US3266474A

US3266474A - Vapor-removing devices

Info

Publication number: US3266474A
Application number: US373415A
Authority: US
Inventors: Morris N Crandall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-06-08
Filing date: 1964-06-08
Publication date: 1966-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 1983-08-16

Description

Aug. 16, 1966 Filed June 8, 1964 FIG.|. 62

M. N. CRANDALL VAPOR'REMOVING DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 60 FIG. 2.

as 0 98 mo 94 92 90 78 FIG. 6

Aug. 16, 1966 N. CRANDALL 3,266,474

VAPOR-REMOVING DEVICES Filed June 8, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 8.

United States Patent 3,266,474 VAPOR-REMOVING DEVICES Morris N. Crandall, 8177 Stratford, Clayton, Mo. Filed June 8, 1964, Ser. No. 373,415 14 Claims. (Cl. 123-119) This invention relates to improvements in vapor-removing devices. More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in a device which can remove undesirable hydrocarbon vapors from the air which passes through the crankcase and valve-operating area of an internal combustion engine.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a device which can remove undesirable hydrocarbon vapors from the air which passes through the crankcase and valve-operating area of an internal combustion engine.

In the operation of internal combustion engines, small quantities of the products of -com'bustionreferred to as blow-byslip past the piston rings and enter the crankcases of those engines. The air Within the 'crankcases and the valve-operating areas of those engines tend to entrain the hydrocarbon vapors from the blow-by and from the lubricating oil within those crankcases and those valveoperating areas. For many years, the air and its entrained hydrocarbon vapors were permitted to vent freely through the breather pipes and oil-filling caps of internal combustion engines; but progressively greater efforts have recently been made, and are now being made, to prohibit the escape of such air and entrained hydrocarbon vapors from the crankcases and valve-operating areas of internal combustion engines.

In their efforts to keep air and entrained hydrocarbon vapors from escaping from the crankcases and valveoperating areas of internal combustion engines, some manufacturers of internal combustion engines have provided connections between the valve-operating areas and the intake manifolds of their engines. Those connections include check valves; and those connections enable the reduced pressures in the intake manifolds of those engines to maintain reduced pressures Within the crankcases and valve-operating areas of those engines. Because the pressures in the crankcases and valve-operating areas of those internal combustion engines are subatmospheric, there is no tendency for air and entrained hydrocarbon vapors to escape from those crankcases and valve-operating areas; and, instead, the air and entrained hydrocarbon vapors mix with the fuel in the intake manifolds of those engines and pass into the cylinders of those engines.

While the connections between the valve-operating areas and intake manifolds of internal combustion engines are helpful and useful in preventing the escape of the air and its entrained hydrocarbon vapors, those connections are hurtful because some of the hydro-carbon vapors entrained by the air form objectionable deposits on the intake valves of the engine. Also, some of those hydrocarbon vapors form objectionable deposits in the check valves of those connections. As a result, after an engine has been operated for a time, the intake valves of that engine can tend to stick in their open positions, and the check valve in the connection between the valve-operating area and the intake manifold can tend to stick in its closed position. Both of these results are objectionable. It would be desirable to provide a device that would substantially remove undesirable hydrocarbon vapors, which enter the connection between the valve-operating area and intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, before those hydrocarbon vapors could reach the valve in that connection; because such a device could keep those hydrocarbon vapors from interfering with proper operation of that valve and of the intake valves. The present invenice tion provides such a device; and it is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a vapor-removing device in the connection between the valve-operating area and intake manifold of an internal combustion engine which can substantially remove undesirable hydrocarbon vapors, which enter that connection, before those hydrocarbon vapors can reach the valve in that connection.

The vapor-removing device provided by the present invention is mounted in heat-exchanging relation with the exhaust manifold of the engine, and will thus be at an elevated temperature whenever that exhaust manifold is at its normal operating temperature. The elevated temperature of the vapor-removing device will be high enough to enable the undesirable hydrocarbon vapors which enter that vapor-removing device to experience destructive distillation; and that destructive distillation will create a cokelike residue plus volatile fractions. The coke-like residue will tend to come to rest within the vapor-removing device, and thus be kept from passing to the valve in the connection between the valve area and the intake manifold of the engine. As a result, that coke-like residue will be kept from interfering with the proper operation of that valve and the intake valves. The volatile fractions will pass freely through the valve in the connection and past the intake valves and enter the cylinders of the engine. Those volatile fractions will be readily combustible; and they will serve as added fuel for the engine. The overall result is that the undesirable hydrocarbon vapors will be converted to a coke-like residue, which will be kept from reaching the valve or the engine, and to volatile fractions which will serve as added fuel for the engine. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a vapor-removing device, which is mounted in heatexchanging relation with the exhaust manifold of an entgine, and which will subject the undesirable hydrocarbon vapors introduced into it to destructive distlllationso those vapors will form a coke-like residue, which will remain in that vapor-removing device, and will form volatile fractions, which will serve as added fuel for the engine.

The vapor-removing device provided by the present invention will force the undesirable hydrocarbon vapors, that are introduced into it, to recurrently change direction. As those undesirable hydrocarbon vapors recurrently change direction, they will be progressively heated; and will thus be given a full opportunity to experience destructive distillation and to deposit the resulting cokelike residue on the inner surfaces of that vapor-removing device. It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a vapor-removing device which has baflle surfaces therein that recurrently force the undesirable hydroca-rbon vapors introduced into that device to recurrently change direction.

When an internal combustion engine is started, the temperature of the exhaust manifold will be Well below the normal operating temperature of that exhaust manifold. Consequently, the temperature of the vapor-removing device, which is in heat-exchanging relation with that exhaust manifold, also will be well below its normal operating temperature. This means that, during the start ing of an internal combustion engine, heat from the exhaust manifold cannot be relied upon to foster the desired destructive distillation of the undesirable hydrocarbon vapors introduced into the vapor-removing device. Yet, it would be desirable to foster the destructive distillation of all undesirable hydrocarbon vapors introduced into the vapor-removing device during the starting of the internal combustion engine. One preferred embodiment of the vapor-removing device provided by the present invention does foster destructive distillation of the undesirable hydrocarbon vapors introduced into it, during the starting of the engine; and it does so by having therein a catalyst which fosters the destructive distillation of undesirable hydrocarbon vapors. That catalyst will continue, and with even greater effectiveness, to foster the destructive distillation of hydrocarbon vapors after the vap or-reimoving device reaches its normal operating temperature. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a vapor-removing device with a catalyst which will foster destructive distillation of undesirable hydrocarbon vapors introduced into that vapor-removing device during the starting and running of the engine.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanying description.

In the drawing and accompanying description three preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown and described but it is to be understood that the drawing and accompanying description are for the purpose of illustration and do not limit the invention and that the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an internal combustion engine with which one preferred form of vapor-removing device provided by the present invention is used,

FIG. 2 is a vertical section, on a larger scale, through the vapor-removing device shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view through the vapor-removing device of FIG. 2, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 33 in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is an elevational view, on a smaller scale, of one of the baflles used in the vapor-removing device of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is a vertical section through another form of vapor-removing device that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention,

FIG. 6 is a sectional View through the device of FIG. 5, and is taken along the plane indicated by the line 6-6 in FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view through another vapor-removing device of the present invention, and

FIG. 8 is an end view of the catalyst used in the vaporremoving device of FIG. 7.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4 in detail, the numeral 10 generally denotes an internal combustion engine which has a valve cover 12, an intake manifold 14, a carburetor 16, an air cleaner 18, and an exhaust manifold 20. That internal combustion engine 10 and its components are shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1; because that internal combustion engine and its components are not, per se, parts of the present invention. That internal combustion engine and its components also are shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 because the vapor-removing devices of the present invention are applicable to all kinds of internal combustion engines which have intake manifolds and exhaust manifolds.

The numeral 21 denotes threaded openings in the exhaust manifold 20. Where the vapor-removing device of the present invention is mounted on the engine during the manufacture of that engine, the threaded openings 21 will be formed in the exhaust manifold 20 prior to the assembling of that exhaust manifold wtih the engine. However, where the vapor-removing device of the present invention is subsequently mounted on the engine, the installer will drill openings in the exhaust manifold 20 and then tap those openings. The numeral 22 denotes a heatexchanging block which has a surface 24 that is complementary to a portion of the outer surface of the exhaust manifold 20. Passages 26, which have enlarged-diameter outer ends, are formed in the block 22; and those passages can be set in register with the threaded openings 21 in the exhaust manifold 20. Threaded sockets 28 also are formed in the heat-exchanging block 22. Cap screws 30 extend through the passages 26 and have the heads thereof seated in the enlarged-diameter outer ends of those passages. The shanks of those cap screws extend into the threaded openings 21 in the exhaust manifold 20 and serve to hold the heat-exchanging block 22 solidly in engagement with the exhaust manifold 20. The engagement between the exhaust manifold 20 and the complementary surface 24 of the heatexchanging block 22 should be very intimate to foster efiicient transfer of heat from that exhaust manifold to that heat-exchanging block.

The numeral 32 generally denotes the vapor-removing device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and that vapor-removing device has a base 34 with a flange 36 thereon. Openings are for-med in that flange; and those openings are spaced apart so they can be set in register with the threaded sockets 28 in the heat-exchanging block 22. An L-shaped passage 38 is formed in the base 34 of the vapor-removing device 32; and one end of that passage extends to and communicates with the periphery of that base, while the other end of that L-shaped passage is located at the geometric axis of that base and communicates with the righthand face of that base, as that base is viewed in FIG. 2. An annular shoulder 40 is provided with the right-hand face of the base 34, as that base is viewed in FIG. 2; and that shoulder accommodates a sleeve 42. That sleeve will be suitably sweated, brazed or welded to the base 34. A sleeve 44, of insulation, surrounds the sleeve 42; and, in the particular form of vapor-removing device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sleeve 44 consists of a number of layers of insulating material. An annular plate 46 is secured to the outer end of sleeve 42, and that plate serves as a retainer for the sleeve 44 of insulation.

