Granted Patent B2

US 12,410,737 · App. 18/517,763 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Inventors: Lucas K. Smith (Lafayette, IN); Rodney Allen Lawrence (Frankfort, IN); Joseph G. Chambers (Edwards, IL); Jarrett T. Corcoran (Washington, IL); Brandyn A. Stack (Lafayette, IN)

Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.

F01M13/04F02B37/00F02M25/06F02M31/042F02M31/20F01M2013/0438

Abstract

Claims (36)

1. An internal combustion engine comprising:

a crankcase having a blow-by gas passing therethrough;

a source of a boost air;

a jacket containing a water;

an oil separating apparatus in fluid communication with the boost air and the blow-by gas and having a coalescing filter to separate oil from the blow-by gas; and

a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the boost air, wherein the heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the jacket to receive the water, wherein the water is passed in a heat transfer relationship with the boost air in the heat exchanger to achieve a desired temperature range for the boost air passing to the oil separating apparatus.

2. The engine of claim 1 , wherein the desired temperature range for the boost air to the oil separating apparatus is between about 70 degrees Celsius and 90 degrees Celsius.

3. The engine of claim 1 , wherein the desired temperature range of the boost air within the oil separating apparatus is sufficient to maintain the blow-by gas above a dew point temperature of the blow-by gas and below a temperature at which one or more components of the oil separating apparatus become inoperable.

4. The engine of claim 1 , wherein the source of the boost air is downstream of an aftercooler of the internal combustion engine.

5. The engine of claim 1 , wherein the water is passed in the heat transfer relationship with the boost air in the heat exchanger to one of: warm or cool the boost air to achieve the desired temperature range for the boost air passing to the oil separating apparatus.

6. The engine of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the blow-by gas, and wherein the water is passed in a heat transfer relationship with the blow-by gas in the heat exchanger.

7. The engine of claim 1 , wherein the source of the boost air is upstream of an aftercooler of the internal combustion engine.

8. The engine of claim 7 , wherein the source of the boost air is a compressor of the internal combustion engine.

9. An engine system comprising:

a crankcase of an engine having a blow-by gas passing therethrough;

a source of a boost air;

an aftercooler;

a jacket containing a water;

an oil separating apparatus in fluid communication with the boost air and the blow-by gas and having a coalescing filter to separate oil from the blow-by gas; and

a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the boost air, wherein the heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the jacket to receive the water, wherein the water is passed in a heat transfer relationship with the boost air in the heat exchanger to achieve a desired temperature range for the boost air passing to the oil separating apparatus; and

either the source of the boost air is downstream of the aftercooler, and the water is passed in the heat transfer relationship with the boost air in the heat exchanger to warm the boost air to achieve the desired temperature range for the boost air passing to the oil separating apparatus or the source of the boost air is upstream of the aftercooler, and the water is passed in the heat transfer relationship with the boost air in the heat exchanger to cool the boost air to achieve the desired temperature range for the boost air passing to the oil separating apparatus.

10. The engine system of claim 9 , wherein the heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the blow-by gas, and wherein the water is passed in a heat transfer relationship with the blow-by gas in the heat exchanger.

11. The engine system of claim 9 , wherein the desired temperature range of the boost air within the oil separating apparatus is sufficient to maintain the blow-by gas above a dew point temperature of the blow-by gas and below a temperature at which one or more components of the oil separating apparatus become inoperable.

12. A method of maintaining a blow-by gas from a crankcase of an engine within a desired temperature range when passing through an oil separating apparatus, the method comprising:

passing the blow-by gas from the crankcase to the oil separating apparatus;

supplying a water from a jacket to a heat exchanger, wherein within the heat exchanger the water is in a heat transfer relationship with a boost air passing through the heat exchanger and heats or cools the boost air to a desired temperature range;

passing the boost air at the desired temperature range to the oil separating apparatus;

separating oil from the blow-by gas with the oil separating apparatus;

passing the blow-by gas after leaving the oil separating apparatus to a charged air system; and

returning the water to the jacket after passing through the heat exchanger.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the boost air is supplied in an amount that offsets a flow restriction of the blow-by gas through the oil separating apparatus.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the desired temperature range for the blow-by gas is above a dew point temperature of the blow-by gas and below a temperature at which one or more components of the oil separating apparatus become inoperable.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising supplying the boost air from one of upstream or downstream of an aftercooler of the engine.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising passing the water in a heat transfer relationship with the blow-by gas in the heat exchanger.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the desired temperature range for the boost air to the oil separating apparatus is between about 70 degrees Celsius and 90 degrees Celsius.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising supplying the boost air from a compressor of the engine.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (10)