# US 10,245,594 B2 · Oil removal apparatus

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- Number: US 10,245,594 B2
- Document ID: US10245594B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/302,195
- Filed: 2015-04-15
- Published: 2017-01-26
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2014-04-15
- Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Naoki Takeuchi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245594B2

## CPC

- B03C 3/68: Control systems therefor {(electricity supply or control systems for cleaning the electrodes B03C3/746, B03C3/763)}
- B03C 3/06: characterised by presence of stationary tube electrodes
- B03C 3/08: characterised by presence of stationary flat electrodes arranged with their flat surfaces parallel to the gas stream
- B03C 3/366: {located in the filter, e.g. special shape of the electrodes}
- F01M 13/04: having means for purifying air before leaving crankcase, e.g. removing oil
- B03C 2201/30: for use in or with vehicles
- B03C 2201/32: Checking the quality of the result or the well-functioning of the device
- F01M 2013/0438: {with a filter}
- F01M 2013/0466: {with electrostatic means}
- B03C: MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS (separating isotopes B01D59/00; combinations of magnetic or electrostatic separation with separation of solids by other means B03B, B07B)
- F01M: LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING

## Abstract

An object of the present invention is to suppress a blockage caused by oil particles in an upstream side of a filter in an oil removal apparatus that collects oil particles in a filter disposed between an anode and a cathode. While an internal combustion engine is operative, application of a voltage to a bipolar electrode is controlled such that a voltage application period, in which the voltage is applied to the bipolar electrode, and a voltage application stoppage period, in which application of the voltage to the bipolar electrode is stopped, are repeated alternately at predetermined periodic intervals.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An oil removal apparatus that removes oil particles contained in blow-by gas flowing through a blow-by gas passage of an internal combustion engine,
the oil removal apparatus comprising:
a bipolar electrode having an anode and a cathode that extend in a flow direction of said blow-by gas;
a filter formed from a dielectric and disposed between said anode and said cathode of said bipolar electrode; and
a controller comprising at least one processor configured to control application of a voltage to said bipolar electrode, wherein
said controller controls application of said voltage to said bipolar electrode such that while said internal combustion engine is operative, a voltage application period in which said voltage is applied to said bipolar electrode and a voltage application stoppage period in which application of said voltage to said bipolar electrode is stopped are repeated alternately at predetermined periodic intervals, wherein one of the predetermined periodic intervals is a time period shorter than a time period in which the oil particles flow out of said filter after flowing into said filter.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The oil removal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller makes a duty ratio of said voltage application period smaller when a flow rate of said blow-by gas flowing into said filter is low than when said flow rate of said blow-by gas is high.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The oil removal apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said controller modifies said duty ratio of said voltage application period in accordance with an engine load of said internal combustion engine, and
when said engine load of said internal combustion engine varies, said controller modifies said duty ratio of said voltage application period after a predetermined delay time following said variation in said engine load.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An internal combustion engine comprising the oil removal apparatus according to claim 1.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

An internal combustion engine comprising the oil removal apparatus according to claim 2.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

An internal combustion engine comprising the oil removal apparatus according to claim 3.