# US 11,111,831 B2 · Cylinder head oil separator for an internal combustion engine (flow-controlled oil separator) > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,111,831 B2 - Document ID: US11111831B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/629,819 - Filed: 2018-07-10 - Published: 2021-03-18 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2017-07-12 - Assignees: Montaplast GmbH - Applicants: Montaplast GmbH - Inventors: Michael Heinz; René Pouillon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11111831B2 ## CPC - F01M 13/04: having means for purifying air before leaving crankcase, e.g. removing oil - F01M 13/0416: {arranged in valve-covers} - B01D 45/06: by reversal of direction of flow - B01D 45/08: by impingement against baffle separators - F01M 11/0004: {Oilsumps} - F02F 1/24: Cylinder heads - F01M 2013/0461: {with a labyrinth} - F01M: LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - F02F: CYLINDERS, PISTONS OR CASINGS, FOR COMBUSTION ENGINES; ARRANGEMENTS OF SEALINGS IN COMBUSTION ENGINES ## Abstract The invention relates to a cylinder head oil separator arranged in a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine. In order to reduce maintenance and simplify the oil separator, the cylinder head oil separator includes a flow channel which is constructed as a Tesla valve and which is designed such that the air-oil aerosol flows through a longer flow path in a first flow direction from the aerosol inlet at a first opening to the air outlet (separation direction) at a second opening. The air-oil aerosol flows through a shorter flow path in a ventilation direction opposite the separation direction from the inlet at the second opening to the outlet of a fluid at the first opening. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cylinder head oil separator which is arranged in a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, wherein the internal combustion engine accommodates in an engine block in relatively moveable relationship at least one piston which with a piston lower end drives a crankshaft mounted rotatably in a crankcase, wherein there is provided a sump arranged beneath the crankshaft for collecting an oil, wherein the cylinder head oil separator has a first opening for the feed of an air-oil aerosol fed by way of a feed line from the crankcase, an oil separation apparatus fluidically connected thereto for separation of the oil from the air-oil aerosol and a fluidically connected second opening which adjoins the oil separation apparatus and which can be connected in flow relationship to a return line for return of an air cleaned of the oil, wherein the oil separation apparatus includes a flow passage configured in the form of a Tesla flow valve, such that an air-oil aerosol entering at the first opening in a separation direction (SR1) to an air outlet of the air cleaned of the oil at a second opening flows through a longer flow path than a fluid which enters at the second opening and which flows to the first opening in a venting direction (SR2) in opposite relationship to the separation direction and the flow passage is of such a geometrical configuration in the separation direction (SR1) in order to implement flow-controlled oil separation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A cylinder head oil separator as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flow passage is adapted to produce a greater pressure drop in the separation direction (SR1) than in the venting direction (SR2). ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A cylinder head oil separator as set forth in claim 2, wherein the flow passage includes a nozzle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A cylinder head oil separator as set forth in claim 3, wherein the nozzle is in the form of a venturi nozzle and at least one flow passage portion forms the suction tube of the venturi nozzle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A cylinder head oil separator as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flow passage includes a main passage and a plurality of side passages branching off of the main passage in fluidically connected relationship with the main passage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A cylinder head oil separator as set forth in claim 5, wherein the side passages respectively include a discharge portion extending from the main passage, an arcuate portion adjoining same and adapted for oil separation, and a return portion adjoining same and fluidically connected to the main passage. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A cylinder head oil separator as set forth in claim 6, wherein at least one of the discharge portion and the return portion are linear. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A cylinder head oil separator as set forth in claim 7, wherein at least one discharge portion and at least one return portion extend parallel to each other. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) A cylinder head oil separator as set forth in claim 5, wherein the side passages are inclined in the separation direction and include an acute angle with a longitudinal axis (L) in the separation direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A cylinder head oil separator as set forth in claim 1, wherein it is integrated in a housing in the form of a plastic injection molding. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A cylinder head oil separator as set forth in claim 10, wherein it is integrated in a cylinder head cover. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) An internal combustion engine comprising an engine block which relatively moveably accommodates at least one piston which drives a crankshaft mounted rotatably below same in a crankcase, wherein there is provided a sump arranged below the crankshaft for collecting an oil and wherein provided above the at least one piston in a cylinder head is a cylinder head oil separator, wherein the cylinder head oil separator is in accordance with claim 1. ### Claim 13 A cylinder head oil separator which is arranged in a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, wherein the internal combustion engine accommodates in an engine block in relatively moveable relationship at least one piston which with a piston lower end drives a crankshaft mounted rotatably in a crankcase, wherein there is provided a sump arranged beneath the crankshaft for collecting an oil, wherein the cylinder head oil separator has a first opening for the feed of an air-oil aerosol fed by way of a feed line from the crankcase, an oil separation apparatus fluidically connected thereto for separation of the oil from the air-oil aerosol and a fluidically connected second opening which adjoins the oil separation apparatus and which can be connected in flow relationship to a return line for return of an air cleaned of the oil, wherein the oil separation apparatus includes a flow passage in the form of a Tesla flow valve, such that an air-oil aerosol entering at the first opening in a separation direction (SR1) to an air outlet of the air cleaned of the oil at a second opening flows through a longer flow path than a fluid which enters at the second opening and which flows to the first opening in a venting direction (SR2) in opposite relationship to the separation direction and the flow passage is of such a geometrical configuration in the separation direction (SR1) in order to implement flow-controlled oil separation, wherein the flow passage includes a main passage and a plurality of side passages branching off of the main passage in fluidically connected relationship with the main passage, wherein the side passages respectively include a discharge portion extending from the main passage, an arcuate portion adjoining same and adapted for oil separation, and a return portion adjoining same and fluidically connected to the main passage, wherein at least one of the discharge portion and the return portion are linear, wherein at least one discharge portion and at least one return portion extend parallel to each other, and wherein at least one side passage has separators for increasing the separation effect. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A cylinder head oil separator as set forth in claim 13, wherein the separators for increasing the separation effect include an at least partially linear impact wall in the arcuate portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A cylinder head oil separator as set forth in claim 14, wherein the impact wall includes an acute angle between 70 and 85 degrees, with a wall of the discharge portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) A cylinder head oil separator as set forth in claim 13, wherein the separators for increasing the separation effect include at least one corrugated wall at least one side passage. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) A cylinder head oil separator as set forth in claim 13, wherein the separators for increasing the separation effect include at least one constriction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A cylinder head oil separator as set forth in claim 17, wherein the at least one constriction is provided at the transition of at least one return portion to the main passage. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) A cylinder head oil separator as set forth in claim 17, wherein the constriction extends into the cross-section of the return portion and reduces said cross-section approximately by a third. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) A cylinder head oil separator as set forth in claim 13, wherein the separators for increasing the separation effect include at least one separation rib. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) A cylinder head oil separator as set forth in claim 13, wherein the separators for increasing the separation effect include at least one side passage, at least one arcuate portion having an impact wall and/or at least one corrugated wall and/or at least one separation rib and/or at least one constriction.