FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
[39 OF 1970]
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10; rule 13]
TITLE: “A REED VALVE FOR A BLOW-BY CONTROL SYSTEM OF AN
ENGINE”
Name and Address of the Applicant:
TATA MOTORS LIMITED, Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001, Maharashtra, INDIA
Nationality: Indian
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it
is to be performed.
2
TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The present disclosure generally relates to an internal combustion engine. Particularly,
but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a blow-by control system of an engine.
Further, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a reed valve for the blow-by control
5 system.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[002] In the vehicles, during an engine operation, combustion gases are prone to leak from a
combustion chamber through corresponding piston rings and enters to an engine crankcase.
Such combustion gases are referred to as blow-by-gases, and typically includes unburned
10 intake air, fuel, exhaust gas, oil mist, and water vapor. The blow-by-gases increase positive
pressure inside a crankcase, which when exceeded beyond a threshold pressure causes damage
to sealings of the engine. In order to reduce the positive pressure inside the crankcase, an
external blow-by control system is provided to circulate the blow-by-gases from the crankcase
to an air intake conduit of the engine. In conventional blow-by control systems, there is chance
15 of intake air flowing back into the crankcase, which would further increase the positive pressure
inside the crankcase, which is undesired, as excess positive pressure in the crankcase leads to
failure of various sealings of the engine.
[003] In engines equipped with turbochargers, due to increased positive pressure in the
crankcase, the oil passing through the turbocharger has to overcome this resistance to drain into
20 an oil sump of a lubrication system. This leads to damage of oil seal in the turbocharger, leading
to leakage of oil into a compressor of the turbocharger. The leaked oil into the compressor gets
pushed into the combustion chamber of the engine. Oil burning in the combustion chamber
leads to uncontrolled combustion, piston melting and seizure of the engine, which is undesired.
[004] The drawbacks/difficulties/disadvantages/limitations of the conventional techniques
25 explained in the background section are just for exemplary purposes and the disclosure would
never limit its scope only to such limitations. A person skilled in the art would understand that
this disclosure and below mentioned description may also solve other problems or overcome
the other drawbacks/disadvantages of the conventional arts which are not explicitly captured
above.
30
3
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[005] One or more shortcomings of the conventional blow-by control system are overcome
by a reed valve disposed in a blow-by control system as described and claimed. Additional
features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other
5 embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a
part of the claimed disclosure.
[006] In a non-limiting embodiment of the disclosure, a reed valve for a blow-by control
system of an engine is disclosed. The reed valve includes an inlet portion fluidically connected
to a cylinder head cover of the engine, and being adapted to receive blow-by-gases from the
10 cylinder head cover. The reed valve further includes an outlet portion extending from the inlet
portion and fluidically connected to an air intake conduit of the engine, the outlet portion is
being adapted to allow passage of the blow-by-gases received from the inlet portion to the air
intake conduit. Furthermore, the reed valve includes a stopper plate disposed at a junction
portion formed between the inlet portion and the outlet portion. The stopper plate includes a
15 first plate coupled to at least a portion of the junction portion and displaceable between a first
position and a second position. Further, the stopper plate includes a second plate coupled to at
least a portion of the junction portion and disposed on the first plate. The second plate is
configured to exert force onto the first plate to maintain the first plate in the first position. The
first plate displaces to the second position relative to the second plate, when pressure exerted
20 by the blow-by-gases entering through the inlet portion exceeds a threshold pressure, to
selectively allow the passage of the blow-by-gases from the inlet portion to the outlet portion.
The reed valve in the blow-by control system allows the blow-by-gases to pass into the air
intake conduit and restricts the reverse flow of the fresh/intake air from the air intake conduit
to the blow-by control system. When the intake air from the air intake conduit is received by
25 the reed valve, the first plate may be displaced to the first position from the second position,
thereby closing the reed valve and preventing flow of intake air into the crankcase. That is, the
reed valve allows the blow-by-gases to pass only from the inlet portion to the outlet portion
and not vice-versa. In addition, the reed valve of the present disclosure aids effectively
lowering the pressure in the crankcase, thereby improving service life of seals in the
30 turbocharger.
[007] In an embodiment, the first plate is defined with a uniform profile and the second plate
is defined with a curved profile.
