Combination in-line air-filter/air-oil separator/air-silencer with preseparator

A combination apparatus for silencing and filtering air flow and separating air-contaminate mixtures, the apparatus comprising:

• an air filter joined to an annular housing having an outer wall;
• a channel in the housing defining a central axis, having on one end of the channel a primary gas inlet coupled to the air filter, and having on the opposite end of the channel a primary gas outlet adapted to be coupled to an engine induction system, and having a channel wall, the channel wall having inside and outside surfaces;
• a secondary inlet port through the outer wall;
• a secondary outlet port defining an opening in the channel wall such that there is no straight line flow path between the secondary inlet and the secondary outlet;
• a first baffle extending axially in the housing between the outer wall and the channel wall;
• an air silencer contained within the channel;
• a first air flow passageway between the secondary inlet port and the secondary outlet port defined exteriorly by the first baffle and interiorly by the channel wall;
• a second air flow passageway between the secondary inlet port and the secondary outlet port defined exteriorly by the outer wall and interiorly by the first baffle, wherein the first and second air flow passageways are constructed in series so that an air contaminate mixture entering through the secondary inlet port is routed through the housing from the first air flow passageway to the second air flow passageway and through the secondary outlet port;
• and
• a plurality of second baffles disposed within the first and second flow passageways and extending radially between the first baffle and the channel wall and the first baffle and the outer wall, respectively;

A combination apparatus for silencing and filtering air flow and separating air-contaminant mixtures, the apparatus comprising:

• an annular housing with an outer wall and a secondary inlet port extending through the outer wall;
• a channel in the housing defining a central axis and having a primary gas inlet on one end coupled to an air filter, and a primary gas outlet on an opposite end adapted to be coupled to an engine induction system;
• a channel wall in the housing with inside and outside surfaces and a secondary outlet port defining an opening in the channel wall such that there is no straight line flow path between the secondary inlet and the secondary outlet;
• a drain formed in the outer wall of the housing to facilitate removal of liquid contaminant from the apparatus;
• a first baffle extending axially in the housing between the outer wall and the channel wall;
• a first flow passageway defined exteriorly by the first baffle and interiorly by the channel wall, the first baffle having an opening to accommodate the passage of the air-contaminate mixture from the secondary inlet port and into the first flow passageway;
• a second flow passageway defined exteriorly by the outer wall and interiorly by the first baffle, the second flow passageway being serially connected to the first flow passageway such that the air-contaminate mixture exiting the first flow passageway enters the second flow passageway for passage of air-contaminant mixture toward the secondary outlet, wherein the secondary outlet port is positioned in the channel wall on a side of the housing substantially the same as the secondary inlet;
• and
• a plurality of second baffles disposed within the first and second flow passageways, the second baffles being disposed radially between the channel wall and first baffle in the first flow passageway and between the first baffle and outer wall in the second flow passageway, the second baffles being disposed axially between the primary gas inlet and outlet ends of the housing to direct the flow of the air-contaminate mixture through each first and second flow passageway in a serpentine flow pattern.

An improved internal combustion engine having an induction system and an engine block with an engine breather, the improvement comprising:

• a combination apparatus for silencing and filtering air flow and separating air-contaminant mixtures, the apparatus comprising:
• an air filter joined to an annular housing having an outer wall;
• a channel in the housing defining a central axis, having on one end of the channel a primary gas inlet coupled to the air filter, and having on the opposite end of the channel a primary gas outlet, and having a channel wall with inside and outside surfaces;
• a secondary inlet port through the outer wall;
• a secondary outlet port defining an opening in the channel wall such that there is no straight line flow path between the secondary inlet and the secondary outlet;
• an air silencer contained within the channel;
• a first baffle disposed axially within the housing between the outer wall and the channel wall, the first baffle defining a first and second flow passageway between the first baffle and channel wall and between the first baffle and outer wall, respectively, to provide serial air-contaminant mixture flow therethrough so that an air contaminate mixture entering through the secondary inlet port is routed through the housing from the first flow passageway to the second flow passageway and through the secondary outlet port;
• a plurality of second baffles disposed within the first and second flow passageways and extending radially within each passageway to direct the air-contaminant mixture flow within each first and second flow passageway in a serpentine flow pattern;
• and
• a drain coupled to the outer wall to facilitate removal of liquid contaminant from the combination apparatus.

An improved internal combustion engine having an induction system, and an engine block with an engine breather, the improvement comprising:

• a combination apparatus for silencing and filtering air flow and separating air-contaminant mixtures, the apparatus comprising:
• an air filter joined to an annular housing having an outer wall;
• a channel in the housing defining a central axis, the housing having on one end of the channel a primary gas inlet coupled to the air filter and having on the opposite end of the channel a primary gas outlet, and having a channel wall with inside and outside surfaces;
• a secondary inlet port through the outer wall;
• a secondary outlet port defining an opening in the channel wall such that there is no straight line flow path between the secondary inlet and the secondary outlet;
• an air silencer contained within the channel;
• a first baffle disposed axially within the housing between the outer wall and the channel wall;
• a first flow passageway defined exteriorly by the first baffle and interiorly by the channel wall, the first baffle having an opening to accommodate the passage of the air-contaminate mixture from the secondary inlet port and into the first flow passageway;
• a second flow passageway defined exteriorly by the outer wall and interiorly by the first baffle, the second flow passageway being serially connected to the first flow passageway such that the air-contaminate mixture exiting the first flow passageway enters the second flow passageway for passage of the air-contaminant mixture toward the secondary outlet, wherein the secondary outlet port is positioned in the channel wall on a side of the housing substantially the same as the secondary inlet;
• a plurality of second baffles disposed radially within the first and second flow passageways to direct the air-contaminant mixture flow within each first and second flow passageway in a serpentine flow pattern;
• and;
• a drain coupled to the outer wall to permit the removal of liquid contaminant from the housing;
• a preseparator apparatus coupled between the engine breather and the secondary inlet, the preseparator apparatus comprising:
• an annular housing having an outer wall defining a central axis;
• an inlet opening at one end of the housing coupled to the engine breather;
• an outlet opening at an opposite end of the housing coupled to the secondary inlet;
• and
• a plurality of preseparator baffles disposed within the housing.