Oil Separator Dome Sectioning Member Flow Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Large displacement combustion engines face reduced efficiency in removing oil mist from target gas due to circulating airflow, causing separated oil to be discharged with the gas, leading to inefficiencies in oil removal.

Innovation Solution

An oil separator with a cylindrical housing and a sectioning member that reduces the flow rate of target gas by creating a closed space around the first exhaust portion, preventing oil from entering the second exhaust portion, and utilizing a hemispherical sectioning member and flow passage control features to direct and restrain oil flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the gas cleaning device rotates at high speed to separate oil mist from blow-by gas, then the oil mist separation capability is improved, but the circulating airflow causes separated oil to be taken upward and discharged with the gas, reducing oil removal efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoil mist separation capabilityVSAvoidoil discharge with gas
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the exhaust flow into two separate paths: a first exhaust portion for high-speed oil mist separation and a second exhaust portion for low-speed gas discharge. The sectioning member physically segments the internal space to direct different flows through different exhaust paths, preventing oil-contaminated high-speed flow from entering the gas discharge path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sectioning member acts as an intermediary structure that mediates between the high-speed rotating gas cleaning device and the gas discharge system. It intercepts the circulating airflow carrying separated oil and redirects it through the first exhaust portion, preventing oil from contaminating the second exhaust portion used for clean gas discharge.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If a sectioning member is added to create a closed space around the first exhaust portion, then oil discharge is prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoil discharge preventionVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sectioning member is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it sections the internal space to create separate flow paths, guides the circulating airflow toward the first exhaust portion, and prevents oil from entering the second exhaust portion. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The sectioning member employs curved or hemispherical surfaces to smoothly guide the circulating airflow generated by the rotating gas cleaning device. These curved surfaces naturally direct the flow toward the first exhaust portion without creating dead zones or requiring complex angular transitions, simplifying the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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

Enhances the efficiency of removing oil from target gas by reducing the flow rate and speed of the gas, preventing oil from being discharged with it, thereby improving oil separation efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a centrifugal rotor and the gas cleaning device are coupled together with a pipe-like support member and are configured to be rotatable about the stationary shaft inserted through the support member... Drive force for rotating the centrifugal rotor and the gas cleaning device is generated by the discharging of oil

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Implementation Method 2

a sectioning member that covers from an outside of the housing the first exhaust portion and sections a closed space around the first exhaust portion... the target gas discharged from the first exhaust portion reduces its flow rate at the closed space formed by the sectioning member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow rate reduction:

Data Source

PatentEP3199242B1Oil separator
Publication Date: 2022.04.27 TOKYO ROKI CO LTD
  • EP3199242B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3199242B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3199242B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The purpose of the present invention is to enhance the efficiency in removing oil contained in target gas in an oil separator that separates oil mist contained in target gas from the gas. The oil separator 2 according to the present invention includes a cylindrical housing 11 that accommodates a rotor and that is provided with a gas discharge portion 24 (first exhaust portion), the oil separator being configured to introduce target gas from a rotation center side of the rotor to condense oil mist and emit condensed oil from an outer peripheral edge of the rotor and further being configured to discharge from the housing 11 through the gas discharge portion 24 the blow-by gas (target gas) after having the oil mist separated. The oil separator 2 is characterized to include a dome portion 61 (sectioning member) that covers from an outside of the housing 11 the gas discharge portion 24 and sections a closed space around the gas discharge portion 24 and an outlet pipe 62 (second exhaust portion) that is provided to the dome portion 61 and that discharges the blow-by gas from the closed space that is sectioned by the dome portion 61.