JPH0658132A - Filter device for reducing noxious discharged article from crankcase in internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To separate and remove a liquid portion from a gaseous portion in the crankcase emission emitted from a crankcase without using a conventional air ventilation hole or a storage vessel. CONSTITUTION: A filter apparatus 20 comprises a housing 25, 29, and filtering material 21 arranged in the housing. The housing has an inlet 32 and an outlet 27. Crankcase emission directed from the inlet 32 is filtered by the filtering material 21. A gaseous portion is delivered from the outlet 27 to a combustion chamber of an engine through a PCV line or an induction manifold. A liquid portion separated by the filtering material 21 is returned from the inlet 32 to the crankcase.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the technical field of air pollution problems due to harmful emissions from crankcases (crankcase emissions) in internal combustion engines. More specifically, the invention relates to a filter device for reducing such emissions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Prior Art Internal combustion engines contain harmful pollutants in their crankcases. Such pollutants are generated by blow-by gas from the combustion chamber and rotation of the crankshaft in the crankcase. Conventionally,
This pollutant is released into the open air via a road draft tube or PCV valve PCV: posi
It was put into the combustion chamber of the engine through a tive crankcase ventilation.

Various inventions have been made in the past for reducing harmful crankcase emissions, with varying degrees of success. For past inventions in this technical field, see, for example, US Pat. No. 3,450,114.
No. 3,463,132, 3,779,211
Nos. 4,089,309, 4,167,164 and 4,370,971. Common to all of these prior inventions is the inclusion of an air vent or a reservoir for hazardous emissions or a combination of both (often).

As described above, in the prior art, one or both of the air vent and the storage container are generally used, but there is a problem for at least the following two reasons.

That is, the prior art utilizing the vent holes for the atmosphere allows the intake of air into the combustion chamber, and therefore has an adverse effect on a computer-controlled automobile. Originally, computer-controlled vehicles are designed to take air into the combustion chamber only through the intake manifold. California Air Resources Boar
d) does not allow the use of vents as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,370,971 for vehicles equipped with a three-way catalyst or an oxidation catalyst. In this regard, please see Administrative Order No. D-69-4 of the California Department of Air Resources. The sale of such products in California is only permitted if the vents are plugged.

Also, the use of a storage container to store the solid and liquid parts separated from the crankcase emissions is again undesirable because it produces toxic waste. A further complication for consumers is that the toxic waste generated has to be disposed of.

An object of the present invention is to provide a filter device (pollution control device) capable of reducing harmful crankcase emissions in an internal combustion engine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a filter device which can be adapted to various internal combustion engines.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a filter device (contamination control device) which is easy to install, can be used economically, has a small number of failures, and has a very low maintenance frequency.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a filter device using a storage container, which can eliminate the generation of toxic waste which has been a problem in the prior art.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a filter device which does not use the vent hole for the atmosphere which has been conventionally used for promoting the separation of blow-by gas.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a filter device with which flow control can be selectively adjusted.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a filter device which can be adapted to engines of different sizes by providing selectively adjustable flow control means.

The above and other objects of the present invention will be clarified by the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention has a unique structure in which a void is formed in a filter material to allow heavy hydrocarbons to flow back into a crankcase. A filter device is provided.

[0016]

[Operation and effect] According to the above configuration, the liquid portion such as heavy hydrocarbons in the crankcase emission is returned to the crankcase, so that an accumulating container for accumulating and storing this is not required, and therefore toxic waste. There is no problem with the generation of things. Also, since it is not necessary to provide a vent for the atmosphere,
The conventional problem as in the case of providing this does not occur.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The crankcase filter device according to the present invention can be applied to various embodiments depending on the conditions of use, and some of the embodiments will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, when a considerable number of products corresponding to these examples were actually manufactured and tested, excellent results were obtained in reducing harmful emissions for all of these products.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 indicates a crankcase filter device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the filter device 20. The crankcase filter device 20 shown in both of these figures is used in combination with an internal combustion engine (not shown).

The filter device 20 includes two housing members, that is, an upper housing member 25 and a lower housing member 29, and the components important for the present invention are contained and held in the housing constituted by these two members. To be done. In the illustrated embodiment, both housing members 25, 29
Has a lower flange 22 of the upper housing member press-fitted and connected to an upper flange 31 of the lower housing member. This press-fit connection may be further strengthened by gluing, welding or fusing.

A case-shaped inlet portion 32 is attached to the lower housing member 29. This inlet is connected directly or via a hose to the crankcase of the engine and introduces harmful crankcase emissions into the filter device via the opening 24. The upper housing member 25 is provided with an outlet portion 27.
Has an opening 28. The filtered gas is in this opening 2
8 through the PCV system passage of the vehicle into the combustion chamber or into the induction manifold of the diesel engine. As shown in the drawing, the outlet portion 27 is provided with a ridge for strengthening the connection with the passage for the PCV system or the induction manifold.

The inlet section 32 is designed to fit into the outlet of a crankcase in an internal combustion engine. The case-shaped inlet portion 32 is press-fitted into the lower housing member 29.

The lower housing member 29 has a tapered portion 23 immediately above the inlet portion 32, which allows heavy hydrocarbons to flow back into the crankcase. A screen 26a is arranged at the position of the taper portion 23, which allows the adsorptive silica bead particles 21 for filtering heavy hydrocarbons.
Hold. A typical example of the silica bead particles 21 is silica dioxide. The performance of the silica bead particles 21 depends on the oil enhancing substance (oil enh) such as STP, Morey's Stabilizer, or Energy Release.
It has been found that it can be greatly improved by immersing it in a dancing product). In addition, silica gel, carbon particles, or a combination thereof may be used as the filtering material.

A screen 26b is arranged above the silica bead particles 21 to hold the particles in place. Both screens 26a, 26b can be made of plastic or stainless steel or a combination of both depending on the manufacturing conditions.

As shown in FIG. 2, a standard PCV valve commonly used in modern gasoline engines may be incorporated into the filter device of the present invention to further simplify the installation of the device. The inlet section 32 houses a spring 39 and a valve 38 which acts as a PCV valve. When the valve 38 contacts the washer 40, the closed state is achieved. The washer 40, the spring 39 and the valve 38 may be omitted when the vehicle itself is equipped with a PCV valve or when the PCV valve is not required.

3 and 4 show another embodiment. This example is very similar to the previous one,
The housing is made of metal.

Since the housing is made of metal as described above, both housing members 25a and 29a can be screw-fitted. Further, the outlet portion 47 having the opening 48 is connected to the outlet portion adapter 46, and the outlet portion adapter portion 46 is connected to the upper housing member 25a through the joint portion 42.

Another important feature is that a shoulder 37 is formed on the case-shaped inlet 32a. This shoulder 37
When the case-shaped inlet portion 32a is inserted into the lower housing member 29a, the degree of insertion is set to a predetermined depth to appropriately adjust the fluid flow. It should be noted that similar shoulders can be employed in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 shows still another embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the air flow control screw (air met
ering screw) 52 is provided. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, the PCV valve 38 itself has a flow rate control function, so it is not always necessary to provide a separate flow rate control means, but a similar flow rate control screw is used in the embodiment of FIGS. Needless to say, it may be provided.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 5, showing more clearly the air flow control screw 52 and another modified valve 54. Air flow rate control screw 52 screwed into a screw portion 62 formed at the outlet on the housing side
When is rotated clockwise, the screw moves inward and adjustably suppresses the flow through the outlet 56.
On the other hand, when the air flow rate control screw 52 is rotated counterclockwise with respect to the screw portion 62, the screw moves outward, and the flow passing through the outlet portion 56 can be adjusted to the maximum extent. it can. This ability to increase or decrease flow over a range allows the filter device 50 to be adapted to engines of various sizes.

The valve 54 is the PCV valve 3 shown in FIG.
8 but with a shorter length. Due to this structure, the valve 54 is
Although the flow is not regulated like the valve 38, the filter residue exerts a cleaning action by the scraping effect of the tongue piece 60 against the filter residue flowing down from the inner surface 58.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the filter device 50. The outlet part 70 has a hollow member 64 with a collar 66, which is pressed into the upper housing 72. The filter device 50 is the same as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 except for the differences described here.

Next, the operation of the filter device in the above-described embodiment will be described.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the crankcase emission is sucked into the inlet portion 32 by the action of negative pressure (vacuum), passes through the PCV valve 38, and then is added as an oil additive (oil improving substance). The silica bead particles 21 coated with are contacted. This coating agent (oil improver) bridges the voids between the silica bead particles. As described above, silica gel, carbon particles, or a combination of both may be used as the filtration material 21.

The above coating agent forms a mucous barrier film between the voids of the filter material 21, and this barrier film prevents the passage of liquids and solids and prevents them from flowing into the combustion chamber. Therefore, only clear flammable gas can pass through the filter device. Then, every time the engine is stopped, the liquid portion in the crankcase emission is returned to the inside of the crankcase, so that a container for collecting and accumulating the liquid is unnecessary.

Although the air flow rate control screw 52 is provided in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, its operation is the same as that of the other embodiments. In this case, the flow is controlled by the air flow rate control screw 5
2, the PCV valve may be omitted.

Although some embodiments have been selected and described for the convenience of explaining the present invention, various modifications can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art. Various modifications without departing from the technical idea of the present invention are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is appropriate to the scope of the claims described at the beginning. It should be determined only by the interpretation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG.

7 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 20 Filter Device 21 Silica Bead Particles (Filtration Material) 23 Tapered Part 24 Opening 25 Upper Housing Member 25a Upper Housing Member 26a Screen 26b Screen 27 Outlet 28 Opening 29 Lower Housing Member 29a Lower Housing Member 32 Inlet 32a Inlet 37 Shoulder 38 Valve (control means) 39 Spring 40 Washer 42 Joint part 46 Outlet adapter 47 Outlet part 48 Opening 50 Filter device 52 Air flow control screw (control means) 54 Valve 56 Outlet part 60 Tongue 64 Hollow member 66 Color 70 Outlet member 72 Upper housing member

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A filter device in combination with an outlet of a crankcase connected to an internal combustion engine for separating emissions, the housing, an inlet for taking in emissions from the crankcase, and a filtering material. And a control means for selectively controlling the discharge of the emissions from the housing. 2. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the filter material is coated with oil. 3. The filter device of claim 1, wherein the filter material is coated with an oil improving substance. 4. The filter device according to claim 3, wherein the oil improving substance is STP. 5. The filter device according to claim 3, wherein the oil improving substance is energy release. 6. The filter device according to claim 3, wherein the oil improving substance is a Moray's stabilizer. 7. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the filter material is a mixture of silica gel and carbon particles. 8. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the filter material is silica gel. 9. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the filter material is carbon particles. 10. The filter material is silica beads.
The filter device according to claim 1. 11. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the control means is a member that is screwed into the housing and is arranged so as to suppress the flow of a discharge product from the housing. 12. A housing, an inlet for taking in the emissions from the crankcase, and a filter material to separate the emissions from the crankcase outlet of the internal combustion engine.
A filter device comprising: a filter device, the improvement of which is the provision of control means for selectively controlling the discharge of the emissions from the housing.