Patent US2617078A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5878731A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and an apparatus for cleaning internal combustion engine crankcase blow-by-gas and an internal combustion engine including said apparatus
Assignee: Perkins Engines Co Ltd
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Filing: 1996-05-22
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Granted: 1999-03-09
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Expires: 2016-05-22
Abstract
Abstract An internal combustion engine in which the oil content of blow-by gas is reduced by conveying the blow-by gas (34) away from the engine to be cooled in a heat exchanger (30). Oil (40) condensing from the cooled blow-by gas (34) is returned to the engine and the cooled blow-by gas is exhausted to atmosphere or conveyed to the engine air intake system.
Inventors
- 👤 Maciej Bedkowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:36
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01M; F01M13/00; F01M13/04; F01M2013/0472
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of reducing the oil content of blow-by gas in an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of: conveying blow-by gas (34) away from the engine crankcase (14) to a heat exchanger (30) cooled by air (42) from an engine air intake system; cooling said blow-by gas (34) by passing it through said heat exchanger (30); returning oil condensed from said cooled blow-by gas (34) to the engine (10); and directing said cooled blow-by gas (34) into the flow of engine inlet air via a blow-by gas outlet (30e) which is located internally of the heat exchanger (30), characterised in that said blow-by gas outlet (30e) is located adjacent to an air inlet end (30b) of said heat exchanger (30).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of reducing the oil content of blow-by gas in an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of: conveying blow-by gas (34) away from the engine crankcase (14) to a heat exchanger (30) cooled by air (42) from an engine air intake system; cooling said blow-by gas (34) by passing it through said heat exchanger (30); returning oil condensed from said cooled blow-by gas (34) to the engine (10); and directing said cooled blow-by gas (34) into the flow of engine inlet air via a blow-by gas outlet (30e) which is located internally of the heat exchanger (30), characterised in that said blow-by gas outlet (30e) is located adjacent to an air inlet end (30b) of said heat exchanger (30).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the cooled blow-by gas (34) is directed into the flow of engine inlet air (42) in a direction generally opposite to a direction of flow of said inlet air.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the blow-by gas (34) is forced to flow through the heat exchanger (30) in a direction generally opposite to the direction of cooling air (42) flowing through said heat exchanger (30).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that it includes directing the cooled blow-by gas (34) into the engine inlet air flow (42) on an engine side of an air filtering means of the engine air intake system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that it includes forcing the blow-by gas (34) to flow over the outer surfaces of a plurality of tubular cooling members (44) mounted within the heat exchanger (30), the tubular members (46) being cooled b the air (42) from the engine air intake system flowing through them.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that it includes forcing the blow-by gas (34) to flow over the outer surfaces of first ends of said tubular members (46) before flowing over the outer surfaces of second ends of said members (46).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that it includes regulating the pressure of the blow-by gas (34) by means of a pressure regulating valve (56) incorporated in the heat exchanger (30).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that it includes passing the blow-by gas (34) through a mesh material (54) located in the blow-by gas flow path adjacent to the blow-by gas outlet (30e).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that it includes the step of returning oil condensed from said cooled blow-by gas (34) to the engine sump (16).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that it includes returning oil condensed from said cooled blow-by gas (34) to a position in the sump (16) below the normal engine oil level.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for reducing the oil content of blow-by gas in an internal combustion engine, comprising: means for conveying blow-by gas (34) away from the engine crankcase (14) to a heat exchanger (30) cooled by air (42) from an engine air intake system, said blow-by gas (34) being cooled by passing it through the heat exchanger (30); means (36) for returning oil condensed from said cooled blow-by gas (34) to the engine (10); and means (30e) for directing the cooled blow-by gas (34) into the flow of engine inlet air (42), said means (30e) comprising a blow-by gas outlet (30e) located internally of the heat exchanger (30), and characterised in that said blow-by gas outlet (30e) is located adjacent to an inlet air end (30b) of said heat exchanger (30).
Claim 13
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for reducing the oil content of blow-by gas in an internal combustion engine, comprising: means for conveying blow-by gas (34) away from the engine crankcase (14) to a heat exchanger (30) cooled by air (42) from an engine air intake system, said blow-by gas (34) being cooled by passing it through the heat exchanger (30); means (36) for returning oil condensed from said cooled blow-by gas (34) to the engine (10); and means (30e) for directing the cooled blow-by gas (34) into the flow of engine inlet air (42), said means (30e) comprising a blow-by gas outlet (30e) located internally of the heat exchanger (30), and characterised in that said blow-by gas outlet (30e) is located adjacent to an inlet air end (30b) of said heat exchanger (30).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that the blow-by gas outlet (30e) is arranged such that it directs cooled blow-by gas (34) into the flow of engine inlet air (42) in a direction generally opposite to a direction of flow of said inlet air.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that the heat exchanger (30) is arranged such that blow-by gas (34) is forced to flow through the heat exchanger (30) in a direction generally opposite to the direction of cooling air (42) flowing through said heat exchanger (30).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that the heat exchanger (30) is arranged on an engine side of an air filtering means of the engine air intake system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that the oil return means (36) returns condensed oil to a sump (16) of the engine (10).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, characterised in that the oil return means (36) returns condensed oil to a position on the engine sump (16) below a normal engine oil level.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that it includes a pressure regulating valve (56) incorporated in the heat exchanger (30), said valve (56) being arranged to regulate the pressure of blow-by gas (34) being conveyed to the heat exchanger (30) from the engine crankcase (14).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
113 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that the heat exchanger (30) comprises a housing (44) containing at least one tubular member (46) arranged with its longitudinal axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of the housing, said at least one tubular member (46) defining a flow path for the cooling air (42), and an inlet (30c) for blow-by gas which communicates with space (50) surrounding said at least one tubular member (46) and partition plates (52) which divide said space (50) to define a flow path for the blow-by gas (34) extending from said blow-by gas inlet (30c) to the blow-by gas outlet (30e) located internally of the heat exchanger (30).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, characterised in that the heat exchanger (30) includes a plurality of tubular members (46) arranged spaced apart in side by side relationship within the housing (44).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, characterised in that the tubular members (46) are circular in cross-section.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, characterised in that each tubular member (46) includes a fin (46a) extending from its outer surface, the fin (46a) acting as an additional heat transfer means for cooling the blow-by gas (34).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, characterised in that the tubular members (46) have a polygonal cross-section.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, characterised in that the heat exchanger (30) includes a mesh material (54) located in the blow-by gas flow path adjacent to at least the blow-by gas outlet (30e).
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
An internal combustion engine including an apparatus in accordance with claim 11.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-03-08 | 2002-09-07 | 2003-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-08 | 2006-09-07 | 2007-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-08 | 2010-09-07 | 2011-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |