Cam cover oil separator for crankcase ventilation
AssigneeSaturn Corporation
InventorMartin E. Rosalik, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cam cover for an overhead cam engine has first and second oil separators connecting the crankcase with the engine induction system high and low vacuum portions as part of a crankcase ventilation system. The separators each have a floor sloping toward the outlet and forming a sump with a drain to the crankcase. A large slow flowing separation chamber precedes the sump. An optional inlet tube is angled down with a large inlet facing away from the oil splash. A shelf may extend between the sump and the outlet end to deter oil carryover to the outlet. Optional PCV valve and oil filler locations are shown.
Claims6
An engine cam cover for an engine having a longitudinal overhead camshaft, the cam cover having an internal oil separator for crankcase ventilation gas flow, said separator comprising
- a side wall and a floor cooperating with a top wall of the cam cover to define a longitudinally elongate chamber in an upper portion of the cam cover adjacent the camshaft;
- an inlet opening to the chamber longitudinally near one end for communication of the chamber with the cover interior generally adjacent the camshaft location as installed,
- an outlet opening from the chamber longitudinally near an opposite outlet end and in an upper portion adjacent the top wall to allow the discharge of crankcase gases,
- the chamber including a separation portion of relatively large flow area near the inlet for encouraging the collection of oil droplets on the floor,
- the floor having a portion sloping gradually downwardly toward the outlet end of the chamber and defining a shallow sump for oil collection in a lower portion toward the outlet end, and,
- a drain in the sump toward the outlet end to return collected oil to the cover interior and to a connected engine crankcase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.