IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,359,593
Granted Patent B2
US 12,359,593 · App. 18/092,525 · Granted Jul 15, 2025

Modular assemblies for crankcase oil separators

Inventors: Rodney Allen Lawrence (Frankfort, IN); Brandyn A. Stack (Lafayette, IN); Eric W. Ferguson (Cottage Grove, MN); Yegor Litvinov (Shakopee, MN)
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
F01M13/04B01D46/58B01D46/62F01M2013/0066F01M2013/0072F01M2013/0438
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,359,593
App. No.
18/092,525
Granted
Jul 15, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Apparatuses, systems and methods are disclosed for separating oil from a blow-by gas of an engine. An example includes a method that includes passing the blow-by gas to a first oil separating apparatus and a second oil separating apparatus, wherein the first oil separating apparatus and the second oil separating apparatus are physically coupled together along interfacing surfaces and in fluid communication with one another as an array, separating the blow-by gas by passing the blow-by gas through respective filters of the first oil separating apparatus and the second oil separating apparatus, removing the oil from the blow-by gas with the respective filters and recombining the blow-by gas after passing from the respective filters; passing the blow-by gas as a single flow stream from the first oil separating apparatus and the second oil separating apparatus.

Claims (46)

1. An assembly for separating oil from a blow-by gas of an engine comprising:

a first oil separating apparatus comprising:

an outer housing;

a first filter configured to separate the oil from the blow-by gas positioned within the outer housing;

a first cover connected to at least the outer housing at a first end portion thereof, wherein the first cover is in fluid communication with the first filter via a first manifold defined by the first cover, and wherein the first cover has a first plurality of ports that communicate with the first manifold; and

a second cover connected to at least the outer housing at a second end portion thereof, wherein the second cover is in fluid communication with the first filter via a second manifold defined by the second cover, and wherein the second cover has a second plurality of ports that communicate with the second manifold;

a second oil separating apparatus comprising:

a second outer housing,

a second filter configured to separate the oil from the blow-by gas positioned within the outer housing;

a third cover connected to at least the second outer housing at a first end portion thereof, wherein the third cover is in fluid communication with the second filter via a third manifold defined by the third cover, and wherein the third cover has a third plurality of ports that communicate with the third manifold, wherein at least one of the third plurality of ports of the third cover are in fluid communication with at least one of the first plurality of ports of the first cover such that the third manifold is in fluid communication with the first manifold; and

a fourth cover connected to at least the second outer housing at a second end portion thereof, wherein the fourth cover is in fluid communication with the second filter via a fourth manifold defined by the fourth cover, and wherein the fourth cover has a fourth plurality of ports that communicate with the fourth manifold, wherein at least one of the fourth plurality of ports of the fourth cover are in fluid communication with at least one of the second plurality of ports of the second cover such that the fourth manifold is in fluid communication with the second manifold.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first plurality of ports of the first cover or at least one of the third plurality of ports of the third cover comprises an inlet to receive the blow-by gas into the assembly.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the second plurality of ports of the second cover or at least one of the fourth plurality of ports of the fourth cover comprises an outlet for the blow-by gas from the assembly.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first oil separating apparatus is coupled to the second oil separating apparatus by a first connection interface between the at least one of the first plurality of ports of the first cover and the at least one of the third plurality of ports of the third cover and a second connection interface between the at least one of the second plurality of ports of the second cover and the at least one of the fourth plurality of ports of the fourth cover.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first oil separating apparatus and the second oil separating apparatus are arranged in one of series or parallel as part of one of a single row array or a double row array of a plurality of oil separating apparatuses.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first oil separating apparatus includes:

an inner housing positioned within the outer housing, wherein the inner housing defines an inner cavity in which the first filter is positioned, and wherein the inner housing and the outer housing form a first jacket therebetween; and

wherein the outer housing includes at least one of: one or more inlets in fluid communication with the first jacket or one or more outlets in fluid communication with the first jacket.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the second oil separating apparatus includes:

a second inner housing positioned within the second outer housing, wherein the second inner housing defines a second inner cavity in which the second filter is positioned, and wherein the second inner housing and the second outer housing form a second jacket therebetween;

wherein the second outer housing includes at least one of: one or more second inlets in fluid communication with the second jacket or one or more second outlets in fluid communication with the second jacket; and

wherein the second outer housing includes at least one of: one or more second inlets in fluid communication with one or more first outlets of the first oil separating apparatus or one or more second outlets in fluid communication with one or more first inlets of the first oil separating apparatus.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first jacket is in fluid communication with the second jacket and the first jacket and the second jacket receive one or more of ambient air, boost air, water, or a lube oil.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first cover has an oil drainage passageway therein and the third cover has an oil drainage passageway therein and wherein the oil drainage passageway of the first cover is in fluid communication with the oil drainage passageway of the third cover such that oil captured by the first filter and the second filter passes out of the assembly at one or more outlet ports in at least one of the first cover or the third cover.

10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first oil separating apparatus and the second oil separating apparatus are substantially identically shaped and sized, and wherein a first joint face of the first oil separating apparatus abuts and is coupled to a substantially identically shaped second joint face of the second oil separating apparatus.

11. A method of separating oil from a blow-by gas of an engine, the method comprising:

passing the blow-by gas to a first oil separating apparatus and a second oil separating apparatus, wherein the first oil separating apparatus and the second oil separating apparatus are physically coupled together along interfacing surfaces and in fluid communication with one another as an array;

separating the blow-by gas by passing the blow-by gas through respective filters of the first oil separating apparatus and the second oil separating apparatus;

removing the oil from the blow-by gas with the respective filters;

recombining the blow-by gas after passing from the respective filters; and

passing the blow-by gas as a single flow stream from the first oil separating apparatus and the second oil separating apparatus;

wherein passing the blow-by gas to the first oil separating apparatus and the second oil separating apparatus passes the blow-by gas through a first manifold of a first cover of the first oil separating apparatus to a third manifold of a third cover of the second oil separating apparatus, and wherein the first cover and the third cover are coupled to respective first ends of the first oil separating apparatus and the second oil separating apparatus;

and wherein recombining the blow-by gas after passing from the respective filters passes the blow-by gas through a second manifold of a second cover of the first oil separating apparatus to a fourth manifold of a fourth cover of the second oil separating apparatus, wherein the second cover and the fourth cover are coupled to respective second ends of the first oil separating apparatus and the second oil separating apparatus, and wherein the respective second ends oppose the respective first ends of the first oil separating apparatus and the second oil separating apparatus.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

passing the oil separated by the respective filters as a separate flow from the blow-by gas through respective passageways of the first oil separating apparatus and the second oil separating apparatus, wherein the respective passageways are in fluid communication with one another; and

passing the oil to at least one drainage port of at least one of the first oil separating apparatus or the second oil separating apparatus.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising heating or cooling the respective filters of the first oil separating apparatus and the second oil separating apparatus.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein heating or cooling the respective filters includes passing a fluid through a first jacket of the first oil separating apparatus to a second jacket of the second oil separating apparatus.

15. An engine system comprising:

an engine;

an array of oil separating apparatuses, wherein the array of the oil separating apparatuses includes an assembly of at least a first oil separating apparatus and a second oil separating apparatus that are physically coupled together along interfacing surfaces and in fluid communication with one another;

a first one or more fluid lines configured to pass a blow-by gas from the engine to the array of the oil separating apparatuses, wherein oil is separated from the blow-by gas by passing through respective filters of the least the first oil separating apparatus and the second oil separating apparatus, wherein the array of the oil separating apparatuses includes an inner housing and an outer housing forming a jacket therebetween, wherein the inner housing is configured to hold one of the respective filters, and wherein each jacket is in fluid communication with one another and is configured to receive one or more of ambient air, boost air, water, or a lube oil;

a second one or more fluid lines configured to pass passing the blow-by gas from the array of the oil separating apparatuses back to the engine; and,

wherein each oil separating apparatus comprises an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold separated by the outer housing.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the blow-by gas is recombined as a single flow upon leaving the respective filters within the oil separating apparatuses, and wherein the second one or more fluid lines comprise a single fluid line that couples to single outlet port of the array of the oil separating apparatuses.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first oil separating apparatus and the second oil separating apparatus are substantially identically shaped and sized, and wherein a first joint face of first oil separating apparatus abuts and is coupled to a substantially identically shaped second joint face of the second oil separating apparatus.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2023
From: LAWRENCE, RODNEY ALLEN; STACK, BRANDYN A.; FERGUSON, ERIC W.; LITVINOV, YEGOR
To: CATERPILLAR INC.
Reel/Frame 062258/0209 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240218817A1 · Jul 4, 2024
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