OIL LEVEL INDICATING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

Abstract

An oil level indicating system for an internal combustion engine includes an indicator passageway extending through a cylinder block, cylinder head and up through a ported boss extending through an upper engine cover. The ported boss is sealingly engaged with the cylinder head of the engine so as to prevent fugitive oil from entering indicator passageway, thereby preventing erroneous oil level readings.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an upper portion of an engine having an oil level indicating system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a portion of a cylinder head showing passages incorporated in the present oil level indicating system.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cylinder block according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an engine having an oil level indicating system according to the present invention.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are view of a portion of a prior art oil level indicating system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIG. 1, oil level indicator 10 is mounted within boss 30 which is integral with camshaft cover 26. Boss 30 has a bore 34, through which indicator blade 12 extends. Boss 30 is sealingly engaged with cylinder head 14. This sealing engagement is with cylinder passage 36, through which blade 12 passes. Cover 26 encloses camshaft space 64. This is shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. Because camshaft 18, which has a number of cam lobes 22, rotates at half crankshaft speed, a great deal of oil is thrown about camshaft space 64. However, because camshaft cover boss 30 is sealed to cylinder head 14 about cylinder head passage 36, fugitive oil is prevented from entering indicator passageway from camshaft space 64. As shown in FIG. 4, the indicator passageway extends upwardly from oil pan rail 52 of cylinder block 42 to cylinder head mating surface 56. This portion of the indicator passageway is defined by an integral vent stack 48 (FIG. 3), which is cast onto an outside surface of cylinder block 42. As further shown in FIG. 4, cylinder block passage 46 extends generally vertically through cylinder block 42 and provides a passage for not only oil indicator blade 12, but also a crankcase vent passage, which is completed by passage 40 extending through cylinder head 14. It should be noted that crankcase vent passage 40 as completed by cylinder block passage 46, does not function as an oil drainback for camshaft space 64. For this reason, it is possible to get an accurate reading from indicator blade 12, because fugitive oil is prevented from entering an indicator passageway.

Returning now to cylinder head 14, as seen from FIG. 4 that cylinder head passage 36 extends generally through the cylinder head from lower portion of boss 30 to cylinder block mating surface 60. At the opposite end of indicating blade 12, a channel 66, is formed in oil pan 68 for the purpose of allowing clearance for indicating blade 12.

It is important to note that integral stack 48, which functions as a tube, is case in place with the bulk of cylinder block 42, and thereby obviates problems with prior art designs having externally mounted add-on tubes which were subject to leaks, dislodgement, and damage.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, numerous variations and alternate embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only in terms of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An oil level indicating system for an internal combustion engine, comprising: an indicator passageway comprising: a cylinder block passage extending generally vertically through a cylinder block from an oil pan rail to a cylinder head mating surface;a cylinder head passage extending generally vertically through a cylinder head from a cylinder block mating surface to a space enclosed by an upper cover, with said cylinder head passage being in registry with said cylinder block passage;a ported boss extending through an upper engine cover, with said ported boss having a lower end in registry with, and sealingly engaged with, an upper portion of said cylinder head passage; andan oil level indicator adapted to be extended through said indicator passageway from an upper portion of said ported boss to a location below said oil pan rail.

2. An oil level indicating system according to claim 1, wherein said ported boss extends through a camshaft cover mounted to said cylinder head.

3. An oil level indicating system according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said cylinder block passage is formed as an outer surface of said cylinder block.

4. An oil level indicating system according to claim 1, wherein said indicator passageway further comprises a channel formed in an oil pan attached to the oil pan rail of said cylinder block.

5. An oil level indicating system according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said cylinder block passage is formed as a tube comprising an outer surface of said cylinder block.

6. An oil level indicating system according to claim 1, wherein said cylinder block passage extends through an integral vent stack cast into an outside surface of the cylinder block.

7. An oil level indicating system for an internal combustion engine, comprising: an oil level indicator mount comprising a boss extending upwardly from a camshaft cover mounted to a cylinder head, with said boss being formed integrally with said cover, and with said boss having a port allowing passage of an indicator;an indicator passageway comprising: a cylinder block passage extending generally vertically through an integral cylinder block vent stack from an oil pan rail to a cylinder head mating surface;a cylinder head passage extending generally vertically through a cylinder head from a cylinder block mating surface to a space enclosed by said camshaft cover, with said cylinder head passage being in registry with said cylinder block passage and with said port formed in said boss; andan oil level indicator adapted to be extended through said indicator passageway from an upper portion of said boss to a location below said oil pan rail.

8. An oil level indicating system according to claim 7, further comprising a crankcase vent passage extending through said cylinder head adjacent said indicator passageway formed in said cylinder head.

9. An oil level indicating system according to claim 7, wherein said boss is sealed to said cylinder head so as to prevent fugitive oil from entering said indicator passageway from said space enclosed by said camshaft cover.

10. An oil level indicating system according to claim 7, wherein said cylinder block vent stack is cast in place upon an exterior surface of said cylinder block.