US 7,320,316 B2
Closed crankcase ventilation system
Michael E. Moncelle, deceased, late of Bloomington, Ill. (US), by Patricia Moncelle, legal representative, ; D. Craig Young, Chillicothe, Ill. (US); Anthony Cazzato, Peoria, Ill. (US); William P. Fornof, Girard, Pa. (US); and Paul G. Reisinger, Lorain, Ohio (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, Ill. (US)
Filed on Jun. 29, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/476,731.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/731484, filed on Oct. 31, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2007/0107709 A1, May 17, 2007
Int. Cl. F02B 25/06 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 123—572  [123/41.86] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A closed crankcase ventilation system for an internal combustion engine comprising:
a compressor configured to compress air and enhance the venting of crankcase emissions from a crankcase of the engine;
a flow path between the crankcase and an intake of the compressor;
a prioritizing device configured to regulate the flow of crankcase emissions and control pressure within the crankcase;
a treatment element downstream of the compressor configured to treat the air and crankcase emissions to remove entrained oil;
a first conduit downstream of the treatment element configured to introduce a first portion of the air and crankcase emissions into one of an exhaust system for the engine and an air intake system for the engine; and
a second conduit downstream of the treatment element configured to introduce a second portion of the air and crankcase emissions into a system having at least one component utilizing compressed air for its operation.