The numeral 48 denotes a number of rings of a relatively inexpensive metal such as iron; and those rings are so dimensioned so they can telescope freely within the sleeve 42. The numeral 49 denotes one of a number of bafile plates which are circular in form and which are dimensioned to telescope freely into the sleeev 42. Each of the bafile plates 49 has a number of openings 51 adjacent the periphery thereof. The numeral 53 denotes one of a number of baflle plates which are annular in form and which are dimensioned to telescope freely into the sleeve 42. The various

bafile plates

49 and 53 are alternated, and they are spaced apart by the rings 48. The numeral 50 denotes two of a number of screens which are circular in form and which are dimensioned to telescope freely into the sleeve 42. The screens 50 are spaced apart by further rings 48. The

bafile plates

49 and 53 will be made of a relatively inexpensive material such as iron, but the screens 50 will be made of a material that can foster the destructive distillation of hydrocarbon vapors. One material that is relatively inexpensive and that is readily available in the form of screen wire is aluminum. A closure 52, which has a threaded opening therein, is mounted within the outer end of the sleeve 42; and that closure will be suitably sweated, brazed or welded to that outer end.

The base 34, the sleeve 42, the sleeve 44 of insulation, the annular plate 46, the rings 48, the baffle plates 49, the baffle plates 53, the screens 50, and the closure plate 52 will constitute a self-contained vapor-removing device which is rugged and strong and which can be readily handled as a unit. Machine screws 54 will pass through the openings in the flange 36 of the base 34 and seat in the threaded sockets 28 in the heat-exchanging block 22; and those machine screws will hold the left-hand face of the base 34 in intimate engagement with the right-hand face of the heat-exchanging block 22, as that base and that block are viewed in FIG. 2. The heat-exchanging block 22, the base 34, and the sleeve 42 are preferably formed from a metal, such as brass, which has a high coefficient of thermal conductivity. Where that is done, the heat-exchanging block 22 will effectively absorb heat from the exhaust manifold 20 and transfer that heat to the base 34; and that base will then transfer that heat to the sleeve 42-and the

baffle plates

49 and 53 and the screens 50 Z/ill absorb heat from that sleeve and also from the rings While only one baffle plate 49 is shown,

and while only one bafile plate 53 is shown, the vapor-removing device 32 will preferably have several baffle plates 49 and will preferably have several baffle plates 53. The number of bafile plates 49, the number of baflle plates 53, and the number of screens 50 that are used will be a function of the size and type of the engine and of the type of fuel used by that engine. Usually, the number of screens 50 will exceed the total number of

baflle plates

49 and 53.

The screens 50 are very useful and desirable, because they are self-supporting and they do not unduly impede the flow of air and vapors through the vapor-removing device 32. However, plates, porous cakes, granular materials, and the like could be substituted for the screens 50. The primary requirements forthe screens 50, and any substitutes therefor, are that they be relatively inexpensive and that they catalytically foster the destructive distillation of undesirable hydrocarbon vaporsthose hydrocarbon vapors which could form deposits on, and impair the operation of, the intake valves of the engine and the valve in the connection between the valveoperating area and the intake manifold of that engine.

A tubing fitting 56 has the threaded end thereof seated within that portion of the L-shaped passage 38 which extends to and communicates with the periphery of the base 34; and a tubing fitting 58 has the threaded end thereof seated within the threaded opening in the closure 52 of the vapor-removing device 32. A length 60 of tubing extends from the tubing fitting 56 to a tubing fitting 62 which is mounted in the valve cover 12 of the internal combustion engine 10. A length 64 of tubing extends from the tubing fitting 58 to the inlet of a valve 66; and a length 68 of tubing extends from the outlet of that valve to the intake manifold 14. The valve 66 is a check valve which is biased to closed position, but which can respond to a reduced pressure within the intake manifold 14 to open and thereby permit air and hydrocarbon vapors to flow from the tubing fitting 58 through the length 64 of tubing and then through the length 68 of tubing into the intake manifold 14.

In the operation of the internal combustion engine 10, a reduced pressure will be established and maintained within the intake manifold 14. The valve 66 will respond to that reduced pressure to open; and, thereupon, air and hydrocarbon vapors will be drawn upwardly out of the valve cover 12, will pass through the tubing fitting 62 and the length 60 of tubing, and through the tubing fitting 56 into the vapor-removing device 32. All parts of that vapor-removing device will be hot, because of the heat which is transferred to it from the exhaust manifold by the heat-exchanging block 22, and because the sleeve 44 of insulation will minimize the radiation of heat from the sleeve 42. As the air and hydrocarbon vapors enter the sleeve 42 they will confront the solid central portion of the left-handmost baffle plate 49; and hence they will have to change direction and move radially outwardly of that bafiie plate. As the air and hydrocarbon vapors move into register with the openings 51 in that baffle plate, they will again have to change direction and move axially of the sleeve 42. As the air and hydrocarbon vapors pass through the openings 51 in the lefthandmost baffle plate 49 they will confront the solid outer .portions of the left-handmost bafile plate 53; they will again have to change direction and move radially inwardly of that baffle plate. As the air and hydrocarbon vapors move into register with the central opening in the left-handmost baflie plate 53, they will have to change direction once again and move axially of the sleeve. The second left-handmost baflle plate 49 and the second left-handmost baffle plate 53 will force the air and hydrocarbonvapors to repeatedly change direction; and the rest of the

baffle plates

49 and 53 will force the air and hydrocarbon vapors to change direction again and again. In addition, each of the

baffle plates

49 and 53 will, add heat to the air and the hydrocarbon vapors,

As the air and hydrocarbon vapors pass through the interstices of the screens 50, they will receive additional 6 heat. Moreover, the screens will interact with the hydrocarbon vapors to foster the destructive distillation of the undesirable hydrocarbon vapors.

All of this means that the undesirable hydrocarbon vapors will, as they pass through the openings in the

baffle plates

49 and 53 and through the interstices of the screens 50, experience destructive distillation. That destructive distillation will form a coke-like residue which will come to rest upon the surfaces of the

baffle plates

49 and 53 and of the screens 50, and upon the inner surfaces of the rings 48, of the base 34, and of the closure 52. That destructive distillation also will form volatile fractions; and those volatile fractions will pass outwardly through the tubing fitting 58, and then through the length 64 of tubing, the valve 66, and the length 68 of tubing into the intake manifold 14 of the engine. Those volatile fractions will mix with the fuel for the engine and will largely be burned with that fuel. In this way, the vapors which are drawn from the valve cover 12 will be substantially converted to volatile fractions or coke-like residue; and the coke-like residue will largely come to rest within the vapor-removing device 32 and the volatile fractions will largely be burned as they pass through the internal combustion engine 10. In this way, the vaporremoving device provided by the present invention minimizes the emission of undesirable hydrocarbon vapors.

The coke-like residue which is deposited upon the

baffle plates

49 and 53, upon the screens 50 and upon the inner surfaces of the rings 48, of the base 34, and of the closure 52 will eventually reduce the ability of the vapor-removing device 32 to permit vapors to flow through it without unduly impeding that flow. However, the vapor-removing device 32 is made so it is inexpensive and canthus be discarded and replaced by a fresh vaporremoving device.

The screens 50 are very helpful during those periods when the engine 10 is being started. During those periods, the exhaust manifold 20 will not have reached its normal operating temperature; and hence the heat from that manifold will be unable to heat the vapor-removing device 32 to its normal operating temperature. Yet, the vapor-removing device 32 will be able to cause destructive distillation of the undesirable hydrocarbon vapors passing through it, because the screens 50 will have a catalytic action on those vapors and will cause them to experience destructive distillation at relatively low temperatures. The catalytic action of the screens 50 will be even more effective after the exhaust manifold 20 has reached its normal operating temperature and has raised the' temperature ofthe vapor-removing device 32 to its normal level; but that catalytic action is important during those periods when the internal combustion engine 10 is being started.

If desired, the right-hand face of the base 34 and the left-hand face of the closure 52, as that base and enclosure are viewed in FIG. 2, could be provided with ridges, ribs, projections, or the like. Those ridges, ribs, projections, or the like would increase the exposed surface area-of that base and of that closure, and would thereby increase the rate at which the vapor-removing device could heat the vapors passingthrough it. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the numeral 74 denotes the exhaust manifold of another internal combustion engine. That exhaust manifold has openings 76 through it, and those openings are indicated by solid lines in FIGS. 5 and '6; and those openings will be suitably threaded.

The numeral 78 denotes a heat-exchanging block; and that block has a surface 80 which is complementary to a. portion of the surface of the exhaust manifold 74. Passages 82 are provided in the heat-exchanging block .78; and those passages are located so they can be set in register with the threaded openings 76 in the exhaust manifold 74. The passages 82 have enlarged-diameter outer ends. Threaded sockets 84 also are provided in the heat-exchanging block 78; and those sockets are spaced from the passages 82. Cap screws 86 extend through the passages 82, and the shanks of those cap screws seat in the threaded openings 76 in the exhaust manifold 74. Those cap screws will hold the heat-exchanging block 78 in intimate, heat-exchanging relationship with the exhaust manifold 74.

The numeral 88 generally denotes a second embodiment of vapor-removing device that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention. The vapor-removing device includes a cup-shaped member 90- which has a threaded nipple extending upwardly from the closed end thereof. A cup-shaped baffle 92 is disposed within the cup-shaped member 90; and struts 94 at the lower edge of that baflle extend to, and are suitably secured to, the inner surface of the cup-shaped member 90. Those struts may be welded, brazed or otherwise secured to the inner surface of the cup-shaped member 90. An inlet tube 96 is secured to an annular plate 98; and that plate is telescoped within, and constitutes a closure for, the lower end of the cup-shaped member 90. The lower end of the inlet tube 96 is threaded; and the upper end of that inlet tube extends into, and is directed toward, the closed end of the cup-shaped bafile 92. A strap 100 is suitably secured to the outer surface of the cup-shaped member 90; and the ends "of that strap project outwardly beyond the sides of that member. Openings 102 are provided in the projecting ends of the strap 100, and those openings are in register with the threaded sockets 84 in the heat-exchanging member 78. Machine screws 104 have the shanks thereof extending through the openings 102 in the projecting ends of the strap 100 and seated in the threaded sockets 84 in the heat-exchanging block 78 to hold the vapor-removing device 8 8 in engagement with the heat-exchanging block. The right-hand surface of the heat-exchanging block 78 is made complementary to the left-hand surface of the cup-shaped member 90', as that block and member are viewed in FIG. 6; and hence there will be an intimate, heat-exchanging relationship between the heat-exchanging block and the vapor-removing device.

A length 106 of tubing is connected to the threaded nipple at the closed end of the cup-shaped member 90 by a tfitting 108; and that length of tubing extends to a valve such as the valve 66 in FIG. 1. A length 110 of tubing is secured to the threaded end of the inlet tube 96 by a fitting 112, and that length of tubing extends to a fitting 112, and that length of tubing extends to a fitting such as the fitting 62 in FIG. 1.

During the operation of the internal combustion engine, with which the vapor-removing device of FIGS. and 6 is associated, a reduced pressure will be established in the intake manifold of that engine; and that reduced pressure will cause air and hydrocarbon vapors to pass from the valve cover of that engine, thnough the length 110 of tubing, and through the inlet tube 96 to the interior of the cup-shaped baffle 92. The air and hydrocarbon vapors will have to reverse direction and move downwardly below the lower edge of that bafile, and then turn and again change direction to move upwardly toward the threaded nipple at the upper end of the cup shaped member 90. Finally, the air and any volatile fractions of the undesirable hydrocarbon vapors will pass through the length 106 of tubing to the valve, and thence to the intake manifold of the engine.

Heat from the exhaust manifold of the engine will be transferred to heat-exchanging block 78 and thence to vapor-removing device 88; and baffle 92 and member 90 of that vapor-removing device will become hot enough to cause destructive distillation of the undesirable hydrocarbon vapors passing through the device. That destructive distillation will produce a coke-like residue plus volatile fractions; and that coke-like residue will settle upon the surfaces of the b afiie 92 and upon the inner surface of member 90, while those volatile fractions will pass outwardly through the threaded nipple at the upper end of member and pass to the intake manifold of the engine. Those volatile fractions will be largely consumed as they pass through the engine and will thus be converted to products of combustion. The coke-like residue from the destructive distillation of the undesirable hydrooanbon vapors will eventually accumulate within the vapor-removing device 88 to an undue extent; and, at such time, the said vapor-removing device will be removed and discarded, and a fresh vapor-removing device 88 will be secured to the heat-exchanging block 78 by the machine screws 104.

The vapor-removing device 88 of FIGS. 5 and 6 will not provide the catalytic action which is provided by the screens 50 of the vapor-removing device 32 of FIGS. 2 and 3. However, the vapor-removing devices 88 of FIGS. 5 and 6 is less expensive than the vapor-removing device 32 of FIGS. 2 and 3.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 in detail, the numeral denotes the exhaust manifold of still another internal combustion engine; and a threaded opening 122 is provided in the wall of that exhaust manifold. The numeral 124 denotes another preferred form of vapor-removing device that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention. That vapor-removing device has a base 126 with a probe 128 thereon; and that probe extends through the threaded opening 122 in the exhaust manifold 120 and lies in the path of the products of combustion passing through that exhaust manifold. That probe has a helical thread 130 thereon; and that thread .mates with the thread in the opening 122. The engagement between the helical thread 130 on the probe 128 and the thread in the opening 122 will be sufficiently intimate to hold the vapor-removing device 124 solidly in position relative to the exhaust-manifold 120', and also to minimize the escape of products of combustion through the opening 122. An annular shoulder 132 is provided on the base 126, adjacent the right-hand face of that base; and an L-shaped passage 134 is formed in that base. One end of that passage extends to the periphery of that base, while the other end of that passage extends to the righthand face of that base, as that base is viewed in FIG. 7.

A sleeve 136 telescopes over the annular shoulder 132 on the base 126, and that sleeve will be suitably sweated, welded or brazed to that shoulder. A ring 48, which can be identical to the similarly-numbered ring in FIG. 2, is telescoped within the sleeve 136 and abuts the righthand face of the base 126. A baffle plate 49, which can be identical to the similarly-numbered bafile plate in FIG. 2, is telescoped within the sleeve 136 and can abut the right-hand face of the said ring 48. A further ring 48 is telescoped within the sleeve 136 and is set in abutting relation with the right-hand face of the baffle plate 49. A bafiie plate 53, which can be identical to the similarly numbered baffle plate in FIG. 2, is telescoped within the sleeve 136 and is set in abutting relation with the righthand face of the further ring 48. Additional rings 48 and

additional baflle plates

49 and 53 are alternated and telescoped into the sleeve 136, as shown particularly by FIG. 7. A cylindrical cake 142, of material which catalytically fosters the destructive distillation of hydrocarbon vapors, also is telescoped within the sleeve 136; and a thick ring 138 abuts right-hand face of that cake. A closure 140 abuts the right-hand face of the thick ring 138, and holds the

rings

48 and 138, the

bafile plates

49 and 53, and the cake 142 in assembled relation within the sleeve 136. A threaded fi-tting is provided at the exterior of the closure 140, adjacent an opening at the center of that closure. As indicated particularly by FIG. 8, the cake 142 has a large number of axially-extending passages through it; and those passages are coaxial with the sleeve 136.

