US Patent 7780142 Oil pan for an internal combustion engine

An oil pan (1) provided with a drain mechanism (10) in which an adjustable valve body (11) is disposed in a drain opening (13) in the oil pan wall and is adjustable between a closed position and an open position. A sealing member (12) made of a flexible material is arranged on the valve body (11) of the drain mechanism (10) for closing the drain opening (13) in the oil pan wall when the valve body is in the closed position. The valve body (11) is secured by a closing element on the wall of the oil pan (1) when in the closed position, and the sealing member (12) is held in the closed position by the closing element.