Patent ID: 6561171
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: F01M

Abstract:
A crankcase breather for removing oil from blow-by gasses in an internal combustion engine, said crankcase breather comprising:an elongated housing having an internal filter chamber and an internal collection chamber, a gas flow inlet port into the filter chamber, and a gas flow outlet port from the collection chamber; a pair of elongated filter elements supported adjacent one another in the filter chamber, the filter elements located such that a first of said filter elements initially receives the blow by gasses from the gas flow inlet port and has an efficiency sufficient for separating oil particulate of a first size from the blow by gasses, and a second of the filter elements then receives the blow by gasses from the first filter element and has a efficiency sufficient for separating oil particulate of a second, smaller size from the blow by gasses; the housing including a drain opening in the filter chamber located to receive oil collected by the first filter element and to return the oil to the engine, and a separate return port in th e collection chamber disposed to receive oil collected by the second filter element and to return the oil to the engine, a check valve disposed in the return port to prevent blow-by gasses from the engine directly entering the collection chamber through the return port, but allowing oil to drain out from the collection chamber through the return port.