Abstract:
Known devices for separating liquids using parallel-connected cyclones, when gas flows are fluctuating, have a poor separating action. 
     In the device of the invention, the separating action is conversely improved by providing that the number of separator elements through which the gas flow flows is adapted in each case to the gas flow. When the gas flow is high, there is a flow through more separator elements than when the gas flow is low. In this way, the separator elements are operated closer to the optimal operating point than in the prior art. 
     According to the invention, it is proposed that a closing body ( 11 ) of a distributor valve ( 13 ) be disposed movably in a distributor conduit ( 10 ) and either automatically or by means of a drive mechanism adjusts the optimal number of separator elements ( 16 ) through which there is a flow.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is based on a device for separating liquid from a gas flow. 
   A device for separating liquid, in particular oil, in which a plurality of parallel-connected cyclones are provided is already known from German Patent Disclosure DE 199 12 271 A1. However, in operating states of an internal combustion engine in which a volumetric flow of blowby gas to be cleaned, coming from a crankcase ventilation system, fluctuates comparatively sharply over time, either individual cyclones or parallel-connected cyclones have a poor separating action. Oil contained in the blowby gas from the crankcase ventilation system, however, must be reliably separated if a high oil loss is to be avoided, since the blowby gas is mixed with an intake flow in an intake tube of the engine, and oil contained in the blowby gas would thus be combusted in the engine. Moreover, oil contained in the blowby gas can also damage components of the engine, such as hot-film manometers, turbochargers, charge air coolers, and the lambda sensor. 
   From German Patent Disclosure DE 197 00 733 A1, it is known that nonwoven fabrics, knitted wire goods, wire wool, yarns or granulates can be used to separate liquid, especially oil, in a fine separator. Over the course of time, however, these materials become clogged, so that they must be replaced at predetermined intervals. 
   In German Patent Application 102 47 123, which had not yet been published by the priority date of the present application, a device for separating liquid that has parallel-connected spirals and coils has already been proposed. A high degree of separation with a low pressure loss can be attained only at an optimal operating point and at a predetermined volumetric flow. The volumetric flow of blowby gas is dependent on the operating state and rpm of the engine, on production tolerances between the piston and cylinder of the engine, and on wear between the piston and cylinder. The volumetric flow of blowby gas therefore varies sharply during engine operation. As a result, the device operates only rarely at its optimal operating point, and hence the degree of separation is lower, compared to the optimal operating point. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The device of the invention for separating liquid from a gas flow having the definitive characteristics of the body of the main claim has the advantage over the prior art that an improvement in the separating action is attained in a simple way by disposing at least one closing body of a distributor valve movably in a distributor conduit. The closing body cooperates with a sealing seat, so that the sealing seat seals off the crankcase from the intake tube when the engine is stopped. In this way, when the engine is stopped, gas and liquid cannot get into the intake tube and become deposited on the air flow rate meter, for instance. Liquid deposited on the air flow rate meter causes incorrect measurement values and thus an incorrectly adjusted combustion process and poor exhaust gas values. That is averted here, since when there is no or only a slight gas flow, the closing body rests on the sealing seat. 
   It is especially advantageous that the distributor valve controls the number of separator elements through which there is a flow, as a function of the quantity of the volumetric flow of blowby gas. This is done by providing that the closing body can open or close the separator elements, for instance in successive stages. Each stage is assigned at least one separator element. At a low volumetric flow of blowby gas, fewer separator elements have a flow through them than at a high volumetric flow of blowby gas. In this way, the separator elements can operate in an operating range around the optimal operating point and nevertheless achieve a good separating action. 
   It is also advantageous if the closing body adjusts automatically on the basis of a force equilibrium of a flow force exerted by the gas flow on the closing body and a force due to weight originating in the weight of the closing body, or on the basis of a force equilibrium of a flow force exerted by the gas flow on the closing body and a restoring force, for instance a spring force exerted by a spring, since that is an especially simple embodiment. 
   It is advantageous to embody the closing body cylindrically, spherically, conically or in flap form, since these embodiments are especially suitable in terms of the pressure loss of the gas stream in the device. 
   It is very advantageous if the closing body executes a linear motion, since this is especially simple to achieve in terms of engineering. 
   It is also advantageous if the closing body executes a rotary motion, since this is especially space-saving. 
   It is also advantageous to use spirals, coils, cyclones, nonwovens or yarns as separator elements. If spirals, coils and cyclones are used as separator elements, this has the advantage that they are operated closer to the optimal operating point than in the prior art. If nonwovens and yarns are used as separator elements, this has the advantage that the intervals between required replacements of the nonwovens or yarns are markedly longer than in the prior art. Under some circumstances, it may not even be necessary to replace them at all over the expected useful life of the motor vehicle. 
   It is advantageous if at least some of the separator elements have a different geometry, since in this way the operating range around the optimal operating point is especially wide. 
   It is furthermore advantageous if the distributor conduit communicates at least indirectly with the separator elements via connecting conduits, because in this way the gas is distributed centrally to the parallel-connected separator elements via the distributor conduit. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in simplified form in the drawing and described in further detail in the ensuing description. 
       FIG. 1  shows a first view of a first exemplary embodiment of the device for separating liquid from a gas flow in section; 
       FIG. 2  shows a second view of the first exemplary embodiment in a section taken along the line II—II in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  shows a third view of the first exemplary embodiment; 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view of a second exemplary embodiment; 
       FIG. 5  shows a further view of the second exemplary embodiment in a section taken along the line V—V in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view of a third exemplary embodiment; 
       FIG. 7  shows a further view of the third exemplary embodiment in a section taken along the line VII—VII in  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional view through a fourth exemplary embodiment; and 
       FIG. 9  shows a further view of the fourth exemplary embodiment in a section taken along the line IX—IX in  FIG. 8 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  shows a device according to the invention for separating liquid from a gas flow. The device according to the invention is preferably used to separate liquids, especially oil, from a gas flow and can thus generally be used for separating out droplets of liquids from flowing gases. The device of the invention is preferably used in a crankcase ventilation system of an internal combustion engine. 
   During operation of an internal combustion engine, because there is a slight leakage between a piston, piston rings, and cylinder running faces, a gas flows out of a combustion chamber into a crankcase. This gas is known as blowby gas. For the blowby gas, only the general term “gas” will be used below. Because of the slight leakage of gas from the engine combustion chamber, an excessive pressure increase occurs in the crankcase, making it necessary to achieve a pressure equilibrium by means of the so-called crankcase ventilation system. Since the gas has a high hydrocarbon concentration, the gas cannot be simply vented into the atmosphere. The crankcase ventilation system therefore carries in the form of a gas flow into an intake system of the engine, so that it will be delivered there for combustion. As a result of the gas flowing in at a high flow velocity, and because of the moving parts in the crankcase, an oil mist with many small and large oil droplets occurs in the crankcase. These oil droplets must be separated out in the crankcase ventilation system with the aid of a device for separating liquid from the gas flow, in order to prevent a high oil loss and in order not to adversely affect the combustion. 
   The device for separating liquid from the gas flow has a housing  1  with an inlet connection  2 , a gas outlet  3 , and a liquid outlet  4 . The inlet connection  2  and the liquid outlet  4  communicate at least indirectly with the crankcase, not shown, of the engine, and the gas outlet  3  communicates at least indirectly with an intake tube of the engine. The inlet connection  2  of the housing  1  has an inlet conduit  5 , which makes a 90° deflection, for instance after a straight conduit portion  8 , at a curved portion  9  and then discharges into a straight distributor conduit  10 . The cross section of the inlet conduit  5  and of the distributor conduit  10  is circular, for instance. A closing body  11  is movably supported in the distributor conduit  10  and cooperates with a sealing seat  12 , disposed in the distributor conduit  10  near an end, toward the distributor conduit  10 , of the curved portion  9 . The closing body  11  and the sealing seat  12  form a distributor valve  13 . The distributor conduit  10  narrows from the end, toward the distributor conduit  10 , of the curved portion  9 , in the direction of the sealing seat  12 . If the closing body  11  is resting on the sealing seat  12 , then the distributor conduit  10  is sealed off tightly from the inlet conduit  5 . The closing body  11  is embodied cylindrically, for instance, but can also be embodied spherically, conically, or as a flap. Downstream of the sealing seat  12 , in a wall  14  of the distributor conduit  10 , there are a plurality of annular conduits  15  extending annularly around the circumference of the distributor conduit  10  and spaced apart from one another in the flow direction. The annular conduits  15  have a rectangular cross section, for instance. The annular conduit  15  and distributor conduit  10  are each separated from one another by an annular partition  29 , each of which has many openings  30 . The openings  30  are for instance rectangular. However, they can also be round, oval, or polygonal. Between the individual openings  30 , a web  31  of the partition  29  remains. Each annular conduit  15  discharges into a respective connecting conduit  32  ( FIG. 2 ), which in turn communicates with a respective separator element  16 . At least one separator element  16 , and for instance one separator element  16 , is associated with each annular conduit  15 . However, it is also possible for one annular conduit  15  to be connected to a plurality of separator elements  16 , for instance two of them. The number of separator elements  16  associated with the annular conduits  15  can vary from one annular conduit  15  to an arbitrary number. For instance, the lowermost annular conduit  15  can communicate with two separator elements  16 , the annular conduit  15  above it can communicate with one separator element  16 , and the next higher annular conduit can communicate with three separator elements. 
   The separator elements  16  provided in the device are cyclones, for example, but can also be spirals, coils, nonwovens, or yarns. In the device, it is possible for instance to provide only cyclones or only spirals or coils or only nonwovens or yarns. However, a combination of the aforementioned separator elements  16 , such as cyclones and spirals, is also possible. 
   The diameter of the closing body  11  is slightly less than that of the distributor conduit  10 , so that a clearance fit exists, and the closing body  11  is guided movably in the distributor conduit  10  so that it cannot become canted. The surface of the closing body  11  for instance has numerous annular grooves in the circumferential direction, so that a contact area between the closing body  11  and the distributor conduit  10 , and thus friction, are as slight as possible. On both ends of the closing body  11 , chamfers are disposed on the circumference, to prevent canting. The face end of the closing body  11  toward the sealing seat  12  has a conical tip  35 , for instance, for the sake of streamlining. Thus the closing body  11  has one cylindrical region  57  and one conical region  58 . A lowermost edge of the cylindrical region  57  oriented toward the sealing seat  12  will be called a control edge  59 . The jacket face of the conical tip  35  is for instance curved inward. On the face end of the closing body  11  remote from the sealing seat  12 , a central recess  36  is for instance provided, to reduce the weight of the closing body  11 . With its circumference, the closing body  11  can cover all or some of the openings  30  to an annular conduit  15  or a plurality of annular conduits  15 , depending on the axial length of the closing body in the distributor conduit  10 . 
   Downstream of the last annular conduit  15  in terms of the flow direction, the distributor conduit  10  discharges into a blind conduit  17 , which is closed on its end by a flangelike cap  18 . The distributor conduit  10  and the blind conduit  17  are located on the same straight axis  21 . The cross sections of the distributor conduit  10  and the blind conduit  17  are the same size. The flangelike cap  18  for instance has a cylindrical shoulder  22 , which is disposed centrally on the side toward the distributor conduit  10  and which engages the inside of the blind conduit  17 . 
   The closing body  11  can move, with its end toward the blind conduit  17 , as far as a face end of the cylindrical shoulder  22  oriented toward the blind conduit  17 . Thus the face end forms a stop  23 . The length of the blind conduit  17  is designed such that the closing body  11  can plunge far enough into the blind conduit  17  that all the openings  30  to the annular conduits  15  are completely opened. At the end of the blind conduit  17 , on a wall  24  of the blind conduit  17 , a shoulder  25  is provided that is complementary to the flangelike cap  18 . The flangelike cap  18  is flanged to the shoulder  25  of the housing  1  with screws, for instance, but it can also be glued, welded or clipped to it. An annular sealing groove  28  is disposed in the face end of the cap  18  toward the blind conduit  17 , near and outside the cylindrical shoulder  22 , and in it a sealing ring, for instance, is provided for sealing off the device from the environment. Alternatively, however, a sealing groove  28  can be provided on the circumference of the cylindrical shoulder  22 . 
   The separator elements  16  are disposed for instance concentrically around the distributor conduit  10  ( FIG. 2 ) and ascending helically in a direction of rotation around the distributor conduit  10 . Thus the separator elements are axially displaced relative to one another with respect to the axis  21 . The device has at least two and for instance five separator elements  16 . 
   The lowermost separator element  16  communicates with the lowermost annular conduit  15  via the associated connecting conduit  32 . The separator element  16  next following it axially with respect to the axis  21  communicates with the annular conduit  15  above the lowermost annular conduit  15 . In this way, all the separator elements  16  are assigned an annular conduit  15  in ascending order. 
   The cyclones  16  each have an axis of symmetry  26 , which extends parallel to the axis  21  of the distributor conduit  10 . 
   The blowby gas from the crankcase flows into the inlet conduit  5  via the inlet connection  2  of the device with a volumetric flow predetermined by the differential pressure between the crankcase and the intake tube of the engine, and when the closing body  11  is lifted from the sealing seat  12 , it reaches the distributor conduit  10 . The gas stream is distributed from the central distributor conduit  10  to at least one separator element  16 , or to some of the parallel-connected separator elements  16 . 
   Beyond a minimum pressure in the crankcase, the closing body  11  lifts from the sealing seat  12  and moves in the direction of the stop  23 . An axial position of the closing body  11  is established in accordance with a force equilibrium of the force due to weight of the closing body  11  that is oriented downward in the direction of the sealing seat  12  and the flow force, oriented upward counter to the force due to weight and exerted on the closing body by the gas flow. If no flow is occurring, then the flow forces are equal to zero, and the closing body drops downward by its own weight onto the sealing seat  12 . The minimum pressure in the crankcase beyond which the closing body  11  lifts from the sealing seat  12  is adjusted or set by way of selecting a certain weight for the closing body  11 . The closing body  11  functions like a float. 
   The annular conduits  15 , which are located between the sealing seat  12  and the control edge  59  of the closing body  11  and whose openings  30  are now no longer completely closed by the circumferential surface of the closing body  11 , can experience a flow through them of the blowby gas in the direction of the separator elements  16 . 
   Through a small gap between the distributor conduit  10  and the closing body  11 , leakage can occur, so that gas in small quantities can also reach annular conduits  15  above the control edge  59 . 
   In this way, the closing body  11  controls the number of separator elements  16  experiencing a flow through them. If the pressure in the crankcase and thus the gas flow increase, the closing body  11  moves farther upward in the direction of the stop  23  in accordance with a force equilibrium, so that the openings  30  of previously closed annular conduits  15  are opened, and additional separator elements  16  experience a flow. If the volumetric flow drops, the closing body  11  moves downward again in the direction of the sealing seat  12  in accordance with the force equilibrium, so that the openings  30  of previously opened annular conduits  15  are closed, and there is no longer a flow through separator elements  16 . 
   The variation in the number of separator elements  16  experiencing a flow is done in so-called stages  71 . With each stage  71 , additional separator elements  16  are activated or deactivated. In this exemplary embodiment, the stage  71  corresponds to one annular conduit  15 . 
   The number of separator elements  16  experiencing a flow is thus adapted on an ongoing basis to the gas flow that varies over time. Because of the control of the number of separator elements  16  experiencing a flow, the separator elements  16  can operate closer to the optimal operating point compared to the prior art and have a markedly improved separating performance than if all the separator elements  16  experienced an equal flow through them regardless of the volumetric flow. 
   Via the open annular conduits  15 , the gas reaches the connecting conduits  32 , in which the flow is accelerated. From there, the gas flows at a tangent into the separator elements  16 . 
   In a known manner, the cyclones comprise an upper cylindrical portion  50  and a lower conical portion  51 ; the latter merges with a cylindrical liquid outlet  39 . The cylindrical portion  50 , on the side remote from the conical portion  51 , has a shoulder  52  extending over the circumference. A cap  53  closes the open cylindrical portion  50  on the side toward the shoulder  52 . The cap  53  rests on the shoulder  52 . An immersion conduit  37  is disposed centrally on the cap  53 . The immersion conduit  37  penetrates the cap  53  and with part of its length extends into an interior  54  of the cyclone  16 , while with another part of its length it fits over the cap  52  in the direction remote from the cyclone  16 . 
   In the separator elements  16 , for instance in the cyclones, the separation of the liquid from the gas flow is done in a known manner. The connecting conduit  32  discharges at a tangent into the cylindrical portion  50  of the cyclone. The flow in the cyclone is set into rotation because of the tangential inflow and flows helically in the form of an outer eddy along a cyclone wall  38  in the direction of the liquid outlet  39 . Near the liquid outlet  39 , the flow changes its direction and ascends as an inner eddy in the center of the outer eddy in the direction of the cap  53  and leaves the cyclone  16  by way of the immersion conduit  37 . Upon the rotation in the direction of the liquid outlet  39 , the flow is increasingly accelerated, so that finally, liquid contained in the gas can no longer follow the flow, and by centrifugal force the liquid strikes the cyclone wall  38 . The liquid separated out in this way runs downward along the cyclone wall  38  in the form of droplets or a film of liquid. The cyclones  16  each have a liquid outlet  39  at their respective lower ends. 
   The separator elements  16 , such as cyclones, provided in the device can have a different geometry. For instance, the last and the next-to-last separator elements  16  can be larger than the separator elements  16  disposed upstream of them. Hence the separator elements  16  need not all be the same size. 
   By means of an outlet line  42 , each liquid outlet  39  communicates with a liquid collector  43 , in which the liquid separated out in the cyclones  16  is collected. The outlet line  42  is for instance a plastic pipe, but it can also be a flexible hose. On its underside at the lowest point, the liquid collector  43  has the liquid outlet  4 , which communicates at least indirectly with the crankcase and through which the collected liquid is returned into the crankcase. 
   The gas that has been cleaned of the liquid flows into a collection chamber  43  via the immersion conduit  37  and an outflow conduit  45 . The outflow conduit  45  is for instance a plastic pipe but can also be a flexible hose. The collection chamber  46 , for instance on its top side  49 , has a gas outlet  3 , by way of which the gas is delivered at least indirectly to the intake tube. 
   Cyclones must be built in vertically, in the direction of gravity, with respect to their axis of symmetry  26  if their function is to be assured. 
   If nonwovens or yarns are for instance used as separator elements  16 , and if according to the invention a plurality of nonwovens or yarns are connected parallel, then the intervals at which the nonwovens or yarns must be replaced become longer, since more filter surface area is available compared to the prior art. Replacement of the nonwovens or yarns is for instance necessary because the nonwovens or yarns become clogged over time, and the pressure loss increases excessively. If in the device of the invention the nonwovens or yarns in the first stage  71  become increasingly clogged, a higher flow pressure builds up before the next higher stage  71 ; thus that stage  71  opens and experiences a flow through it. If finally it becomes clogged as well, the next following stage  71  opens. If the nonwovens or yarns of all the stages  71  have finally become clogged, then an overpressure valve can for instance be provided, which connects the inlet conduit  5  directly to the gas outlet  3 , so that the gas can flow via a bypass, bypassing the separator elements  16 , directly into the gas outlet  3 . 
   The device for instance comprises plastic and is produced by injection molding. 
     FIG. 2  shows a view of the device in a section taken along the line II—II in  FIG. 1 . 
   Each connecting conduit  32  narrows, from the annular conduit  15  in the direction of the separator element  16 , in order to accelerate the flow. The connecting conduits  32  discharge at a tangent into the separator elements  16 . 
     FIG. 3  shows a further view of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
     FIG. 4  shows a sectional view of a second exemplary embodiment. 
   In the device of  FIG. 4 , those elements that remain the same or function the same as in the device of  FIGS. 1–3  are identified by the same reference numerals. 
   The device of  FIG. 4  differs from the device of  FIG. 1  in that a plurality of closing bodies  11  are provided one above the other and spaced apart axially with respect to the axis  21  in a distributor conduit  10 . 
   The inlet conduit  5  discharges into a cup-shaped portion  65  of the distributor conduit  10 . The cross section of the cup-shaped portion  65  increases abruptly compared to the inlet conduit  5 . A discharge opening  68  of the inlet conduit  5  into the distributor conduit  10  is disposed in a bottom  67  of the cup-shaped portion  65 . The discharge opening  68  has a circular cross section whose center point is located on the axis  21 . In this exemplary embodiment, the closing body  11  is embodied spherically. In the closed state of the distributor conduit  10 , the spherical closing body  11  rests on the discharge opening  68 , and one edge of the discharge opening  68 , on which the closing body  11  comes to rest, forms the sealing seat  12 . 
   The closing bodies  11  are movably supported between the sealing seat  12  and the stop  23 . The stop  23  is formed by triangular plates  63 , for instance two in number, which are disposed on the wall  14  of the distributor conduit  10  above the closing body  11  and point radially inward with respect to the axis  21 . Because of the section taken through the device, only one plate  63  each is shown. The closing body  11  is guided by T-shaped guide ribs  64  ( FIG. 5 ), for instance four in number, which are disposed on the bottom  67  and are diametrically opposite one another. The guide ribs  64  may, however, be embodied as cylindrical pins instead. 
   The closing bodies  11  together with the associated sealing seats  12  form the distributor valve  13 . 
   Downstream of the cup-shaped portion  65 , the distributor conduit  10  narrows at a conical portion  66 . The cup-shaped portion  65  communicates with separator elements  16  by means of connecting conduits  32 . The cup-shaped portion  65  and the conical portion  66  together with the spherical closing body  11  and the associated separator elements  16  form one stage  71 . In the distributor conduit  10 , a plurality of stages  71  are disposed in immediate succession, so that each conical portion  66  is adjoined by a further cup-shaped portion  65  with a further sealing seat  12 . The stages  71  are disposed centrally on the axis  21 . 
   In this exemplary embodiment, two separator elements  16 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , are for instance assigned to each stage  71 . From the respective cup-shaped portion  65 , one connecting conduit  32  extends to each separator element  16 . Thus two connecting conduits  32 , for instance, originate at each stage  71  of the distributor conduit  10 . 
   The lowermost closing body  11  is especially light in weight and is for instance hollow. As a result, the closing body  11  of the first stage  71  already lifts from the sealing seat  12  at only a slight overpressure in the crankcase, for instance immediately after the engine has started. 
   If the closing body  11  of the first stage  71  lifts from its sealing seat  12 , the gas in the distributor conduit  10  can flow past the closing body  11  and then via the two connecting conduits  32  to the separator elements  16  of the first stage  71 . If the volumetric flow is high enough, the flow backs up in the conical portion  66  and lifts the closing body  11  of the stage  71  above it as well, so that the separator elements  16  of that stage can also experience a flow. In this way, suitably many closing bodies  11  lift in a manner adapted to the gas flow, so that the number of parallel-connected separator elements  16  varies as a function of the gas flow. 
   The cross section of the sealing seats  12  and the diameter of the spherical closing body  11  decrease from the first stage  71  in the direction of the last stage  71 . 
     FIG. 5 , in a section taken along the line V—V, shows a further view of the second exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 4 . 
     FIG. 6  is a sectional view of a third exemplary embodiment. 
   In the device of  FIG. 6 , those elements that remain the same or function the same as in the device of  FIGS. 1–5  are identified by the same reference numerals. 
   The device of  FIG. 6  differs from the device of  FIG. 1  in that the closing body  11  is embodied in the form of a flap and is rotatably supported. 
   The housing  1  of the device of the invention comprises a cup-shaped middle part  72  with an inlet connection  2 , a cup-shaped liquid collector  43  which is disposed below the cup-shaped middle part  72 , a cup-shaped collection chamber  46  which is disposed above the cup-shaped middle part  72 , and an inner part  73  which is inserted into the cup-shaped middle part  72 . 
   The cup-shaped middle part  72  has a first bottom  74  and a cylindrical portion  75 . A first flange  78  is embodied on one end of the cylindrical portion  75 , and a second flange  79  is embodied on the other end, toward the first bottom  74 , both flanges extending around the outer circumference. The cup-shaped liquid collector  43  is disposed on the end of the cylindrical portion  75  toward the first bottom  74 . The cup-shaped liquid collector  43 , with a second bottom  80 , has a third flange  81 , on its outer circumference on an end remote from the second bottom  80 , that cooperates with the second flange  79 . The flange connection between the second flange  79  of the cup-shaped middle part  72  and the third flange  81  of the liquid collector  43  is joined together by welding, screwing, or adhesive bonding, for instance. 
   In the first bottom  74 , in the radial region of the third flange  81 , a sealing groove  82  is for instance disposed, to seal off the housing  1  from the environment. The cup-shaped collection chamber  46  has a fourth flange  83 , extending around its outer circumference, which cooperates with the first flange of the cup-shaped middle part  72 . The flange connection between the first flange  78  of the cup-shaped middle part  72  and the fourth flange  83  of the collection chamber  46  is joined together for instance by welding, screwing or adhesive bonding. 
   There is also a sealing groove  82  for sealing off the device from the environment disposed in both the first flange  78  and the fourth flange  83 , on the side toward the inner plate  84 . 
   An interior  85  of the cup-shaped middle part  72  has the distributor conduit  10  and the separator elements  16 ; the distributor conduit  10  and the separator elements  16  are disposed on an inner plate  84  that is fastened between the first flange  78  and the fourth flange  83 . The inner plate  84  has a diameter which is approximately the same as the diameter of the first flange  78 . 
   A cylindrical receiving neck  117  is disposed concentrically on the outer circumference of the conical portion  51  and extends as far as the end of the conical portion  51  toward the first bottom  74 . The receiving neck  117  cooperates with a cylindrical recess  118 , which is disposed on the first bottom  74  and is engaged sealingly by the receiving neck  117  of the cyclone. An outlet opening  119  is provided in the first bottom  74 , inside the cylindrical recess  118 . The liquid outlet  39  communicates with the liquid collector  43  via the outlet opening  119 . 
   The distributor conduit  10 , separator elements  16  and inner plate  84  together form the inner part  73 . The distributor conduit  10  is disposed centrally on the inner plate  84  relative to the axis  21 , and the separator elements  16  are disposed concentrically around the distributor conduit  10 . The distributor conduit  10  and the separator elements  16  are disposed such that they extend from a top side  96  of the inner plate  84  toward the interior  73  of the cup-shaped middle part  72 . The distributor conduit  10  and the separator elements  16  are open toward the top side  96 . A closure cap  97  is provided on the top side  96  and closes the distributor conduit  10  and the separator elements  16  off at the top. The immersion conduits  37  of the separator elements  16 , which penetrate the closure cap  97  and fit over it both in the direction of the collection chamber  46  and in the direction of the interior  85 , are disposed on the closure cap  97 . The closure cap  97  is set on its outer circumference in an annularly encompassing shoulder  98  of the cup-shaped collection chamber  46  and is thereby fixed both axially and radially. 
   The inlet connection  2  is mounted, for instance in the form of a neck, on the outer circumference of the cylindrical middle part  72  and discharges into the interior  85  of the cup-shaped middle part  72 . The inner part  73  with the distributor conduit  10  and the separator elements  16  are accommodated in the interior  85 . The inner plate  84  of the inner part  72  divides the interior  85  from the collection chamber  46 . 
   A cup-shaped recess  88  with a third bottom  90  is embodied in the inner plate  84 . A bearing  89  is provided, in the form of a further cylindrical indentation, in the bottom  90  in the region of the axis  21 . A bearing pin  92  with a helical torsion spring  91  is disposed in the bearing  89 . The bearing pin  92  fits over the bearing  89  and with its length extends as far as the inside of the cup-shaped recess  88 . The cup-shaped recess  88  becomes increasingly deeper radially outward steadily from the bearing  89 . 
   By means of the bearing pin  92 , a flap is rotatably supported as the closing body  11 . The closing body  11  has a cylindrical portion  103 , which is slipped onto the bearing pin  92  and rests with its underside on the third bottom  90 . Two vanes  102 ,  106  are provided on the cylindrical portion  103 ; they are diametrically opposite one another and each originates at the cylindrical portion  103 , and they extend radially outward in opposite directions. The vanes  102 ,  106  reach from the cylindrical portion  103  to the inside diameter of the distributor conduit  10 . 
     FIG. 7 , in a section taken along the line VII—VII, shown a further view of the third exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 6 . 
     FIG. 7  shows the third exemplary embodiment of the device of the invention with the distributor conduit  10  and the separator elements  16  disposed around the distributor conduit  10 . The distributor conduit  10  is divided by two partitions  95 ,  99  into a first portion  100  and a second portion  101 . The first partition  95  extends from the inside circumference of the distributor conduit  10  radially inward as far as the cylinder  103 . The second partition  99  is diametrically opposite the first partition  95  and also extends from the inner circumference of the distributor conduit  10  radially inward up to the cylinder  103 . 
   The gas flows via the inlet conduit  2  into the interior  85  and on the outside around the separator elements  16  and, via openings  104 ,  105 , for instance two of them, disposed in the third bottom  90 , into the distributor conduit  10 . The first opening  104  discharges into the first portion  100 , and the second opening  105  discharges into the second portion  101  of the distributor conduit. The first opening  104  and the second opening  105  are embodied in triangular form, for example, but can also be circular, oval, or polygonal. The first opening  104  is located between the first partition  95  and the first vane  102 ; the second opening  105  is located between the second partition  99  and the second vane  106 . The area between the first partition  95  and the first vane  102  and the area between the second partition  99  and the second vane  106  each form one segment  109  of a circle. The angle between the first partition  95  and the first vane  102  and between the second partition  99  and the second vane  106  is called the indexing angle  110 . 
   The closing body  11  can move between two terminal positions. In the outset position that forms the sealing seat  12 , the first vane  102  touches the second partition  95 ; in the final position, the second vane  106  touches the first partition  99 . The closing body  11  and the sealing seat  12  form the distributor valve  13 . 
   The first vane  102  has a first control edge  59 . 1  on the circumference toward the distributor conduit  10 , on the side toward the first partition  95 ; the second vane  106  has a second control edge  59 . 2  on the circumference toward the distributor conduit  10 , on the side toward the second partition  99 . The connecting conduits  32  are distributed for instance uniformly over the circumference of the distributor conduit  10  and extend from the circumference of the distributor conduit  10  at a tangent to the separator elements  16 . 
   The connecting conduits  32 , which are located either between the first control edge  59 . 1  and the first partition  95  or between the second control edge  59 . 2  and the second partition  99 , can experience a flow through them of the blowby gas from the openings  104 ,  105  in the direction of the separator elements  16 . 
   In this way, the closing body  11  controls the number of separator elements  16  through which there is a flow. If the volumetric flow increases, the closing body moves in accordance with a force equilibrium in the direction of an increasing indexing angle  110 , so that further connecting conduits  32  are opened, and additional separator elements  16  have a flow through them. If the volumetric flow drops, the closing body  11  moves in accordance with a force equilibrium in the direction of a decreasing indexing angle  110 , so that connecting conduits  32  are closed again, and separator elements  16  no longer have a flow through them. 
   The gas acts with its pressure on the vanes  102 ,  106  and seeks to move the closing body  11  to rotate counterclockwise, counter to a force of the torsion spring  91 . 
     FIG. 8  shows a sectional view of a fourth exemplary embodiment. 
   In the device of  FIG. 8 , those elements that remain the same or function the same as in the device of  FIGS. 1–7  are identified by the same reference numerals. 
   The device of  FIG. 8  differs from the device of  FIG. 1  in that the closing body  11  is provided in a horizontal distributor conduit  10 . The closing body  11  can therefore not act as a float, since the force due to weight of the closing body  11  does not act counter to the flow force. Instead of the force due to weight, the spring force of a compression spring  113  is employed to move the closing body  11  in the direction of the sealing seat  12  counter to the flow force. It is therefore the flow force exerted by the gas on the closing body  11  and the spring force exerted by the compression spring  113  that are involved in the force equilibrium. 
   The closing body  11  and the sealing seat  12  form the distributor valve  13 . 
   In contrast to  FIG. 1 , no annular conduits  15  are disposed on the distributor conduit  10 . Instead, connecting conduits  32  lead from the distributor conduit  10  to the separator elements  16 . The connecting conduits  32  have a rectangular cross section ( FIG. 9 ), for example, and each of them discharges at a tangent into the cylindrical portion  50  of the respect separator elements  16 . A plurality of distributor conduits  32  are provided at the distributor conduit  10 , downstream of the sealing seat  12  and in axial succession, each separated from the next by a respective conduit wall  14 . The number of connecting conduits  32  is arbitrary. The connecting conduits  32  and the separator elements  16  are disposed for instance on two diametrically opposed sides of the distributor conduit  10 . The connecting conduits  32  for instance extend rectilinearly and transversely to the axis  21 . For example the connecting conduits  32  are disposed offset from one another on the diametrically opposed sides. 
   The blind conduit  17  has grooves  115 , extending in the direction of the axis  21  and distributed for instance over the circumference. The grooves  115  reduce the area of contact and thus the friction between the distributor conduit  10  and the closing body  11 . The grooves  115  also take up oil that collects at the circumference of the blind conduit  17 . 
   The closing body  11  is embodied for instance cylindrically with the recess  36 . Instead of the one cylindrical closing body  11 , a plurality of flaplike closing bodies  11  are also possible. 
   The surface of the closing body  11  is for instance smooth. 
   One end of the compression spring  113  is supported in the recess  36 , and the other end of the compression spring  113  is supported on the end of the blind conduit  17  remote from the sealing seat  12 . 
   The separator elements  16  are disposed for instance in an oval at the distributor conduit  10 .