Patent Application
20200224566
The present invention relates to combustion engines and combustion by-products within such engines, and more specifically, to devices and methods to remove such by-products during combustion engine operation.
Combustion engines can generate energy by converting combustion forces arising from the ignition of combustible air-fuel mixture. By igniting such a mixture within a combustion chamber, a combustion force can cause mechanical motion of a structure, such as a piston, which can then be converted to power.
A crankcase ventilation system allows gases to escape from the crankcase of an internal combustion engine, and is generally required, as during combustion events an amount of “blow-by” arises when a portion of combustion gases escape past piston rings and reach the inside of a crankcase. This results in undesired pressures, as well as combustion by-products, in the crank case. Accordingly, positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) is used to vent the crankcase to control such internal pressure.
An object of the present invention is to provide a positive crankcase evacuation device (“PCED”).
Another object of the present invention is to provide a positive crankcase evacuation device that can assist in removing contaminants within a crankcase.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a positive crankcase evacuation device can include an outer can, an upper lid, a lower lid, an internal frame and an amount of coalescing material.
In an exemplary aspect of the present invention, an outer can have at least one side can wall, with the at least one side can wall defining an open can top, an open can bottom, and a can cavity.
In another exemplary aspect, an upper lid, which can be removable or permanently attached to the can top or integral therewith, can have at least one upper lid intake aperture and at least one upper lid exhaust aperture.
In a further exemplary aspect, a lower lid, which can be removable or permanently attached to the can bottom or integral therewith, can have at least one lower lid exhaust aperture for draining trapped contaminants.
In still another exemplary aspect, an internal frame can be disposed within the can cavity, and can have the following:
at least one frame side wall defining an open frame top and an open frame bottom,
a first baffle, attached to the frame top, and having at least one first baffle aperture,
a second baffle, attached to the frame bottom, and having at least one second baffle aperture, and
an intake conduit, extending through the first baffle aperture, and having a first conduit end in communication with the upper lid intake aperture, and a second conduit end in direct communication with a first chamber, the first chamber defined by said internal frame sidewall, the first baffle, and the second baffle, wherein the conduit can include a cylindrical conduit having at least one radial perforation.
In still a further exemplary aspect, an amount of coalescing material can be disposed within the first chamber.
in still yet another exemplary aspect, the lower can lid, second baffle, and at least one side can wall define a second chamber, the at least one side can wall, the first baffle, and the second baffle can define a third chamber, and the at least one side can wall, the first baffle, and the upper can lid form a fourth chamber.
In an exemplary application of the present invention, impurity-containing gases from a crankcase can enter the PCED via the first conduit end, and thereafter enter the first chamber via the second conduit end. Next, the gases can travel through the coalescing material, which can cause at least a portion of the impurities to convert to liquid form via condensation. The liquid can then drain downward through the at least one second baffle aperture and collect in the second chamber, which can be subsequently drained via the lower lid exhaust aperture, which can be selectively opened or closed.
Further, the gases in the first chamber can then enter the second chamber, in which further condensation can occur before traveling upwardly between the at least one can side wall and edges of the second baffle to enter the third chamber, in which additional condensation can occur. Next, the gases can again travel upwardly between the at least one can side wall and edges of the first baffle to enter the fourth chamber, in which still further condensation can occur. Finally, gases can exhaust the PCED via the at least one upper lid exhaust aperture and be returned to a crankcase.
1)
It is an object of the present invention to provide a positive crankcase evacuation device.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a positive crankcase evacuation device that assists in removing impurities from within a crankcase.
It should be noted that this disclosure includes a plurality of embodiments each having a plurality of elements and/or aspects, and such elements and/or aspects need not necessarily be interpreted as being conjunctively required by one or more embodiments of the present invention. In particular, all combinations of elements and/or aspects can enable a separate embodiment of a patentable invention, which may be claimed with particularity in this or any future filed Patent Applications. Moreover, such elements and/or aspects disclosed herein, whether expressly or implicitly, are to be construed strictly as illustrative and enabling, and not necessarily limiting. Therefore, it is expressly set forth that any elements and./or aspects, independently or in any combination of one or more thereof, are merely illustratively representative of one or more embodiments of the present invention and are not to be construed as necessary in a strict sense.
Further, to the extent the same element and/or aspect is defined differently anywhere within this disclosure, whether expressly or implicitly, the broader definition is to take absolute precedence, with the distinctions encompassed by the narrower definition to be strictly construed as optional.
Illustratively, perceived benefits of the present invention can include functional utility, whether expressly or implicitly stated herein, or apparent herefrom. However, it is expressly set forth that these benefits are not intended as exclusive. Therefore any explicit, implicit, or apparent benefit from the disclosure herein is expressly deemed as applicable to the present invention.
The present invention provides a positive crankcase evacuation device (“PCED”).
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a PCED can include an outer can, an upper lid, a lower lid, an internal frame, and an amount of coalescing material.
As illustrated in
In an exemplary aspect, upper lid 200 can include at least one upper lid intake aperture 201 and at least one upper lid exhaust aperture 202. Notably, upper lid 200 can be configured to be removably attached to can top 102, such as via threads, for example and not in limitation, or be permanently attached thereto, via welding, adhesive, etc., or can be integral therewith, such as via molding or other type of forming.
In another exemplary aspect, lower lid 300 can include at least one lower lid exhaust aperture 301. Notably, lower lid 300 can be configured to be removably attached to can bottom 103, such as via threads, for example and not in limitation, or be permanently attached thereto, via welding, adhesive, etc., or can be integral therewith, such as via molding or other type of forming.
As illustrated in
As further illustrated, internal frame 400 can further include a first baffle 404 attached to frame top 402 and having at least one first baffle aperture 404a, and a second baffle 405, attached to frame bottom 403, and having at least one second baffle aperture 405a. Notably, first and second baffle 404, 405 can be configured to be removably attached to frame top and bottom 402, 403, such as via threads, for example and not in limitation, or be permanently attached thereto, via welding, adhesive, etc., or can be integral therewith, such as via molding or other type of forming.
As further illustrated, internal frame 400 can also include an intake conduit 406 that extends through first baffle aperture 404a, and can have a first conduit end 407 n communication with the upper lid intake aperture 201 (shown in
As further illustrated, an amount of coalescing material 500, which can be provided as any desired material that can facilitate condensation as described herein, including any one or more of a metallic, plastic, rubber, wood, crystalline, naturally occurring or man-made material, for example and not in limitation, can be disposed within first chamber 410. In an exemplary embodiment, coalescing material can be provided as a “shredded metal”, such as stainless steel mesh, for example and not in limitation.
In an exemplary operation of a PCED, impurity-containing gases from a crankcase (not shown) can enter the PCED via upper lid intake aperture 201 and first conduit end, 407, and thereafter enter first chamber 410 via the one or more second conduit end apertures 409 through perforations in conduit 406.
Next, the gases can travel through coalescing material 500, which can cause at least a portion of the impurities to convert to liquid form via condensation within first chamber 410. The liquid can then drain through the at least one second baffle aperture 405a and collect in second chamber 420, and can be subsequently drained via lower lid exhaust aperture 301, which can be selectively opened or closed, in any functionally compatible manner and/or with any functionally compatible structure desired, such as via a valve.
Further, gases in first chamber 410 can then enter second chamber 420 via the at least one second baffle aperture 405a, in which further condensation can occur before traveling upwardly between the at least one can side wall 101 and edges of second baffle 405 to enter third chamber 430, in which additional condensation can occur. Next, the gasses can again travel upwardly between the at least one can side wall 101 and the edges of first baffle 404 to enter fourth chamber 440, in which still further condensation can occur. Finally, gases can exhaust the PCED 1 via the at least one upper lid exhaust aperture 202, and returned to the source crankcase (not shown).
Notably, any one or more disclosed components of the present invention can formed from any one or more materials desired, including but not limited to, any type of metal (including aluminum), plastic, rubber, crystalline material, naturally occurring or man-made material, etc., insofar as the same in functionally compatible with the present invention as described.
Additionally, it should be noted that the present invention can optionally be provided with one or more positive closing check valves to self-regulate air flow, so as to minimize the risk of oil pull-through during deceleration from wide open throttle runs.
Further, outer can 100 can be provided with a one quart capacity, but can be provided with smaller or larger capacities as desired. Further, the present invention can be provided with one or more chambers to the extent desired.
It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the manner of making and using the claimed invention has been adequately disclosed in the above-written description of the exemplary embodiments and aspects.
It should be understood, however, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the specific embodiments, aspects, arrangement, and components shown and described above, but may be susceptible to numerous variations within the scope of the invention. For example, any one or more components of the present invention can be attached to another, whether permanent or removably, or can be integral therewith.
Therefore, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative and enabling, rather than a restrictive, sense.
Accordingly, it will be understood that the above description of the embodiments of the present invention are susceptible to various modifications, changes, and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.
This document is related to, incorporates by reference in its entirety, and claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/104,400 entitled “The RX Catch Can” filed on Jan. 16, 2015 by Tracy George Lewis. Further, this application incorporates by reference in its entirety, and claims the priority benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/060,832 filed Mar. 4, 2016.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62104400 | Jan 2015 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15060832 | Mar 2016 | US |
| Child | 16829751 | US |
