US Patent 7905367 Oil pan for an internal combustion engine

An oil pan having a drain mechanism (10) that comprises an adjustable valve body (11) which is introduced into a drain opening (13) in an oil pan wall and which 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 wall of the oil pan (1) when the valve body is in the closed position, and the valve body (11) when in the closed position is secured against the wall of the oil pan (1) by a closing element, and the sealing member (12) is held in the closed position by the closing element.