초록 ▼

A system for replenishing a lubricant pan with the lubricant comprises a lubricant tank provided separately from the lubricant pan. A lubricant replenishing pump is provided in the lubricant tank for replenishing the lubricant pan with the lubricant. A lubricant level sensor is adapted to detect the

A system for replenishing a lubricant pan with the lubricant comprises a lubricant tank provided separately from the lubricant pan. A lubricant replenishing pump is provided in the lubricant tank for replenishing the lubricant pan with the lubricant. A lubricant level sensor is adapted to detect the lubricant level in the lubricant tank upon a main switch of an engine being turned on. The lubricant replenishing pump is operated according to the detected lubricant level to replenish the lubricant pan with a specified replenishing amount of the lubricant from the lubricant tank.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An outboard motor comprising: a main part, the main part including an internal combustion engine, a lubricant pan for reserving a lubricant for lubricating the engine, a lubricant level sensor for detecting the level of the lubricant in the lubricant pan, and a main switch fo

What is claimed is: 1. An outboard motor comprising: a main part, the main part including an internal combustion engine, a lubricant pan for reserving a lubricant for lubricating the engine, a lubricant level sensor for detecting the level of the lubricant in the lubricant pan, and a main switch for turning on and off a power supply to the internal combustion engine, the lubricant pan being positioned below the internal combustion engine and being configured to collect the lubricant that has drained towards the lubricant pan from the internal combustion engine; a lubricant tank disposed separately from the lubricant pan to reserve additional lubricant; a lubricant replenishing pump configured to replenish the lubricant pan with additional lubricant from the lubricant tank; a lubricant replenishing passage configured to lead the additional lubricant delivered from the lubricant replenishing pump toward the lubricant pan; a control device operatively connected to the lubricant level sensor and the lubricant replenishing pump, the control device configured to detect the lubricant level upon the main switch being turned on and to supply lubricant by the operation of the lubricant replenishing pump from the lubricant tank through the lubricant replenishing passage toward the lubricant pan by a specified replenishing amount according to the lubricant level; and a tilt angle sensor that is configured to detect a title angle of the main part of the outboard motor and wherein the control device is operatively connected to the tilt angle sensor and is configured to determine the specified replenishing amount of the lubricant according to the tilt angle detected with the tilt angle sensor. 2. The outboard motor of claim 1, wherein the specified replenishing amount of the lubricant is determined from the difference between the lubricant level detected with the lubricant level sensor and a predetermined upper limit level of the lubricant in the lubricant pan. 3. An outboard motor comprising: a main part, the main part including an internal combustion engine, a lubricant pan for reserving a lubricant for lubricating the engine, a lubricant level sensor for detecting the level of the lubricant in the lubricant pan, and a main switch for turning on and off a power supply to the internal combustion engine, the lubricant pan being positioned below the internal combustion engine and being configured to collect the lubricant that has drained towards the lubricant pan from the internal combustion engine; a lubricant tank disposed separately from the lubricant pan to reserve additional a lubricant replenishing pump configured to replenish the lubricant pan with additional lubricant from the lubricant tank; a lubricant replenishing passage configured to lead the additional lubricant delivered from the lubricant replenishing pump toward the lubricant pan; a control device operatively connected to the lubricant level sensor and the lubricant replenishing pump, the control device configured to detect the lubricant level upon the main switch being turned on and to supply lubricant by the operation of the lubricant replenishing pump from the lubricant tank through the lubricant replenishing passage toward the lubricant pan by a specified replenishing amount according to the lubricant level; and an engine temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature of the internal combustion engine and wherein the control device is operatively connected to the engine temperature sensor and is configured to permit operation of the lubricant replenishing pump when the temperature detected with the engine temperature sensor is not higher than a specified temperature. 