Patent ID: 7171939

Claim:
In a motorcycle engine having a crankcase, a drive shaft, first and second camshafts, a cam sump, and an oil reservoir, the improvement of an integrated cam drive and oil pump assembly, comprising: an oil pump body operably connected with said crankcase, and including an oil passageway having a pump outlet portion thereof communicating with said oil reservoir, and a generally open interior receiving said drive shaft therein; a drive gear disposed in the interior of said oil pump body, and operably connected with said drive shaft for rotation therewith; an idler gear rotatably supported in the interior of said oil pump body, and matingly engaging said drive gear for rotation therewith; a first cam drive gear disposed in the interior of said oil pump body, being operably connected with said first camshaft for rotation therewith, and matingly engaging said idler gear to axially rotate said first camshaft; a second cam drive gear operably connected with said first camshaft at a location spaced axially apart from said first cam drive gear, and rotating with said first camshaft; a third cam drive gear operably connected with said second camshaft for rotation therewith, and matingly engaging said second cam drive gear to axially rotate said second camshaft; and a cam chest return gear rotatably supported in the interior of said oil pump body, and having a first portion thereof extending into a portion of said cam sump to draw oil therefrom, and a second portion thereof matingly engaging said idler gear at a location adjacent to said pump outlet portion of said oil passageway, such that oil drawn from said cam sump by said cam chest return gear is displaced between said cam chest return gear and said idler gear to flow the oil from said cam sump, through said oil passageway, and into said oil reservoir.