Crankcase ventilation system for automotive engine

Claim 1

A ventilation system for an automotive engine having a crankcase, an induction system, a crankshaft, and at least one camshaft driven by the crankshaft, comprising: processor means for pumping gases from the crankcase and for separating entrained lubricating oil from the pumped gas flow, with said processor means comprising a blower mounted upon said camshaft; and recovery means for introducing the separated gas to the induction system and for returning the separated oil to the crankcase with said blower comprising a centrifugal pumping element having: a circular rear plate attached to said camshaft; a circular front plate having a cylindrical axial flow section formed at its center and being axially separated from said rear plate so as to form therewith an annular flow area; and an annular rim section joining said front and rear plates and comprising: a plurality of external oil slinger fins mounted about the outer diameter of the plates, with at least one of said fins having a passage therein for permitting blowby gas to enter the annular flow area; and a plurality of internal gas pumping fins extending generally radially inwardly from the outer diameter of the outer diameter of the plates.