ENGINE OIL RECEIVING STRUCTURE

An engine oil receiving structure comprises a vertically disposed crank shaft, a laterally movable piston, a connecting rod connecting the crank shaft and the piston, a cylinder barrel housing the crank shaft and the piston, a crank case containing the crank shaft together with the cylinder barrel, a cylinder head forming a combustion chamber, the combustion chamber connecting to a piston movable part end face of the cylinder barrel, an oil filter filtering engine lubricant, and an oil case storing oil flowing out when the oil filter is removed from a mounted position, and the oil case is fixed to an engine under the oil filter, and comprises a discharge path to discharge the stored oil.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-017808 filed on Feb. 5, 2021. The content of the application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an engine oil receiving structure.

Description of the Related Art

Heretofore, an outboard motor comprises an engine and an oil filter that filters engine oil (e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-107732). As a mounting direction of the oil filter onto this outboard motor, a lateral direction is adopted. In the present structure, residual oil in an oil passage and the oil filter flows out during replacement and maintenance of the oil filter.

To solve the problem, in the conventional outboard motor, eaves are installed under a mounting part of the oil filter, and a range of oil dripping is suppressed, to prevent oil from scattering around.

In a conventional technology, oil can be prevented from scattering around, but cleaning with waste cloth or the like is finally required.

In recent years, with increase in size of an outboard motor and increase of multi-machine boats, it has been desired to increase efficiency of replacement and maintenance of an oil filter.

To solve the problem, an object of the present invention is to provide an engine oil receiving structure in which an oil filter can be replaced without outflow of oil to outside.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention provides an engine oil receiving structure comprising a vertically disposed crank shaft, a laterally movable piston, a connecting rod connecting the crank shaft and the piston, a cylinder barrel housing the crank shaft and the piston, a crank case containing the crank shaft together with the cylinder barrel, a cylinder head forming a combustion chamber, the combustion chamber connecting to a piston movable part end face of the cylinder barrel, an oil filter filtering engine lubricant, and an oil case storing oil flowing out when the oil filter is removed from a mounted position, wherein the oil case is fixed to an engine under the oil filter, and comprises a discharge path to discharge the stored oil.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in the above engine oil receiving structure, the crank case is formed with an oil guide, and the oil case is fixed to the oil guide.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, in the engine oil receiving structure, the oil case comprises the discharge path in a bottom part of the oil case.

According to a further aspect of present invention, in the engine oil receiving structure, the discharge path comprises a drain cock.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, in the engine oil receiving structure, the discharge path has a tip comprising a closing cap.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the engine oil receiving structure further comprises a connecting component between the cap and the oil case.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, in the engine oil receiving structure, the discharge path has a bellows shape.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, in the engine oil receiving structure, the oil case is tightened together with an oil receiving ring.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, in the engine oil receiving structure, the engine has an upper part being covered with an upper engine cover, and the oil case is disposed inside the upper engine cover.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, in the engine oil receiving structure, the oil case has a bottom part being provided with a groove.

A further aspect of present invention provides an outboard motor comprising the engine oil receiving structure according to any one of the above aspects.

A still further aspect of present invention provides a ship comprising the above outboard motor.

According to aspects of the present invention, an oil filter can be replaced without outflow of oil to outside.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1is a side view of an outboard motor10on a starboard side.FIG. 1shows a main internal mechanism with a dashed line. A direction of an arrow Fr indicates front, and a direction of an arrow Rr indicates rear.

The outboard motor10comprises an engine11in an upper part. The engine11is covered with an upper engine cover12and a lower engine cover13. The upper engine cover12is mounted on an upper end of the lower engine cover13with a rear hinge27and a front stopper28. A stern bracket16is provided in front of the lower engine cover13. The outboard motor10can be mounted on a hull with the stern bracket16. An extension cover14is provided under the lower engine cover13, and a gear case15is provided under the extension cover14.

Inside the upper engine cover12, an intake silencer17is disposed in front of the engine11. The intake silencer17introduces air (fresh air) into an engine intake port. An electrical component18is disposed behind the intake silencer17. The electrical component18performs ignition control of the engine11, control of a fuel injection device and the like.

FIG. 2is a partially cross-sectional view of the upper part of the outboard motor10seen from a starboard side.

