Patent US6662791B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6662791B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Four-cycle overhead valve engine
Assignee: Kawasaki Motors Ltd
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Filing: 2003-02-07
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Granted: 2003-12-16
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Expires: 2023-02-07
Abstract
Abstract To provide a four-cycle overhead valve engine wherein the breather passage is defined to avoid an undesirable increase in size of the engine as a whole and also to avoid increase in length of the breather passage, a four-cycle overhead valve engine is provided which includes a cylinder block ( 6 ), and push rods ( 16 and 17 ) for driving intake and exhaust valves ( 14 and 15 ), respectively, that are mounted above the cylinder block ( 6 ). A breather passage ( 28 ) connecting a crank chamber ( 27 ) and a rocker arm chamber ( 31 ) with each other is made up of a first passage portion ( 28 A) defined in the wall of the cylinder block ( 6 ) at a location adjacent a flywheel ( 9 ) and the push rods ( 16 and 17 ), and a second passage portion ( 28 B) extending from one side adjacent the push rods ( 16 and 17 ) in a direction away from the push rods ( 16 and 17 ). A check valve ( 34 ) for the breather passage ( 28 ) is disposed at a junction between the first and second passage portions ( 28 A and 28 B).
Inventors
- 👤 Keiichi Nakamizo
- 👤 Shinya Akase
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:32
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01M; F01M13/00; F01M13/0011; F02; F02M; F02M25/00; F02M25/06; F01M2013/0016; F02B; F02B75/00; F02B75/02; F02B2075/022; F02B2075/027; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A four-cycle overhead valve engine which comprises: a cylinder block; push rods for driving intake and exhaust valves, respectively, that are mounted above the cylinder block, said push rods being operatively arranged in a side wall of the cylinder block; a breather passage connecting a crank chamber and a rocker arm chamber with each other, said breather passage including a first passage portion defined in the wall of the cylinder block at a location adjacent a flywheel and the push rods, and a second passage portion extending from one side adjacent the push rods in a direction away from the push rods; and a check valve for the breather passage, said check valve being disposed at a junction between the first and second passage portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A four-cycle overhead valve engine which comprises: a cylinder block; push rods for driving intake and exhaust valves, respectively, that are mounted above the cylinder block, said push rods being operatively arranged in a side wall of the cylinder block; a breather passage connecting a crank chamber and a rocker arm chamber with each other, said breather passage including a first passage portion defined in the wall of the cylinder block at a location adjacent a flywheel and the push rods, and a second passage portion extending from one side adjacent the push rods in a direction away from the push rods; and a check valve for the breather passage, said check valve being disposed at a junction between the first and second passage portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
94 words
The four-cycle overhead valve engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cylinder block has a cylinder bore having a longitudinal axis and is arranged with its longitudinal axis inclined relative to a vertical direction and also to a horizontal direction so as to be diagonally upwardly oriented and wherein a push rod chamber accommodating the push rods in the cylinder block is defined in an underside portion of the wall of the cylinder block which portion is positioned diagonally downwardly of the cylinder bore so as to extend along the cylinder bore.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The four-cycle overhead valve engine as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a cylinder head mounted atop the cylinder block and wherein the second passage portion is defined in an undersurface of the cylinder head that is held in contact with the cylinder block.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The four-cycle overhead valve engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the breather passage also includes a third passage portion connecting the second passage portion with the rocker arm chamber, said third passage portion being defined in a portion of the cylinder head on one side remote from the push rods.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The four-cycle overhead valve engine as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an oil return passage for connecting a portion of the breather passage downstream of the check valve with the push rod chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The four-cycle overhead valve engine as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising a cylinder head mounted atop the cylinder block and wherein the oil return passage is defined in an undersurface of the cylinder head that is held in contact with the cylinder block.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The four-cycle overhead valve engine as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a cylinder head mounted atop the cylinder block and a gasket interposed between the cylinder block and the cylinder head and wherein the check valve is provided in the gasket.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The four-cycle overhead valve engine as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the check valve comprises a reed valve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The four-cycle overhead valve engine as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising a cylinder head mounted atop the cylinder block and a stopper defined in the cylinder head for regulating an opening of the check valve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
136 words
An internal combustion engine having a crank case connected to an engine a block, a cylinder head mounted on the engine block and a rocker cover connected to the cylinder head, comprising: a first passageway in the engine block for venting fluid flow from the crank case; a second passageway in the cylinder head fluidically connected with the first passageway; and a head gasket sealing the cylinder head to the engine block with a valve opening connecting the first passageway to the second passageway, a valve portion fixed to the head gasket on one side of the valve opening and cantilevered across the valve opening to movingly provide a check valve movement to pass fluid flow from the first passageway to the second passageway while blocking fluid flow from the second passageway to the first passageway.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
136 words
An internal combustion engine having a crank case connected to an engine a block, a cylinder head mounted on the engine block and a rocker cover connected to the cylinder head, comprising: a first passageway in the engine block for venting fluid flow from the crank case; a second passageway in the cylinder head fluidically connected with the first passageway; and a head gasket sealing the cylinder head to the engine block with a valve opening connecting the first passageway to the second passageway, a valve portion fixed to the head gasket on one side of the valve opening and cantilevered across the valve opening to movingly provide a check valve movement to pass fluid flow from the first passageway to the second passageway while blocking fluid flow from the second passageway to the first passageway.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The internal combustion engine of claim 10 wherein an oil return passageway is connected to the second passageway to return any oil adjacent to the valve portion to the crank case.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The internal combustion engine of claim 10 wherein the valve portion is integral with the head gasket.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The internal combustion engine of claim 10 where the first passageway is positioned approximately perpendicular to the second passageway.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The internal combustion engine of claim 13 wherein a surface of the head gasket forms a part of the second passageway, and a groove in the undersurface of the cylinder head forms the remainder of the second passageway.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
128 words
The internal combustion engine of claim 14 wherein the cylinder block has a cylinder bore having a longitudinal axis and is arranged with its longitudinal axis inclined relative to a vertical direction and also to a horizontal direction so as to be diagonally upwardly oriented and wherein a push rod chamber for accommodating push rods in the cylinder block is defined in an underside portion of the wall of the cylinder block which portion is positioned diagonally downwardly of a cylinder bore so as to extend along the cylinder bore. 16 .The internal combustion engine of claim 15 further including a third passageway in the cylinder head extending perpendicular to the second passageway and positioned on the other side of the cylinder block from the push rod chamber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The internal combustion engine of claim 16 further including an oil return passage operatively aligned with and connecting the second passageway to the push rod chamber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The head gasket of claim 14 wherein the valve portion includes an opening offset from the valve opening to lessen a resistance to movement of the valve portion relative to the valve opening.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The head gasket of claim 14 wherein the valve opening has a raised annular convex perimeter in the head gasket to seat the valve portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The head gasket of claim 14 wherein the head gasket has a raised portion beneath the valve portion offset from the valve opening to prevent sticking of the valve portion to the head gasket.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-12-15 | 2007-06-16 | 2007-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-12-15 | 2011-06-16 | 2011-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-12-15 | 2015-06-16 | 2015-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |