Patent ID: 7344578

Claim:
A breather valve device for the casing of an electronic control unit, comprising: a support structure comprising: a substantially planar wall having first and second surfaces respectively, facing outwardly and inwardly of the casing, respectively, and having an aperture formed therein, and a substantially cylindrical tubular wall projecting outwardly of the casing from the first surface of the planar wall, substantially around the aperture; and an interceptor element smaller in cross section than the passage cross-section of the tubular wall and the section of the aperture; the interceptor element being disposed in an axially intermediate position inside the tubular wall, and spaced radially therefrom so as to define, with respect to said tubular wall, a narrow annular gap, the interceptor element being connected to the support structure by at least one connector formation, wherein the support structure, the interceptor element and the at least one connector formation are formed integrally in one piece of molded plastic, and wherein the valve device further includes a membrane which is permeable to gases but substantially impermeable to liquids, fixed to the second surface of the planar wall of the support structure in such a way as to cover the said aperture completely.