Patent US7152589B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7152589B2
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Method and a device for cleaning of crankcase gas
Assignee: Alfa Laval Corporate AB
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Filing: 2003-06-17
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Granted: 2006-12-26
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Expires: 2023-06-17
Abstract
Abstract Upon cleaning of crankcase gas generated during operation of an internal combustion engine in its crankcase, a centrifugal separator is used, which includes a rotor arranged for rotation by means of a driving motor and arranged by its rotation suck crankcase gas from the crankcase through a conduit to the centrifugal separator. During operation of the combustion engine a parameter, e.g. a measurement of the load on the combustion engine is sensed, the magnitude of said parameter being related to the amount of crankcase gas generated per unit of time in the crankcase. Depending upon a sensed change of the sensed parameter the rotational speed of the rotor of the centrifugal separator is changed in a way such that the gas pressure in the crankcase is maintained at a predetermined value, or within a predetermined pressure interval, during the operation of the combustion engine.
Inventors
- 👤 Mats Ekeroth
- 👤 Claes-Goran Carlsson
- 👤 Rolf Ridderstrale
- 👤 Jan Skoog
- 👤 Goran Strom
- 👤 Claes Wase
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 19:59
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01M; F01M13/00; F01M13/04; B; B01; B01D; B01D45/00; B01D45/12; B01D45/14; B04; B04B; B04B5/00; B04B5/08; B04B5/12; B04B9/00; B04B9/10; F01M11/00; F01M11/10; B04B2005/125; F01M2013/0005; F01M2013/0422; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S55/00; Y10S55/19
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of cleaning crankcase gas generated during operation of an internal combustion engine in its crankcase, said method including the steps of: using centrifugal separator that includes a centrifugal rotor arranged for rotation by means of a driving motor and arranged by its rotation to suck crankcase gas from the crankcase to the centrifugal separator, sensing a parameter, the magnitude of which is related to the amount of crankcase gas generated per unit of time in the crankcase, and changing the rotational speed of the centrifugal rotor in response to a sensed change of said parameter such that gas pressure in the crankcase is maintained at at least one of a predetermined value; and within a predetermined pressure interval, during the operation of the combustion engine.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of cleaning crankcase gas generated during operation of an internal combustion engine in its crankcase, said method including the steps of: using centrifugal separator that includes a centrifugal rotor arranged for rotation by means of a driving motor and arranged by its rotation to suck crankcase gas from the crankcase to the centrifugal separator, sensing a parameter, the magnitude of which is related to the amount of crankcase gas generated per unit of time in the crankcase, and changing the rotational speed of the centrifugal rotor in response to a sensed change of said parameter such that gas pressure in the crankcase is maintained at at least one of a predetermined value; and within a predetermined pressure interval, during the operation of the combustion engine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1 , in which the rotational speed of the centrifugal rotor is changed from a first value to a second value, both larger than zero.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 , in which the rotational speed of the centrifugal rotor is changed stepwise in more than two steps.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 , in which the rotational speed of the centrifugal rotor is changed continuously.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 1 , in which the rotational speed of the centrifugal rotor is changed in response to a sensed change of a flow of crankcase gas, that is generated as a consequence of the production of crankcase gas by the combustion engine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 1 , in which the rotational speed of the centrifugal rotor is changed in response to a sensed change of an over pressure of the crankcase gas, which comes up as a consequence of the production of crankcase gas by the combustion engine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 , in which a parameter varying with the load on the combustion engine is sensed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 1 , in which an electric driving motor is used for the rotation of the centrifugal rotor and a frequency converter is used for changing the rotational speed of the driving motor and, thereby, the speed of the centrifugal rotor.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
159 words
A device for cleaning crankcase gas generated during operation of an internal combustion engine, said device including; a centrifugal separator having a centrifugal rotor that is arranged for rotation by means of a driving motor and arranged by its rotation to suck crankcase gas from the crankcase to the centrifugal separator, the driving motor being arranged for rotation of the centrifugal rotor at different speeds, sensing means for sensing a parameter, the magnitude of which is related to the amount of crankcase gas generated per unit of time in the crankcase, said sensing means being operatively connected with the driving motor; and the driving motor being arranged to change the rotational speed of the centrifugal rotor in response to a sensed change of said parameter in a way such that the gas pressure in the crankcase is maintained at at least one of a predetermined value, and within a predetermined pressure interval, during the operation of the combustion engine.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
159 words
A device for cleaning crankcase gas generated during operation of an internal combustion engine, said device including; a centrifugal separator having a centrifugal rotor that is arranged for rotation by means of a driving motor and arranged by its rotation to suck crankcase gas from the crankcase to the centrifugal separator, the driving motor being arranged for rotation of the centrifugal rotor at different speeds, sensing means for sensing a parameter, the magnitude of which is related to the amount of crankcase gas generated per unit of time in the crankcase, said sensing means being operatively connected with the driving motor; and the driving motor being arranged to change the rotational speed of the centrifugal rotor in response to a sensed change of said parameter in a way such that the gas pressure in the crankcase is maintained at at least one of a predetermined value, and within a predetermined pressure interval, during the operation of the combustion engine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 9 , in which the driving motor is electric and a frequency converter is connected between the sensing means and the driving motor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device according to claim 9 , in which the sensing means is arranged to sense a parameter that is related to the load to which the combustion engine is subjected during its operation.
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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) | 2009-12-25 | 2010-06-26 | 2010-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-12-25 | 2014-06-26 | 2014-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-12-25 | 2018-06-26 | 2018-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |