US2652819A

US2652819A - Automatic drain valve for crankcase ventilators

Info

Publication number: US2652819A
Application number: US221815A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dean S Nusbaum
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1951-04-19
Filing date: 1951-04-19
Publication date: 1953-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 1970-09-22

Description

P 22, 1953 D. s. NUSBAUM 2,652,819

AUTOMATIC DRAIN VALVE FOR CRANKCASE VENTILATORS Filed April 19, 1951 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 22, 1953 UNITED STA'lEfi EA'i'ENT QFFICE AUTOMATIG DRAIN VALVE FOR GRANKCASE VENTILATORS 12 Claims, 1

This invention relates to improvements. in automatic drain valve for crankcase ventilators.

The principal objects of this invention are: First, to provide a valve for draining crankcase ventilator systems of the vacuum operated type, which valve operates automatically to drain accumulated liquid when the engine is notoperating.

Second, to provide a drain valve fora crankcase ventilator which closes to maintain the vacuum inthe ventilator'whenever the engine is operating.

Third'-, to provide vacuum or electrical activating mechanism for the drain valve of a crankwill be apparent from consideration of the following description and claims.

The drawings of which there is one sheet il-' lustrate two highly practical forms of my automatic valve.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational View, partially broken away, of an automotive engine with a vacuum crankcase ventilating system and my automatic valve operatively associated therewith.

Fig. 2 an enlarged side elevational View of the crankcase ventilator and.- valve partially broken 'awayin vertical cross section.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational viewof a modified form of my valve and valve actuating mechanism with electrical connections between the valve actuating mechanism and ignition system of an engine conventionally illustrated.

It has previously been proposed, and com- -mercial devices are available, to control the ventilation of the crankcase of an internal col. bustion engineby utilizing the vacuum of the intake manifold of the engine to suck out the gases, vapors and suspended particles from the crankcase of the engine. The withdrawn vapors are subjected to a separating action to separate Water and heavy liquids before the vapors are filtered of foreign material and feed into the in take manifold of the engine where the vapors are burned along with the fuel. The separated water and liquid accumulates in a sump in the separator and must be periodically removed to maintain' the ventilator in operative condition.

Heretofore these sumps have been inconveniently located and have required direct access there to and removal from the body of the ventilator which is a messy operation and not understood by many. service station attendants so. that the ventilators have not been properly serviced. My automatically operated drain valve eliminates the necessity of obtaining direct access to the ventilator and further assures that the ventilator will be properly drained at all times.

One form of the crankcase ventilating system to which my automatic valve may be attached is illustrated in the drawings. I indicates an internal combustion engine having a crankcase 2 and intake manifold 3'. Oil is supplied to the crankcase through a conventional filler tube i and a filter cap 5. permits the entrance of air to the crankcase. Contaminated air and vapors which result from the operation of the engine are sucked out of the crankcase through a tube 6 into the ventilator generally indicated at l.

The ventilator '1 consists of a generally cylindrical housing 83 secured to the engine block by suitable clamps or brackets 9. The cover It of the housing is. provided with a connection II to a suction line l2 which opens into the intake manifold 3 centrally of the manifold. The vacuum in the intake manifold thus operates through the bodyto withdraw the undesirable vapors from the crankcase. Commonly, regulating valves which have no connection with the present invention are incorporated in the body to regulate the action of the ventilator.

As is best illustrated in Fig. 2 the ventilator body 8 is divided into an upper filter chamber 13 and a lower sump M by a perforated partition 15. A filter element is is positioned in the upper filter chamber to remove solids and gums from the vapors and the incoming vapors are directed in a downward direction into the sump by a fitting ll within the body 8. Moisture and other easily condensed vapors which are withdrawn from the crankcase as gases are cooled in passing through the vacuum line 5 and are delivered downwardly into the bottom of the sump i l. Vapors which retain their vapor status pass upwardly through the perforated partition 55 as indicated by the arrows.

The amount of condensate it which collects in the bottom of the sump varies greatly with the condition of the particular engine concerned and the conditions under which the engine is operated. l-iowe'veig'I have found that a fairly new and tight engine operated in winter weather on relatively short drives suchas are encountered in city driving will precipitate cup of water or more for each to gallons of gasoline burned in the engine. Thus the ventilator of an engine of this type requires frequent draining of the sump in winter weather, and older engines which permit more blow-by of combustion gases into the crankcases will require more frequent draining of the sump.

My Valve which drains the sump consists of a valve body [2 screwed into the bottom of the ventilator body 8 and provided with a Z-shaped valve passage 28 communicating at its upper end with the sump It. The middle branch of the Z-shaped passage 23 forms an outwardly facing valve seat 2! with which the needle valve 22 cooperates. The stem 23 of the valve extends outwardly through a cap 24 on the valve body and is axially slotted as at 25 on its outer end to receive the cross bar 26 of an actuating yoke 21. The lower branch of the valve passage 2!) is connected to a drain pipe 28 to drain the liquid below the engine. While it forms no essential part of this invention, a drip pan 29 may be provided in places where the vehicle is commonly parked, as in a garage, or a collecting receptacle may be mounted on the vehicle.

Secured to the underside of the ventilatorbody 8 by the valve body it is an angular shaped bracket 56, the downturned outer edge of which forms a support for a vacuum motor 3!; the vacuum motor includes an internal flexible diaphragm 32 of a well known type and the outer or atmospheric side of the diaphragm is connected to a piston or connecting rod 33 extending through the wall of the motor and the bracket 39. Links 34 connect the connecting rod to the operating yoke 21. A second suction line 35 opens between the vacuum side of the diaphragm 32 and a point 36 in the intake manifold preferably spaced from the central connection of the suction pipe 12 to the manifold.

The outer end of the valve stem 23 is provided with a collar 3'5 and a compression spring 38 is positioned between the collar and the cap 22 to bias the valve 22 to open position. Obviously whenever the engine is operating and creating a vacuum in the intake manifold 3 the vacuum motor 3| and diaphragm 32 will be operative to close the valve 22 so that the crankcase ventilator i may function in its intended capacity. The entire suction applied to the ventilator will operate through the vacuum pipe 6 to withdraw vapors from the crankcase and liquid separated from the vapors will collect in the sump M. As soon as the engine is stopped and the vacuum in the intake manifold is destroyed; the vacuum motor is inoperative and the spring 38 will open the valve 22 and permit the sump to drain.

The modified form of my valve illustrated in Fig. 3 is the same as that just described except that the valve stem 23A is not slotted at its outer end but is directly connected to the armature of an electrically operating solenoid 31A. The solenoid MA is supported from the ventilator by a modified form of bracket 30A and is arranged to force the valve stem 23A and valve 22 inwardly to closed position against the compression of the spring whenever the solenoid is energized.

The circuit for energizing the solenoid 3| is conventionally illustrated and includes a ground connection 39 and a live connection All which is connectable to the battery 4! of the engine through the ignition switch 42. Thus whenever the ignition switch 52 is closed to energize the high tension coil 23 and distributor 44 of the engine, the solenoid 3IA will be simultaneously energized to close the drain valve 22 so that the engine and the crankcase ventilator may function in their intended manner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold and a crankcase, a vacuum ventilator for said crankcase including a filter and separator chamber with a sump in the bottom thereof, conduits connecting said chamber between said manifold and said crankcase and including a downwardly directed passage opening to said sump from said crankcase, a drain valve connected to said sump and including a movable valve element, and a vacuum motor operatively connected to the intake manifold of said engine to be operative when the engine is operating and connected to said valve element to close said valve, said valve element spring being biased to open position.

2. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold and a crankcase, a vacuum ventilator for said crankcase including a filter and separator chamber with a sump in the bottom thereof, conduits connecting said chamber between said manifold and said crankcase and including a downwardly directed passage opening to said sump from said crankcase, a drain valve connected to said sump and including a movable valve element, and a solenoid electrically connected to the ignition circuit of said engine to be energized when the engine is operating and connected to said valve element to close said valve, said valve element being biased to open position.

3. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold and a crankcase, a vacuum ventilator for said crankcase including a filter and separator chamber with a sump in the bottom thereof, conduits connecting said chamber between said manifold and said crankcase and including a downwardly directed passage opening to said sump from said crankcase, a drain valve connected to said sump and including a movable valve element, and actuating means associated with said engine to b operative when the engine is operating and connected to said valve element to close said valve, said valve element being biased to open position.

i. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold and a crankcase, a vacuum ventilator for said crankcase including a filter and separator chamber with a sump in the bottom thereof, conduits connecting said chamber between said manifold and said crankcase and including a downwardly directed passage opening to said sump from said crankcase, a drain valve connected to said sump and including a movable valve element, and actuating means associated with said engine to be operative when the engine is operating and connected to said valve element to close said valve.

5. In a combination with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold and a vacuum operated crankcase ventilator associated therewith, the combination of a sump in said ventilator, a drain valve connected to said sump and having a valve element extending externally of the valve and spring biased to open position, a vacuum motor mounted on said engine and having a connecting rod, a suction conduit connecting said vacuum motor to said manifold, and means connecting said connecting rod to said valve element to move said element to closed position against its spring bias upon the application of a vacuum to said motor.

6. In a combination with an internal combustion engine having a vacuum operated crankcase ventilator associated therewith, the combination of a sump in said ventilator, a drain valve connected to said sump and having a valve element extending externally of the valve and spring biased to open position, a solenoid mounted on said engine, a conductor electrically connecting said solenoid to the ignition circuit of the engine, and means mechanically connecting said solenoid to said valve element to move said element to closed position against its spring bias upon closing the ignition circuit of said engine.

7. In a combination with an internal combustion engine having a vacuum operated crankcase ventilator associated therewith, the combination of a sump in said ventilator, a drain valve connected to said sump and having a valve element extending externally of the valve and spring biased to open position, a motor mounted on said ventilator, means connecting said motor to a source of power associated with said engine and operative when said engine is operating to actuate said motor, and means connecting said motor to said valve element to move said element to closed position against its spring bias when said motor is actuated.

8. In a combination with an internal combustion engine having a vacuum operated crankcase ventilator associated therewith, the combination of a sump in said ventilator, a drain valve connected to said sump and having a valve element extending externally of the valve, a motor, means connecting said motor to a source of power associated with said engine and operative when said engine is operating to actuate said motor, and means connecting said motor to said valve element to move said element to closed position when said motor is actuated.

9. In combination with a vacuum operated ventilator for the crankcase of an internal combustion engine, a valve body connected to the bottom of said ventilator and forming a valve passage opening to the bottom of the ventilator, a valve element slidable in said passage and spring biased to open the same, a vacuum motor Supported on ai ventilator and having an inlet 6 adapted to be connected to the intake manifold of an engine, and means connecting said motor to said valve element whereby the application of vacuum to said motor will close said valve.

10. In combination with a vacuum operated ventilator for the crankcase of an internal combustion engine, a valve body connected to the bottom of said ventilator and forming a valve passage opening to the bottom of the ventilator, a valve element slidable in said passage and spring biased to open the same, a solenoid supported on said ventilator and adapted to be electrically connected to the ignition system of an engine, and means connecting said solenoid to said valve element whereby the energization of said solenoid with said system will close said valve.

11. In combination with a vacuum operated ventilator for the crankcase of an internal combustion engine, said ventilator having a sump therein, a conduit connected to said ventilator and forming a valve passage opening to the bottom of the sump, a valve element slidable into said passage and spring biased to open the same, a driving means supported on said ventilator adapted to be connected to a source of power associated with an engine, and means connecting said driving means to said valve element whereby operation of the engine and actuation of sai means will close said valve.

12. In combination with a vacuum operated ventilator for the crankcase of an internal combustion engine, said ventilator having a sump therein, a conduit forming a valve passage opening to the bottom of the sump, a valve element movable into said passage, a driving means adapted to be connected to a source of power associated with an engine, and means connecting said driving means to said valve element whereby operation of the engine and actuation of said means will close said valve.

DEAN S. NUSBAUM.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,525,187 Indlekofer Feb. 3, 1925 2,252,974 Lowther Aug. 19, 1941