Patent ID: 7428898

Claim:
A separator for separating liquids in a fluid stream generated by blow-by gasses produced in a crankcase of an internal combustion engine, the fluid stream including both gasses and liquids, said separator comprising: an inlet in fluid connection with the engine for receiving the fluid stream and an outlet in fluid connection with the engine to return a gas stream to the engine; a fluid path fluidly connecting said inlet to said outlet; a containment vessel in fluid connection with said fluid path; a fluid stream divider in said fluid path, said divider being configured to divide the fluid stream into a first fluid stream and a second fluid stream and, a fluid stream accelerator in said fluid path, said accelerator including a first and a second flow path such that the first fluid stream is directed by said first flow path and the second fluid stream is directed by said second fluid path, said accelerator further including a spiral accelerator in said first fluid path, said spiral accelerator extending about a portion of said second fluid path and accelerating the first fluid stream radially outwardly from an accelerator axis to at least partially separate the gasses from the liquids in the fluid stream.