4. An outboard motor comprising: a main part, the main part including an internal combustion engine, a lubricant pan for reserving a lubricant for lubricating the engine, a lubricant level sensor for detecting the level of the lubricant in the lubricant pan, and a main switch for turning on and off a power supply to the internal combustion engine, the lubricant pan being positioned below the internal combustion engine and being configured to collect the lubricant that has drained towards the lubricant pan from the internal combustion engine; a lubricant tank disposed separately from the lubricant pan to reserve additional lubricant; a lubricant replenishing pump configured to replenish the lubricant pan with additional lubricant from the lubricant tank; a lubricant replenishing passage configured to lead the additional lubricant delivered from the lubricant replenishing pump toward the lubricant pan; and a control device operatively connected to the lubricant level sensor and the lubricant replenishing pump, the control device configured to detect the lubricant level upon the main switch being turned on and to supply lubricant by the operation of the lubricant replenishing pump from the lubricant tank through the lubricant replenishing passage toward the lubricant pan by a specified replenishing amount according to the lubricant level; wherein the control device is configured such that the specified replenishing amount of the lubricant is supplied from the lubricant tank toward the lubricant pan by operating the lubricant replenishing pump for a specified period of time. 5. The outboard motor of claim 4, additionally comprising a lubricant temperature sensor that is configured to detect the temperature of the lubricant in the lubricant tank, and control device is configured such that the specified period of time for operating the lubricant replenishing pump is compensated according to the temperature of the lubricant detected with the lubricant temperature sensor. 6. An outboard motor comprising: a main part, the main part including an internal combustion engine, a lubricant pan for reserving a lubricant for lubricating the engine, a lubricant level sensor for detecting the level of the lubricant in the lubricant pan, and a main switch for turning on and off a power supply to the internal combustion engine; a lubricant tank disposed separately from the lubricant pan to reserve additional lubricant; a lubricant replenishing pump configured to replenish the lubricant pan with additional lubricant from the lubricant tank; a lubricant replenishing passage configured to lead the additional lubricant delivered from the lubricant replenishing pump toward the lubricant pan; and a control device operatively connected to the lubricant level sensor and the lubricant replenishing pump, the control device configured to detect the lubricant level upon the main switch being turned on and to supply lubricant by the operation of the lubricant replenishing pump from the lubricant tank through the lubricant replenishing passage toward the lubricant pan by a specified replenishing amount according to the lubricant level, wherein a downstream end of the lubricant replenishing passage is in communication with a part of the internal combustion to lubricant the part of the engine before draining towards the lubricant pan. 7. An outboard motor comprising: a main part, the main part including an internal combustion engine, a lubricant pan for reserving a lubricant for lubricating the engine, a lubricant level sensor for detecting the level of the lubricant in the lubricant pan, and a main switch for turning on and off a power supply to the internal combustion engine, the lubricant pan being positioned below the internal combustion engine and being configured to collect the lubricant that has drained towards the lubricant pan from the internal combustion engine; a lubricant tank disposed separately from the lubricant pan to reserve additional lubricant; a lubricant replenishing pump configured to replenish the lubricant pan with additional lubricant from the lubricant tank; a lubricant replenishing passage configured to lead the additional lubricant delivered from the lubricant replenishing pump toward the lubricant pan; and a control device operatively connected to the lubricant level sensor and the lubricant replenishing pump, the control device configured to detect the lubricant level upon the main switch being turned on and to supply lubricant by the operation of the lubricant replenishing pump from the lubricant tank through the lubricant replenishing passage toward the lubricant pan by a specified replenishing amount according to the lubricant level; wherein the internal combustion engine comprises a crankcase which has a crank chamber located generally above the lubricant pan and is in communication with the lubricant pan, and a crankshaft which is supported for rotation about its axis with the crankcase and placed within the crank chamber, and wherein a downstream end of the lubricant replenishing passage opens to a radially outside region of a main shaft of the crankshaft in the crank chamber. 