US6973925B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ventilation device for crankcase
Assignee: Mann and Hummel GmbH
•
Filing: 2001-08-22
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Granted: 2005-12-13
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Expires: 2021-08-22
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates in particular to a ventilation device for a crankcase of an internal combustion engine. Said device comprises a centrifugal oil separator, which has an inlet for an oil-air mixture, an air vent for the purified air and an oil outlet for the oil. To improve the operating efficiency of a ventilation device of this type, the centrifugal oil separator is configured as a disk separator.
Inventors
- 👤 Hartmut Sauter
- 👤 Pius Trautmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 19:44
CPC Classifications
B; B04; B04B; B04B5/00; B04B5/12; F; F01; F01M; F01M13/00; F01M13/04; B04B2005/125; F01M2013/0422
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
249 words
A venting device for a crankcase of an internal combustion engine with a centrifugal oil separator ( 1 ) comprising a mixture inlet ( 13 ) for an air-oil mixture and an air outlet ( 12 ) for clean air as well as an oil outlet ( 14 ) for oil, and said centrifugal oil separator being designed as a plate separator ( 1 ) having a stator ( 2 ) in the form of a housing ( 7 ) into which a rotor ( 3 ) comprising several plates ( 9 ) is placed which are located along the rotor axis ( 19 ) parallel to each other and coaxial to the rotor axis ( 19 ) whereby a gap ( 10 ) is formed between each two neighbouring plates ( 9 ), said gap joining an annular space ( 11 ) formed inside the rotor ( 3 ) with a space ( 8 ) which surrounds the rotor ( 3 ) inside the housing ( 7 ), whereby the annular space ( 11 ) of rotor ( 3 ) is joined to a first connection ( 12 ), and the space ( 8 ) of housing ( 7 ) to a second connection ( 13 ) as well as a third connection ( 14 ) which serves as the oil outlet, characterised in that the first connection ( 12 ) serves as the air outlet and the second connection ( 13 ) serves as the air inlet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
249 words
A venting device for a crankcase of an internal combustion engine with a centrifugal oil separator ( 1 ) comprising a mixture inlet ( 13 ) for an air-oil mixture and an air outlet ( 12 ) for clean air as well as an oil outlet ( 14 ) for oil, and said centrifugal oil separator being designed as a plate separator ( 1 ) having a stator ( 2 ) in the form of a housing ( 7 ) into which a rotor ( 3 ) comprising several plates ( 9 ) is placed which are located along the rotor axis ( 19 ) parallel to each other and coaxial to the rotor axis ( 19 ) whereby a gap ( 10 ) is formed between each two neighbouring plates ( 9 ), said gap joining an annular space ( 11 ) formed inside the rotor ( 3 ) with a space ( 8 ) which surrounds the rotor ( 3 ) inside the housing ( 7 ), whereby the annular space ( 11 ) of rotor ( 3 ) is joined to a first connection ( 12 ), and the space ( 8 ) of housing ( 7 ) to a second connection ( 13 ) as well as a third connection ( 14 ) which serves as the oil outlet, characterised in that the first connection ( 12 ) serves as the air outlet and the second connection ( 13 ) serves as the air inlet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The venting device according to claim 1 , characterised in that the plates ( 9 ) form a block of plates ( 20 ) where neighbouring plates ( 9 ) are attached to each other whereby the block of plates ( 20 ) via its axial ends is firmly fixed to a central rotor shaft ( 6 ) of the rotor ( 3 ).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The venting device according to claim 1 , characterised in that at least two neighboring plates ( 9 ) form a stack of plates ( 23 ) manufactured as a single part.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The venting device according to claim 1 , characterised in that the block of plates ( 20 ) is formed by at least one stack of plates ( 23 ).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The venting device according to claim 1 , characterised in that each plate ( 9 ) essentially has the form of a truncated cone shell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The venting device according to claim 2 , characterised in that the surface line of plates ( 9 ) includes an angle of about 45° with the rotor axis ( 19 ).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The venting device according to claim 1 , characterised in that in the direction of the rotor axis ( 19 ), spacers ( 18 ) are placed between neighbouring plates ( 9 ), which produce the respective gap ( 10 ).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The venting device according to claim 7 , characterised in that the spacers ( 18 ) in combination with the plates ( 9 ) are manufactured as single parts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
