Disk oil slinger assembly

Abstract

A “splash” lubrication system having an oil slinger capable of providing an increased flow rate of lubricating and cooling oil to lubricated components of the system compared to conventional dip stick oil slingers while reducing oil atomization and oil loss through the crankcase vent is disclosed. In embodiments of the invention, the oil slinger is comprised of a disk coupled to the crankshaft assembly of the device being lubricated (e.g., an engine, pump, compressor, or the like) so that rotation of the crankshaft assembly rotates the disk for splashing lubricating oil from the crankcase's oil sump onto the moving parts of the device being lubricated by the lubricating system.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A lubrication system for a device having a crankcase housing a crankshaft assembly capable of rotation, comprising: 
 an oil sump suitable for containing lubricating oil for lubricating moving components within the crankcase; and    an oil slinger coupled to the crankshaft assembly so that rotation of the crankshaft assembly rotates the oil slinger for splashing lubricating oil from the oil sump,    wherein at least a portion of the oil slinger is continuously submerged in the lubricating oil contained in the oil sump as it is rotated by the crankshaft assembly.    
     
     
         2 . The lubrication system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the oil slinger is generally disk shaped.  
     
     
         3 . The lubrication system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the oil slinger comprises a shaped edge portion suitable for at least one of increasing the amount of oil splashed from the oil sump and directing oil splashed from the oil sump at an angle to the disk.  
     
     
         4 . The lubrication system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the oil slinger comprises surface features suitable for at least one of increasing the amount of oil splashed from the oil sump and directing oil splashed from the oil sump at an angle to the disk.  
     
     
         5 . The lubrication system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the oil slinger is coaxial with the crankshaft assembly.  
     
     
         6 . The lubrication system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the oil slinger comprises an auger.  
     
     
         7 . The lubrication system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the oil slinger is capable of extending into lubricating oil contained in the oil sump when the crankcase is tilted.  
     
     
         8 . The lubrication system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the oil slinger comprises a sector of a disk.  
     
     
         9 . The lubrication system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the sector rotates 360 degrees about the center of rotation of the crankshaft assembly so that the oil slinger is capable of extending into lubricating oil contained in the oil sump when the crankcase is tilted.  
     
     
         10 . A lubrication system, comprising: 
 an oil sump suitable for containing lubricating oil for lubricating moving components within a crankcase housing a crankshaft assembly so the crankshaft assembly is capable of rotation; and    a disk coaxially coupled to the crankshaft assembly so that rotation of the crankshaft assembly rotates the disk for splashing lubricating oil from the oil sump,    wherein at least a portion of the disk is continuously submerged in the lubricating oil contained in the oil sump as it is rotated by the crankshaft assembly.    
     
     
         11 . The lubrication system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the oil slinger comprises a shaped edge portion suitable for at least one of increasing the amount of oil splashed from the oil sump and directing oil splashed from the oil sump at an angle to the disk.  
     
     
         12 . The lubrication system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the oil slinger comprises a surface feature suitable for at least one of increasing the amount of oil splashed from the oil sump and directing oil splashed from the oil sump at an angle to the disk.  
     
     
         13 . The lubrication system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the disk is capable of extending into lubricating oil contained in the oil sump when the crankcase is tilted.  
     
     
         14 . The lubrication system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the disk is formed into an auger.  
     
     
         15 . A lubrication system for a device having a crankcase housing a crankshaft assembly capable of rotation, comprising: 
 means for containing lubricating oil; and    means, coupled to the crankshaft assembly, for splashing lubricating oil from the containing means,    wherein at least a portion of the splashing means is continuously submerged in the lubricating oil contained in the containing means.    
     
     
         16 . The lubrication system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the splashing means comprises a disk.  
     
     
         17 . The lubrication system as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the splashing means comprises means for increasing the amount of oil splashed from the containing means.  
     
     
         18 . The lubrication system as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the splashing means comprises means for directing the flow of oil away from the disk.  
     
     
         19 . The lubrication system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the splashing means is capable of extending into lubricating oil contained in the containing means when the crankcase is tilted.  
     
     
         20 . The lubrication system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein splashing means comprises a sector of a disk.  
     
     
         21 . The lubrication system as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the sector rotates 360 degrees about the center of rotation of the crankshaft assembly so that the splashing means is capable of extending into lubricating oil contained in the containing means when the crankcase is tilted.  
     
     
         22 . An oil slinger for a lubrication system, comprising: 
 a disk suitable for being coupled to a crankshaft assembly so that rotation of the crankshaft assembly rotates the disk for splashing lubricating oil from an oil sump suitable for containing lubricating oil,    wherein at least a portion of the disk is continuously submerged in the lubricating oil contained in the oil sump as it is rotated by the crankshaft assembly.    
     
     
         23 . The oil slinger as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the disk comprises a shaped edge portion suitable for at least one of increasing the amount of oil splashed from the oil sump and directing oil splashed from the oil sump at an angle to the disk.  
     
     
         24 . The oil slinger as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the disk comprises a shaped edge portion suitable for at least one of increasing the amount of oil splashed from the oil sump and directing oil splashed from the oil sump at an angle to the disk.  
     
     
         25 . The oil slinger as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the disk is formed into an auger.  
     
     
         26 . A device, comprising: 
 a crankcase housing a crankshaft assembly capable of rotation;    an oil sump suitable for containing lubricating oil for lubricating moving components within the crankcase; and    an oil slinger coupled to the crankshaft assembly so that rotation of the crankshaft assembly rotates the oil slinger for splashing lubricating oil from the oil sump,    wherein at least a portion of the oil slinger is continuously submerged in the lubricating oil contained in the oil sump as it is rotated by the crankshaft assembly.    
     
     
         27 . The device as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the oil slinger is generally disk shaped.  
     
     
         28 . The device as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the oil slinger comprises a shaped edge portion suitable for at least one of increasing the amount of oil splashed from the oil sump and directing oil splashed from the oil sump at an angle to the disk.  
     
     
         29 . The device as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the oil slinger comprises a surface feature suitable for at least one of increasing the amount of oil splashed from the oil sump and directing oil splashed from the oil sump at an angle to the disk.  
     
     
         30 . The device as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the oil slinger is coaxial with the crankshaft assembly.  
     
     
         31 . The device as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the oil slinger comprises an auger.  
     
     
         32 . The device as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the oil slinger is capable of extending into lubricating oil contained in the oil sump when the device is tilted at an angle to horizontal.  
     
     
         33 . The device as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the oil slinger comprises a sector of a disk.  
     
     
         34 . The device as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the sector rotates 360 degrees about the center of rotation of the crankshaft assembly so that the oil slinger is capable of extending into lubricating oil contained in the oil sump when the crankcase is tilted.  
     
     
         35 . A lubrication system, comprising: 
 an oil slinger suitable for being coupled to a crankshaft assembly so that rotation of the crankshaft assembly rotates the oil slinger for splashing lubricating oil from an oil sump suitable for containing lubricating oil,    wherein flow of the lubricating oil over the oil slinger as it passes through the oil sump is substantially laminar for inhibiting atomization of the lubricating oil.    
     
     
         36 . The lubrication system as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the oil slinger comprises a disk, and wherein at least a portion of the disk is continuously submerged in the lubricating oil contained in the oil sump as it is rotated by the crankshaft assembly.  
     
     
         37 . The lubrication system as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the oil slinger comprises a shaped edge portion suitable for at least one of increasing the amount of oil splashed from the oil sump and directing oil splashed from the oil sump at an angle to the disk.  
     
     
         38 . The lubrication system as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the oil slinger comprises surface features suitable for at least one of increasing the amount of oil splashed from the oil sump and directing oil splashed from the oil sump at an angle to the disk.  
     
     
         39 . The lubrication system as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the oil slinger comprises an auger.  
     
     
         40 . The lubrication system as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the oil slinger comprises a sector of a disk.  
     
     
         41 . The lubrication system as claimed in claim  40 , wherein the sector rotates 360 degrees about the center of rotation of the crankshaft assembly so that the oil slinger is capable of extending into lubricating oil contained in the oil sump when the crankcase is tilted.