DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter relates generally to a crankcase of an engine. More particularly but not exclusively the present subject matter relates to a crankcase cover of the crankcase.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Conventionally, a power train of an IC (internal combustion) engine provides energy to drive a vehicle. In order to drive the vehicle, apart from the engine, a transmission is required. The transmission may include a clutch, a gearbox, a differential shaft, and one or more final drive shafts. The engine includes an oil filter which purifies oil for engine lubrication and ensures smooth working of the engine. Further, a transmission cover is used to protect the entire transmission from the outside environment. Similarly, a crankcase cover is provided to cover a crankcase and various parts of the engine. The oil filter is disposed on the crankcase and is covered by a cover to protect it from outside environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] The details are described with reference to an embodiment of a oil filter assembly with the accompanying diagrams. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference similar features and components.
[0004] Figure 1 exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of an oil filter assembly with a crankcase cover.
[0005] Figure 2(a) exemplarily illustrates a front perspective exploded view of the oil filter assembly with the crankcase cover.
[0006] Figure 2(b) exemplarily illustrates a rear perspective exploded view of the oil filter assembly with the crankcase cover.
[0007] Figure 3(a) exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of the crankcase cover accommodating the oil filter housing.
[0008] Figure 3(b) exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of the crankcase cover accommodating the oil filter housing.
[0009] Figure 4 exemplarily illustrates a top view of the oil filter housing.
[00010] Figure 5 exemplarily illustrates a different views of the oil filter cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0001] Generally, an engine oil keeps an engine clean and smooth for its easy operation and also aids in preventing the wear and tear of the engine, thus lowering the emission and enhances the mileage. But the engine oil gets contaminated from the regular use. So, the engine oil must be kept clean for smooth functioning of the engine. For this, an oil filter is employed to filter out the impurities from the engine oil and thus keeping the engine in good working condition. Traditionally, the oil filter is positioned on a crankcase cover of the engine. The outside of the oil filter is generally a metal can with a sealing gasket that allows it to be tightly held against an engine’s mating surface. A base plate of the can holds a gasket and is perforated with a plurality of holes around the area just inside the gasket. A central hole is threaded to mate with the oil filter assembly on an engine block. The can accommodates the filter material for filtering the oil. An oil pump provided in the engine moves the oil directly to the filter. The dirty oil is passed through the filter and back through the central hole, where it re-enters the engine. The sealing gasket is disposed on the outside surface of the cover, exposing it outside environment, thus contaminating the sealing member.
[0002] As the engine oil filter is a very crucial part of the engine for keeping the engine in good running condition with greater life expectancy, cleaning of the oil filter is important. So, the oil filter is either cleaned during servicing or is replaced after a certain period of time as suggested by the manufacturer. Apart from regular servicing, it should be ensured that the oil filter is not getting contaminated by any other environmental factor. In order to prevent this, an oil filter assembly having an oil filter housing and an oil filter cap is provided. The oil filter housing accommodates the oil filter and the oil filter cap covers the oil filter from a front side. The oil filter assembly is disposed on the clutch cover of the engine. The oil filter assembly protrudes outwards in the vehicle width wise direction. The clutch cover surface including the oil filter assembly are exposed to the outside environment, resulting in accumulation of dust, water, and other foreign particles. Many a times, oil from the oil filter seeps out of the assembly, attracting more dust sticking to it, resulting to corrosion and degradation of the oil filter assembly with passage of time.
[0003] In addition to this, the known design of the oil filter housing and the oil filter cap often gets damage while servicing. In the process of taking the oil filter out of the oil filter housing for servicing, generally a screwdriver or such pointed instrument or tool is used to take out the oil filter assembly by a person carrying out the servicing. This damages the surface of the oil filter housing of the clutch cover. The scratch or any indent thus caused impede the functioning of the oil filter assembly because it creates gaps in the oil filter assembly, resulting leakage of the oil. Also, while manufacturing the oil filter housing, one or more grooves are formed at the edges, through which the oil seeps out, resulting in leakage despite of having a sealing gasket.
[0004] However, to prevent the leakage of the oil, a sealing member is provided between the oil filter housing and the oil filter cap. The positioning of sealing member between the oil filter housing and the oil filter cap often results in the falling off of the sealing member, while taking it out while servicing or even at the time of assembly. This further contaminates the sealing member with dust and oil. Thus, there is a need to overcome the above-mentioned problems and other problems of known art.
[0005] An objective of the present subject matter is to provide an improved design of an oil filter assembly so as to ensure proper sealing, protection from outside environment, ease of serviceability and improved aesthetical appeal. The present subject matter further aims to provide a compact cost-effective structure, which is less susceptible to damage, easy to manufacture while ensuring the sealing member is always at its designated place, with utilization of less number of fastening means. The present subject matter is described using an exemplary oil filter assembly with the clutch cover used in the vehicle, whereas the claimed subject matter can be used in any other type of application employing above-mentioned oil filter assembly and the clutch cover, with required changes and without deviating from the scope of the invention.
[0006] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, a crankcase cover comprising a crankcase cover configured to accommodate an oil filter assembly, at least a crankcase cover is provided with an oil filter housing to accommodate the oil filter assembly. An oil filter housing configured to cover and seal the oil filter assembly, the oil filter housing comprising a sealing member and an oil filter cap. The sealing member abuts a portion inside the oil filter housing.
[0007] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, an outer surface of a clutch cover of the crankcase cover and an outer surface of the oil filter assembly is configured to align in a plane.
[0008] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, the oil filter housing in the crankcase cover includes a first portion and a second portion.
[0009] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, the first portion is configured to accommodate at least a portion of the oil filter cap.
[00010] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, the the second portion is configured to accommodate an oil filter and a portion of oil filter cap.
[00011] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, the first portion includes a first vertical surface and a horizontal second surface.
[00012] As per another aspect of the present subject matter, the second portion includes a first circular cavity and a second verticalannular surface. The annularsecond vertical surface is formed above the first circular cavity, the second verticalannular surface forms a step above the circular cavity.
[00013] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, the oil filter cap includes a second circular cavity and a flat portion.
[00014] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, the second circular cavity of the oil filter housing is configured to house a portion of the oil filter.
[00015] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, the flat portion is configured with a partial side vertical wall, the partial side vertical wall extends down from a flat surface so that the partial side vertical wall covers the housing from one side.
[00016] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, the partial side vertical wall conforms to an outer curve of the crankcase cover, and the flat surface conforms to the outer curve of the housing and the first vertical surface of the first portion.
[00017] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, an outer portion of the second circular cavity has a groove to accommodate the sealing member.
[00018] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, the groove is formed at an outermost surface of the second circular cavity, so that the sealing member is disposed between one or more raised walls.
[00019] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, the sealing member and the oil filter cap abuts the second verticalannular surface inside the oil filter housing.
[00020] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, a flow path is formed between the first vertical surface and the horizontal second surface of the oil filter housing where the first and second surfaces are orthogonal to each other.
[00021] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, one or more locators is disposed in the second circular cavity locates the oil filter with one or more locators is disposed on the second verticalannular surface of the oil filter housing. The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to a touch enabled display along with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the present embodiments. The present subject matter is further described with reference to accompanying figures. It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate principles of the present subject matter. Various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, encompass the principles of the present subject matter. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and examples of the present subject matter, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[00022] Fig.1 exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of an oil filter assembly 100 with a crankcase cover 102. In the present embodiment, the oil filter assembly 100 is integrated with the crankcase cover 102 adjacent to a clutch cover 104 which is also disposed on the crankcase cover 102. The oil filter assembly 100 is seamlessly disposed on the crankcase cover 102. The oil filter assembly 100 is disposed such that it does not protrudes out from the crankcase cover 102 in vehicle width wise direction. An oil filter housing 106is formed in the crankcase cover 102 to accommodate the oil filter assembly 100. The present design protects the oil filter assembly 100 and its components from outside environment. It protects the oil filter assembly 100 from dust, wind, and the like. It also protects the assembly 100 from getting damage as it is integrated and disposed in the slot and is not projecting outwards, thus preventing it from getting damage during any collision. The present design also provides a seamless and finish smooth look, making it aesthetically appealing. There is no gap present in the assembly through which foreign particles can penetrates inside the oil filter assembly 100.
[00023] Fig.2(a) exemplarily illustrates a front perspective exploded view of the oil filter assembly 100 with the crankcase cover 102. Fig.2(b) exemplarily illustrates a rear perspective exploded view of the oil filter assembly 100 with the crankcase cover 102. Fig.2(a) and Fig.2(b) shall be discussed together. The oil filter assembly 100 includes the oil filter housing 106 and an oil filter cap 108. The oil filter housing 106 is formed inside a slot (not shown) like structure on an outer surface 100a of the crankcase cover 102. In the present embodiment, the oil filter assembly 100 is placed at the RH (right hand) side crankcase cover 102. However, the oil filter assembly 100 can be placed on any place on the crankcase cover 102, depending upon the design of the engine (not shown). The oil filter housing 106 further accommodates an oil filter 110 which purifies the engine oil and gives it back for smooth running of the engine. The oil filter cap 108 covers the oil filter 110 and the oil filter housing 106 from a front side, protecting it from outside environment. The oil filter cap 108 is disposed on the oil filter 110 by means of a spring 112 to locate the cap 108 against the oil filter 110 properly. The oil filter cap 108 is provided a sealing member 114 which ensures that no leakage of oil from the oil filter 110 takes place. Further, in the already existing design, three or more mounting points were used to mount the oil filter assembly 100 onto the crankcase cover 102. However, in the present embodiment, two fastening means 116 are used to mount the oil filter assembly 100, thereby reducing the number of parts, weight, and assembly time.
[00024] Fig.3(a) exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of the crankcase cover 102 accommodating the oil filter housing 106. Fig.3(b) exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of the crankcase cover 102 accommodating the oil filter housing 106. Fig.3(a) and Fig.3(b) shall be discussed together. The oil filter housing 106 includes a first portion 118 and a second portion 120. The first portion 118 is configured to include at least a portion of the oil filter cap 108. The second portion 120 is configured to accommodate the oil filter 110. The second portion 120 constitutes the oil filter housing 106. Further, the first portion 118 includes a first vertical first surface 122 and a horizontal second surface 124, positioned at right angle with each other. The second portion 120 includes a first circular cavity 126 and a second verticalannular surface 128. The second verticalannular surface 128 is formed above the first circular cavity 126 such that the second verticalannular surface 128 forms a step portion above the first circular cavity 126. The first circular cavity 126 of the second portion 120 accommodates the oil filter 110 and the step portion supports at least a portion of the oil filter cap 108. The oil filter 110 is engulfed almost completely in the oil filter housing 106, protecting it from the outside environment. The oil filter cap 108 is disposed from the front side such that the oil filter 110 is covered completely without any gap formation, thus preventing from any contamination.
[00025] Although the oil filter cap 108 is provided with the sealing member 114 to avoid any leakage of oil, even if then a little amount of oil seeps out. In order to prevent the oil from coming in contact with the clutch cover 104, a flow path 130 (shown in fig.4) is formed to guide the oil away from the clutch cover 104 and out through the oil filter assembly 100, keeping the clutch cover 104 away from being contaminated. The flow path 130 is formed in between the first vertical surface 122 and the horizontal surface surface 124 of the first portion 118 of the oil filter housing 106. This guides the oil out of the oil filter 110 without making a mess and keeping the clutch cover 104 and the oil filter assembly 100 clean and safe. This flow path 130 also allows water entered in the oil filter assembly 100 due to rain or during water wash of the engine, flows out of the assembly 100 with ease and without interfering with other parts.
[00026] Fig.4 exemplarily illustrates a top view of the oil filter housing 106. The first circular cavity 126 accommodates the oil filter 110 in it. A first protrusion 132 is provided in the first circular cavity 126, the first protrusion 132 helps in locating the oil filter 110 in an easy manner. The first protrusion 132 keeps the oil filter 110 firm and steady during the operation of the engine (not shown). Apart from this, one or more locators 150 are provided at the second verticalannular surface 128 to locate the oil filter 110 inside the oil filter housing 106 facilitating ease of assembly and serviceability, while ensuring safe placement and handling of the oil filter 110 in the housing 106. The one or more locators 150 facilitates in ease of assembly and results in reduced assembly time.Fig.5 exemplarily illustrates different views of the oil filter cap 108. The oil filter cap 108 is designed to cover the oil filter 110 and the oil filter housing 106 and protect it from outside environment. The oil filter cap 108 abuts the annularsecond vertical surface 128 inside the oil filter housing 106 providing another level of sealing to the oil filter assembly 100. The oil filter cap 108 includes a second circular cavity 134 and a flat portion 136. The second circular cavity 134 of the oil filter housing 106 is configured to house a portion of the oil filter 110. A second protrusion 138 supports a front portion of the oil filter 110 and thus locating and keeping it in the firm position. Apart from this, the one or more locators 150 are provided in the inner portion of the second circular cavity 134 of the oil filter cap 108, which also facilitates in locating the oil filter 110 against the one or more locators 150 placed in the annularsecond vertical surface 128 of the oil filter housing 106. The one or more locators 150 facilitates ease of assembly and serviceability as it holds and locates the oil filter 110 at the designated place. The flat portion 136 is provided with a partial side vertical wall 140, the partial side vertical wall 140 extends down from a flat surface 142 so that the partial side vertical wall 140 covers the slot from one side. The partial side vertical wall 140 conforms to an outer curve of the crankcase cover 102, and the flat surface 142 conforms to the outer curve of the slot and the first vertical surface 122 of the first portion 118. One side of the flat portion 136 covers the flow path 130 for the oil, so as to ensure the space between the oil filter housing 106 and the oil filter cap 108.
[00027] Further, an outer portion 144 of the second circular cavity 134 has a groove 146 to accommodate the sealing member 114. The groove 146 is formed at an outermost surface of the second circular cavity 134, so that the sealing member 114 being disposed between one or more raised walls 148. This secures the sealing member 114 between the one or more raised walls 148, ensuring that the sealing member 114 do not fall, while servicing or assembly. Also, the present disposition of sealing member 114 does not damage the sealing as it is securely accommodated between the one or more raised walls 148. Thus, the design of the oil filter assembly 100 is seal proof, safe, seamless, aesthetically appealing, cost effective, and is easy to manufacture oil filter assembly 100. This design ensures that the oil filter assembly 100 is not damaged and thus minimize the leakage of oil. Many other improvements and modifications may be incorporated herein without deviating from the scope of the invention.

List of Reference numerals
100: Oil filter assembly
100(a): Outer surface of 100
102: Crankcase cover
104: clutch cover
104(a): Outer surface of 104
106: Oil filter housing
108: Oil filter cap
110: Oil filter
112: Spring
114: Sealing member
116: Fastening means
118: First portion
120: Second portion
122: First vertical surface
124: Horizontal Second surface
126: First circular cavity
128: Second verticalAnnular surface
130: Flow path
132: First protrusion
134: Second circular cavity
136: Flat portion
138: Second protrusion
140: Partial side vertical wall
142: Flat surface
144: Outer portion
146: Groove
148: One or more raised walls
150: One or more locaters

,CLAIMS:We claim:
1. A crankcase cover (102) for an engine, said engine comprising:
a crankcase cover (102) configured to accommodate an oil filter assembly (100), at least a said crankcase cover (102) being provided with an oil filter housing (106) to accommodate the oil filter assembly (100); and
saidan oil filter housing (106) being configured to cover and seal the oil filter assembly (100), the oil filter housing (106) comprising a sealing member (114) and an oil filter cap (108);
wherein, the sealing member (114) abuts a portion inside the oil filter housing (106).

2. The crankcase cover (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a portion of n an outer surface (104a) of a clutch cover (104) of the crankcase cover (102) and a portion of an n outer surface (100a) of the oil filter assembly (100) being configured to align in a plane.
3. The crankcase cover (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the oil filter housing (106) in the crankcase cover (102) includes a first portion (118) and a second portion (120).
4. The crankcase cover (102) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first portion (118) being configured to accommodate at least a portion of the oil filter cap (108).
5. The crankcase cover (102) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second portion (120) being configured to accommodate an oil filter (110), and a portion of oil filter cap (108).
6. The crankcase cover (102) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first portion (118) includes a first vertical surface (122) and a horizontal second surface (124); wherein the first surface (122) being orthogonal to second surface (124).
7. The crankcase cover (102) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second portion (120) includes a first circular cavity (126) and an annular second vertical surface (128) orthogonal to first circular cavity (126).
8. The crankcase cover (102) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second vertical annular surface (128) being formed above the first circular cavity (126), the second vertical first surface (122) forms a step above the first circular cavity (126).
9. The crankcase cover (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the oil filter cap (108) includes a second circular cavity (134) and a flat portion (136).
10. The crankcase cover (102) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second circular cavity (134) of the oil filter housing (106) being configured to house a portion of the oil filter (110).
11. The crankcase cover (102) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the flat portion (136) being configured with a partial side vertical wall (140), the partial side vertical wall (140) extendings down from a flat surface (142) so that for the partial side vertical wall (140) to covers the housing from one side.
12. The crankcase cover (102) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the partial side vertical wall (140) conforms to an outer curve of the crankcase cover (102), and the flat surface (142) conforms to the outer curve of the housing and the first vertical first surface (122) of the first portion (118).
13. The crankcase cover (102) as claimed in claim 11, wherein an outer portion (144) of the second circular cavity (134) has a groove (146) to accommodate the sealing member (114).
14. The crankcase cover (102) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the groove (146) is being formed at an outermost surface of the second circular cavity (134), so that thereby disposing the sealing member (114) being disposed between one or more raised walls (148).
15. The crankcase cover (102) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sealing member (114) and the oil filter cap (108) abuts the second verticaanularl surface (128) inside the oil filter housing (106).
16. The crankcase cover (102) as claimed in claim 6, wherein a flow path (130) being formed between the first vertical surface (122) and the horizontal second surface (124) of the oil filter housing (106).
17. The crankcase cover (102) as claimed in claim 7 and 9, wherein one or more locators (150) being disposed in the second circular cavity (134) locates the oil filter (110) with one or more locators (150) being disposed on the second vertical annular surface (128) of the oil filter housing (106).