Air-oil separator and method of separation

An apparatus for separating oil and contaminants from air-oil contaminant mixtures from the crankcase of an internal combustion engine comprising:

• a housing;
• an intake inlet conduit of a first cross-sectional area communicating with the interior of the housing at a first end thereof;
• an exhaust outlet conduit of a second cross-sectional area greater than said first cross-sectional area communicating with the interior of the housing, said outlet conduit being located at said first end of the housing whereby the gas pressure of said mixtures admitted into the unit is reduced in the flow from said inlet conduit to said outlet conduit;
• said outlet conduit extending from the exterior into the interior of the housing a substantial distance from said first end toward an end of the housing opposite said first end;
• a baffle located between said opposite end of the housing and the inlet conduit in the interior of the housing in the flow path of said mixtures from said inlet conduit to said outlet conduit for deflecting the mixtures flowing from said inlet conduit through the housing to alter the direction of flow whereby the mixtures pass into and through said outlet conduit to the exterior of the housing;
• a mandrel having a mesh configuration extending between the interior open end of said outlet conduit and said baffle;
• filtration material coaxially disposed about said mandrel and said outlet conduit and interposed in the flow path from said inlet conduit to said outlet conduit;
• and
• drain means located at said opposite end for removing oil and contaminants deposited in said opposite end whereby crankcase emissions from the internal combustion engine directed through the apparatus have oil, sludge and particulate matter removed therefrom prior to reintroduction into the engine through a positive crankcase ventilation system.