Engine lubrication system

An internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a crankcase containing an oil sump therein;
• a shaft rotatably supported within said crankcase;
• a plate mounted on said shaft and rotatable therewith, said plate having at least one opening therethrough;
• a pump body fixed with respect to said crankcase and in fluid communication with said oil sump, said pump body and said plate defining a pump chamber therebetween;
• and
• a pump assembly disposed within said pump chamber and mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith;
• whereby rotation of said shaft and said pump assembly draws oil from said oil sump into said pump chamber and forces oil outwardly of said pump chamber through said opening in said plate.

An internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a crankcase containing an oil sump therein;
• a shaft rotatably supported within said crankcase, said shaft including a bore therethrough which communicates between upper and lower ends of said shaft;
• a helical insert disposed within said bore, said helical insert rotationally fixed with respect to said crankcase, said lower end of said second shaft and said helical insert in communication with said oil sump;
• a plate mounted on said shaft and rotatable therewith, said plate having at least one opening therethrough;
• a pump body fixed with respect to said crankcase and in fluid communication with said oil sump, said pump body and said plate defining a pump chamber therebetween;
• and
• an pump assembly disposed within said pump chamber and mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith;
• whereby rotation of said shaft and said impeller assembly about said helical insert draws oil from said oil sump upwardly through said bore, and draws oil from said oil sump into said pump chamber and forces oil outwardly of said pump chamber through said opening in said plate.

A method of cooling an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:

• rotating a shaft within the engine crankcase which includes a plate and an impeller mounted thereon, the impeller disposed within a pump housing at least partially defined by the plate;
• drawing oil from an oil sump within the engine crankcase into the pump housing through an inlet opening submerged within the oil sump;
• pressurizing the oil within the pump housing;
• directing the oil outwardly of the pump housing through at least one opening in the plate, in the form of a pressurized oil stream which rotates with the plate to contact a plurality of locations within the crankcase;
• transferring heat from the crankcase to the oil upon contact of the stream with the plurality of locations within the crankcase;
• and
• allowing the oil to drain from the plurality of locations within the crankcase into the oil sump.