Lubricating system for an outboard engine

Abstract

An improved lubricating system for a two-cycle outboard motor having a vertically extending crankshaft. The lubricating system employs a crankshaft driven pump and circulating system that permits pressure lubricating without necessitating elongation of the crankshaft or engine. The engine is enclosed within a cowling and an oil sump is conveniently located within the cowling and is accessible through a cover door of the cowling for replenishment of the oil supply without removal of the cowling.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a lubricating system for a two-cycle, crankcase compression internal combustion engine having a cylinder block, a cylinder head affixed to said cylinder block, a crankshaft supported for rotation within a crankcase affixed to said cylinder block about a vertically extending axis by at least vertically spaced upper bearing means and lower bearing means, the improvement comprising an oil supply tank mounted externally of said cylinder head, cylinder block and crankcase, oil pump means supported externally of said cylinder head, cylinder block and crankcase and driven directly by said crankshaft, means for delivering oil from said external oil supply tank to said oil pump means and conduit means extending from said oil pump means to at least said upper bearing means for positively lubricating said upper bearing means. 
     
     
       2. A lubricating system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the upper bearing means and the lower bearing means journal the crankshaft by means of spaced main bearing portions separated by a throw, and means for providing for oil communication from the upper main bearing means to the crankshaft throw for lubricating said throw from oil return from said upper main bearing means. 
     
     
       3. A lubricating system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cylinder block has a pair of cylinders one positioned above the other and the crankcase has separate sealed crankcase portions associated with each of said cylinders, said upper bearing means being associated with the .[.upermost.]. .Iadd.uppermost .Iaddend.of said sealed crankcase portions, said oil pump means being driven within the lowermost of said crankcase chambers. 
     
     
       4. A lubricating system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the upper bearing means and the lower bearing means journal the crankshaft by means of spaced main bearing portions separated by a throw, and means for providing for oil communication from the upper main bearing means to the crankshaft throw for lubricating said throw from oil return from said upper main bearing means. 
     
     
       5. A lubricating system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the engine is contained within an outer cowling and comprises the power unit of an outboard motor and wherein the external oil supply tank is supported within said cowling for supplying oil to said oil pump. 
     
     
       6. A lubricating system as set forth in claim 5, further including means in the cowling for permitting replenishing of oil in the oil tank without requiring removal of the cowling. 
     
     
       7. A lubricating system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the tank is supplied with a removable fill cap and the means for permitting replenishing comprises an access door in the cowling that permits access to the fill cap. 
     
     
       8. A lubricating system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the fill cap is on the top of the tank and the access door is in the uppermost portion of the cowling. 
     
     
       9. A lubricating system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the access door is pivotally supported by the cowling for movement between an open position and a closed position. 
     
     
       10. A lubricating system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the oil pump means includes an oil pump drive shaft driven by the crankshaft and extending at right angles to .Iadd.a plane containing .Iaddend.the crankshaft rotational axis and to the axis of the associated cylinder bore. 
     
     
       11. A lubricating system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the cylinder block has a plurality of cylinders and the oil pump drive shaft is disposed between the lowermost cylinder and the cylinders lying above it. 
     
     
       12. In a lubricating system for a two-cycle, crankcase compression internal combustion engine having a cylinder block, a cylinder head affixed to said cylinder block, a crankshaft supported for rotation about a vertically extending axis within a crankcase affixed to said cylinder block, a cylinder bore formed in said cylinder block and extending substantially perpendicularly to said vertically extending axis, a piston reciprocally supported in said cylinder bore, and connecting rod means operatively connecting said piston to said crankshaft for driving said crankshaft, the improvement comprising an oil pump positioned externally of said crankcase and said cylinder block for lubricating portions of said engine, said oil pump having a drive shaft extending perpendicularly to .Iadd.a plane containing .Iaddend.said crankshaft axis and to said cylinder bore axis and driven by said crankshaft. 
     
     
       13. A lubricating system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the cylinder block has a plurality of cylinder bores having their axes spaced vertically from each other and extending horizontally and pistons each connected to the crankshaft by connecting rods. 
     
