Caterpillar Inc.

Joseph R Brinker

Terry L Beranek

Stephen Thomas Lawrence

William G Angus

A flexible oil pan assembly of a flexible internal combustion engine has a plurality of spaced apart flexible baffles disposed between and connected to a first surface of first and second spaced apart side walls and a plurality of stiffening ribs connected to a second surface of the first and second side walls at preselected spaced locations. The combination of the baffles and stiffening ribs facilitates controlled deflection of the first and second side walls and reduces the potential for cracking of the first and second side walls.

Flexible oil pan assembly

A high horsepower internal combustion engine has an elongated block that is flexible during engine operation and an oil pan having sidewalls and is connectable to the block and flexible therewith. The oil pan has a plurality of baffles that are positioned within the oil pan, connected thereto at spaced apart locations and each have a flexible portion between the connecting location and the body of the baffle.

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W. Lafayette, IN, United States of America

Joseph R Brinker