Engine Breather Device With Side Gas Expansion Chamber

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional breather devices for engines allow separated oil to re-form into mist due to high-speed blow-by gas passing through narrow clearances, leading to ineffective oil separation.

Innovation Solution

A breather device with an oil filter chamber partitioned into upstream and downstream chambers, and a side gas expansion chamber where blow-by gas flows at a low rate, reducing mist formation and enabling alternate oil trapping and condensation to separate oil effectively from blow-by gas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If blow-by gas passes through narrow clearances at high speed, then gas flow rate is maintained, but separated oil re-forms into mist

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas flow rateVSAvoidoil separation effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The oil filter chamber is divided into upstream and downstream chambers with separate filters, and a side gas expansion chamber is added. This segmentation allows the gas flow path to be divided into multiple stages with different flow rates, enabling effective oil separation while maintaining overall gas flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The side gas expansion chamber acts as an intermediary space between the upstream and downstream filter chambers. It provides a transition zone where gas flows at reduced speed, allowing oil to condense and separate effectively before entering the downstream chamber.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If narrow blow-by gas passing clearances are used, then compact design is achieved, but separated oil forms mist again

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclearance sizeVSAvoidoil separation effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a side gas expansion chamber that adds a lateral dimension to the gas flow path. Instead of merely reducing clearance size in the original flow direction, the system creates an additional spatial dimension where gas can expand and slow down, enabling effective oil separation without compromising compactness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If high speed gas flow is maintained, then productivity is preserved, but oil separation is ineffective

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas flow rateVSAvoidoil separation effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The gas flow path is segmented into multiple chambers with different flow characteristics. The side gas expansion chamber provides a low-speed zone for oil separation, while the upstream and downstream chambers maintain higher flow rates for productivity, achieving both goals simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the flow rate parameter dynamically along the gas path. In the side gas expansion chamber, flow rate is reduced to enable oil condensation and separation. In the upstream and downstream chambers, flow rate is maintained at higher levels to preserve productivity and engine performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively suppresses the re-formation of oil mist and enhances oil separation by allowing blow-by gas to flow at a low rate through the side gas expansion chamber, enabling strong separation of oil from blow-by gas.

Implementation Method 1

the separated oil is less likely to be formed into mist again in the side gas expansion chamber where the blow-by gas flows at a low flow rate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLow flow rate reduction of mist formation:

Implementation Method 2

it is possible to alternately carry out oil trapping with the upstream filter and the downstream filter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOil trapping: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 3

it is possible to alternately carry out oil trapping with the upstream filter and the downstream filter and oil condensation in the side gas expansion chambers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOil condensation: Condensation

Data Source

PatentUS9816411B2Breather device for engine

Publication Date: 2017.11.14 KUBOTA CORP

AI summary

There is provided a breather device for an engine and capable of suppressing forming of separated oil into mist again. The breather device for the engine includes an oil filter chamber at a midpoint of a blow-by gas passing route and an oil filter housed in the oil filter chamber. The oil filter chamber is partitioned with a partition wall into an upstream filter chamber and a downstream filter chamber arranged in a front-back direction, the filter is formed by an upstream filter and a downstream filter, the upstream filter is housed in the upstream filter chamber and the downstream filter is housed in the downstream filter chamber, respectively, and a side gas expansion chamber is provided beside the oil filter chamber so that blow-by gas flows from the upstream filter into the downstream filter through the side gas expansion chamber.