     
       14. A lubricating system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the oil pump drive shaft is disposed on the upper side of the lowermost connecting rod. 
     
     
       15. A lubricating system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the means for driving the oil pump drive shaft comprises a gear affixed to said oil pump drive shaft and enmeshed with a gear affixed to the crankshaft. 
     
     
       16. In a lubricating system for a two-cycle outboard motor having an engine and a surrounding cowling adapted to be carried at the upper end of a drive shaft housing, the improvement comprising an oil supply tank separate from said engine supported within said cowling above said drive shaft housing for supplying oil to the engine lubricating system and means in said cowling for permitting replenishment of the oil in said oil tank without requiring or removing said cowling. 
     
     
       17. An outboard motor as set forth in claim 16 wherein the means for permitting the replenishing of the oil tank includes an access door in the cowling. 
     
     
       18. An outboard motor as set forth in claim 17 wherein the tank is positioned at least in part above the engine and is supplied with a removable fill cap and the access door permits access to the fill cap. 
     
     
       19. An outboard motor as set forth in claim 18 wherein the fill cap is on the top of the tank and the access door is in the uppermost portion of the cowling. 
     
     
       20. An outboard motor as set forth in claim 19 wherein the access door is pivotally supported by the cowling for movement between an open position and a closed position. .Iadd. 
     
     
       21.  In a lubricating system for a two-cycle, crankcase compression internal combustion engine having a cylinder block, a cylinder head affixed to said cylinder block, a crankshaft supported for rotation about a vertically extending axis within a crankcase affixed to said cylinder block, a cylinder bore formed in said cylinder block and extending substantially perpendicularly to said vertically extending axis, a piston reciprocally supported in said cylinder bore, and connecting rod means operatively connecting said piston to said crankshaft for driving said crankshaft, the improvement comprising an oil pump positioned externally of said crankcase and said cylinder block for lubricating portions of said engine, said oil pump having a drive shaft extending perpendicularly to a plane containing said crankshaft axis and driven by said crankshaft and means for delivering oil to said engine for its lubrication. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. A lubricating system as set forth in claim 21 wherein the cylinder block has a plurality of cylinder bores having their axes spaced vertically from each other and extending horizontally and pistons each connected to the crankshaft by connecting rods. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. A lubricating system as set forth in claim 22 wherein the oil pump drive shaft is disposed above the lowermost connecting rod. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. A lubricating system as set forth in claim 21 wherein the means for driving the oil pump drive shaft comprises a gear affixed to said oil pump drive shaft and enmeshed with a gear affixed to the crankshaft. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.25.  In a lubricating system for a two-cycle crankcase compression internal combustion engine having a cylinder block, a cylinder head affixed to said cylinder block, a crankshaft supported for rotation within a crankcase affixed to said cylinder block about a vertically extending axis by at least vertically spaced upper bearing means and lower bearing means, the improvement comprising an oil supply tank mounted externally of said cylinder head, cylinder block and crankcase, oil pump means supported externally of said cylinder head, cylinder block, oil supply tank and crankcase and driven directly by said crankshaft by a gear affixed for rotation to said crankshaft and an intermeshing gear affixed to a drive shaft of said oil pump means, means for delivering oil from said external oil supply tank to said oil pump means and conduit means extending from said oil pump means to deliver oil to said engine for its lubrication. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. In a lubricating system as set forth in claim 25 wherein the engine is contained within an outer cowling and comprises the power unit of an outboard motor and wherein the external oil supply tank is supported within said cowling for supplying oil to said oil pump. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. In a lubricating system as set forth in claim 26 further including means in the cowling for permitting replenishing of oil in the oil tank without requiring removal of the cowling. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. In a lubricating system as set forth in claim 27 wherein the tank is supplied with a removable fill cap and the means for permitting replenishing comprises an access door in the cowling that permits access 
     
     
        to the fill cap. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29.  In a lubricating system as set forth in claim 28 wherein the fill cap is on the top of the tank and the access door is in the uppermost portion of the cowling. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. In a lubricating system as set forth in claim 29 wherein the access door is pivotally supported by the cowling for movement between an open position and a closed position.