Grooved oil pan for use with a snowmobile
AssigneeArctic Cat Inc.
InventorDavid E. Beito
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Herein is disclosed a snowmobile with an improved center of gravity. The snowmobile utilizes an oil pan with a bottom portion and a set of side portions that cooperate with the bottom portion to form a sump in which oil collects. The bottom portion may be grooved to permit a steering shaft to pass through the groove, thereby extending from one side of the oil pan to the other side. Optionally the bottom portion is formed to be congruous with a surface of a mechanism, such as a steering shaft, positioned at least partially beneath the oil pan. Furthermore, the oil pan may have a reduced depth.
Claims20
An oil pan for a snowmobile, the improved oil pan comprising:
- a bottom portion;
- a set of side portions that cooperate with the bottom portion to form a sump in which oil may collect;
- and
- wherein the bottom portion is formed to be congruous with at least a portion of a surface of a mechanism positioned at least partially beneath the bottom portion of the oil pan.
An improved oil pan for a personal recreational vehicle, the improved oil pan comprising:
- a bottom portion;
- a set of side portions that cooperate with the bottom portion to form a sump in which oil may collect;
- and
- wherein the bottom portion is grooved so as to permit a steering linkage to pass through the groove, thereby passing from a first side of the oil pan to a second side of the oil pan.
An improved oil pan for a personal recreational vehicle, the improved oil pan comprising:
- a bottom portion;
- a set of side portions that cooperate with the bottom portion to form a sump in which oil may collect;
- wherein the oil pan is characterized by a depth, the depth of the oil pan being defined as the distance that the side portions project from the bottom portion, as measured against a vector that is perpendicular to the bottom portion;
- and
- wherein the depth of the oil pan no more than 140 millimeters.
A snowmobile vehicle comprising:
- an engine mounted upon a frame of the snowmobile;
- an oil pan connected to a bottom portion of the engine;
- a steering shaft, at least a portion of which runs beneath the oil pan;
- and
- wherein the oil pan possesses a bottom portion that is grooved so as to permit a shaft to pass through the groove, thereby passing from a first side of the oil pan to a second side of the oil pan.
The snowmobile of claim 20, wherein the oil pan possesses a side portion that is grooved, so as to permit a shaft to pass through the grooved side and bottom portions, thereby passing from a first side of the oil pan to a second side of the oil pan.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.