As shown inFIG. 2, the engine11comprises a rear cylinder head cover31, a laterally connecting cylinder head32, a further laterally connecting cylinder block33, and a front crank case34. The cylinder head32comprises a combustion chamber35. The cylinder block33comprises a plurality of laterally oriented cylinder barrels36, and in each of the cylinder barrels36, a laterally oriented piston37is laterally (front-rear direction) slidably provided. The piston37has a piston movable part end face being connected to the combustion chamber35.

A crank shaft21is rotatably connected to each piston37via a connecting rod38. The crank shaft21is vertically disposed, and supported by a bearing47. The crank shaft21is contained in the crank case34. The crank shaft21has an upper end connected to a power generation mechanism51and a recoil starter52. As shown inFIG. 1, a flywheel22is mounted on a lower end of the crank shaft21. Also, the lower end of the crank shaft21is coupled to a drive shaft23. The drive shaft23passes inside the lower engine cover13and the extension cover14, and is coupled to a power transmission mechanism24in the gear case15.

The power transmission mechanism24transmits power of the drive shaft23to a horizontal driven shaft25. The driven shaft25protrudes rearward from the gear case15, and has a rear end to which a propeller26is secured. In the outboard motor10, a pair of dog clutches (not shown) are switched, to switch forward rotation and backward rotation of the propeller26, thereby obtaining propulsion for forward or backward movement.

As shown inFIG. 2, the engine11comprises a vertically oriented cam shaft53. The cam shaft53is supported by a bearing54of the cylinder head32. The cam shaft53has a lower end connected to an oil pump55, and the oil pump55is operated with a rotational force of the cam shaft53. Also, the engine11comprises an intake valve41, an exhaust valve42, and an ignition plug43.

Inside the crank case34, a crank chamber44is formed. Under the crank chamber44, an oil pan45is disposed, and in such a structure, oil (engine lubricant) in the crank chamber44flows down into the oil pan45. The engine11has a lower part in which a mount case46supporting the engine11is disposed.

In the vicinity of the cylinder block33, a main gallery56of an oil passage is disposed. An oil filter57is provided in a middle of the main gallery56.

As shown with dashed arrows inFIG. 1, oil in the oil pan45is pumped up from a strainer58via an oil path61with an oil pump55. The oil pumped up passes from the oil pump55through an oil path62, and is filtered through the oil filter57. The filtered oil branches and flows upward and downward via the main gallery56.

The oil in the main gallery56is supplied to the bearing47of the crank shaft21and the like. The oil branching from the main gallery56to an oil branch path63is supplied via a spool valve64and an oil path65to the bearing54of the cam shaft53and the like.

Next, an engine oil receiving structure will be described.

FIG. 3is a perspective view showing a state where the oil filter57is mounted.

As shown inFIG. 3, the oil filter57is laterally oriented and mounted on a side part of the crank case34. The crank case34has a side surface being formed with a ring-shaped boss part81, and the oil filter57is fitted inside a boss part81.

FIG. 4is a side view showing the mounted state of the oil filter57.

On opposite sides of a lower end of the boss part81, a pair of oil guides82are formed, and on each of the oil guides82, an ear piece84A of a box-shaped oil case84is mounted with a mounting bolt83. As shown inFIG. 4, the oil case84is fixed to the side part of the crank case34under the oil filter57. The oil case84is mounted to extend inward by a predetermined dimension L, for example, about 16 mm behind a tip of the boss part81. A protruding dimension of the positioned oil guide82can be determined by assuming a position where oil drops down from the oil filter57into the oil case84. Furthermore, the oil guide82can simplify a fixing structure of the oil filter57, and the oil case84can include a simplified structure.

The oil case84stores oil flowing out when the oil filter57is removed from a mounted position. The oil case84is provided with a lowered bottom part85on a left side inFIG. 3. The bottom part85of the oil case84is provided with a discharge path86to discharge the stored oil. The discharge path86comprises a drain cock87and a discharge hose88. The discharge hose88may be a hose having a bellows shape. The oil case84may have the bottom part being provided with a groove.

Consequently, the oil is efficiently collected in the oil case84.

The oil filter57needs to be periodically replaced. During the operation of the engine11, as shown with dashed arrows inFIG. 1, the oil in the oil pan45is pumped up with the oil pump55, is filtered through the oil filter57, and flows upward and downward via the vertically oriented main gallery56. When the engine11is stopped, the oil pump55is also stopped, but oil remains in the main gallery56. During the replacement of the oil filter57, the oil remaining in the main gallery56flows out.

In the present embodiment, since the oil case84is mounted on the side part of the crank case34under the oil filter57, the oil flowing out during the replacement of the oil filter57is collected in the oil case84. At this time, the drain cock87of the discharge path86is closed. Therefore, in the outboard motor10of the present embodiment, the oil filter57can be replaced without outflow of oil to outside. Since the oil case84is mounted to extend inward by the predetermined dimension L, for example, about 16 mm behind the tip of the boss part81, almost all the oil can be collected in the oil case84.

In the bottom part85of the oil case84, the discharge path86is provided, and hence the stored oil received in the oil case84can be discharged only by connecting a tip of the discharge hose88to an external container (not shown). Since the discharge path86is provided with the drain cock87, the stored oil in the oil case84can be discharged by manually opening and closing the drain cock87. The discharge hose88having the bellows shape may facilitate the connecting of the tip of the discharge hose88to the external container (not shown), which can decrease the number of working steps. Furthermore, the engine11has an upper part being covered with the upper engine cover12, and the oil case84is disposed inside the upper engine cover12. Consequently, the oil case84is housed in the upper engine cover12, which avoids interference with another component and the like.

Next, description will be made as to modifications of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5is a perspective view showing a mounted state of an oil filter57of a first modification.FIG. 6is a perspective view showing an oil receiving ring91. Note that the same part as inFIG. 3is denoted with the same reference sign inFIGS. 5 and 6, and is not described.

In the present modification, the oil receiving ring91made of a rubber is mounted on an outer circumference of the boss part81. As shown inFIG. 6, the oil receiving ring91comprises a pair of projecting parts92. The projecting parts92fit in holes of ear pieces84A of an oil case84, respectively, and the oil receiving ring91is clamped on the oil case84.

The oil case84is tightened together with the oil receiving ring91. Around a lower part of the oil receiving ring91, as shown inFIG. 5, a tongue-shaped part93protruding forward is formed. The tongue-shaped part93extends into the oil case84.

In this modification, since the oil case84is tightened together with the oil receiving ring91, oil does not fly or scatter during replacement of the oil filter57. Since the tongue-shaped part93of the oil receiving ring91extends into the oil case84, oil flowing out during the replacement of the oil filter is efficiently collected in the oil case84. Therefore, in an outboard motor10of the present modification, the oil filter57can be replaced without outflow of oil to outside.

FIG. 7is a perspective view showing a mounted state of an oil filter57of a second modification.FIG. 8is a side view of a projecting part95. Note that the same part as inFIG. 3is denoted with the same reference sign inFIGS. 7 and 8, and is not described.

In the present modification, a boss part81comprises the projecting part95around a lower part of the boss part81. The projecting part95extends in a depth direction of the boss part81. On a lower side of the projecting part95, as shown inFIG. 8, an oil receiving groove96is formed. The oil receiving groove96extends in a circumferential direction. An oil case84has an edge84B extending into the oil receiving groove96. The oil receiving groove96has a top97being inclined downward to the oil case84.

In this modification, since the edge84B of the oil case84extends into the oil receiving groove96of the projecting part95, oil flowing out during replacement of the oil filter is efficiently collected in the oil case84. Since the top97of the oil receiving groove96is inclined downward to the oil case84, oil entering the oil receiving groove96does not fly or scatter around, and the oil is efficiently collected in the oil case84. Therefore, in an outboard motor10of the present modification, the oil filter57can be replaced without outflow of oil to outside.

FIG. 9is a perspective view showing a mounted state of an oil filter57of a third modification. The same part as inFIG. 3is denoted with the same reference sign inFIG. 9, and is not described.

An oil case84has a bottom part85being provided with a discharge path86to discharge stored oil. The discharge path86comprises a discharge tube110, and a cap111closing a tip of the discharge tube110. The tip of the discharge tube110can be closed with the cap111, to suppress oil leakage. The cap111and the bottom part85of the oil case84are connected with a connecting component112such as a metal wire. The cap111can be prevented from being lost.

The engine according to the present invention is applied to the vertical engine11in the above embodiment, but may be applied to a so-called transverse engine.

Any engine including the oil filter being mounted at the middle position of the oil passage can be applied to another engine.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST