Motorcycle Engine

Abstract

A motorcycle engine comprises an oil pump and a cam chest cover. The cam chest cover comprises a crankshaft pinion bearing and a camshaft bearing. The engine is configured and adapted such that the oil pump supplies pressurized oil to the crankshaft pinion bearing and the camshaft bearing. The engine is also adapted to receive both a crankshaft position sensor and, alternatively, a camshaft position sensor. The cam chest cover also comprises a pressure relief valve that diverts excess oil into a scavenge oil passageway that leads out of the engine. Still further, the engine comprises at least one check valve that allows air to pass from the wheel chest to the cam chest, but not the reverse.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A motorcycle engine comprising a crankshaft pinion bearing, a camshaft bearing, and an oil pump, the engine being configured and adapted such that the oil pump supplies pressurized oil to the crankshaft pinion bearing and the camshaft bearing. 
     
     
         2 . A motorcycle engine in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the engine comprises a cam chest cover and the cam chest cover comprises the camshaft bearing and the crankshaft pinion bearing. 
     
     
         3 . A motorcycle engine in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the engine comprises a pressure relief valve that diverts oil from a pressurized oil passageway to a scavenged oil passageway, the scavenged oil passageway leading out of the engine and being downstream of any scavenge pump. 
     
     
         4 . A motorcycle engine in accordance with  claim 3  wherein the engine is configured and adapted to divert oil from through a filter located downstream of the pressure pump and upstream of the pressure relief valve. 
     
     
         5 . A motorcycle engine in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the engine comprises a wheel chest, a cam chest, and two scavenge pumps, one of the scavenge pumps is operatively connected to the wheel chest to scavenge oil therefrom, and the other of the scavenge pumps is operatively connected to the cam chest to scavenge oil therefrom. 
     
     
         6 . A motorcycle engine comprising a cam chest cover, the cam chest cover comprising an oil passageway and a pressure relief valve, the pressure relief valve being configured and adapted to regulate oil pressure within the oil passageway. 
     
     
         7 . A motorcycle engine in accordance with  claim 6  wherein the cam chest cover comprises a camshaft bearing and crankshaft pinion bearing, and the oil passageway is configured to supply pressurized oil the camshaft bearing and to the crankshaft pinion bearing. 
     
     
         8 . A motorcycle engine comprising a camshaft and a cam chest cover, the cam chest cover comprising a camshaft bearing and a crankshaft pinion bearing, the camshaft being supported by the camshaft bearing for rotation relative to the cam chest cover, the crankshaft pinion being supported by the crankshaft pinion bearing for rotation relative to the cam chest cover, the cam chest cover comprising an opening configured such that an ignition timing unit can be operatively attached to the camshaft from the exterior side of the cam chest cover. 
     
     
         9 . A motorcycle engine in accordance with  claim 7  wherein the engine comprises an externally accessible fitting that is adapted and configured to receive a crankshaft position sensor. 
     
     
         10 . A motorcycle engine comprising a pressurized oil passageway, a scavenged oil passageway, and a pressure relief valve, the scavenged oil passageway being configured to route oil out of the engine, the pressure relief valve being configured and adapted to regulate oil pressure within the pressurized oil passageway and to divert oil from the pressurized oil passageway to the scavenged oil passageway. 
     
     
         11 . A motorcycle engine in accordance with  claim 10  wherein the engine comprises at least one scavenge pump, the scavenge pump being adapted and configured to deliver oil to the scavenged oil passageway. 
     
     
         12 . A motorcycle engine in accordance with  claim 11  wherein the engine comprises a wheel chest, a cam chest, and at least one check valve, the check valve being adapted and configured to allow air to pass from the wheel chest to the cam chest and to prevent air from passing from the cam chest to the wheel chest.