US 8,893,609 B2 · Engine component including breather apparatus, and engine body incorporating same

Abstract

An engine body includes a crankcase with a crank chamber therein, a cylinder block attached to the crankcase, and a breather passage which selectively permits fluid communication between the crank chamber and an area outside of the crank chamber. The engine body includes a one-way valve between the crank chamber and the breather passage, which allows a one-way flow of gases from the crank chamber to the breather passage. The one-way valve is pressure-operated and is operatively attached to a side wall of the engine body proximate a cylinder sleeve. The one-way valve may be mounted in a mounting window in a side wall of the crankcase, and a timing chamber may function as the breather passage. In an illustrative embodiment, the one-way valve includes a base plate having a valve hole formed therein, and a flexible reed valve plate with one end affixed to the base plate.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An engine body comprising:

a crankcase having a crank chamber formed therein and a breather passage outside of the crank chamber for permitting fluid communication between the crank chamber and an area outside of the engine body;
a breather apparatus comprising a one-way valve interposed between the crank chamber and the breather passage,
wherein the one-way valve is configured to allow a one-way gas flow therethrough from the crank chamber to the breather passage,
wherein the one-way valve is a pressure-responsive valve which is operatively attached to a side wall of the engine body proximate a cylinder sleeve thereof,
wherein a timing chamber, which houses a timing power transmission device therein, extends between the crankcase and a cylinder block of the engine body adjacent to the cylinder sleeve, and
wherein the side wall on which the one-way valve is mounted is a side wall of the crankcase interposed between the timing chamber and the crank chamber, and wherein the timing chamber functions as a part of the breather passage.

3 more elements

An engine component comprising:

a first case body member for attaching to a second case body member to form a crankcase of the engine, the first case body member comprising a side wall having an interior side and an exterior side and having a breather passage formed therein to permit fluid communication between the interior and exterior sides;
and
a breather apparatus operatively attached to the first case body member and comprising a one-way valve interposed between the interior side and the breather passage, the one-way valve configured to allow a one-way gas flow therethrough from the interior side to the breather passage, wherein the one-way valve is a pressure-responsive valve which is operatively attached to the side wall of the first case body member for placement proximate a cylinder sleeve of the engine.

An engine body comprising:

a crankcase comprising a first case cover and a second case cover which cooperate to support a crankshaft therebetween, the first case cover comprising a side wall having an interior side and an exterior side and having a breather passage formed therein to permit fluid communication between the interior and exterior sides;
a cylinder block which is fixedly attached to an upper surface of the crankcase, the cylinder block comprising an outer portion;
a cylinder sleeve which is integrally received in the outer portion of the cylinder block and which extends downwardly from the cylinder block into the crankcase with a vent groove formed therebetween;
and
a breather apparatus comprising a one-way valve interposed between the interior side and the breather passage of the first case cover, the one-way valve configured to allow a one-way gas flow therethrough from the interior side to the breather passage, wherein the one-way valve is a pressure-responsive valve which is operatively attached to the side wall of the first case body member and which is disposed proximate the cylinder sleeve of the engine.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Engine component including breather apparatus, and engine body incorporating same

Life of this patent

Engine component including breather apparatus, and engine body incorporating same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19