Lubrication oil supply for crankshaft
AssigneeBrp-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG
InventorsStephan Leiber, Robert Kindl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An engine crankshaft includes a split crankshaft journal that includes offset connecting rod journals for two connecting rods. Oil supply systems disposed on opposite axial sides of the crankshaft journal each lubricate a corresponding one of the connecting rod journals. The oil supply systems are either axial or peripheral oil supply systems that do not require oil to be supplied to the crankshaft through the main crankcase bearings. Consequently, the oil supply systems sufficiently lubricate each connecting rod journal without requiring weakening holes or grooves in the main crankcase bearings.
Claims17
A crankshaft comprising:
- a crankshaft body defining first and second ends and a rotational axis;
- a crankshaft journal defined on the crankshaft body, the crankshaft journal being configured to rotationally support a connecting rod;
- a first main bearing journal defined on the crankshaft body between the first end and the crankshaft journal, the first main bearing journal being configured to permit rotation of the crankshaft body within a crankcase;
- a second main bearing journal defined on the crankshaft body between the second end and the crankshaft journal, the second main bearing journal being configured to permit rotation of the crankshaft body within a crankcase;
- a first lubrication inlet positioned on the crankshaft and extending radially inwardly from a first peripheral surface of the crankshaft, the first lubrication inlet and the crankshaft journal being disposed on opposite sides of the first main bearing journal;
- a second lubrication inlet positioned on the crankshaft, the second lubrication inlet and the crankshaft journal being disposed on opposite sides of the second main bearing journal;
- a first lubrication outlet positioned at the crankshaft journal;
- a second lubrication outlet positioned at the crankshaft journal;
- a first lubrication channel defined by the crankshaft body and extending at least from the first lubrication inlet to the first lubrication outlet;
- and
- a second lubrication channel defined by the crankshaft body and extending at least from the second lubrication inlet to the second lubrication outlet.
A crankshaft comprising:
- a crankshaft body defining first and second ends and a rotational axis;
- a crankshaft journal defined on the crankshaft body, the crankshaft journal being configured to rotationally support a connecting rod;
- a first main bearing journal defined on the crankshaft body between the first end and the crankshaft journal, the first main bearing journal being configured to permit rotation of the crankshaft body within a crankcase;
- a second main bearing journal defined on the crankshaft body between the second end and the crankshaft journal, the second main bearing journal being configured to permit rotation of the crankshaft body within a crankcase;
- a reduced diameter region defined on the crankshaft body between the first main bearing journal and the first end, the reduced diameter region having a diameter smaller than a diameter of at least one of the first and the second main bearing journals;
- a lubrication inlet positioned at the reduced diameter region and extending radially inwardly from a peripheral surface of the reduced diameter region;
- a first lubrication outlet positioned at the crankshaft journal;
- a lubrication channel defined by the crankshaft body and extending at least from the lubrication inlet to the first lubrication outlet;
- and
- a second lubrication outlet positioned at the first main bearing journal and fluidly connected to the lubrication inlet via the lubrication channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.