The vapor-removing device 124 of FIG. 7 largely resembles the vapor-removing device 32 of FIG. 2. Specifically, the vapor-removing device 124 and the vapor- 9. removing device 32 both utilize alternated

baffle plates

49 and 53 plus a catalyst to foster the destructive distillation of the hydrocarbon vapors introduced into those vaporremoving devices. However, the vapor-removing device 124 differs from the vapor-removing device 32 in that the catalyst in the vapor-removing device 124 is in the form of a cake, whereas the catalyst in the vapor-removing device 32 is in the form of screens. Further, the vapor-removing device 124 differs from the vapor-removing device 32 in that it does not require a heat-exchanging block between itself and the exhaust manifold; and, instead, has a probe on the mase thereof which extends into the exhaust manifold to directly absorb heat from the prod- ;rclts of combustion passing through that exhaust mani- The portion of the passage 134 of the vapor-removing device 124, which extends to the periphery of the base 126, will be connected to a length of tubing which extends from the valve cover of an internal combustion engine. The threaded fitting at the exterior of the closure 140 of the vapor-removing device 124 will be connected to a length of tubing which extends to the inlet port of a valve, such as the valve 66 in FIG. 1; and a further length of tubing will extend from the outlet port of that valve to the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine. As a result the reduced pressure, which the engine will develop and maintain within its intake manifold, will cause air and hydrocarbon vapors to enter the passage 134 and then pass successively through the openings in the alternated

baffle plates

49 and 53. That air and those hydrocarbon vapors will be heated as they move through the passage 134 and along the circuitous path which they must follow in passing through the openings in those baffle plates. Prior to, and after, the instant the heated air and the heated hydrocarbon vapors enter the axially-extending passages in the cake 142 of catalytic material, the undesirable hydrocarbon vapors will experience destructive distillation. The resulting coke-like residue will tend to come to rest Within the passages in the cake 142 of catalytic material, and the volatile fractions will pass outwardly through the opening in the closure 140 and be drawn into the intake manifold of the engine. Thereafter, those volatile fractions will be mixed with the fuel in that intake manifold, and will be drawn into the cylinders of the engine. The coke-like residue will eventually reduce the effective crosssections of the axially-extending passages through the cake 142 of catalytic material; but, "at such time, the vaporremoving device 124 will be bodily removed from its position adjacent the exhaust manifold 120 and be replaced by a fresh vapor-removing device 124.

In each of the vapor-removing devices provided by the present invention, the air and hydrocarbon vapors which are introduced into that device will be heated and will be forced to recurrently change direction. As those hydrocarbon vapors are heated and are recurrently forced to change direction, the undesirable hydrocarbon vapors will experience destructive distillation and will produce a cokelike residue plus volatile fractions. The coke-like residue will tend to come to rest within the vapor-removing device, but the volatile fractions will tend to pass to theinlet manifold of the engine and thus be drawn into the cylinders of that engine. As a result, the intake valves of the engine and the valve in the connection between the valveoperating area and the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine will remain substantially free of deposits which could tend to interfere with the proper operation of those valves.

Whereas the drawing and accompanying description have shown and described three preferred embodiments of the present invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A vapor-removing device for use with an internal combustion engine which has an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold and that comprises:

(a) a housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening,

(b) surfaces which are disposed within said housing and which are interposed between said inlet opening and said outlet opening,

(0) said surfaces being engageable by air and vapors passing from said inlet opening to said outlet opening,

(d) some of said surfaces forcing said air and said vapors to recurrently change direction as they move from said inlet opening to said outlet opening,

(e) a heat-exchanging block that is securable to said exhaust manifold of said internal combustion engine,

(f) said heat-exchanging block having a surface thereon which is complementary to a portion of said exhaust manifold of said internal combustion engine so said heat-engaging block can be held in intimate heattransferring relation with said exhaust manifold,

(g) s-aid heat-exchanging block having a surface thereon which is complementary to a surface on said vapor-removing device so said vapor-removing device and said heat-exchanging block can be held in intimate heat-transferring relation,

(h) said heat-exchanging block being adapted to absorb heat from said exhaust manifold and to transfer said heat to said vapor-removing device,

(i) said vapor-removing device being adapted to respond to heat from said heat-exchanging block to become heated and to act upon hydrocarbon vapors passing from said inlet opening to said outlet opening to cause said hydrocarbon vapors to experience destructive distillation, and thereby convert said hydrocarbon vapors to a coke-like residue and to volatile fractions, s

(i) said surfaces within said housing being adapted to receive and hold said coke-like residue,

(k) said volatile fractions being adapted to pass outwardly through said outlet opening to said intake manifold of said internal combustion engine,

(1) other of said surfaces catalytically fostering said destructive distillation of said hydrocarbon vapors,

and a I (m) insulation on said housing to limit the radiation of heat from said housing.

