Appeal No. 1999-2444
Application 08/842,088
THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an internal combustion engine
for an outboard motor. The engine has a vertically oriented
crankshaft and a lubricating system designed to accommodate
same. Claim 16 is illustrative and reads as follows:
16. An internal combustion engine having a vertically
oriented crankshaft, the engine having a cylinder block with
a crankshaft cover connected to said cylinder block and
cooperating therewith to define a crankshaft chamber in
which at least a portion of said crankshaft rotates, said
crankcase chamber having a top end and a bottom end, said
cylinder block having at least one first crankshaft
supporting member extending into said chamber, said cover
supporting a mating second crankshaft supporting member to
said first crankshaft supporting member, said crankshaft
having a bearing portion journalled between said first and
said second crankshaft supporting members, a lubricant
source, a lubricant path through a wall of said crankcase
cover, a passage extending from said path through said
second crankshaft supporting member for providing lubricant
to said crankshaft bearing portion, and an oil drain flow
passage extending vertically through said second crankshaft
supporting member for flow of lubricant supplied into said
crankcase chamber by gravity generally in the direction from
said top end to said bottom end of said chamber to return to
said lubricant source.1
1Claim 16 refers to the cover recited therein as both a “crankshaft” cover and a
“crankcase” cover, and to the chamber recited therein as both a “crankshaft” chamber and
a “crankcase” chamber. These inconsistencies in terminology, which also appear in other
claims, are deserving of correction.
2
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