parts management and prevent parts from being assembled incorrectly. Preferably, the window hole is formed in the oil level storage portion in which the index is formed, according to the selected two index positions. Also preferably, the window is sized and shaped adjacent to all indicia. Further, preferably, the window hole has a circular opening shape. Further, preferably, the window hole has an elongated hole shape.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. First, the first aspect of the present invention based on FIG. 1 to FIG.
An embodiment will be described. The oil level indicator 10 according to the first embodiment is suitable for mounting an engine having the same internal structure on two types of frames of two types of motorcycles while changing the forward tilt angles. 1 is applied to the engine 1 mounted on the frame F1 at the forward inclination angle α, and FIG. 2 is applied to the frame F.
2 shows a case where the invention is applied to the engine 1 mounted at the forward tilt angle β. The forward tilt angle α,
β is the vertical line S1 and the cylinder center axis line S of the engine 1.
The angle formed by 2 (α, β <90 degrees) is, for example, α = 35 degrees and β = 20 degrees.

In the engine 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, valves 3a and 3b provided in a cylinder head 2 are operated by two cam shafts 4a and 4b, and a piston (not shown) in a cylinder 5 is operated. The engine is a reciprocating DOHC four-cycle engine, a clutch is housed in the engine cover 6, and an oil pan (oil storage part) 6a for storing engine oil is formed below the engine cover 6. There is. Reference numeral 7 is a carburetor connected to the intake port 2a of the engine 1, and 8 is an exhaust pipe connected to the exhaust port 2b of the engine 1.

The oil level indicator 10 according to the first embodiment is provided on the engine cover 6 of the engine 1. This indicator 10 has a window 12 (first example) as shown in FIG. 4 (a) formed in a convex step 11 formed in the lower portion of the side wall of the engine cover rough material 60 shown in FIG. Alternatively, a window hole 13a or 13b (second example) as shown in FIG. 4 (b) or (c) is formed, and the peripheral portion of the circular lens 14 is formed in the thick portion of the window hole 12 or 13a, 13b. It has been fitted.

Further, in the convex step portion 11 of the engine cover rough material 60, three indexes L1, L2 and L3 are vertically arranged at predetermined intervals along the periphery of the formation location of the window holes 12 and 13a and 13b. Is projected through. Of these, the index L1 is formed at a position that matches the lower limit of the oil level OL when the engine 1 is mounted on the frame F1,
The index L2 is formed at a position corresponding to the upper limit of the oil level OL when the engine 1 is mounted on the frame F1 and the lower limit of the oil level OL when the engine 1 is mounted on the frame F2, and the index L3 is mounted on the frame F2. Is formed at a position corresponding to the upper limit of the oil level OL. Then, these indexes L1, L2, L3 and the convex step portion 11
In each case, when the engine cover rough material 60 is cast, it is cast and integrally molded with other portions.

The window 12 (first example) corresponds to a single window formed even when the engine cover 6 is assembled at different forward tilt angles, and has a relatively large diameter. Further, the formation of the indexes L1, L2, L3 is performed by the engine 1
Is set on the frame F1 at the forward tilt angle α by the indicators L1 and L2, and when mounted on the frame F2 at the forward tilt angle β by the indicators L2 and L3, the upper and lower limits of the oil level OL are set. Make it displayable. The two types of windows 13a and 13b (second example) are selectively formed in accordance with the forward tilt angle of the engine 1 to which the engine cover 6 is assembled, and are formed to have a relatively small diameter. That is, the window hole 13a is formed when the engine 1 is mounted at the forward tilt angle α (when mounted on the frame F1), and the window hole 13b is formed when the engine 1 is mounted at the forward tilt angle β (when mounted on the frame F2). To form. The window hole 13a has the aforementioned indicators L1 and L.
2 has a diameter capable of displaying the upper limit and the lower limit of the oil level OL, and the window hole 13b is formed with the indicators L2 and L3.
The upper limit and the lower limit of the oil level OL indicated by and are formed with a diameter that can be displayed.

According to the oil level indicator 10 of the engine relating to the window hole of the first example and the second example of the first embodiment configured as described above, the oil stored in the oil pan 6a. The level OL can be confirmed through the lens 14 fitted to the side wall of the oil pan 6a, and whether or not the oil level OL is within an appropriate amount range can be determined by indicators L1 and L2 or L2 and L3. Can be judged based on. That is, when the engine 1 is mounted on the frame F1, the index L2 indicates the oil level O.
Since the index L1 indicates the upper limit of L and the lower limit of the oil level OL, respectively, the oil level OL indicates both indicators L1 and L.
Whether or not the oil is properly supplied can be determined depending on whether the oil is located between the two. When the engine 1 is mounted on the frame F2, the index L3 indicates the upper limit of the oil level OL, and the index L2 indicates the lower limit. Therefore, the oil level OL visually recognized through the lens 14 is the both indicators L2. , L3, it can be determined whether or not the oil is properly supplied.

As described above, in the first and second examples of the first embodiment, the engine cover 6 is provided with three indexes L1, L2, L3, and two adjacent indexes among them. Although the upper limit and the lower limit of the oil level OL are indicated by using, the four or more indicators are formed on the engine cover 6 and two indicators among them are combined to combine a plurality of types of engine forward lean. It is also possible to correspond to the angle, and the number of indices is not particularly limited to three. For example, like the oil level indicator 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 5, four indicators L1, L2, L3 and L4 are provided on the convex step portion 11 of the engine cover 6, and By forming the window holes 21 and 22 at a position where two adjacent indices of (1) are combined (a position where L1 and L2 and L3 and L4 are combined), oil corresponding to two types of engine forward tilt angles is formed. It is also possible to instruct the upper limit and the lower limit of the level OL.

When four or more indicators are provided, it is also possible to set the upper limit and lower limit indications of the oil level OL by a combination of non-adjacent indicators. For example,
Six indicators L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6 are provided as shown in the oil level indicator 30 in the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 (a), 6 (b) and 6 (c). By forming the windows 31, 32 and 33 so as to combine the indexes L1 and L4, L2 and L5, and L3 and L6 among the indexes, it is possible to indicate the upper limit and the lower limit of the oil level OL. .

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the window hole having the circular opening shape is provided has been described as an example, but like the oil level indicator 40 in the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. The opening shape of the window hole 41 may be formed by an elongated hole having a size that can face all the indexes L1, L2, L3, L4, L5. In this case, the opening shape is always constant regardless of the engine forward tilt angle. Since it suffices to form a single window hole 41 at the position of, the window hole 41 also has indices L1, L2, L
Since it is possible to mold together with 3, L4 and L5 by a single mold, the manufacturing cost of the engine cover 6 can be significantly reduced. In addition, in the fourth embodiment, it is desirable to mark the indexes selected as the upper limit and the lower limit among the indexes L1 to L5 to distinguish them from other indexes.

By the way, there is a point in the engine cover 6 in each of the above embodiments that the oil level OL hardly changes even when the engine forward tilt angle changes. Therefore, if the window hole is formed with that point as the center, even when the window hole having the circular opening shape is formed as in the first to third embodiments, the forward tilt angle of the engine is reduced. Regardless of this, the window hole can be formed at the same position, and the window hole can be formed by the same mold.
Of course, the diameter of the window hole in this case may be the same as that shown in the first to third embodiments, and it is not particularly necessary to increase the diameter.

[0017]

As described above, according to the oil indicator for an engine of the present invention, since the indexes are provided on at least three places on the side wall of the oil storage portion of the engine, two indexes are selected from the indexes. It is possible to properly instruct the upper limit and the lower limit of the oil level even for different engine forward lean angles by using them in combination. Therefore, when manufacturing an engine with the same internal structure, it is possible to manufacture using the same mold regardless of the forward tilt angle when the engine is mounted, and the mold is manufactured for each forward tilt angle. Compared with the conventional method, the die cost can be significantly reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, since parts can be shared for engines having the same internal structure, parts management can be simplified and
It is possible to prevent the wrong assembly of parts,
The effect is enormous.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an engine according to a first embodiment of the present invention, showing a case of being applied to an engine mounted on a frame at a forward tilt angle α.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the engine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, showing a case where it is applied to an engine mounted on a frame at a forward tilt angle β.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a rough engine cover material used in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory front view showing a position where a window hole is formed in the first embodiment of the present invention, (a) shows a state where the window hole of the first example is formed in the engine, and (b) shows the same. FIG. 3C shows a state in which the window hole is formed in an engine mounted at a forward tilt angle α according to the second example, and FIG.
3 shows a state in which the window hole is formed in the engine mounted in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory front view showing a second embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a case where the indexes L1 and L2 are set to the lower and upper limits of the oil level, and (b) is an index L3 and L4. Shows the case where is set to the lower limit and the upper limit of the oil level, respectively.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory front view showing a third embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a case where the indexes L1 and L4 are set to the lower and upper limits of the oil level, and (b) is an index L2 and L5. Is set to the lower limit and the upper limit of the oil level, and (c) shows the case where the indicators L3 and L6 are set to the lower limit and the upper limit of the oil level, respectively.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory front view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view of an engine case according to a conventional example.

9A and 9B are views showing an oil level indicator of a conventional example, in which FIG. 9A is a diagram showing a case of being applied to an engine mounted at a forward tilt angle α, and FIG. 9B is mounted at a forward tilt angle β. It is a figure showing the case where it is applied to an engine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 engine 6a oil pan (equivalent to an oil storage part of an engine) 10 oil level indicator (first embodiment) L1 to L3 index 12 window holes 13a, 13b window hole 14 lens 20 oil level indicator (second) Embodiment) L1-L4 index 21,22 window hole 30 oil level indicator (third embodiment) L1-L6 index 31,32,33 window hole 40 oil level indicator (fourth embodiment) L1 to L5 Index 41 Window hole 42 Lens F1 frame F2 frame OL Oil level α, β Forward tilt angle of engine

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An engine oil level indicator in which a lens is fitted in a window hole formed in a side wall of an oil storage portion of the engine so that the oil level in the oil storage portion can be visually recognized from the outside of the engine through the lens. The index for indicating the upper limit and the lower limit of the oil stored in the oil storage part is integrally molded in at least three places on the side wall of the oil storage part, and a combination of two indices among the indexes is selected. By doing so, the engine oil level indicator is characterized in that an upper limit instruction and a lower limit instruction of the oil level are given in accordance with a plurality of types of forward lean angles of the engine.