2. A vapor-removing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said surfaces are baflling surfaces, said bafiiing surfaces transferring heat tosaid air and vapors, said other baflling surfaces being aluminum screens, further of said baffling surfaces being discs-with openings adjaoent the peripheries thereof, still further of said baffling surfaces being washers, said discs and said washers being alternated so said openingsin saiddiscs confront solid portions of said washers and so the openings in said washers confront solid portions of said discs,

3. A vapor-removing device for use with an internal combustion engine which has an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold and that comprises:

(a) a housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening,

(c) said surfaces being engageable by air and vapors passing from said inlet opening to said outlet open- (d) some of said surfaces forcing said air and said vapors to recurrently change direction as they move from said inlet opening to said outlet opening,

(f) said heat-exchanging block being adapted to absorb heat from said exhaust manifold and to transfer said heat to said vapor-removing device,

(g) said vaporrremoving device being adapted to respond to heat from said heat-exchanging block to become heated and to act upon hydrocarbon vapors passing from said inlet opening to said outlet opening to cause said hydrocarbon vapors to experience destructive distillation, and thereby convert said hydrocarbon vapors to a coke-like residue and to volatile fractions,

(h) said surfaces within said housing being adapted to receive and hold said coke-like residue,

(i) said volatile fractions being adapted to pass outwardly through said outlet opening to said intake manifold of said internal combustion engine,

(1') other of said surfaces catalytically fostering said destructive distillation of said hydrocarbon vapors, and

(k) insulation on said housing to limit the radiation of heat from said housing.

4. A vapor-removing device for use with an internal combustion engine which has an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold and that comprises:

(a) a housing with an inlet opening and an outlet open- (b) surfaces which are disposed within said housing and which are interposed between said inlet opening and said outlet opening,

() said surfaces being engageable by air and vapors passing from said inlet opening to said outlet opening,

(d) a heat-exchanging block that is securable to said exhaust manifold of said internal combustion engine,

(c) said heat-exchanging block being adapted to absorb heat from said exhaust manifold and to transfer said heat to said vapor-removing device,

(f) said vapor-removing device being adapted to respond to heat from said heat-exchanging block to become heated and to act upon hydrocarbon vapors passing from said inlet opening to said outlet opening to cause said hydrocarbon vapors to experience destructive distillation, and thereby convert said hydrocarbon vapors to a coke-like residue and to volatile fractions,

(g) said surfaces within said housing being adapted to receive and hold said coke-like residue,

(h) said volatile fractions being adapted to pass outwardly through said outlet opening to said intake manifold of said internal combustion engine.

5. A vapor-removing device as claimed in claim 4 wherein some of said surfaces catalytically fo-ster said destructive distillation of said hydrocarbon vapors.

6. A vapor-removing device for use with an internal combustion engine and that comprises:

(a) a housing with an inlet opening. and an outlet opening,

(b) said vapor-removing device permitting air and vapors to enter said inlet opening and to move toward said outlet opening, v

(c) said vapor-removing device being adapted to respond to heat from said engine to become heated-and to act upon hydrocarbon vapors entering said inlet opening and moving toward said outlet opening to cause said hydrocarbon vapors to experience destructive distillation, and thereby convert said hydrocarbon vapors to a coke-like residue and to volatile fractions,

(d) said housing being adapted to hold said coke-like residue,

(e) said volatile fractions being adapted to pass outwardly through said outlet opening,

(f) baffles within said housing in the form of disks which have openings adjacent the peripheries thereof, and

(g) further bafiies within said housing in the form of washers which have openings adjacent the centers thereof,

12 (h) said baffles and said further baflles being alternated to force said air and said hydrocarbon vapors to recurrently change direction within said housing. 7. A vapor-removing device for use with an internal combustion engine and that comprises:

(a) a housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening,

(b) said vapor-removing device permitting air and vapors to enter said inlet opening and to move toward said outlet opening,

(c) said vapor-removing device being adapted to respond to heat from said engine to become heated and to act upon hydrocarbon vapors entering said inlet opening and moving toward said outlet opening to cause said hydrocarbon vapors to experience destructive distillation, and thereby convert said hydrocarbon vapors to a coke-like residue and to volatile fractions,

(d) said housing being adapted to hold said coke-like residue,

(f) a catalyst in said housing that fosters the destructive distillation of said hydrocarbon vapors.

8. A vapor-removing device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said catalyst is a cake with openings therein for the passage of air and hydrocarbon vapors therethrough.

9. A vapor-removing device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said catalyst is a plurality of screens.

10. A vapor-removing device for use with an internal combustion engine and that comprises:

(a) a housing with an inlet opening and an outlet open- (b) said vapor-removing device permitting air and vapors to enter said inlet opening and to move toward said outlet opening,

(d) said housing being adapted to hold said coke-like residue,

(c) said volatile fractions being adapted to pass outwardly through said outlet opening,

(f) bafliing surfaces within said housing to force said air and said hydrocarbon vapors to recurrently change direction within said housing,

(g) a catalyst in said housing that fosters the destructive distillation of said hydrocarbon vapors.

