IP Library Granted Patent US 10,107,161
Granted Patent B2
US 10,107,161 · App. 14/754,428 · Granted Oct 23, 2018

Breather device for combustion engine

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,107,161
App. No.
14/754,428
Granted
Oct 23, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A breather device includes: a breather chamber into which oil mist in a crank chamber of a combustion engine is introduced; and a breather passage configured to guide oil mist from a crank chamber into the breather chamber. The breather chamber has formed therein a labyrinth structure in which gas-liquid separation of the oil mist is performed. An introduction pipe forming a part of the breather passage is communicated with an upper portion of the crank chamber, and projects upward from an upper end portion of the crank case.

Claims (52)

1. A breather device for a combustion engine comprising:

a breather chamber into which oil mist in the combustion engine is introduced, the breather chamber having formed therein a labyrinth structure in which gas-liquid separation of the oil mist is performed; and

a breather passage configured to guide, into the breather chamber, oil mist from a crank chamber in which a crank shaft is disposed, wherein

the breather passage is disposed so as to project upward from an upper end portion of a crank case and passes outside of the combustion engine to be connected to the breather chamber;

an introduction hole to which an introduction pipe is connected in the upper end portion of the crank case,

the introduction hole is open to a high-pressure region in the crank chamber;

the combustion engine includes a rotating body having a protruding portion formed in an outer periphery portion thereof and configured to be rotatably driven in the crank chamber, and

the introduction hole is open to a region in which pressure is increased due to rotation of the rotating body in the crank chamber.

2. The breather device for the combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

the breather chamber is formed so as to be elongated in a vertical direction,

an upper opening through which a gas component of the oil mist is discharged is formed in an upper portion of the breather chamber, and

a lower opening through which a liquid component of the oil mist is discharged is formed in a lower portion of the breather chamber.

3. The breather device for the combustion engine as claimed in claim 2 , wherein

an outlet of a breather pipe forming the breather passage and communicated with the breather chamber is disposed at a position distanced downwardly away from the upper opening in the breather chamber.

4. The breather device for the combustion engine as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the combustion engine includes a supercharger, and

further comprising a blowby gas passage connecting the upper opening to an upstream side of the supercharger in an air intake passage of the combustion engine.

5. The breather device for the combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

the combustion engine includes a plurality of balancer shafts configured to be rotatably driven in the crank chamber, the balancer shafts forming the rotating body, and

the introduction hole is open adjacent to a balancer shaft that is disposed at an uppermost position among the plurality of the balancer shafts.

6. The breather device for the combustion engine as claimed in claim, 1 further comprising a block member provided in the crank chamber and configured to prevent a liquid component of the oil mist from entering the introduction hole due to centrifugal force of the rotating body.

7. The breather device for the combustion engine as claimed in claim , 1 further comprising an introduction passage formed in the crank chamber and communicated with the breather passage; and

the introduction passage being perpendicular to an axis of the introduction hole.

8. The breather device for the combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the breather passage projects upward from a position of the crank case, which position is away from a cylinder block.

9. The breather device for the combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the breather passage is composed of a pipe member separate from the crank case and the cylinder block; and

the pipe member is disposed so as to project upward from the upper end portion of the crank case and passes outside of the combustion engine to be connected to the breather chamber.

10. The breather device for the combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

the crank chamber includes a gear chamber which accommodates a change gear train engaged with the crank shaft; and

the breather passage is connected with the crank case above the gear chamber.

11. The breather device for the combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the breather passage is formed in a reverse U shape protruding upward.

12. The breather device for the combustion engine as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the breather passage extends upward from the crank case and extends in a rotation axis direction of the combustion engine so as to be connected with the breather chamber.

13. The breather device for the combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the breather chamber is formed within the crank case.

14. The breather device for the combustion engine as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the breather chamber is formed adjacent to a water jacket of the crank case.

15. The breather device for the combustion engine as claimed in claim 13 , wherein:

the crank case includes an upper crank case and a lower crank case; and

the breather chamber extends from an upper end portion of the upper crank case to a lower end portion of the upper crank case.

16. A breather device for a combustion engine comprising:

a breather chamber into which oil mist in the combustion engine is introduced, the breather chamber having formed therein a labyrinth structure in which gas-liquid separation of the oil mist is performed;

a breather passage configured to guide, into the breather chamber, oil mist from a crank chamber in which a crank shaft is disposed, wherein

an introduction pipe forming the breather passage and communicated with the crank chamber is disposed so as to project upward from an upper end portion of a crank case,

an introduction hole to which the introduction pipe is connected is formed in the upper end portion of the crank case;

the combustion engine includes a plurality of balancer shafts configured to be rotatably driven in the crank chamber;

the introduction hole is open to a region in which pressure is increased due to rotation of the balancer shafts in the crank chamber, and

the introduction hole is open adjacent to a balancer shaft that is disposed at an uppermost position among the plurality of the balancer shafts.

17. A breather device for a combustion engine comprising:

a breather chamber into which oil mist in the combustion engine is introduced, the breather chamber having formed therein a labyrinth structure in which gas-liquid separation of the oil mist is performed; and

a breather passage configured to guide, into the breather chamber, oil mist from a crank chamber in which a crank shaft is disposed, wherein

an introduction pipe forming the breather passage and communicated with the crank chamber is disposed so as to project upward from an upper end portion of a crank case;

an introduction hole to which the introduction pipe is connected is formed in the upper end portion of the crank case;

the combustion engine includes a rotating body having a protruding portion formed in an outer periphery portion thereof and configured to be rotatably driven in the crank chamber;

the introduction hole is open to a region in which pressure is increased due to rotation of the rotating body in the crank chamber; and

further comprising a block member provided in the crank chamber and configured to prevent a liquid component of the oil mist from directly entering the introduction hole due to the centrifugal force of the rotating body.

Assignments (3)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 2, 2022
From: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 060300/0504 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SPELLING OF ASSIGNOR YASUSHI ISHIBASHI'S FIRST NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 035951 FRAME 0569. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNOR HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 21, 2015
From: MATSUDA, YOSHIHARU; ARIMA, KAZUKI; ISHIBASHI, YASUSHI; TOMOFUJI, AKIRA
To: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 036644/0251 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 1, 2015
From: MATSUDA, YOSHIHARU; ARIMA, KAZUKI; ISHIBASHI, YASHUSHI; TOMOFUJI, AKIRA
To: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 035951/0569 →