DESC:Technical Field
[0001] The present subject matter described herein relates to a dipstick assembly for checking oil level in an internal combustion engine of a vehicle.
Background
[0002] Typically, a dipstick is used to measure oil level in an internal combustion engine of a vehicle. Generally, a portion of said dipstick is inserted into an oil sump, which is provided in the internal combustion engine where the oil is stored and circulated therefrom for lubrication of the engine. An extent to which said portion of the dipstick gets covered with oil when the dipstick is inserted and removed indicates a level of oil inside said oil sump. The cavity provided in a crankcase of the internal combustion engine for accessing the oil sump is generally inaccessible, thereby making it difficult for the rider to use the dipstick.
[0003] For example, in a conventional two-wheeled vehicle such as a scooter type motorcycle, for the oil sump provided inside a crankcase of the internal combustion engine, access is provided through a cavity formed externally on the crankcase, and extending angularly towards the oil sump. Particularly, the cavity is formed in a right hand side portion of said motorcycle, close to a muffler of said motorcycle. Proximity to the muffler makes it particularly difficult for the rider to access a cap provided to close said cavity, and to use the dipstick; because of the heat radiated by the muffler. Also, the location of the cavity is such that it causes the cap to foul with a side panel of said scooter type motorcycle. Moreover, in the conventional scooter type motorcycle the cavity tapers towards the oil sump, making it difficult to place/insert an oil filling hose into the oil sump. Further, the angularly formed cavity also causes the oil to flow slowly into the oil sump, thereby causing the oil to spill out at the time of oil filling.
Summary of the Invention
[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances.
[0005] The present invention contemplates to provide a dipstick assembly for checking level of oil stored in an oil sump provided in an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, said internal combustion engine comprising a crankshaft roatatably coupled to a crankcase thereof. According to a first aspect of the present invention, an LH side of the crankcase of said internal combustion engine is integrally provided with an access cavity to allow insertion of the dipstick assembly. Particularly, the access cavity is formed in a manner so as to extend substantially parallely to a crankshaft axis of the internal combustion engine. More particularly, the access cavity allows rotatable insertion of the dipstick assembly into the oil sump. Since the access cavity is formed on the LH side of the crankcase, it facilitates a rider to conveniently use the dipstick assembly to access the oil sump.
[0006] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the dipstick assembly includes a dipstick head member and a dipstick body member adapted to be detachably attached to one another, said dipstick assembly adapted to be rotatably inserted into said access cavity. Whereas the dipstick head member serves to provide grip for handling said dipstick assembly and for sealing the access cavity, said dipstick body member serves to indicate oil level in the oil sump. Particularly, the dipstick body member which is adapted to be attached to the dipstick head member includes a proximal portion and a distal portion formed integrally with one another. Further, whereas the proximal portion of the dipstick body member extends along a central axis of the dipstick head member, the distal portion of the dipstick body member extends perpendicularly to the central axis of the dipstick head member. More particularly, the distal portion of said dipstick member is formed perpendicularly with respect to said proximal portion, so that when said dipstick member is inserted into said access cavity, said distal portion is dipped into the oil sump. In other words, the distal portion of the dipstick member is provided as a bent portion for contact with the oil sump. Further, in order to ensure that the distal portion of the dipstick member dips only into the oil sump without being obstructed by undulations formed in an inner wall surface of the crankcase, one or more guiding members is provided, which is integrally formed in said inner wall surface. For example, a guiding member of said one or more guiding members is formed to extend substantially vertically downwards towards the oil sump, for guiding the distal portion of the dipstick member into the oil sump.
[0007] Thus, the present invention serves to not only provide a dipstick assembly for checking oil level in the oil sump of the internal combustion engine, but also serves to improve ease of access for using said dipstick assembly.
[0008] Summary provided above explains the basic features of the invention and does not limit the scope of the invention. The nature and further characteristic features of the present invention will be made clearer from the following descriptions made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0009] The above and other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will be better understood with regard to the following description and accompanying drawings where:
[0010] FIG.1 illustrates a side view of a two wheeled vehicle including an internal combustion engine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG.2 illustrates an enlarged view depicting the internal combustion engine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG.3 illustrates an enlarged view depicting an outer side of a crankcase of the internal combustion engine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG.4 illustrates a cross sectional view of the crankcase taken along line A-A shown in FIG.3.
[0014] FIG.5 illustrates a dipstick assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG.6 illustrates a cross sectional view of the dipstick assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG.7 illustrates an enlarged view depicting an inner side of the crankcase in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
[0017] Exemplary embodiments detailing features of the dipstick assembly used for checking oil level in the crankcase of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, in accordance with the present invention will be described hereunder with reference to the accompanying drawings. Various aspects of different embodiments of the present invention will become discernible from the following description set out hereunder. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Further, it is to be noted that terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “front”, “forward”, “rearward”, “downward”, “upward”, “top”, “bottom” and like terms are used herein based on the illustrated state or in a standing state of a two wheeled vehicle with a driver riding thereon unless otherwise elaborated. Furthermore, a longitudinal axis refers to a front to rear axis relative to said vehicle, while a lateral axis refers to a side to side, or left to right axis relative to said vehicle. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Further, although the present invention has been exemplified for a two wheeled vehicle, its application is not restricted only to two wheeled vehicles, and may be used in other vehicles including three wheeled and four wheeled vehicles.
[0018] Firstly a description is made of an entire schematic structure of a two wheeled vehicle 10 such as a scooter type motorcycle with reference to FIG.1 in accordance with the present invention.
[0019] FIG.1 is a side view of the two wheeled vehicle 10. As shown in FIG.1, the two wheeled vehicle 10 includes a body frame 11, for example an underbone body frame, made of a metal, alloy or a polymeric material and covered by various body covers. The body frame 11 supports a steering assembly including a steering shaft (not shown), and a handle bar 1 in a front portion of said vehicle 10. A front fork 2 is pivotally supported to the steering shaft. The handlebar 1 connected to the front fork 2 through the steering shaft allows steering of a front wheel 3. A headlamp unit 4 housed in a headlamp housing 4a is disposed in front of the handle bar 1.
[0020] Further, a front panel 5 is provided to cover a forward facing side of the body frame 11. A front fender 6 is provided to cover an upper portion of the front wheel 3 to prevent dust and debris splashed by the rotating front wheel 3 from striking parts lying behind the front wheel 3. A rear panel 7 is provided to cover a rearward facing side of the body frame 11. The rear panel 7 acts as a leg shield and protects a rider’s legs from a running wind blowing in a direction opposite to that of motorcycle running direction. Further, a floor board 8 is also provided for a rider to place his legs and is disposed below the rear panel 7.
[0021] Left and right side covers 9 are disposed to cover left and right side surfaces of a rear portion of the body frame 11. A seat 22 is disposed above the left and right side covers 9. A utility box (not shown) is disposed below the seat 22.
[0022] A fuel tank (not shown) is arranged in a rear portion of the body frame 11. The fuel tank forms a part of a fuel supply system which also includes a fuel pump (not shown), a canister (not shown), and a throttle body (not shown). The fuel tank supplies fuel for powering an internal combustion engine, hereinafter ‘engine’ 30. The engine 30 comprising a cylinder head 31 (shown in FIG.2) and a cylinder block 32 (shown in FIG.2) is powered by an air fuel mixture sent in by the throttle body to a combustion chamber of the engine 30.
[0023] Further, combustion gases generated by the engine 30 is let out as exhaust from a muffler extending along a right hand side of the saddle riding type vehicle 10.
[0024] Power from the engine 30 is transmitted to a rear wheel 40 via a transmission unit in the engine 30.
[0025] FIG.2 is an enlarged view depicting the engine 30 as arranged in the two wheeled vehicle 10. The engine 30 as per the present embodiment is a single cylinder engine. A portion of the engine 30 comprising the cylinder head 31 and the cylinder block 32 is forwardly inclined in a travelling direction of said vehicle 10. The cylinder block 32 is attached to a crankcase 33 which houses a crankshaft of the engine 30, said crankcase 33 being disposed besides the cylinder block 32. Particularly, the crankshaft rotatably connected to one end of said crankcase 33, is arranged inside said crankcase 33 in a vehicle width direction. In other words, a crankshaft axis B-B (shown in FIG.3) extends in a vehicle width direction.
[0026] Further, the crankcase 33 at its one end houses the transmission unit. When the engine 30 is operated, power is transmitted by the transmission unit to the rear wheel 40. The crankcase 33, thus housing the crankshaft and the transmission unit is covered on its left side and its right side by a left crankcase cover 34 and a right crankcase cover (not shown) respectively.
[0027] FIG.3 illustrates an enlarged view depicting an outer side of a LH side 33a the crankcase 33. Besides, housing the crankshaft and the transmission unit, the crankcase 33 serves to define an oil sump 35 (shown in hidden lines) for holding oil for lubrication of the engine 30. Particularly, the oil sump 35 is formed in a lower portion of the crankcase 33, below the crankshaft axis B-B. Oil from the oil sump 35 is circulated by a camshaft (not shown) through lubrication pathways defined in the engine 30. Oil passing through said lubrication pathways for lubricating various parts of the engine 30, finally drains into the oil sump 35. In order to ensure that parts of the engine 30 are well lubricated, it is essential to maintain sufficient oil level in the oil sump 35 from time to time. It is therefore essential to provide an access to the oil sump 35 so that oil level inside the oil sump 35 can be monitored regularly, and so that oil can be refilled into the oil sump 35 from time to time.
[0028] In the present embodiment an access cavity 36 is provided, which is formed in a LH side 33a of the crankcase 33, for accessing the oil sump 35. As may be seen, the access cavity 36 is adapted to be closed externally by a portion of a dipstick assembly 37, which is used to check the level of oil inside the oil sump 35.
[0029] FIG.4 is a cross sectional view of the LH side 33a of the crankcase taken along a line A-A shown in FIG.3. As may be seen in FIG.4, the access cavity 36 formed in the LH side 33a of the crankcase 33 extends substantially parallely to the crankshaft axis B-B. Moreover, the access cavity 36 is formed in such a way that an inner diameter of said access cavity 36 is maintained constant throughout its length and extends up to the oil sump 35. Therefore, an oil filling hose (not shown) may be easily inserted into said access cavity 36 for refilling oil into the oil sump 35. Provision of the access cavity 36 having an inner diameter which is constant throughout up to the oil sump 35 aids in ensuring that there is free flow of oil into the oil sump 35, thereby ensuring that there is no oil spillage at the time of refilling said oil sump 35. Moreover, since the access cavity 36 is formed on the LH side 33a of the crankcase 33, which is away from the muffler (not shown) disposed close to the RH side of the crankcase 33, a rider can easily access the oil sump 35 without being affected by the heat radiated by the muffler.
[0030] As may be seen in FIG.4, a dipstick assembly 37 adapted to be rotatably inserted into the access cavity 36 is provided for checking the level of oil inside the oil sump 35, and for sealing said access cavity 36.
[0031] With reference to FIGs.4-6, the dipstick assembly 37 as per the present invention is elaborated. The dipstick assembly 37 as per an embodiment of the present invention including a dipstick head member 37a, and a dipstick body member 37b is adapted to be rotatably inserted into the access cavity 36. While the dipstick head member 37a serves to provide grip for conveniently handling the dipstick assembly 37, and for sealing the access cavity 36 externally, the dipstick body member 37b serves to indicate the level of oil inside the oil sump 35. Particularly, as per an aspect of the present invention, the dipstick head member 37a is detachably attached to the dipstick body member 37b. Providing a detachable attachment for the dipstick head member 37a with the dipstick body member 37b, aids in ensuring that as per the rider’s requirement the dipstick body member 37b may or may not be kept in continuous contact with the oil in the oil sump 35. In other words, only the dipstick head member 37a without the dipstick body member 37b may be used to seal the access cavity 36. In the present embodiment, and as may be seen in FIG.6, a plurality of threads 37ab are provided on the dipstick head member 37a, so that the same may be threadably inserted into the access cavity 36. A plurality of corresponding threads is provided at a mouth portion of the access cavity 36 to ensure proper sealing.
[0032] Further, as can be made out from FIG.4, the dipstick body member 37b extending from the dipstick head member 37a into the oil sump 35 is used to denote the oil level inside the oil sump 35. The body member 37b as per an aspect of the present invention integrally includes a proximal portion 37ba proximal to the dipstick head member 37a, and a distal portion 37bb, distal to the dipstick head member 37a. While the proximal portion 37ba connected to the dipstick head member 37a, is configured to extend substantially parallely to the access cavity 36, and along a central axis C of the dipstick head member 37a, the distal portion 37bb is configured to extend substantially perpendicularly to the central axis C. In other words, the distal portion 37bb of the dipstick body member 37b is bent with respect to the proximal portion 37ba of the dipstick body member 37b. Particularly, since the access cavity 36 extends substantially parallely to the crankshaft axis B-B, providing a bend in the distal portion 37bb of the dipstick body member 37b ensures that the dipstick body member 37b entering the access cavity 36 is adequately dipped in the oil sump 35. Further, as may be seen in FIG.5, the distal portion 37bb of the dipstick body member 37b is provided with numerous oil level indication markings 37bc to denote the level of oil in the oil sump 35. In the present embodiment, the distal portion 37bb of the dipstick body member 37b is provided with a low oil level indication marking 37bd at a lower portion thereof to clearly indicate to the rider low level of oil in the oil sump 35. Thus, when the dipstick body member 37b inserted in the oil sump 35 is drawn out, oil level in the oil sump 35 can be determined based on the visual indication provided by the numerous oil level indication markings 37bc and the low oil level indication marking 37bd.
[0033] As per another aspect of the present invention, and with reference to FIG.7, detailing provided in the crankcase 33 to ensure that the distal portion 37bb of the dipstick body member 37b is guided into the oil sump 35 is elaborated. FIG.7 illustrates a detailed view of an inner portion of the LH side 33a of the crankcase 33. As may be seen, an inner wall surface 33as of the LH side 33a of the crankcase 33 is integrally provided with one or more guiding wall members 33ag in order to prevent obstruction of the distal portion 37bb of the dipstick body member 37b with undulations formed in said inner wall surface 33as, and to guide said distal portion 37bb of the dipstick body member 37b into the oil sump 35. For example, in the present embodiment, one guiding wall member of the one or more guiding wall members 33ag is provided to extend vertically downwards towards the oil sump 35 in order to guide the distal portion 37bb of the dipstick body member 37b into the oil sump 35. The one or more guiding wall members 33ag formed in the inner wall surface 33as aid in ensuring that the distal portion of the dipstick body member 37b does not project into a portion of the LH side 33a of the crankcase other than the oil sump 35, while the dipstick assembly 37 is being rotatably inserted into the access cavity 36. In other words, the one or more guiding wall members 33ag formed in the inner wall surface 33as of the LH side 33a of the crankcase 33 ensures that free rotation of the distal portion 37bb of the dipstick body member 37b inside the access cavity 36 is prevented and that the same is allowed to be directed into the oil sump 35 for determination of oil level.
[0034] While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to the foregoing preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes in form, connection, and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
,CLAIMS:We Claim:
1. A dipstick assembly (37) for checking oil level in an oil sump (35) formed in a portion of a crankcase (33) of an internal combustion engine (30), said internal combustion engine (30) including a crankshaft rotatably coupled to one end of said crankcase (33), wherein the dipstick assembly (37) is adapted to be rotatably inserted into an access cavity (36);
characterized in that, said access cavity (36) is integrally formed in a LH side (33a) of said crankcase (33), and extends substantially parallely to a crankshaft axis (B-B).
2. The dipstick assembly (37) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the access cavity (36) is formed to have an inner diameter which is maintained constant throughout its length and extending up to said oil sump (35).
3. The dipstick assembly (37) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dipstick assembly (37) includes a dipstick head member (37a), and a dipstick body member (37b), said dipstick body member (37b) being adapted to be detachably attached to said dipstick head member (37a).
4. The dipstick assembly (37) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said dipstick body member (37b) attached to said dipstick head member (37a) integrally includes a proximal portion (37ba) and a distal portion (37bb), said proximal portion (37ba) being configured to extend along a central axis (C) of said dipstick head member (37a).
5. The dipstick assembly (37) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said distal portion (37bb) of said dipstick body member (37b) is configured to extend substantially perpendicularly to said central axis (C) of said dipstick head member (37a).
6. The dipstick assembly (37) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 5, wherein the LH side (33a) of the crankcase (33) on its inner wall surface (33as) integrally includes one or more guiding wall members (33ag) to guide said distal portion (37bb) of the dipstick body member (37b) into the oil sump (35).
7. The dipstick assembly (37) as claimed in claim 6, wherein one guiding wall member of said one or more guiding wall members (33ag) extending vertically downwards towards the oil sump (35) guides said distal portion (37bb) of the dipstick body member (37b) into the oil sump (35).
8. The dipstick assembly (37) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said dipstick body member (37b) is provided with numerous oil level indication markings (37bc) including a low oil level indication marking (37bd) at a lower portion thereof for indicating a low level of oil in the oil sump (35).
9. The dipstick assembly (37) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said dipstick head member (37a) is provided with a plurality of threads (37ab) for enabling threadable insertion of said dipstick head member (37a) into said access cavity (36).
10. The dipstick assembly (37) as claimed in claim 9, wherein said access cavity (36) is provided with corresponding threads for enabling threadable insertion of said dipstick head member (37a) into said access cavity (36).