11. A vapor-removing device for use with an internal combustion engine which has an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold and that comprises:

(a) a housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening,

(b) said inlet opening being adapted to be placed in communication with an oil-confining portion of said internal combustion engine in which hydrocarbon vapors will be found during operation of said internal combustion engine,

(0) said outlet opening being adapted to be placed in communication with said intake manifold,

(d) surfaces which are disposed within said housing and which are interposed between said inlet opening and said outlet opening,

(e) said surfaces being engageable by air and vapors passing from said inlet opening to said outlet opening,

(f) some of said surfaces within said housing being catalysts which can respond to heat to facilitate the destructive distillationof hydrocarbon vapors within said vapor-removing device, and

(g) said vapor-removing device being constructed and arranged to raise the temperature of said some surfaces and of said hydrocarbon vapors to the temperature at which said some surfaces can facilitate the destructive distillation of said hydrocarbon vapors,

(h) said some surfaces within said housing receiving air and vapors entering said housing through said inlet opening and responding to heat from said vaporremoving device to cause hydrocarbon vapors in said air and vapors to experience destructive distillation and thereby convert said hydrocarbon vapors to a coke-like residue and to volatile fractions,

(i) said housing being adapted to hold said coke-like residue and thereby keep said coke-like residue from passing to said intake manifold,

(j) said volatile fractions being adapted to pass outwardly through said outlet opening to said intake manifold of said internal combustion engine,

(k) said housing and said surfaces permitting a substantially continuous flow of gases and vapors from said oil-confining portion of said engine while substantially continuously removing from said gases and vapors, and holding within said housing, a coke-like residue.

12. A vapor-removing device for use with an internal combustion engine and that comprises:

(a) .a housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening,

() said outlet opening being adapted to be placed in communication with the intake manifold of said internal combustion engine,

(d) said vapor-removing device permitting air and vapors to enter said inlet opening and to move toward said outlet opening,

(e) said vapor-removing device having a catalyst therein that can respond to heat from said vapor-removing device to facilitate the destructive distillation of hydrocarbon vapors in said air and vapors which enter said inlet opening of said housing,

(f) said vapor-removing device becoming heated to heat said catalyst and said air and said vapors entering said inlet opening of said housing and thereby enable said catalyst to facilitate the destructive distillation of said hydrocarbon vapors and thus convert said hydrocarbon vapors to a coke-like residue and to volatile fractions,

(g) said housing being adapted to hold said coke-like residue and thereby keep said coke-like residue from passing to said intake manifold,

(h) said volatile fractions being adapted to pass outwardly through said outlet opening and to pass to said intake manifold,

(i) said vapor-removing device permitting a substantially continuous flow of gases and vapors from said oil-confining portion of said engine while substantially continuously removing from said gases and vapors, and holding within said housing, a coke-like residue.

13. A vapor-removing device for use with an internal combustion engine and that comprises:

(a) a housing with 'an inlet opening and an outlet opening,

(0) said outlet opening being adapted to be placed in communication with the intake manifold of said internal combustion engine,

(c) said vapor-removing device having a catalyst therein that can respond to heat from said vapor-removing device to facilitate the destructive distillation of hydrocarbon vapors in said air and vapors which enter said inlet opening of said housing,

(i) said vapor-removing device permitting a substantially continuous flow of gases and vapors from said oil-confining portion of said engine while substantially continuously removing from said gases and vapors, and holding within said housing, a coke-like residue, and

(j) bafliing surfaces within said housing to force said air and vapors to recurrently change direction within said housing,

(k) said bafiiing surfaces facilitating the heating of said air and vapors by said housing.

14. A vapor-removing device for use with an internal combustion engine and that comprises:

(a) a housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening,

(d) said vapor-removing device permitting air an vapors to enter said inlet opening and to move toward said outlet opening,

(i) said vapor-removing device permitting a substantially continuous flow of gases and vapors from said oil-confining portion of said engine while substantially removing from said gases and vapors, and holding within said housing, a coke-like residue, and

(j) a probe on said housing that extends into a highlyheated portion of said internal combustion engine,

(k) said probe being directly contacted and heated by the product of combustion of said internal combustion engine and transmitting heat to said housing.

(References on following page) 15 16 Reierences Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 113501079 8/1920 Mulkern 123-119 MARK NEWMAN, Primary Examiner, 1,524,540 1/1925 Dawby 123-419 5 1,532,638 4/1925 Rodgers 123 119 KARL ALBRECHT, Emmmer- 1,608,018 11/1926 Eldred 19 AL L. SMITH, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

7. A VAPOR-REMOVING DEVICE FOR USE WITH AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE AND THAT COMPRISES: (A) A HOUSING WITH AN INLET OPENING AND AN OUTLET OPENING, (B) SAID VAPOR-REMOVING DEVICE PERMITTING AIR AND VAPORS TO ENTER SAID INLET OPENING AND TO MOVE TOWARD SAID OUTLET OPENING, (C) SAID VAPOR-REMOVING DEVICE BEING ADAPTED TO RESPOND TO HEAT FROM SAID ENGINE TO BECOME HEATED AND TO ACT UPON HYDROCARBON VAPORS ENTERING SAID INLET OPENING AND MOVING TOWARD SAID OUTLET OPENING TO CAUSE SAID HYDROCARBON VAPORS TO EXPERIENCE DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION, AND THEREBY CONVERT SAID HYDROCARBON VAPORS TO A COKE-LIKE RESIDUE AND TO VOLATILE FRACTIONS, (D) SAID HOUSING BEING ADAPTED TO HOLD SAID COKE-LIKE RESIDUE, (E) SAID VOLATILE FRACTIONS BEING ADAPTED TO PASS OUTWARDLY THROUGH SAID OUTLET OPENING, (F) A CATALYST IN SAID HOUSING THAT FOSTERS THE DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF SAID HYDROCARBON VAPORS.