Internal-combustion engines – Charge forming device – Crankcase vapor used with combustible mixture
Patent
1999-07-28
2000-07-18
McMahon, Marguerite
Internal-combustion engines
Charge forming device
Crankcase vapor used with combustible mixture
F01M 1304
Patent
active
060892137
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a lubricating oil filler line of an internal combustion engine with an oil mist separator mounted in the filling region of said line and intended for crankcase ventilation, according to the preamble of patent claim 13.
Such a device is known from U.S. Pat. No. 2,354,722.
Proceeding from this, the invention is concerned with the problem of designing such a generic device for cost-effective production from plastic, whilst at the same time optimizing the functional properties of this device.
The solution according to the invention consists of a generic lubricating oil filler line having the defining features of patent claim 13.
In this device, the return oil can flow into a space, in which a lower gas pressure prevails than in the crankcase region, out of which the oil mist to be freed of oil is extracted when crankcase ventilation is taking place. The device according to the invention may be given a compact design, using an overflow vessel, to be provided at any desired point, at the outflow end of the oil return line. The lubricating oil filler line may be designed, together with the return-oil line, a crankcase breather line and the overflow vessel, as a so-called modular part which can be handled as a unit and which can be flanged to an internal combustion engine. In this case, the oil mist separator is part of the module formed by the lubricating oil filler line, this oil mist separator being connected to said lubricating oil filler line so as to be capable of being separated in a simple way.
The fact that the oil returning from the oil mist separator can flow back counter to a gas pressure lower than in the crankcase to be ventilated arises as follows.
Since the return-oil line terminates in the vicinity of the bottom of an overflow vessel filled with lubricating oil during operation, there is a liquid barrier between the oil mist separator space, in which the return oil accumulates, and the space out of which oil mist to be freed of oil is extracted from the crankcase of the internal combustion engine. A pressure gradient generated in this way on the oil mist separator between the inlet space for the oil mist and the outlet space for separated oil is advantageous for the functioning of an oil mist separator. This applies, in particular, to the use of a cyclone as the oil mist separator.
It is necessary, for satisfactory functioning of the device, that the bottom of the overflow vessel be located vertically below the oil mist separator over a sufficient length when the lubricating oil filler orifice is in the operating position. Moreover, the overflow vessel must be capable of receiving a sufficiently large volume. The two conditions mentioned above are explained as follows.
A specific vertical distance between the oil mist separator and the bottom of the compensating vessel is necessary, so that a liquid head counteracting the overpressure in the adjacent gas space can form in the return-oil line, without penetrating into the oil mist separator to an extent such that the functioning of the latter is impaired. The overflow vessel must have a sufficient filling volume, so that sufficient liquid is available for rising in the return-oil line so as to compensate the gas pressure. In practice, the abovementioned vertical distance between the oil mist separator and the bottom of the overflow vessel, on the one hand, and the filling volume of this vessel, on the other hand, are designed in such a way that, in all operating states, on the one hand, it is still just not possible for any return oil to flow back into the oil mist separator, or build up there, so as to impede the functioning of the latter, and, on the other hand, in each case, sufficient liquid is available in the overflow vessel for a maximum rising height of the oil in the return line.
The overflow vessel is advantageously arranged with its orifice inside the lubricating oil filler line, in such a way that lubricating oil, which is introduced into the lubricating oil filler line, must necessarily fill the overflow vessel
REFERENCES:
patent: 4169432 (1979-10-01), White
patent: 4401093 (1983-08-01), Gates, Jr. et al.
patent: 4768493 (1988-09-01), Ohtaka et al.
Laudien Mike
Mohle Rolf
Knecht Filterwerke GmbH
McMahon Marguerite
LandOfFree
Lubricating oil fill line for an internal combustion engine, inv does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Lubricating oil fill line for an internal combustion engine, inv, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Lubricating oil fill line for an internal combustion engine, inv will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2025724