Oil Separator Blow-by Gas Inlet Structure with Segmented Ribs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional blow-by gas inlet structures in oil separators for internal combustion engines fail to effectively block oil splashed by intake and exhaust camshafts, allowing oil to enter the blow-by gas inlet opening from gaps on either side of the oil blocking plate.

Innovation Solution

A blow-by gas inlet structure with a plate forming the bottom wall of the oil separator, featuring a blow-by gas inlet opening divided into front and rear openings by an oil blocking structure with transverse and longitudinal ribs, which extend perpendicular and parallel to the inlet openings, respectively, to block oil from entering the separator.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If an oil blocking plate is provided below the blow-by gas inlet opening to block oil, then oil blocking capability is improved, but oil can still enter through open zones at both sides of the plate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoil blocking capabilityVSAvoidoil blocking effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The oil blocking plate is segmented by adding transverse ribs and longitudinal ribs that divide it into multiple sections. The transverse ribs extend in the transverse direction and the longitudinal ribs extend in the longitudinal direction, creating a grid-like structure that segments the plate into multiple zones. This segmentation prevents oil from bypassing the blocking plate through continuous open zones, as oil must now navigate through multiple blocked pathways rather than finding a continuous gap at the sides of a single flat plate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a two-dimensional flat blocking plate to a three-dimensional structured blocking surface by adding transverse and longitudinal ribs that protrude into the blow-by gas inlet opening. These ribs create multiple levels and zones within the blocking plate structure, effectively utilizing the third dimension (depth into the opening) to enhance oil blocking capability. The ribs create a multi-layered barrier that oil must penetrate through, rather than simply passing over a single flat surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the blow-by gas inlet opening is divided into front and rear openings by the oil blocking structure, then oil blocking effectiveness is improved, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoil blocking effectivenessVSAvoidblocking structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking structure is segmented into functional zones using transverse ribs and longitudinal ribs that are integrated into a single blocking plate component. The transverse ribs divide the plate transversely while longitudinal ribs divide it longitudinally, creating front and rear openings as well as side zones. This segmentation is achieved within a single integrated structure rather than multiple separate components, thereby improving oil blocking effectiveness while limiting the increase in overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3034822B1Blow-by gas inlet structure of oil separator for internal combustion engine
Publication Date: 2017.10.04 MAHLE FILTER SYST JAPAN CORP
  • EP3034822B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3034822B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3034822B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A blow-by gas inlet structure of an oil separator adapted to be placed above a cam chamber of an internal combustion engine, comprises a plate that forms a bottom wall of the oil separator; a blow-by gas inlet opening that is formed in the plate; an oil blocking structure that is provided below the blow-by gas inlet opening in a manner to divide the blow-by gas inlet opening into front and rear inlet openings through which the blow-by gas is led into the oil separator, the front and rear inlet openings being arranged in a first direction; and a transverse rib that is provided on the oil blocking structure and extends in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.