Patent ID: 8069834
Filing Date: 2011-12-06
Classification: F01M

Abstract:
1. An oil level management system for a vehicle having an engine with an engine block and a crankshaft rotatable about an axis of rotation comprising: an oil pan configured to contain oil and to be mountable to the engine block; wherein the oil pan has a baffle extending transverse to the axis of rotation when the oil pan is so mounted; wherein the baffle is configured to partially define a first oil reservoir and a second oil reservoir; wherein the baffle defines an oil flow opening such that the oil reservoirs are in fluid communication with one another and are characterized by respective first and second oil levels within the pan with the second reservoir draining to the first reservoir when the engine is running and when the engine block and crankshaft are positioned on the vehicle with the axis of rotation tilted from horizontal; wherein the first oil level is lower than the second oil level to avoid oil contact with the crankshaft; wherein the oil pan has a floor and opposing side walls extending substantially vertically therefrom; wherein the baffle extends from and spans transversely between the opposing side walls to partially define the first and second reservoirs; and wherein the baffle is spaced above the floor to define the oil flow opening between the baffle and the floor.