Grooved oil pan for use with a snowmobile
View Patent ↗Herein is disclosed a snowmobile with an improved center of gravity. The snowmobile utilizes an oil pan with a bottom portion and a set of side portions that cooperate with the bottom portion to form a sump in which oil collects. The bottom portion may be grooved to permit a steering shaft to pass through the groove, thereby extending from one side of the oil pan to the other side. Optionally the bottom portion is formed to be congruous with a surface of a mechanism, such as a steering shaft, positioned at least partially beneath the oil pan. Furthermore, the oil pan may have a reduced depth.
1. An oil pan for a snowmobile, the oil pan comprising:
a bottom portion; and
a set of side portions that cooperate with the bottom portion to form a sump in which oil may collect;
wherein the bottom portion is formed to be congruous with at least a portion of a surface of a mechanism positioned at least partially beneath the bottom portion and between the side portions of the oil pan.
2. The oil pan of claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion is formed to be congruous with at least a portion of a surface of a steering linkage.
3. The oil pan of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the side portions is formed to be congruous with at least a portion of a surface of a mechanism positioned at least partially along the at least one side portion.
4. The oil pan of claim 3 , wherein the bottom portion and at least one side portion are formed to be congruous with at least a portion of a surface of a steering linkage passing from a first side of the oil pan to a second side of the oil pan.
5. An improved oil pan for a personal recreational vehicle, the improved oil pan comprising:
a bottom portion; and
a set of side portions that cooperate with the bottom portion to form a sump in which oil may collect;
wherein the bottom portion is grooved so as to permit a steering linkage to pass through the groove, thereby passing from a first side of the oil pan to a second side of the oil pan.
6. The oil pan of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the side portions is grooved so as to permit a shaft to pass through the grooved side and bottom portions, thereby passing from a first side of the oil pan to a second side of the oil pan.
7. An improved oil pan for a personal recreational vehicle, the improved oil pan comprising:
a bottom portion; and
a set of side portions that cooperate with the bottom portion to form a sump in which oil may collect;
wherein the bottom portion defines a groove, the groove being configured to permit a steering linkage to pass within the groove;
wherein the oil pan is characterized by a depth, the depth of the oil pan being defined as the distance that the side portions project from the bottom portion, as measured against a vector that is perpendicular to the bottom portion; and
wherein the depth of the oil pan no more than 140 millimeters.
8. The oil pan of claim 7 , wherein the depth of the oil pan is no more than 123.2 millimeters.
9. The oil pan of claim 7 , wherein the sump is characterized by a volume; and
wherein the ratio of the height of the oil pan to the volume of the sump is no more than 140 millimeters per 3 quarts.
10. The oil pan of claim 9 , wherein the ratio of the height of the oil pan to the volume of the sump is no more than 123.2 millimeters per 3 quarts.
11. The oil pan of claim 7 , wherein the bottom portion defines more than one groove.
12. A snowmobile vehicle comprising:
an engine mounted upon a frame of the snowmobile;
an oil pan connected to a bottom portion of the engine, the oil pan including a bottom portion that defines a groove that extends from a first side to a second side of the oil pan; and
a steering shaft, at least a portion of which runs beneath the oil pan and within the groove.
13. The snowmobile of claim 12 , wherein:
the oil pan is characterized by a depth and a volume; and
wherein the ratio of the depth of the oil pan to the volume of the oil pan is no more than 140 millimeters per 3 quarts.
14. The snowmobile of claim 13 , wherein the ratio of the depth of the oil pan to the volume of the oil pan is no more than 123.2 millimeters per 3 quarts.
15. The snowmobile of claim 12 , wherein the oil pan includes a side portion that defines a groove, the side portion groove being configured to permit a shaft of the snowmobile to pass beneath the oil pan.
16. The snowmobile of claim 12 , wherein the bottom portion defines at least two grooves that extend between the first and second sides of the oil pan.
17. The snowmobile of claim 12 , wherein:
the bottom portion of the oil pan is bounded by a periphery; and
the groove runs along a portion of the periphery, thereby forming a flange above the groove.