WO1984003333A1

WO1984003333A1 - Pollution control pcv charcoal hose

Info

Publication number: WO1984003333A1
Application number: PCT/US1983/000265
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Manolis
Original assignee: John Manolis
Priority date: 1983-02-16
Filing date: 1983-02-28
Publication date: 1984-08-30

Abstract

Air circulated in the interior of a gasoline engine is mixed with gasoline and oil vapors trapped in the crankcase (15). The vapors are then fed, by means of intake manifold vacuum to the cylinders for combustion, by passing through a PCV valve. A PCV charcoal hose (30) containing activated charcoal particles (26) is connected to the crankcase (15) and extending to the intake manifold (18) for absorbing and storing the crankcase vapors when there is no vacuum or when the PCV valve is restricting the flow therethrough. These vapors will be drawn into the intake manifold (18) when circulated air is flowing over the charcoal (26). This action clears the charcoal and renews its storage capacity.

Description

POLLUTION CONTROL PCV CHARCOAL HOSE REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present patent application is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 448,815, filed December 10, 1982.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION During the operation of an internal combustion engine a small portion of the air-fuel mixture inside the combusion chambers. passes by the piston rings into the crankcase just before combustion occurs. In like manner, exhaust fumes are forced past the piston rings into the crankcase just after combustion takes place.

Collectively, these gases are termed blow-by, approximately 80% of which is unburned air-fuel mixture and 20% of which is a combustion product including water vapors, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Additionally, on some automobiles, fuel tank vapor line is connected to the engine breather cap and fuel vapors are vented into the crankcase, when engine is not running. Blow-by gases and fuel vapors have always been a problem since, if they are allowed to remain in the crankcase, they form various deposits and acids, all of which are harmful to engine life and performance.

Traditionally, these fumes were vented to the atmosphere through a road draft tube. In recent years, however, the smog problem has created a need for preventing crankcase vapors from discharging into the atmosphere.

To minimize the pollution created by crankcase emissions positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) systems have been developed which recycle the engine blow-by gases back into the combustion chambers where they can be burned.

In order to maintain combustion efficiency during idling, deceleration, acceleration and crousing, a flow control valve is interposed in the conduit conducting the blow-by gases from the crankcase to the intake manifold. The flow control valve is termed a PCV valve, is ordinarily modulated either by the extent of the pressure, or vacuum, in the crankcase or by the amount of vacuum in the intake manifold. When the engine is started, manifold vacuum pulls the valve open against spring pressure and as long as the engine vacuum is from 1-14.9" Hg. the valve "floats," permitting crankcase vapors to bypass unrestricted and enter intake manifold.

The conduit which is conducting the blow-by gases from the crankcase to the intake manifold, is termed a PCV hose, is connected to the crankcase and extending to the intake manifold.

Unfortunately the PCV systemns, PCV hose and PCV valve, possess numerous drawbacks and disadvantages. During periods of high manifold vacuum (above 14.9" Hg.) the valve closes against spring pressure, excess fumes escape into the atmosphere through oil filter cap or other venting ports.

With engine not running these vapors are escaping into the atmosphere through the oil cap, the air filter, the carburetor, etc.

There remains, however, considerable room for improvement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a positive crankcase ventilation charcoal hose, termed PCV charcoal hose, conducting blow-by gases from crankcase to intake manifold.

It is an object of the invention to provide a PCV charcoal hose containing activated charcoal particles which absorb and store the blow-by gases when there is no vacuum or when there is a flow restriction.

It is another object of the invention to provide a PCV charcoal hose which prevents crankcase vapors, fumes, smog and the like from being discharged into the atmosphere. It is still another object of the invention to provide a

PCV charcoal hose which prevents crankcase vapors, fumes, smog and the like from being discharged into the atmosphere.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a

PCV charcoal hose for reducing air pollution stemming from th crankcase of internal combustion engines of all kinds.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a PCV charcoal hose which helps to maintain engine performance and efficiency at a desired level.

It is yet a further object of the invention yo provide a PCV charcoal hose which is compact in size, economical to purchase, easy to connect either at the factory or subsequently.

Other objects, together with the foregoing are attained in the embodiment described in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a prime system embodying the present invention shown the PCV charcoal hose conducting the blow-by gases from the crankcase to the intake manifold. Figure 2 is a vertical cross-section of the PCV charcoal hose showing in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section of a typical hose connector of the PCV charcoal hose. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of screen plate dimensioned to telescope into the hose connectors.

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-section of a cylindrical shell utilized in the invention.

Figure 6 is a design showing the PCV charcoal hose ready to be connected to the PCV system of an internal combustion engine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED

EMBODIMENT

In detail now and turning to Figure 1 there is shown a partial cross-section of a typical V-type gasoline-powered engine embodying the present invention.

Air flows into the air filter 11 through duct 12. Some of this air is directed via a conduit 13 through an engine aperture 14 to the interior 15 of the engine block 22, passing first through cap 23. An oil pan 16 holds a volume of lubricating oil that is circulated through engine interior, or crankcase 15. As the engine runs, the lubricating oil heats and emits oil vapors, which are trapped in crankcase 15.

In well known manner, a small portion of air-fuel mixture inside the combustion chambers is forced past the piston rings just before and just after combustion takes place. These "blow-by" gases, as previously explained, consist of unburned air-fuel mixture and combustion products including water vapors, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Additionally, on some automobiles, fuel tank vapor line, not shown, is connected to the engine breather cap 23 and fuel vapors are vented into crankcase 15 when engine is not running, if allowed to remain in the crankcase 15 will form various types of varnish deposits, acids and other products deleterious to engine life and performance, also they will escape into the atmosphere, forming the first two of the four sources of atmospheric pollutants (viz., crankcase emissions, evaporative losses, exhaust emissions and particulates) resulting from the operation of internal combustion engines of all kinds.

The PCV charcoal hose 30 having an inlet port 31,

Figure 2, connected to the outlet port 20 of crankcase 15 allowing communication between crankcase 15 and said PCV charcoal hose 30, an outlet port 29, Figure 2, connected to the inlet port 19 of the intake manifold 18 allowing communication between intake manifold 18 and said PCV charcoal hose 30 for conducting the blow-by gases from the crankcase 15 to the intake manifold 18.

Referring now to Figure 2 the PCV charcoal hose 30 having two hose adapters or connectors 32, one adapter 32 is located on the inlet port 31 and the other adapter, indicated also by number 32, is located on the utlet port 29, between the said hose adapters 32 are located highly activated charcoal granules (small particles) 26. The hose adapters 32 having ends 37 which are circular in form and which are dimensioned to telescope into the inlet port 31 and outlet port 29 of the PCV charcoal hose 30, ends 36 which are circular in form and which are dimensioned to fit the inlet port 19 of the intake manifold aτιd the outlet port 20 of the crankcase 15 or any PCV system of an internal combustion engine, the screen plates 34 which are circular in form and are dimensioned to telescope into the sleeve of the ends 37 for holding the charcoal particles 26, the screen plates 34 having small openings for allowing the blow-by gases flow therethrough.

Referring now to Figure 5 the cylindrical shell 21 having inlet port 24 and outlet port 28. The inlet port 24 is connected to the outlet port 20 of the crankcase 15 (not shown) allowing communication between crankcase 15 and shell 21. The outlet port 28 is connected to the inlet port 19 of the intake manifold 18 (not shown) allowing communication between manifold 18 and shell 21.

Installed within the shell 21 are the air filters 25, one on the inlet port 24 and one on the outlet port 28. Between the filters 25 are located highly activated charcoal granules (small particles) 26 for absorbing and storing crankcase blow-by gases. The cylindrical shell 21 is connected to the engine PCV system.

In operation, during periods of idle or deceleration, vacuum is high (above 14.9") Hg. The tapered PCV valve plunger, (not shown), is drawn into the metering opening. This reduces the size of the passageway allowing only a small flow of crankcase vapors to the intake manifold 18. Excess crankcase vapors are flowing into the PCV charcoal hose 30. The PCV charcoal hose 30 contains highly activated charcoal granules 26. When the vapors touch the charcoal 26, the granules absorb and store the vapors, until the PCV valve opens again.

When the engine is stopped no vacuum exists into the intake manifold 18, but the engine block 22 is at a somewhat elevated temperature and the crankcase vapors are continuous stemming and flowing through the outlet port 20 into the PCV charcoal hose 30. As previously explained, the hose 30 contains highly activated charcoal granules 26, when the vapors touch the charcoal 26, the granules absorb and store the vapors.

As long as the engine remains off, the vapors will be retained by the charcoal 26 in the hose 30.

Upon starting the engine, vacuum will be formed in the intake manifold 18. This vacuum will draw fresh air into the crankcase 15 and from there the air will be drawn into the PCV charcoal hose 30. As the air passes over the charcoal 26, it will pick up the stored vapors and draw them into the intake manifold 18 where they will be mixed with fuel charge for burning.

This action clears the charcoal 26 and renews its storage capacity.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A pollution control PCV charcoal hose for use with an internal combuston engine having a crankcase, an air intake leading to a combustion, a vacuum source and a PCV valve, said PCV charcoal hose comprising: a hose including inlet means adapted to be coupled to said engine crankcase for admitting emissions therefrom to the interior of said charcoal hose, outlet means adapted to be coupled to said air intake manifold for furnishing said emissions thereto, said charcoal hose contains highly activated charcoal granules (small particles) means for absorbing and storing crankcase emissions entering said charcoal hose via said inlet means when PCV valve is restricting the emissions flow, or when there is no vacuum, and means crankcase emissions leaving said PCV charcoal hose via said outlet means when vacuum is formed and said PCV valve allowing flow therethrough.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said PCV charcoal hose having inlet port connected to said crankcase and outlet port connected to said intake manifold means allowing communication between said crankcase and said intake manifold through interior of said PCV charcoal hose, means said PCV charcoal hose contains activated charcoal particles.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said PCV charcoal hose having a hose connector which is circular in form and is dimensioned to telescope into said inlet and means coupled to outlet port of said crankcase.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said PCV charcoal hose having a hose connector which is circular in form and is dimensioned to telescope into said outlet and means coupled to inlet port of said intake manifold.

5. The combination of claims 3 and 4 wherein said hose connectors having screen plates in form of washers which are circular in form and dimensioned to telescope into said hose connectors, said plates having small openings adjacent the center of said PCV charcoal hose for holding said charcoal particles and allowing emissions flow therethrough.

6. A pollution control cylindrical shell for use with an internal combustion engine having a crankcase, an air intake leading to a combustion, a vacuum source, a PCV hose and a PCV valve, said cylindrical shell having inlet port means adapted to be coupled to said engine crankcase for admitting emissions therefrom to the interior of said shell, outlet port means adapted to be coupled to said intake manifold for furnishing said emissions thereto, said cylindrical shell contains highly activated charcoal granules (small particles) means for absorbing and storing crankcase emissions entering said shell via said inlet port means when PCV valve is restricting the emissions flow, or when there is no vacuum, and means crankcase emissions leaving said shell via outlet port means when vacuum is formed and said valve allowing flow therethrough.