The venting device according to claim 1 , characterised in that the venting device includes a compress ( 15 ) which is placed either downstream or upstream of the plate separator ( 1 ) whereby the compressor ( 15 ) is essentially sized such that it at least compensates for a pressure loss which occurs during the flow through the plate separator ( 1 ).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The venting device according to claim 9 , characterised in that the compressor ( 15 ) is formed as a centrifugal compressor which is located on the clean air side downstream of the plate separator ( 1 ).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The venting device according to claim 9 , characterised in that an impeller ( 16 ) of the compressor ( 15 ) is fixed to the rotor ( 3 ) of the plate separator ( 1 ).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The venting device according to claim 11 , characterised in that an outlet opening of the annular space ( 11 ) directly discharges into the low pressure side of the impeller ( 16 ).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method for the manufacture of a plate separator ( 1 ) according to claim 1 whereby, depending on volumetric flow to be cleaned of oil, the number of plates ( 9 ) is to be determined, whereby a block of plates ( 20 ) is formed with this number of plates, whereby this block of plates ( 20 ) is then fixed to the rotor shaft ( 6 ).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method according to claim 13 , characterised in that the block of plates ( 20 ) is composed of several pre-fabricated stacks of plates ( 23 ) which are combined such that the block of plates ( 20 ) has the desired number of plates whereby the stacks of plates ( 23 ) can comprise differing plate numbers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
243 words
The use of a plate separator of a plate separator ( 1 ) having a stator ( 2 ) in the form-of a housing ( 7 ) into which a rotor ( 3 ) comprising several plates ( 9 ) is placed which are located along the rotor axis ( 19 ) parallel to each other and coaxial to the rotor axis ( 19 ) whereby a gap ( 10 ) is formed between each two neighbouring plates ( 9 ), said gap joining an annular space ( 11 ) formed inside the rotor ( 3 ) with a space ( 8 ) which surrounds the rotor ( 3 ) inside the housing ( 7 ), whereby the annular space ( 11 ) of rotor ( 3 ) is joined to a first connection ( 12 ), and the space ( 8 ) of housing ( 7 ) to a second connection ( 13 ) as well as a third connection ( 14 ) which serves as the oil outlet, characterised in that the first connection ( 12 ) serves as the air outlet and the second connection ( 13 ) serves as the air inlet, said plate separator being used as a centrifugal oil separator in a venting device for a crankcase of an internal combustion engine so that the first connection ( 12 ) serves as the air outlet while the second connection ( 13 ) serves as a mixture inlet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
243 words
The use of a plate separator of a plate separator ( 1 ) having a stator ( 2 ) in the form-of a housing ( 7 ) into which a rotor ( 3 ) comprising several plates ( 9 ) is placed which are located along the rotor axis ( 19 ) parallel to each other and coaxial to the rotor axis ( 19 ) whereby a gap ( 10 ) is formed between each two neighbouring plates ( 9 ), said gap joining an annular space ( 11 ) formed inside the rotor ( 3 ) with a space ( 8 ) which surrounds the rotor ( 3 ) inside the housing ( 7 ), whereby the annular space ( 11 ) of rotor ( 3 ) is joined to a first connection ( 12 ), and the space ( 8 ) of housing ( 7 ) to a second connection ( 13 ) as well as a third connection ( 14 ) which serves as the oil outlet, characterised in that the first connection ( 12 ) serves as the air outlet and the second connection ( 13 ) serves as the air inlet, said plate separator being used as a centrifugal oil separator in a venting device for a crankcase of an internal combustion engine so that the first connection ( 12 ) serves as the air outlet while the second connection ( 13 ) serves as a mixture inlet.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The use of a plate separator according to claim 15 , characterised in that the plates form a block of plates where neighboring plates are attached to each other whereby the block of plates via its axial ends is firmly fixed to a central rotor shaft of the rotor.
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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) | 2008-12-12 | 2009-06-13 | 2009-12-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-12-12 | 2013-06-13 | 2013-12-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-12-12 | 2017-06-13 | 2017-12-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |