Patent ID: 7780142

Claim:
An oil pan for an internal combustion engine, said oil pan having a drain mechanism that comprises an adjustable valve body which is inserted into a drain opening in an oil pan wall and which is adjustable between a closed position and an open position, wherein a sealing member made of a flexible material is seated in the drain opening and arranged on the underside of said valve body for sealing the drain opening in the oil pan wall when the valve body is in the closed position, and wherein the valve body is secured in the closed position on the oil pan wall by a closing element which holds the sealing member in the closed position, wherein the closing element comprises a spring, including a bistable plate spring configured to be alternately disposed in two stable positions corresponding to the closed and open positions of the valve body, respectively; wherein a locking mechanism operable to mechanically open as well as close said adjustable valve body between said alternately disposed stable positions, said locking mechanism including a locking lever, said locking lever extending transversely to a direction of valve body movement and contacting an underside of said oil an when in a locked position lockably closing said valve body; said locking lever rotatable to an operating position in which said locking lever contacts an underside of said sealing member urging said valve body into said open position, said locking lever returnable to said locked position in which said valve body is urged from said open position to return to said closed position.