Patent ID: 8096290
Filing Date: 2012-01-17
Classification: F01M

Abstract:
1. A device for filtering particles from and reducing pressure of air that builds up in a crankcase of an operating internal combustion engine, the crankcase disposed adjacent a piston with an inlet manifold supplying filtered air to the piston, comprising: a filter container of defined height having an upstream air inlet including means for connection to the crankcase to remove air under pressure and oil therefrom, a liquid outlet and a downstream air outlet including means for connection to the inlet manifold to supply filtered air thereto, the air outlet being disposed at a level above the liquid outlet; and a filter material comprising at least one cylinder of fibrous material running between upper and lower ends of the filter container over the entire height of the filter container, separating the container thereby into an inlet chamber comprising the inlet, and an outlet chamber comprising the air outlet, with the air passing transversely through the filter material, the fibrous material comprising needled or thermally bonded fibers; the liquid outlet being disposed in a lower portion of the filter container separate from the air outlet, the inlet chamber receiving particles which fall from the filter material and oil from the crankcase to a defined depth, the liquid outlet comprising means for connection to the crankcase to return the oil and particles collected by the filter thereto, wherein a portion of the filter material extending from the defined depth to the upper end of the filter container presents a filter surface which is not contaminated by oil in the filter container.