8. An outboard motor comprising: a main part, the main part including an internal combustion engine, a lubricant pan for reserving a lubricant for lubricating the engine, a lubricant level sensor for detecting the level of the lubricant in the lubricant pan, and a main switch for turning on and off a power supply to the internal combustion engine, the lubricant pan being positioned below the internal combustion engine and being configured to collect the lubricant that has drained towards the lubricant pan from the internal combustion engine; a lubricant tank disposed separately from the lubricant pan to reserve additional a lubricant replenishing pump configured to replenish the lubricant pan with additional lubricant from the lubricant tank; a lubricant replenishing passage configured to lead the additional lubricant delivered from the lubricant replenishing pump toward the lubricant pan; and a control device operatively connected to the lubricant level sensor and the lubricant replenishing pump, the control device configured to detect the lubricant level upon the main switch being turned on and to supply lubricant by the operation of the lubricant replenishing pump from the lubricant tank through the lubricant replenishing passage toward the lubricant pan by a specified replenishing amount according to the lubricant level; wherein the internal combustion engine includes a cam chamber and a downstream end of the lubricant replenishing passage communicates with the cam chamber. 9. An outboard motor comprising: a main part, the main part including an internal combustion engine, a lubricant pan for reserving a lubricant for lubricating the engine, a lubricant level sensor for detecting the level of the lubricant in the lubricant pan, and a main switch for turning on and off a power supply to the internal combustion engine, the lubricant pan being positioned below the internal combustion engine and being configured to collect the lubricant that has drained towards the lubricant pan from the internal combustion engine; a lubricant tank disposed separately from the lubricant van to reserve additional a lubricant replenishing pump configured to replenish the lubricant pan with additional lubricant from the lubricant tank; a lubricant replenishing passage configured to lead the additional lubricant delivered from the lubricant replenishing pump toward the lubricant pan; and a control device operatively connected to the lubricant level sensor and the lubricant replenishing pump, the control device configured to detect the lubricant level upon the main switch being turned on and to supply lubricant by the operation of the lubricant replenishing pump from the lubricant tank through the lubricant replenishing passage toward the lubricant pan by a specified replenishing amount according to the lubricant level; wherein the internal combustion engine comprises a crankcase and a cylinder projecting generally horizontally from the crankcase and located above the lubricant pan, and wherein a space in communication with the lubricant pan is formed in the cylinder, and a downstream end of the lubricant replenishing passage opens at the space. 10. An outboard motor comprising: a main part, the main part including an internal combustion engine, a lubricant pan for reserving a lubricant for lubricating the engine, a lubricant level sensor for detecting the level of the lubricant in the lubricant pan, and a main switch for turning on and off a power supply to the internal combustion engine, the lubricant pan being positioned below the internal combustion engine and being configured to collect the lubricant that has drained towards the lubricant pan from the internal combustion engine; a lubricant tank disposed separately from the lubricant pan to reserve additional lubricant; a lubricant replenishing pump configured to replenish the lubricant pan with additional lubricant from the lubricant tank; a lubricant replenishing passage configured to lead the additional lubricant delivered from the lubricant replenishing pump toward the lubricant pan; and a control device operatively connected to the lubricant level sensor and the lubricant replenishing pump, the control device configured to detect the lubricant level upon the main switch being turned on and to supply lubricant by the operation of the lubricant replenishing pump from the lubricant tank through the lubricant replenishing passage toward the lubricant pan by a specified replenishing amount according to the lubricant level; and wherein the internal combustion engine comprises a crankcase, a crankshaft accommodated in and supported with the crankcase so as to be rotatable about a substantially vertical axis when the engine is in a substantially horizontal position, a cylinder projecting generally horizontally from the crankcase, camshafts accommodated in a cam chamber formed in the projecting part of the cylinder, and a transmitter for interlocking the camshafts with the crankshaft, and wherein the transmitter is placed in a lower space formed with lower parts of the crank chamber and the cam chamber, and a downstream end of the lubricant replenishing passage opens to the lower space. 