4
[008] In an embodiment, the curved profile of the second plate is structured to exert force on
to the first plate to maintain the first plate in the first position, and allows the first plate to
displace relative to the second plate to the second position, when pressure exerted by the blowby-
gases on the first plate exceed the threshold pressure. The second plate prevents
5 displacement of the first plate beyond the first position towards the inlet portion, thereby
restricting the reverse flow of the fresh air from the air intake conduit to the blow-by control
system.
[009] In an embodiment, the inlet portion comprises an inlet passage defined with a first
inclined surface.
10 [0010] In an embodiment, the outlet portion comprises an outlet passage defined with a second
inclined surface. The inclined surfaces of the inlet passage and the outlet passage aids in
efficient movement of the blow-by-gases out of the reed valve. Also, the inclined surfaces of
the inlet passage and the outlet passage facilitates gravitational flow of oil mist/droplets in blow
by gas, to prevent from oil pool formation in the reed valve.
15 [0011] In an embodiment, the outlet portion is offset to the inlet portion. Such configuration
allows gravitational flow of oil mist/droplets freely and mitigates an oil pool formation.
[0012] In an embodiment, the first plate and the second plate are positioned parallel and one
above the other.
[0013] In an embodiment, the reed valve comprising a first cover member configured to cover
20 the inlet portion.
[0014] In an embodiment, the first cover member is made of at least one of a metal and metal
alloy. The metal or metal alloy material aids in prevention of damage or digging of the first
plate and the second plate due to high frequency of operation of the reed valve.
[0015] In an embodiment, the reed valve comprising a second cover member configured to
25 cover the outlet portion.
[0016] In an embodiment, the second cover member is made of at least one of a plastic and a
plastic composition. The plastic or plastic composition aids in reducing the weight of the reed
valve and cost-effective.
5
[0017] In another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, an engine is disclosed.
The engine includes a crankcase, and a cylinder disposed on the crankcase. Further, the engine
includes a cylinder head cover disposed on the cylinder. The cylinder head cover is configured
to receive blow-by-gases from the crankcase through a blow-by-gas passage. Furthermore, the
engine includes 5 a blow-by control system. The blow-by control system includes a reed valve.
The reed valve includes an inlet portion fluidically connected to the cylinder head cover of the
engine, and being adapted to receive the blow-by-gases from the cylinder head cover through
a first hose. The reed valve further includes an outlet portion extending from the inlet portion
and fluidically connected to the air intake conduit of the engine through a second hose. The
10 outlet portion is being adapted to allow passage of the blow-by-gases received from the inlet
portion to the air intake conduit. Furthermore, the reed valve includes a stopper plate disposed
at a junction portion formed between the inlet portion and the outlet portion. The stopper plate
includes a first plate coupled to at least a portion of the junction portion and displaceable
between a first position and a second position. Further, the stopper plate includes a second plate
15 coupled to at least a portion of the junction portion and disposed on the first plate. The second
plate is configured to exert force onto the first plate to maintain the first plate in the first
position. The first plate displaces to the second position relative to the second plate, when
pressure exerted by the blow-by-gases entering through the inlet portion exceeds a threshold
pressure, to selectively allow the passage of the blow-by-gases from the inlet portion to the
20 outlet portion.
[0018] In an embodiment, the first hose comprises a first end and a second end, the first end of
the first hose is connected to the cylinder head cover and the second end of the first hose is
connected to the inlet portion of the reed valve.
[0019] In an embodiment, the second hose comprises a first end and a second end, the first end
25 of the second hose is connected to the outlet portion of the reed valve and the second end of
the second hose is connected to the air intake conduit of the engine.
[0020]
[0021] The reed valve of the present disclosure is simple and compact. Further, the reed valve
may be coupled to the blow-by control system without modifying existing components of the
30 engine such as crankcase, cylinder head, cylinder head cover, and the like. The reed valve of
the present disclosure may be adapted in existing engine layout with minimum development
time. The reed valve configuration requires less time for assembly at the production line and
6
reduces service complexity as the reed valve is remotely mounted and accessible on the engine.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In
addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects,
embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the
5 following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0022] The novel features and characteristics of the disclosure are set forth in the appended
description. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further
objectives, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following
10 detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the
accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only,
with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like
elements and in which:
[0023] Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of an engine of a vehicle, equipped with a blow15
by control system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0024] Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a reed valve for the blow-by control system
of the engine, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0025] Figure 3 illustrates a sectional view of the reed valve of Figure 2, according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure;
20 [0026] Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of the blow-by control system, depicting the
reed valve in a closed condition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0027] Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of the blow-by control system, depicting the
reed valve in an open condition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0028] The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One
25 skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative
embodiments of the system illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the
principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] While the embodiments in the disclosure are subject to various modifications and
30 alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by the way of example in the
7
figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however that it is not intended to
limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to
cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.
[0030] It is to be noted that a person skilled in the art would be motivated by the present
5 disclosure and modify various features of a reed valve of a blow-by control system and an
engine of a vehicle, without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Therefore, such
modifications are considered to be part of the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings show only
those specific details that are pertinent to understand the embodiments of the present disclosure,
so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary
10 skilled in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
[0031] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof used in the
disclosure, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions, such that a device, assembly,
mechanism, system, and method that comprises a list of components does not include only
those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such
15 system, or assembly, or device, or method. In other words, one or more elements in a
system/assembly/method proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints,
preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the assembly or system or
method.
[0032] In the present disclosure, the term “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an
20 example, instance, or illustration”. Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject
matter described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or
advantageous over other embodiments.
[0033] Unless the context of the disclosure describes or indicates a different interpretation, any
reference to an object in the specification that is preceded by a definite or indefinite article,
25 such as 'the', 'a', or 'an', should be understood to encompass both the singular and the plural
forms of the object. Accordingly, “a” means “at least one/one or more”. The phrase “a/an X”
may be construed as “at least one/one or more X”.
[0034] The following paragraphs describe the present disclosure with reference to Figures. 1
to 5. In the figures, the same element or elements that have similar functions are indicated by
30 the same reference signs. With general reference to the drawings, an internal combustion
engine of the vehicle (not shown in Figures) is illustrated and generally identified with
reference numeral (100).
8
[0035] Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the internal combustion engine (100)
[hereinafter interchangeably referred as “engine (100)”]. The engine (100) along with other
components may include a crankcase (116) and a cylinder disposed on the crankcase (116).
Further, the engine (100) includes a cylinder head cover (115) disposed on the cylinder. The
5 cylinder head cover (115) is configured to receive the blow-by-gases from the crankcase (116)
through a blow-by-gas passage (not shown in Figures), which may be embedded within a
housing (not shown in Figures) of the engine (100). The blow-by-gas passage may extend from
the crankcase (116) to the cylinder head cover (115). Furthermore, the engine (100) may
include a blow-by control system (101). The blow-by control system (101) may be configured
10 to effectively remove blow-by-gases from a crankcase (116) and supply into an air intake
conduit (114) of the engine (100), in order to reduce pressure inside the crankcase (116), thus
improving life of the sealings inside a turbocharger.
[0036] As apparent from Figure. 1, the blow-by control system (101) may include a first hose
(102) having a first end (125) and a second end (126). The first end (125) of the first hose (102)
15 may be connected to the cylinder head cover (115). More particularly, the first end (125) of the
first hose (102) may be coupled to an open end of the blow-by-gas passage at the cylinder head
cover (115). The second end (126) of the first hose (102) may be connected to the reed valve
(104). Further, the blow-by control system (101) may include a second hose (103) having a
first end (127) and a second end (128). The first end (127) of the second hose (103) may be
20 connected to the reed valve (104). The second end (118) of the second hose (103) may be
connected to the air intake conduit (114) of the engine (100).
[0037] Further, the blow-by control system (101) includes a reed valve (104) disposed between
the first hose (102) and the second hose (103). That is, the reed valve (104) connects the first
end (125) of the first hose (102) and the first end (127) of the second hose (103). In an
25 embodiment, the reed valve (104) may be supported by a bracket (not shown in Figures)
coupled to a portion of the engine (100). This configuration aids in coupling the reed valve
(104) with the engine (100) without modifying existing components of the engine (100) such
as cylinder crankcase, cylinder head, cylinder head cover (115) and the like, and adopted in
existing available boundary conditions with minimum development time. This configuration
30 further requires less time for assembly at the production line and reduces service complexity
as the reed valve (104) is remotely mounted and accessible on the engine (100).
9
[0038] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, which illustrate a perspective view and a sectional view
of the reed valve (104), respectively. The reed valve (104) includes an inlet portion (105)
fluidically connected to the cylinder head cover (115) of the engine (100). The inlet portion
(105) is adapted to receive the blow-by-gases from the cylinder head cover (115) through the
5 first hose (102). The inlet portion (105) may include an inlet passage (107a) which may be
defined with an inclined surface. In an embodiment, the reed valve (104) may include a first
cover member (112) enclosing the inlet portion (105). The first cover member (112) may be
made of at least one of a metal and a metal alloy. The metal or metal alloy material aids in
prevention of damage or digging of the first plate and the second plate due to high frequency
10 of operation of the reed valve. As an example, the metal may be but not limiting to aluminium,
steel etc. The reed valve (104) further includes an outlet portion (106) extending from the inlet
portion (105) and fluidically connected to the air intake conduit (114) of the engine (100)
through the second hose (103). The outlet portion (106) is being adapted to allow passage of
the blow-by-gases received from the inlet portion (105) to the air intake conduit (114).
15 [0039] In an embodiment, the inlet portion (105) and the outlet portion (106) may include an
inlet passage (107a) and an outlet passage (107b), respectively which may be defined with an
inclined surface. The inclined surface of the inlet and the outlet passages (107a, 107b) in the
inlet portion (105) and the outlet portion (106), respectively, aids efficient movement of the
blow-by-gases out of the reed valve (104). In other words, residues such as oil in the blow-by20
gases may be efficiently moved out of the reed valve (104) because of the inclined surface in
the inlet and the outlet passage (107a, 107b) of the inlet portion (105) (by gravitation flow) and
the outlet portion (106), respectively. In an embodiment, the outlet portion (106) may be offset
to the inlet portion (105). Such configuration allows gravitational flow of oil mist/droplets
freely and mitigates an oil pool formation. Also, the reed valve (104) may include a second
25 cover member (113) configured to cover the outlet portion (106). The second cover member
(113) may be made of at least one of a plastic and a plastic composition. The plastic or plastic
composition aids in reducing the weight of the reed valve and cost-effective.
[0040] Referring to Figure 3, the reed valve (104) may further include a stopper plate (108)
disposed at a junction portion (111) formed between the inlet portion (105) and the outlet
30 portion (106). The stopper plate (108) includes a first plate (110) coupled to at least a portion
of the junction portion (111) and displaceable between a first position and a second position.
Further, the stopper plate (108) includes a second plate (109) coupled to at least a portion of
10
the junction portion (111) and disposed on the first plate (110). The first plate (110) and the
second plate (109) may be coupled to the junction portion (111) by at least one means such as,
but not limited to, fastening, clamping, welding, adhesive bonding, brazing, soldering, riveting,
and among others. The first plate (110) and the second plate (109) may be positioned parallel
5 and one above the other. The stopper plate (108) having the first plate (110) and the second
plate (109) configuration enables controlled flow of the blow-by-gases to the air intake conduit
and prevents flow of the intake air through the reed valve and subsequently to the cylinder head
cover (115). That is, when the intake air from the air intake conduit (114) is received by the
reed valve (104), the first plate (110) may displace to the first position from the second position,
10 thereby closing the reed valve (104) and preventing flow of intake air into the crankcase (116).
[0041] In the first position, the first plate (110) flushes with the portion of the reed valve (104)
and with the second plate (109). That is, the second plate (109) prevents displacement of the
first plate (110) beyond the first position towards the inlet portion (105), thereby restricting the
reverse flow of the fresh air from the air intake conduit (114) to the blow-by control system.
15 Moreover, in the second position, the first plate (110) displaces away from the second plate
(109) towards the outlet portion (106) and relative to the second plate (109). The second plate
(109) is configured to exert force onto the first plate (110) to maintain the first plate (110) in
the first position. The first plate (110) displaces to the second position relative to the second
plate (109), when pressure exerted by the blow-by-gases entering through the inlet portion
20 (105) exceeds a threshold pressure, to selectively allow the passage of the blow-by-gases from
the inlet portion (105) to the outlet portion (106).
[0042] In an embodiment, the first plate (110) is defined with a uniform profile and the second
plate (109) is defined with a curved profile. The curved profile of the second plate (109) is
structured to exert force on to the first plate (110) to maintain the first plate (110) in the first
25 position. The first plate (110) is structured to displace relative to the second plate (109) to the
second position, when pressure exerted by the blow-by-gases on the first plate (110) exceed
the threshold pressure. The first plate (110) in the first position prevents flow of the intake air
through the reed valve and subsequently to the cylinder head cover (115). In another
embodiment, the second plate (109) may be defined with a cavity to exert force on the first
30 plate (110), to maintain the first plate (110) in the first position, and allows the first plate (110)
to displace relative to the second plate (109) to the second position, when pressure exerted by
the blow-by-gases on the first plate (110) exceed the threshold pressure.
11
[0043] Referring to Figure 4, in an operational embodiment, the blow-by-gases produced by
the cylinders in the crankcase (116) enters the cylinder head cover (115). Further, the blow-bygases
exits out of the cylinder head cover (115) and enters the inlet portion (105) of the reed
valve (104) through the first hose (102). When there is optimum pressure inside the crankcase
5 (116), the first plate (110) of the reed valve (104) may be in the first position. That is, the first
plate (110) flushes with the portion of the reed valve (104) and the second plate (109), thereby
blocking the flow of the blow-by-gases through the reed valve (104). Once the pressure inside
the crankcase (116) exceeds the threshold pressure, the blow-by-gases exerts pressure on the
first plate (110). Once the pressure exerted by the blow-by-gases on the first plate (110) exceeds
10 the threshold pressure, the first plate (110) may displace from the first position to the second
position (as seen in Figure 5) relative to the second plate (109), and allowing the flow of the
blow-by-gases out of the reed valve (104) into the second hose (103) and subsequently into the
air intake conduit (114) of the engine (100).
[0044] The reed valve (104) restricts the reverse flow of the fresh/intake air from the air intake
15 conduit (114) to the blow-by control system (101), which otherwise increased the positive
pressure in the crankcase (116). When the intake air from the air intake conduit (114) is
received by the reed valve (104), the first plate (110) may displace to the first position from the
second position, thereby closing the reed valve (104) and preventing flow of intake air into the
crankcase (116). That is, the reed valve (104) allows the blow-by-gases to pass only from the
20 inlet portion (105) to the outlet portion (106) and not vice-versa. Further, the reed valve (104)
of the present disclosure aids effectively lowering the pressure in the crankcase (116), thereby
improving service life of seals in the turbocharger.
[0045] The reed valve (104) of the present disclosure is simple and compact. Further, the reed
valve (104) may be coupled to the blow-by control system (101) without modifying existing
25 components of the engine such as crankcase (116), cylinder head, cylinder head cover (115),
and the like. The reed valve (104) of the present disclosure may be adapted in existing engine
layout with minimum development time. The reed valve (104) configuration requires less time
for assembly at the production line and reduces service complexity as the reed valve (104) is
remotely mounted and accessible on the engine (100). The inclined surface of the inlet passage
30 (107a) of the inlet portion (105) and the inclined surface of the outlet passage (107b) of the
outlet portion (106) aids in efficient movement of the blow-by-gases out of the reed valve
(104). Further, the inclined surfaces surface of the inlet passage (107a) and the outlet passage
12
(107b) facilitates gravitational flow of oil mist/droplets in blow-by-gases, to prevent from oil
pool formation in the reed valve (104).
[0046] It is to be understood that a person of ordinary skill in the art may develop a reed valve
(104) for a blow-by control system (101) of a similar configuration without deviating from the
5 scope of the present disclosure. Such modifications and variations may be made without
departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is intended that the present
disclosure covers such modifications and variations provided they come within the ambit of
the appended claims and their equivalents.
EQUIVALENTS
10 [0047] With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those
having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to
the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural
permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
[0048] In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of
15 Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby
described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.
[0049] While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and
embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments
disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the
20 true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.
