A crankcase assembly for an engine comprising: a crankcase comprising a crank sump; the crank sump comprising primary and secondary sump volumes; one or more crankcase oil catchers, the crankcase oil catchers comprising surfaces to catch dispersed oil in the crankcase and direct the oil away from a crankcase casing wall and towards the crank sump, wherein the crankcase oil catchers are provided above a crankshaft and below a piston of the engine; and one or more guides to collect oil and guide the oil to the primary sump volume. At least a portion of the guide is movable between a first configuration in which the guide collects the captured oil that would otherwise have.

In some examples, a drain pan comprises a composite material forming a reservoir and a drain. The composite material comprises a polymeric resin and a reinforcing fiber. The reservoir is to catch a liquid from an engine and to support a step load. The drain is to drain the liquid from the reservoir. In some examples, a method comprises attaching a drain pan to an aircraft proximate an engine. The drain pan comprises a composite material forming a reservoir and a drain. The method further comprises catching a liquid from the engine in the reservoir of the drain pan and draining the liquid from the reservoir through the drain. In addition, the method comprises supporting a step load on the reservoir of the drain pan.

The present invention relates to automotive products, as well as uses thereof, which can facilitate warming of engine oil in an energy efficient and, therefore, more environmentally friendly manner. More specifically, a fluid reservoir is disclosed that includes a double walled vessel that defines a fluid containing compartment and has a self-contained region that shares a wall with the fluid containing compartment. A composition in the self-contained region at least partially covers the shared wall surface, and one or more light sources are positioned in the self-contained region to induce a phase change in the composition. The composition includes a phase-change material (PCM) and a molecular switch material. This fluid reservoir can be used to heat oil in an engine or oil pan.

In a power unit device of a vehicle in which a differential device is arranged on one side of an engine, warming-up of the engine is facilitated while heat convection from an oil pan to a differential housing is inhibited. The power unit device includes a heat insulating member that covers the outer side of an oil pan, and a differential housing that is fitted to and mounted on the oil pan. A fitting portion is provided in the differential housing, and a fitted portion is provided in the oil pan. A fitting face portion of one of the fitting portion and the fitted portion includes, at different positions in the circumferential direction, a plurality of recesses and projections in the radial direction, and is fitted to a fitting face portion of the other of the fitting portion and the fitted portion by the plurality of projections.

In a power unit device of a vehicle in which a differential device is arranged on one side of an engine, warming-up of the engine is facilitated while heat convection from an oil pan to a differential housing is inhibited. The power unit device includes a heat insulating member that covers the outer side of an oil pan, and a differential housing that is fitted to and mounted on the oil pan. A fitting portion is provided in the differential housing, and a fitted portion is provided in the oil pan. A fitting face portion of one of the fitting portion and the fitted portion includes, at different positions in the circumferential direction, a plurality of recesses and projections in the radial direction, and is fitted to a fitting face portion of the other of the fitting portion and the fitted portion by the plurality of projections.

An oil pan disposed underneath an engine of a motorcycle and configured to reserve engine oil includes a shallow bottom portion and a deep bottom portion formed to extend in a front-rear direction of the motorcycle substantially at a center in a left-right direction of the motorcycle of the shallow bottom portion, and to become deeper than the shallow bottom portion, and in which a space defined in the left-right direction of the motorcycle between both side wall portions of the deep bottom portion that face each other in the left-right direction of the motorcycle is formed to increase as the deep bottom portion extends from a front toward a rear thereof with respect to the motorcycle.

A unit for storing and releasing thermal energy including a plurality of blocks each having a body the lateral walls of which delimit a chamber suited to receiving storage and release elements of PCM type, to be placed in heat exchange relationship with a refrigerating or heat-transfer fluid circulating between the chambers via passages; and elements for the thermal management of the chambers arranged around said chambers and at least some of which include a thermally insulating material and others a PCM.

In some examples, a drain pan comprises a composite material forming a reservoir and a drain. The composite material comprises a polymeric resin and a reinforcing fiber. The reservoir is to catch a liquid from an engine and to support a step load. The drain is to drain the liquid from the reservoir. In some examples, a method comprises attaching a drain pan to an aircraft proximate an engine. The drain pan comprises a composite material forming a reservoir and a drain. The method further comprises catching a liquid from the engine in the reservoir of the drain pan and draining the liquid from the reservoir through the drain. In addition, the method comprises supporting a step load on the reservoir of the drain pan.

An oil pan disposed underneath an engine of a motorcycle and configured to reserve engine oil includes a shallow bottom portion and a deep bottom portion formed to extend in a front-rear direction of the motorcycle substantially at a center in a left-right direction of the motorcycle of the shallow bottom portion, and to become deeper than the shallow bottom portion, and in which a space defined in the left-right direction of the motorcycle between both side wall portions of the deep bottom portion that face each other in the left-right direction of the motorcycle is formed to increase as the deep bottom portion extends from a front toward a rear thereof with respect to the motorcycle.

An oil sump is provided, including a bottom wall and a lateral outer wall, which in the assembled condition of the oil sump extends upwards from the bottom wall, as seen in the direction of gravity, and an oil storage region, which is arranged in an interior of the oil sump and, when the oil sump is in operation, is filled with oil up to a storage level, wherein the oil sump is better able to withstand heat and flame. The oil sump includes an oil cooling region, which is adjacent to the lateral outer wall and is filled with oil to a cool level, and a decoupling device for decoupling the cool level of the oil in the oil cooling region from the storage level of the oil in the oil storage region in a cool condition of the oil sump.