# US 8,464,698 B2 · Air intake assembly with integrated crankcase ventilation system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,464,698 B2 - Document ID: US8464698B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/109,095 - Filed: 2008-04-24 - Published: 2009-10-29 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-24 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: Thomas Richard Durkin; Alan E. Rice - Inventors: Thomas Richard Durkin; Alan E. Rice - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464698B2 ## CPC - F01M 13/022: {using engine inlet suction} - F01M 13/0416: {arranged in valve-covers} - F02M 35/10144: {Connections of intake ducts to each other or to another device} - F02M 35/10222: {Exhaust gas recirculation [EGR]; Positive crankcase ventilation [PCV]; Additional air admission, lubricant or fuel vapour admission} - F02M 35/10321: {Plastics; Composites; Rubbers} - F02M 35/10327: {Metals; Alloys (catalysts F02M27/02)} - F02M 35/10347: {Moulding, casting or the like} - F02M 35/116: for engines with cylinders in V-arrangement or arranged oppositely relative to the main shaft - F01M 2013/0461: {with a labyrinth} - F01M: LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF ## Abstract An engine assembly may include an engine block, a first cylinder head, and an air intake assembly. The engine block may include a first bank defining a first set of cylinders. The first cylinder head may be fixed to the first bank and may include a first set of intake ports. The air intake assembly may include an intake air tube, a crankcase ventilation housing integrally formed with the intake air tube, and an oil separation assembly located within the crankcase ventilation housing. The intake air tube may be in communication with the first set of intake ports and an air source. The crankcase ventilation housing may have a wall at least partially defined by the intake air tube. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An engine air intake assembly comprising: an intake air tube adapted to provide communication between an engine intake manifold and an air source; a crankcase ventilation housing integrally formed with the intake air tube, the crankcase ventilation housing having a wall at least partially defined by the intake air tube, the wall being in thermal communication with the intake air tube and the crankcase ventilation housing to transfer heat from an air flow through the intake air tube to the crankcase ventilation housing; and an oil separation assembly located within the crankcase ventilation housing adapted to remove oil from air passing through the crankcase ventilation housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The engine air intake assembly of claim 1, further comprising an oil fill housing integrally formed with the crankcase ventilation housing, the oil fill housing defining an oil passage isolated from an interior of the crankcase ventilation housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The engine air intake assembly of claim 1, wherein the crankcase ventilation housing includes an air inlet adapted to be directly fastened to and abut an engine valve cover. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The engine air intake assembly of claim 3, wherein the intake air tube includes an air outlet portion defining an outlet from the intake air tube, the wall separating the air inlet of the crankcase ventilation housing from the air outlet portion of the intake air tube. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The engine air intake assembly of claim 4, wherein the air inlet of the crankcase ventilation housing and the air outlet portion of the intake air tube define a generally planar end surface having a generally continuous sealing channel adapted to receive a sealing gasket therein. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The engine air intake assembly of claim 1, wherein the intake air tube includes a first branch, a second branch, and an inlet branch in communication with the air source and the first and second branches, the first branch at least partially defining the wall of the crankcase ventilation housing and adapted to provide communication between a first intake manifold associated with a first set of cylinders and the inlet branch and the second branch adapted to provide communication between a second intake manifold associated with a second set of cylinders and the inlet branch. ### Claim 7 An engine assembly comprising: an engine block including a first bank defining a first set of cylinders; a first cylinder head fixed to the first bank and including a first set of intake ports; and an air intake assembly including: an intake air tube in communication with the first set of intake ports and an air source; a crankcase ventilation housing integrally formed with the intake air tube and having a wall at least partially defined by the intake air tube, the wall being in thermal communication with the intake air tube and the crankcase ventilation housing to transfer heat from an air flow through the intake air tube to the crankcase ventilation housing; and an oil separation assembly located within the crankcase ventilation housing and adapted to remove oil from air passing through the crankcase ventilation housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The engine assembly of claim 7, wherein the air intake assembly includes an oil fill housing integrally formed with the crankcase ventilation housing, the oil fill housing defining an oil passage isolated from an interior of the crankcase ventilation housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The engine assembly of claim 7, further comprising a first cover member fixed to the first cylinder head and including a cam cover portion, the oil separation assembly being in communication with the cam cover portion of the first cover member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The engine assembly of claim 9, wherein the crankcase ventilation housing includes an air inlet directly fastened to and abutting the first cover member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The engine assembly of claim 10, wherein the intake air tube includes an air outlet portion defining an outlet from the intake air tube, the wall separating the air inlet of the crankcase ventilation housing from the air outlet portion of the intake air tube. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The engine assembly of claim 11, wherein the air inlet of the crankcase ventilation housing and the air outlet portion of the intake air tube define a generally planar end surface having a generally continuous sealing channel adapted to receive a sealing gasket therein. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The engine assembly of claim 9, further comprising a second cylinder head including a second set of intake ports and a second cover member fixed to the second cylinder head, the engine block including a second bank defining a second set of cylinders and the second cylinder head being fixed to the second bank, the first cover member including a first intake manifold portion in communication with the first set of intake ports and the second cover member including a second intake manifold portion in communication with the second set of intake ports, the intake air tube including a first branch coupled to the first intake manifold portion, a second branch coupled to the second intake manifold portion, and an inlet branch in communication with the air source and the first and second branches, the first branch at least partially defining the wall of the crankcase ventilation housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The engine assembly of claim 13, wherein the first set of cylinders is disposed at an angle relative to the second set of cylinders to form a V-configuration. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The engine assembly of claim 9, wherein the first cover member includes a first intake manifold portion in communication with the first set of intake ports, the intake air tube including a first branch coupled to the first intake manifold portion and an inlet branch in communication with the air source and the first branch, the first branch at least partially defining the wall of the crankcase ventilation housing. ### Claim 16 An engine assembly comprising: an engine block including a first bank defining a first set of cylinders; a first cylinder head fixed to the first bank and including a first set of intake ports; a first cover member fixed to the first cylinder head and defining a cam cover portion and an intake manifold portion, the cam cover portion being in communication with engine crankcase gases and the intake manifold portion being in communication with the first set of intake ports; and an air intake assembly including: an intake air tube in communication with the intake manifold portion of the first cover member and an air source; a crankcase ventilation housing integrally formed with the intake air tube and having a wall at least partially defined by the intake air tube, the wall being in thermal communication with the intake air tube and the crankcase ventilation housing to transfer heat from an air flow through the intake air tube to the crankcase ventilation housing; and an oil separation assembly located within the crankcase ventilation housing and adapted to remove oil from air passing through the crankcase ventilation housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The engine assembly of claim 16, wherein the first cover member defines a first opening in communication with the cam cover portion that forms an outlet for the crankcase gases to the oil separation assembly and defines a second opening in communication with the intake manifold portion that forms an inlet for air from the intake air tube. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The engine assembly of claim 17, wherein the first cover member includes a generally planar surface defining the first and second openings and forming a mounting surface coupling the air intake assembly to the first cover member.