Dual flow check valve for positive crankcase ventilation system
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsAlan E. Rice, Steven G. Bryde
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dual flow check valve includes a valve body having an inner valve cavity, a first valve opening, and a second valve opening. The dual flow check valve further includes a seal disposed within the valve body. The seal is operatively coupled within the valve body such that the seal is configured to move relative to the valve body between an open position, in which the seal allows the gas to flow between the first and second valve openings through the inner valve cavity, and a closed position, in which the seal inhibits the gas and the liquid from flowing through the inner valve cavity from the first valve opening to the second valve opening.
Claims15
A dual flow check valve comprising:
- a valve body having an inner valve cavity, a first valve opening leading to the inner valve cavity, and a second valve opening leading to the inner valve cavity, wherein the inner valve cavity fluidly couples the first valve opening with the second valve opening;
- and
- a seal disposed within the valve body, the seal configured to be buoyant in a liquid, the seal being configured to remain stationary in relation to the valve body when a gas flows between the first valve opening and the second valve opening through the inner valve cavity;
- wherein the seal is operatively coupled within the valve body such that the seal is configured to move relative to the valve body between an open position, in which the seal allows the gas to flow between the first and second valve openings through the inner valve cavity, and a closed position, in which the seal inhibits the gas and the liquid from flowing through the inner valve cavity from the first valve opening to the second valve opening.
An engine assembly comprising:
- an engine having a combustion chamber and a crankcase chamber;
- an intake assembly including an intake manifold fluidly coupled with the combustion chamber;
- and
- a dual flow check valve fluidly coupled between the crankcase chamber and the intake manifold, the dual flow check valve including:
- a valve body having an inner valve cavity, the inner valve cavity disposed in fluid communication with the crankcase chamber and the intake manifold;
- and
- a seal disposed within the valve body, the seal being configured to be buoyant in oil and to remain stationary in relation to the valve body when a gas flows along the seal through the inner valve cavity;
- wherein the seal is operatively coupled within the valve body such that the seal is configured to move relative to the valve body between an open position, in which the seal allows the gas to flow between the crankcase chamber and the intake manifold through the inner valve cavity, and a closed position, in which the seal inhibits the gas and the oil from flowing from the crankcase chamber into the intake manifold through the inner valve cavity.
A method of manufacturing an engine assembly comprising:
- fluidly coupling a combustion chamber of an engine with an intake manifold of an intake assembly, the engine having a crankcase chamber, and the crankcase chamber containing oil;
- and
- fluidly coupling a dual flow check valve between the crankcase chamber and the intake manifold, wherein the dual check valve is configured to allow bidirectional flow of gas between the crankcase chamber and the intake manifold while also preventing oil from flowing from the crankcase chamber into the intake manifold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.