Back to results
US 12,753,712 B2Granted
Air-fluid separator
AssigneeImproved Racing Products, LLC
InventorsRichard Michael Ihns, Casey A. Fitzgerald, Jarott E. Nelson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosure relates generally to an air-fluid separator device comprising a plurality of uniquely designed separator components cooperatively arranged to define a pathway through which untreated and potentially contaminated air flows and undergoes treatment in which contaminants, which may be in the form of fluid-based contaminants, are removed from the air before the air is reused (e.g., returned to an intake manifold of an engine). The contaminants may include, but are not limited to, water, oil, carbon particles, and unburned fuel, for example.
Claims36
An air-fluid separator comprising:
- a housing comprising separator components cooperatively arranged to define a pathway through which untreated and potentially contaminated air flows and undergoes treatment in which contaminants are removed therefrom, the housing comprising:
- an inlet port for receiving untreated and potentially contaminated air and directing the air to flow into a separation chamber;
- a filter assembly positioned adjacent to the separation chamber;
- a drain funnel positioned adjacent to the filter assembly;
- a clean air collector tube configured to allow air to pass therethrough, wherein the clean air collector tube comprises a bell-mouth shaped first end adjacent to the drain funnel and second opposing end adjacent to the outlet port;
- and
- an outlet port coupled to the clean air collector tube and configured to exhaust treated air;
- and
- a collection reservoir coupled to the housing and configured to receive and retain contaminants removed from the air.
6 more elements
An air-fluid separator comprising:
- a housing comprising separator components cooperatively arranged to define a pathway through which untreated and potentially contaminated air flows and undergoes treatment in which contaminants are removed therefrom, the housing comprising:
- an inlet port for receiving untreated and potentially contaminated air and directing the air to flow into a separation chamber;
- a filter assembly positioned adjacent to the separation chamber and configured to receive deposited contaminants from the separation chamber and further configured to coalesce said deposited contaminants into larger deposits while allowing air to pass therethrough;
- a drain funnel positioned adjacent to the filter assembly, the funnel comprising a plurality of spiral-shaped grooves formed along a collection surface thereof, said plurality of grooves being configured to collect contaminant deposits received from said filter assembly and direct said collected contaminant deposits towards a drain hole of the funnel and subsequently into a collection reservoir coupled to the housing;
- a clean air collector tube suspended vertically above and spaced apart from the drain funnel and configured to allow air to pass therethrough;
- and
- an outlet port coupled to the clean air collector tube and configured to exhaust treated air;
- and
- a collection reservoir coupled to the housing and configured to receive and retain contaminants removed from the air.
6 more elements
An air-fluid separator comprising:
- a housing comprising separator components cooperatively arranged to define a pathway through which untreated and potentially contaminated air flows and undergoes treatment in which contaminants are removed therefrom, the housing comprising:
- an inlet port for receiving untreated and potentially contaminated air and directing the air to flow into a separation chamber;
- a filter assembly positioned adjacent to the separation chamber and configured to receive deposited contaminants from the separation chamber and further configured to coalesce said deposited contaminants into larger deposits while allowing air to pass therethrough;
- a drain funnel positioned adjacent to the filter assembly and configured to collect contaminant deposits received from said filter assembly and direct said collected contaminant deposits towards a drain hole of the funnel and subsequently into a collection reservoir coupled to the housing;
- a clean air collector tube suspended vertically above and spaced apart from the drain funnel and configured to allow air to flow therethrough, the clean air collector comprising a bell-mouth shaped first end adjacent to the drain funnel and second opposing end;
- and
- an outlet port coupled to the clean air collector tube and configured to exhaust treated air;
- and
- a collection reservoir coupled to the housing and configured to receive and retain contaminants removed from the air.
6 more elements
An air-fluid separator comprising:
- a housing comprising separator components cooperatively arranged to define a pathway through which untreated and potentially contaminated air flows and undergoes treatment in which contaminants are removed therefrom, the housing comprising:
- an inlet port for receiving untreated and potentially contaminated air and directing the air to flow into a separation chamber;
- a filter assembly positioned adjacent to the separation chamber and configured to receive deposited contaminants from the separation chamber and further configured to coalesce said deposited contaminants into larger deposits while allowing air to pass therethrough;
- a drain funnel positioned adjacent to the filter assembly and configured to collect contaminant deposits received from said filter assembly and direct said collected contaminant deposits towards a drain hole of the funnel and subsequently into a collection reservoir coupled to the housing;
- a clean air collector tube suspended vertically above and spaced apart from the drain funnel and configured to allow air to flow therethrough, the clean air collector comprising a bell-mouth shaped first end adjacent to the drain funnel and second opposing end;
- and
- an outlet port coupled to the clean air collector tube and configured to exhaust treated air;
- and
- a collection reservoir coupled to the housing and configured to receive and retain contaminants removed from the air.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.