Constant fresh air crankcase ventilation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9702281-B2
Application number	US-201514821006-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 7, 2015
Priority date	Aug 7, 2015
Publication date	Jul 11, 2017
Grant date	Jul 11, 2017

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing constant fresh air ventilation to the engine crankcase are disclosed. The apparatus is adapted for use with an internal combustion engine having a crankcase, an intake manifold and an air input attached to the manifold. The system includes an integrated vacuum actuator connected to the intake manifold, an actuator duct positioned between the vacuum actuator and the air input, an air-from-oil separator associated with the crankcase, a separator duct and separator control valve positioned between the separator and the intake manifold, and a bypass duct and bypass control valve between the separator duct and the actuator duct. The air input comprises an initial intake pipe and an intermediate intake pipe with the intermediate intake pipe being positioned between the initial intake pipe and the intake manifold. A fresh air control pipe and regulator assembly are attached to the intermediate intake pipe.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A constant fresh air crankcase ventilation system for an internal combustion engine having a crankcase and an intake manifold with an input, the system comprising:
an integrated vacuum actuator connected to the manifold;
an actuator duct between said actuator and the input;
an air-from-oil separator associated with the crankcase;
a separator duct and valve between said separator and the manifold; and
a bypass duct and valve between said separator duct and said actuator duct.

2. The constant fresh air crankcase ventilation system for an internal combustion engine of claim 1 wherein said valves are check valves.

3. The constant fresh air crankcase ventilation system for an internal combustion engine of claim 1 further including a fresh air control pipe and regulator assembly attached to the input.

4. The constant fresh air crankcase ventilation system for an internal combustion engine of claim 1 wherein said bypass duct connects to said separator duct at a location between said separator and the manifold.

5. The constant fresh air crankcase ventilation system for an internal combustion engine of claim 4 wherein said separator duct valve is positioned between the manifold and the connection location of said bypass duct with said separator duct.

6. The constant fresh air crankcase ventilation system for an internal combustion engine of claim 1 wherein said actuator duct is a vacuum duct in which a vacuum is created from the input to said actuator.

7. A constant fresh air crankcase ventilation system comprising:
an engine having a crankcase, an intake manifold, and an air input attached to said manifold;
an integrated vacuum actuator connected to said manifold;
an actuator duct between said actuator and said input;
an air-from-oil separator associated with said crankcase;
a separator duct and control valve between said separator and said manifold; and
a bypass duct and control valve between said separator duct and said actuator duct.

8. The constant fresh air crankcase ventilation system for an internal combustion engine of claim 7 wherein said air input comprises an initial intake pipe and an intermediate intake pipe, said intermediate intake pipe being positioned between said initial intake pipe and said intake manifold.

9. The constant fresh air crankcase ventilation system for an internal combustion engine of claim 8 further including a fresh air control pipe and regulator assembly attached to said intermediate intake pipe.

10. The constant fresh air crankcase ventilation system for an internal combustion engine of claim 8 wherein said actuator duct is attached to said initial intake pipe of said input.

11. The constant fresh air crankcase ventilation system for an internal combustion engine of claim 8 further including a compressor fitted between said initial intake pipe and said intermediate intake pipe.

12. The constant fresh air crankcase ventilation system for an internal combustion engine of claim 11 further including an exhaust manifold attached to said engine, an exhaust pipe attached to said exhaust manifold, and a turbine attached to said exhaust pipe and to said compressor.

13. The constant fresh air crankcase ventilation system for an internal combustion engine of claim 7 wherein said bypass duct connects to said separator duct at a location between said separator and said intake manifold.

14. The constant fresh air crankcase ventilation system for an internal combustion engine of claim 13 wherein said separator duct control valve is positioned between said intake manifold and the connection location of said bypass duct with said separator duct.

15. The constant fresh air crankcase ventilation system for an internal combustion engine of claim 7 wherein said actuator duct is a vacuum duct in which a vacuum is created from said input to said actuator.

16. A method of providing constant fresh air crankcase ventilation for an internal combustion engine, the method comprising the steps of:
forming an engine having a crankcase and an intake manifold with an input, an integrated vacuum actuator connected to said manifold, an actuator duct between said actuator and said input, an air-from-oil separator associated with said crankcase, a separator duct and separator valve between said separator and said manifold, and a bypass duct and bypass valve between said separator duct and said actuator duct;
establishing a low-output part throttle mode by moving said separator valve to its open position and moving said bypass valve to its closed position; and
establishing a high-output boost mode by moving said separator valve to its closed position and moving said bypass valve to its open position.

17. The method of providing constant fresh air crankcase ventilation of claim 16 including the step of providing a fresh air control pipe and regulator assembly attached to the input.

18. The method of providing constant fresh air crankcase ventilation of claim 16 including providing an intake booster with said input.

19. The method of providing constant fresh air crankcase ventilation of claim 16 including the step of positioning said separator duct valve between said intake manifold and the connection location of said bypass duct with said separator duct.

20. The method of providing constant fresh air crankcase ventilation of claim 16 wherein said actuator duct is a vacuum duct in which a vacuum is created from said input to said actuator.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Newman Christopher William
• Bailey Iii Claude Weston
• Morton Scott

Classifications

• F01M13/04

  having means for purifying air before leaving crankcase, e.g. removing oil · CPC title

• F01M13/022 Primary

  using engine inlet suction · CPC title

• F01M13/028 Primary

  of positive pressure · CPC title

• F01M2013/0044

  with one or more valves · CPC title

• F01M13/023 Primary

  Control valves in suction conduit · CPC title