Transmission case and dipstick assembly | Patent Publication Number 20070000706
US 20070000706 A1Ben M. Lund
John Schanz
The present invention provides a motorcycle including a front wheel, a rear wheel, a frame supported by the front and rear wheels, a crankcase, a transmission case coupled to the crankcase, a transmission access door coupled to a side of the transmission case, and a dipstick assembly coupled to the side of the transmission case. The dipstick assembly is positioned between the crankcase and the transmission access door.
- 1. An engine and transmission assembly adapted for use with a motorcycle, the engine and transmission assembly comprising: na crankcase; a transmission case coupled to the crankcase; a transmission access door coupled to a side of the transmission case; and a dipstick assembly coupled to the side of the transmission case, the dipstick assembly positioned between the crankcase and the transmission access door.
- 7. A transmission case assembly adapted for use with a motorcycle having an engine, the transmission case assembly comprising: na transmission case including a flange for coupling to the engine; a transmission access door coupled to a side of the transmission case; and a dipstick assembly coupled to the side of the transmission case between the transmission access door and the flange.
- 12. A motorcycle, comprising: na front wheel; a rear wheel; a frame supported by the front and rear wheels; a crankcase; a transmission case coupled to the crankcase; a transmission access door coupled to a side of the transmission case; and a dipstick assembly coupled to the side of the transmission case, the dipstick assembly positioned between the crankcase and the transmission access door.
- 18. A transmission case assembly adapted for use with a motorcycle, the transmission case assembly comprising: na transmission case including a passageway exposed to a side of the transmission case; a reservoir coupled to the transmission case and in fluid communication with the passageway, the reservoir adapted to contain a lubricant; and a dipstick assembly sealingly coupled to the passageway, the dipstick assembly connected to the side of the transmission case by a single fastener.
- 22. A transmission case assembly adapted for use with a motorcycle, the transmission case assembly comprising: na transmission case including a passageway exposed to a side of the transmission case; a reservoir coupled to the transmission case and in fluid communication with the passageway, the reservoir adapted to contain a lubricant; a dipstick assembly including a fill spout coupled to the side of the transmission case and in fluid communication with the passageway and a dipstick coupled to the fill spout; and an O-ring radially compressed between the fill spout and the transmission case to seal the fill spout to the passageway.
This invention relates generally to motorcycles, and more particularly to motorcycle transmissions.
Motorcycle transmissions occasionally include a transmission case and a fill spout coupled to the transmission case. The fill spout communicates with an internal passageway in the transmission case leading to a sump containing lubricant. To add lubricant to the sump, the lubricant is poured into the fill spout. From the fill spout, the lubricant flows down the internal passageway and collects in the sump.
When fill spouts are constructed of separate components or assemblies they are fastened to transmission cases by fasteners to achieve a consistent clamping force around the periphery of a flat gasket positioned between the fill spout and the transmission case. Also, fill spouts in motorcycle transmissions are occasionally integrated into transmission case covers coupled to upper portions of transmission cases.
The present invention provides, in one aspect, a motorcycle including a front wheel, a rear wheel, a frame supported by the front and rear wheels, a crankcase, a transmission case coupled to the crankcase, a transmission access door coupled to a side of the transmission case, and a dipstick assembly coupled to the side of the transmission case. The dipstick assembly is positioned between the crankcase and the transmission access door.
The present invention provides, in a further aspect, a transmission case assembly adapted for use with a motorcycle. The transmission case assembly includes a transmission case including a passageway exposed to a side of the transmission case, a reservoir coupled to the transmission case and in fluid communication with the passageway. The reservoir is adapted to contain a lubricant. The transmission case assembly also includes a dipstick assembly sealingly coupled to the passageway. The dipstick assembly is connected to the side of the transmission case by a single fastener.
The present invention provides, in another aspect, a transmission case assembly adapted for use with a motorcycle. The transmission case assembly includes a transmission case having a passageway exposed to a side of the transmission case, a reservoir coupled to the transmission case and in fluid communication with the passageway, the reservoir adapted to contain a lubricant, a dipstick assembly including a fill spout coupled to the side of the transmission case and in fluid communication with the passageway and a dipstick coupled to the fill spout, and an O-ring radially compressed between the fill spout and the transmission case to seal the fill spout to the passageway.
Other features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings.
In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts:
Before any features of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including†, “having†, and “comprising†and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The use of letters to identify elements of a method or process is simply for identification and is not meant to indicate that the elements should be performed in a particular order.
The drive assembly 14 is coupled to the frame 18 beneath the seat 38 between the front wheel 30 and the rear wheel 34 of the motorcycle 10. With continued reference to
As shown in
With reference to
The transmission case assembly 62 also includes a dipstick assembly 94, including a fill spout 98 and a dipstick 102, coupled to the same side of the transmission case 66 as the transmission access door 70. As shown in
With reference to
As shown in
With reference to
Such a single-fastener connection is possible because the fill spout 98 does not utilize a flat gasket to seal to the passageway 106. A flat gasket typically requires multiple fasteners around the periphery of the gasket to achieve a consistent clamping force around the periphery of the gasket, whereas the O-ring 114 in combination with the small clearance fit between the neck portion 110 and the passageway 106, as shown in
Various aspects of the invention are set forth in the following claims.