Apparatus for the return of crankcase vapors into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine

Claim 1

In an apparatus which separates and removes oil contaminates from crankcase vapors which emanate from a crankcase of an internal combustion engine and returns said vapors to a combustion chamber of said internal combustion engine, comprising: (a) a breather device located on said engine in fluid communication with said crankcase and exposed to said crankcase vapors and contaminants upon exit of said vapors from said engine; (i) said breather device provided with filter elements which separate and remove a primary portion of said oil contaminants from said vapors; (b) an oil-bath air cleaner contained within a casing and in fluid communication with said breather device; cleaner elements contained within said casing and an oil-bath chamber is provided below said cleaner elements and within said casing; (c) pipe means provided in said casing; a first end of said pipe protruding outside of said casing for introducing outside air into said casing, and a second end of said pipe extending into said casing to a point slightly above said oil-bath chamber; (d) a vapor inlet connected to said breather device and to said pipe means; said vapors and residual oil contaminants flow through said inlet to said oil-bath cleaner; (i) said vapors and said residual oil contaminants mix with said outside air and are exposed to said oil-bath and said cleaner elements to remove said residual oil contaminants; and (e) outlet conduit means connected to said oil-bath cleaner and to said combustion chamber for returning the vapors, in the absence of said oil contaminants, to said combustion chamber.