US 7,171,939 B1Granted

Integrated cam drive and oil pump assembly for motorcycle engines and the like

AssigneeS & S Cycle, Inc.

InventorTimothy T. Tiller

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Abstract

An integrated cam drive and oil pump assembly for motorcycle engines includes an oil pump body, which is connected with the engine crankcase, and has an oil passageway with a pump outlet portion communicating with an oil reservoir. A pinion gear is positioned in the interior of the oil pump body, is connected with the engine drive shaft for rotation therewith, and mates with an idler gear. A first cam drive gear is mounted on a first camshaft, and mates with the idler gear. A second cam drive gear is mounted on the first camshaft in an axially spaced relationship with the first cam drive gear. A third cam drive gear is mounted on a second camshaft, and mates with the second cam drive gear. A cam chest return gear has a first portion extending into the cam chest sump to draw oil therefrom, and a second portion mating with the idler gear adjacent the pump outlet portion of the oil passageway, such that oil drawn from the cam chest sump by the cam chest return gear flows from the cam chest sump, through the oil passageway, and into the oil reservoir.

Claims50

Dependent claims

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.

5 more elements

An integrated cam drive and oil pump assembly for a motorcycle engine of the type having a crankcase, a drive shaft, a cam sump, and an oil reservoir, comprising:

an oil pump body adapted for operable connection with the crankcase, and including an oil passageway having a pump outlet portion thereof communicating with the oil reservoir, and a generally open interior configured to receive the drive shaft therein;
a drive gear disposed in the interior of said oil pump body, and adapted for operable connection with the 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;
first and second camshafts;
a first cam drive gear disposed in the interior of said oil pump body, 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 the 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 the 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 the 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 the 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 the cam sump, through said oil passageway, and into the oil reservoir.

6 more elements

An oil pump kit for a motorcycle engine of the type having a crankcase, a drive shaft, at least one camshaft, a cam sump, and an oil reservoir, comprising:

an oil pump body adapted for operable connection with the crankcase, and including an oil passageway having a pump outlet portion thereof communicating with the oil reservoir, and a generally open interior configured to receive the drive shaft therein;
a drive gear disposed in the interior of said oil pump body, and adapted for operable connection with the 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 cam drive gear disposed in the interior of said oil pump body, adapted for operable connection with the camshaft for rotation therewith, and matingly engaging said idler gear to axially rotate the 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 the 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 the 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 the cam sump, through said oil passageway, and into the oil reservoir.

3 more elements

In a motorcycle engine having a crankcase, a drive shaft, a cam sump, and an oil reservoir, the improvement 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, a generally open interior configured to receive said drive shaft therein, and a recess defined by a sidewall having an open bottom portion;
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;
and
a cam chest return gear closely received in said recess, and having a first portion thereof protruding through said open bottom portion of said sidewall, and 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 is drawn directly from said cam sump by said cam chest return gear without requiring an inlet port, and is displaced between said cam chest return gear and said idler gear to flow the oil directly from said cam sump, through said oil passageway, and into said oil reservoir.

2 more elements

In a motorcycle engine having a crankcase, a drive shaft, at least one camshaft, a crankcase 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;
and wherein
said pump outlet portion of said oil passageway is disposed adjacent to matingly engaged portions of said idler gear and said first cam drive gear at a converging side thereof to convey oil from the crankcase sump and displace the oil between said idler gear and said first cam drive gear to flow the oil from said crankcase sump, through said oil passageway, and into said oil reservoir.

3 more elements

In a method for making a motorcycle engine of the type having a crankcase, a drive shaft, first and second camshafts, a cam sump, and an oil reservoir, the improvement comprising:

providing an oil pump body with an oil passageway having a pump outlet portion thereof, and a generally open interior;
operably connecting the oil pump body with the crankcase, such that the drive shaft is positioned in the interior of the oil pump body;
communicating the pump outlet portion of the oil passageway with the oil reservoir;
providing a drive gear;
mounting the drive gear in the interior of the oil pump body, and operably connecting the same with the drive shaft for rotation therewith;
providing an idler gear;
rotatably supporting the idler gear in the interior of the oil pump body, and matingly engaging the same with the drive gear for rotation therewith;
providing a first cam drive gear;
operably connecting the first cam drive gear with the first camshaft for rotation therewith in the interior of the oil pump body, and matingly engaging the first cam drive gear with the idler gear to axially rotate the first camshaft;
providing a second cam drive gear;
operably connecting the second cam drive gear with the first camshaft at a location spaced axially apart from the first cam drive gear for rotation with the first camshaft;
providing a third cam drive gear;
operably connecting the third cam drive gear with the second camshaft for rotation therewith in the interior of the oil pump body, and matingly engaging the third cam drive gear with the second cam drive gear to axially rotate the second camshaft;
providing a cam chest return gear;
and
rotatably supporting the cam chest return gear in the interior of the oil pump body, and extending a first portion thereof into a portion of said cam sump to draw oil therefrom, and positioning a second portion thereof in mating engagement with the idler gear at a location adjacent to the pump outlet portion of the oil passageway, such that oil drawn from the cam sump by the cam chest return gear is displaced between the cam chest return gear and the idler gear to flow the oil from the cam sump, through the oil passageway, and into the oil reservoir.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.