Patent ID: 7338546

Claim:
A centrifugal separator for cleaning gases generated by an internal combustion engine, said separator comprising: a housing defining an interior separation chamber; a centrifugal rotor rotatably coupled to said housing and extending into said separation chamber; driving means for causing rotation of said centrifugal rotor; a drainage chamber positioned adjacent said separation chamber; said separation chamber and said drainage chamber being delimited by a partition wall; means defining a flow path through which oil, separated from gases generated by an internal combustion engine and collecting on said partition wall, can travel from said separation chamber to said drainage chamber, said means defining a flow path also allowing for pressure to be equalized in said separation and drainage chambers; and a pump wheel coupled to a shaft portion defined by said rotor and extending radially outwardly therefrom so that during operation said oil, upon exiting said separation chamber, contacts said pump wheel whereby centrifugal forces generated due to the rotation of said pump wheel cause said oil to be thrown into said drainage chamber, said pump wheel also minimizing the potential for oil resident in said drainage chamber from re-entering said separation chamber.