11. An outboard motor comprising: a main part, the main part including an internal combustion engine, a lubricant pan for reserving a lubricant for lubricating the engine, a lubricant level sensor for detecting the level of the lubricant in the lubricant pan, and a main switch for turning on and off a power supply to the internal combustion engine, the lubricant pan being positioned below the internal combustion engine and being configured to collect the lubricant that has drained towards the lubricant pan from the internal combustion engine; a lubricant tank disposed separately from the lubricant pan to reserve additional lubricant; a lubricant replenishing pump configured to replenish the lubricant pan with additional lubricant from the lubricant tank; a lubricant replenishing passage configured to lead the additional lubricant delivered from the lubricant replenishing pump toward the lubricant pan; and a control device operatively connected to the lubricant level sensor and the lubricant replenishing pump, the control device configured to detect the lubricant level upon the main switch being turned on and to supply lubricant by the operation of the lubricant replenishing pump from the lubricant tank through the lubricant replenishing passage toward the lubricant pan by a specified replenishing amount according to the lubricant level; wherein the internal combustion engine comprises a blow-by gas passage configured to communicate between a crank chamber and a cam chamber, and wherein a downstream end of the lubricant replenishing passage opens into the blow-by gas passage. 12. A method of replenishing lubricant to a lubricant pan of an outboard motor engine, the method comprising: before lubricant from the lubricant pan is supplied to parts of the engine, detecting the lubricant level within the lubricant pan; calculating a specified replenishing amount of lubricant according to the lubricant level; activating a lubricant pump positioned within a lubricant tank disposed separately from the lubricant pan; and supplying the specified replenishing amount of lubricant to the lubricant pan through a lubricant replenishing passage; lubricating a part of the internal combustion engine with the lubricant; collecting the lubricant in the lubricant pan; detecting a temperature of the engine and permitting the operation of the lubricant pump only if the engine temperature is not higher than a specified temperature. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein detecting the lubricant level within the lubricant pan is initiated in response to a main switch of the engine being activated. 14. The method of claim 12, wherein calculating a specified replenishing amount of lubricant according to the lubricant comprises determining the difference between the lubricant level detected and a predetermined upper limit level of the lubricant in the lubricant pan. 15. The method of claim 12, additionally comprising detecting a tilt angle of a main part of the outboard motor engine and determining the specified replenishing amount of the lubricant according to the tilt angle detected. 16. The method of claim 12, wherein supplying the specified replenishing amount is comprises operating the lubricant pump for a specified period of time. 17. A method of replenishing lubricant to a lubricant pan of an outboard motor engine, the method comprising: before lubricant from the lubricant pan is supplied to parts of the engine, detecting the lubricant level within the lubricant pan; calculating a specified replenishing amount of lubricant according to the lubricant activating a lubricant pump positioned within a lubricant tank disposed separately from the lubricant pan; and supplying the specified replenishing amount of lubricant to the lubricant tank through a lubricant replenishing passage, wherein supplying the specified replenishing amount is comprises operating the lubricant pump for a specified period of time; lubricating a part of the internal combustion engine with the lubricant; collecting the lubricant in the lubricant pan; and detecting the temperature of the lubricant in the lubricant tank, and adjusting the specified period of time for operating the lubricant pump according to the temperature of the lubricant detected. 18. A method of replenishing lubricant to a lubricant pan of an outboard motor engine, the method comprising: before lubricant from the lubricant pan is supplied to parts of the engine, detecting the lubricant level within the lubricant pan; calculating a specified replenishing amount of lubricant according to the lubricant level; activating a lubricant pump positioned within a lubricant tank disposed separately from the lubricant pan; and supplying the specified replenishing amount of lubricant to the lubricant pan through a lubricant replenishing passage; and lubricating a part of the internal combustion engine with at least a portion of the specified replenishing amount of lubricant before the specified replenishing amount of lubricant is delivered to the lubricant pan.