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US 7,517,392 B2Granted
Breather system and method of using the same
AssigneeDana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
InventorsMatthew L. Neff, Leonard P. 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 an upper portion, a lower portion and a hollow interior, said breather tube located within an aperture of a housing containing a liquid;
- and
- a drain back tube having a plurality of legs with recesses having variable depths between said legs defining a lower portion of said drain back tube, said drain back tube being connected to said lower portion of said breather tube, thereby said legs and said recesses prevent lubricant in said housing from forming a liquid seal in said drain back 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 and a hinge.
1 more element
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
- 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.
1 more element
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, said recesses having variable depths between said legs;
- and
- a substantially hollow interior portion connecting said upper portion and said lower portion;
- thereby said legs and said recesses prevent lubricant in a housing from forming a liquid seal in said drain back tube.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.