Breather system and method of using the same
AssigneeDana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
InventorsMatthew Neff, Leonard Stoehr, Leo Wenstrup
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention comprises a breather system and a method of using the system. The assembly has a breather tube, a baffle system at least partially located within the breather tube and a drain back tube connected to the breather tube. The baffle system has a plurality of baffles designed to prevent lubricant from escaping a housing while still allowing air to pass into and out of the housing.
Claims20
A breather system, comprising:
- a breather tube having a first portion, a second portion and a hollow interior;
- a baffle system at least partially located within said hollow interior of said breather tube, said baffle system comprising a first end, a second end and an interior portion, wherein said first end is partially closed by a first baffle and said second end is partially closed by a second baffle and wherein a third baffle is located within said interior portion of said baffle system between said first baffle and said second baffle;
- and
- a drain back tube having a plurality of legs, said drain back tube being connected to said second portion of said breather tube.
A breather system, comprising:
- a breather tube having a hollow interior;
- a drain back tube connected to said breather tube, said drain back tube having a plurality of axially extending tapered legs;
- and
- a baffle system located at least partially within said interior of said breather tube, said baffle system having at least three axially staggered baffles.
A method of venting a housing, comprising:
- providing a substantially closed housing containing a liquid;
- locating a breather tube within an aperture of said housing;
- and
- attaching a baffle system to said breather tube, said baffle system utilizing staggered baffles to prevent said liquid from escaping from said housing through said breather tube, said staggered baffles providing a substantially continuous air passageway therethrough for venting said housing.
The method of claim 16, further comprising connecting a drain back tube having a plurality of tapered legs with recesses having varying depths between said legs, with at least said breather tube, said legs and said recesses preventing lubricant from forming a liquid seal in said drain back tube.
A drain back tube, comprising:
- an upper portion;
- a lower portion having a plurality of legs, wherein a recess is located between each of said legs;
- and
- a substantially hollow interior portion connecting said upper portion and said lower portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.