US 12,168,945 B1
Breather for crankcase ventilation system
Rodney Allen Lawrence, Frankfort, IN (US); Joshua Amiel Lehe, West Lafayette, IN (US); Derek M. Heinis, St. Louis Park, MN (US); and Brandyn A Stack, Lafayette, IN (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed on Dec. 21, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/393,003.
Int. Cl. F01M 13/04 (2006.01)
CPC F01M 13/04 (2013.01) [F01M 2013/0438 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A breather for a ventilation system of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
a housing forming an inlet, an outlet and an internal manifold in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet, wherein at least a first portion of the housing forms a flow passage separate from the internal manifold for receiving a heated fluid that warms the internal manifold and the at least the first portion of the housing;
a baffle positioned in the internal manifold;
a plate positioned in the internal manifold, wherein the plate includes a plurality of apertures; and
a filter media in the internal manifold adjacent the plate; and
wherein at least a majority of the baffle has an orientation that is inclined with respect to a first wall of the housing, and
wherein the orientation of the baffle provides for an increasing cross-sectional area along an initial flow path of a blow-by gas within the internal manifold passing between the first wall and the baffle.