# US 10,480,366 B2 · Throttled PCV system for an engine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,366 B2 - Document ID: US10480366B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/709,668 - Filed: 2017-09-20 - Published: 2019-03-21 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-20 - Assignees: Fca US LLC - Applicants: Colton Wyatt; Anthony J Han - Inventors: Colton Wyatt; Anthony J Han - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480366B2 ## CPC - F01M 13/021: {of negative pressure} - F01M 13/04: having means for purifying air before leaving crankcase, e.g. removing oil - F01M 2013/0044: {with one or more valves} - F01M 2013/027: {with a turbo charger or compressor} - F01M: LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING ## Abstract A positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system for an internal combustion engine includes a forced air induction system configured to supply air to the engine, a PCV line configured to fluidly couple between a crankcase of the engine and a clean side air duct of the forced air induction system, a make-up air (MUA) line configured to fluidly couple between the crankcase and the clean side air duct, and an inlet valve disposed in the forced air induction system. The inlet valve is configured to be controlled selectively move between an open position and a closed position to vary an air restriction in the forced air induction system and generate a vacuum. The vacuum draws blow-by gases from the crankcase through the PCV line and into the air induction system when the engine is under either naturally aspirated or boosted conditions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system for an internal combustion engine, the PCV system comprising: a forced air induction system configured to supply air to the engine; a PCV line configured to fluidly couple between a crankcase of the engine and a clean side air duct of the forced air induction system; a make-up air (MUA) line configured to fluidly couple between the crankcase and the clean side air duct, wherein the MUA line does not include a flow control valve thereon; and an inlet valve disposed in the forced air induction system, the inlet valve configured to be controlled to selectively move between an open position and a closed position to vary an air restriction in the forced air induction system and generate a vacuum, wherein the generated vacuum is configured to draw blow-by gases from the crankcase through the PCV line and into the air induction system when the engine is under either naturally aspirated or boosted conditions, thereby facilitating preventing a reverse flow of blow-by gases into the MUA line and eliminating a need for an oil separator in the MUA line. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The PCV system of claim 1, wherein the inlet valve is disposed in the forced air induction system upstream of a fluid connection between the PCV line and the clean side air duct. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The PCV system of claim 1, wherein the inlet valve is disposed in the forced air induction system downstream of a fluid connection between the MUA line and the clean side air duct. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The PCV system of claim 1, wherein the forced air induction system comprises a turbocharger. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The PCV system of claim 4, wherein the inlet valve is disposed in the forced air induction system upstream of the turbocharger and is configured to create an additional pressure drop in the area upstream of the turbocharger. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The PCV system of claim 4, wherein the inlet valve is disposed in the forced air induction system at a location downstream of a fluid connection between the MUA line and the clean side air duct, upstream of a fluid connection between the PCV line and the clean side air duct, and upstream of the turbocharger. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The PCV system of claim 1, wherein the inlet valve is an electronically controlled throttle valve. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The PCV system of claim 1, wherein the inlet valve includes a biasing mechanism configured to bias the inlet valve to the open position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The PCV system of claim 1, wherein the inlet valve is an electronically controlled solenoid valve. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The PCV system of claim 1, wherein the PCV line includes an oil separator. ### Claim 11 A vehicle comprising: an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold and a crankcase; a forced air induction system having an air supply duct fluidly coupled to the intake manifold; a positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system comprising: a PCV line fluidly coupled between the crankcase and air supply duct and configured to vent blow-by gases from the crankcase to the air supply duct; a make-up air (MUA) line fluidly coupled between the crankcase and the air supply duct; and an inlet valve disposed in the forced air induction system, the inlet valve configured to selectively move between an open position and a closed position to vary an air restriction in the forced air induction system and generate a vacuum, wherein the generated vacuum is configured to draw the blow-by gases from the crankcase through the PCV line and into the air induction system when the engine is under either naturally aspirated or boosted conditions, thereby facilitating preventing a reverse flow of the blow-by gases in the MUA line and eliminating a need for an oil separator in the MUA line; and a throttle valve fluidly coupled to the intake manifold and configured to selectively restrict the amount of air introduced to the internal combustion engine. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the forced air induction system includes a turbocharger. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the inlet valve is disposed in the forced air induction system upstream of a fluid connection between the PCV line and the air supply duct. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the inlet valve is disposed in the forced air induction system downstream of a fluid connection between the MUA line and the air supply duct. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the inlet valve is disposed in the forced air induction system upstream of the turbocharger. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the fluid connection between the PCV line and the air supply duct is disposed in the forced air induction system downstream of the inlet valve and upstream of the turbocharger. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising an oil separator disposed in the PCV line. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11, wherein: the PCV system does not include a line fluidly coupled between the crankcase and the intake manifold to vent the blow-by gases; the throttle valve is disposed in the air supply duct at a location upstream of the intake manifold and downstream of the inlet valve; and the MUA line does not include a flow control valve thereon.