[0050] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and
especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended
as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited
to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be
25 interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within
the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent
will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is
present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain
usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim
30 recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the
introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular
claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such
13
recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at
least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be
interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite
articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an
introduced claim recitation is explicitly 5 recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such
recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare
recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations,
or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to
“at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense
10 one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system”) having at least
one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to the system that have A alone, B alone,
C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together,
etc.). In those instances, where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is
used, in general, such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would
15 understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but
not be limited to system that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C
together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by
those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more
alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to
20 contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms.
For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B”
or “A and B.” While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other
aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and
embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be
25 limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.
REFERRAL NUMERICALS
Referral numeral Description
100 Engine
101 Blow-by control system
102 First hose
14
103 Second hose
104 Reed valve
105 Inlet portion
106 Outlet portion
107a Inlet passage
107b Outlet passage
108 Stopper plate
109 First plate
110 Second plate
111 Junction portion
112 First cover member
113 Second cover member
114 Air intake conduit
115 Cylinder head cover
116 Crankcase
15
We claim:
1. A reed valve (104) for a blow-by control system (101) of an engine (100), the reed
valve (104) comprising:
an inlet portion (105) fluidically connected to a cylinder head cover (115) of the
5 engine (100), and being adapted to receive blow-by-gases from the cylinder head cover
(115);
an outlet portion (106) extending from the inlet portion (105) and fluidically
connected to an air intake conduit (114) of the engine (100), the outlet portion (106) is
being adapted to allow passage of the blow-by-gases received from the inlet portion
10 (105) to the air intake conduit (114); and
a stopper plate (108) disposed at a junction portion (111) formed between the inlet
portion (105) and the outlet portion (106), the stopper plate (108) comprises:
a first plate (110) coupled to at least a portion of the junction portion (111)
and displaceable between a first position and a second position;
15 a second plate (109) coupled to at least a portion of the junction portion
(111) and disposed on the first plate (110), wherein the second plate (109) is
configured to exert force onto the first plate (110) to maintain the first plate
(110) in the first position;
wherein, the first plate (110) displaces to the second position relative to
20 the second plate (109), when pressure exerted by the blow-by-gases entering
through the inlet portion (105) exceeds a threshold pressure, to selectively allow
the passage of the blow-by-gases from the inlet portion (105) to the outlet
portion (106).
2. The reed valve (104) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first plate (110) is defined with
25 a uniform profile and the second plate (109) is defined with a curved profile.
3. The reed valve (104) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the curved profile of the second
plate (109) is structured to exert force on to the first plate (110) to maintain the first
plate (110) in the first position, and allows the first plate (110) to displace relative to
the second plate (109) to the second position, when pressure exerted by the blow-by30
gases on the first plate (110) exceed the threshold pressure.
16
4. The reed valve (104) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inlet portion (105) comprises
an inlet passage (107a) defined with a first inclined surface.
5. The reed valve (104) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outlet portion (106) comprises
an outlet passage (107b) defined with a second inclined surface.
5 6. The reed valve (104) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outlet portion (106) is offset to
the inlet portion (105).
7. The reed valve (104) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first plate (110) and the second
plate (109) are positioned parallel and one above the other.
8. The reed valve (104) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a first cover member (112)
10 configured to cover the inlet portion (105).
9. The reed valve (104) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first cover member (112) is
made of at least one of a metal or a metal alloy.
10. The reed valve (104) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a second cover member (113)
configured to cover the outlet portion (106).
15 11. The reed valve (104) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second cover member (113)
is made of at least one of a plastic and a plastic composition.
12. An engine (100) of a vehicle, the engine (100) comprising:
a crankcase (116);
a cylinder disposed on the crankcase (116);
20 a cylinder head cover (115) disposed on the cylinder, the cylinder head cover
(115) is configured to receive blow-by-gases from the crankcase (116) through a blowby-
gas passage;
an air intake conduit (114) fluidically coupled to the crankcase (116); and
a blow-by control system (101), comprising:
25 a reed valve (104), comprising:
an inlet portion (105) fluidically connected to the cylinder head cover
(115) of the engine (100), and being adapted to receive the blow-by-gases
from the cylinder head cover (115) through a first hose (102);
17
an outlet portion (106) extending from the inlet portion (105) and
fluidically connected to the air intake conduit (114) of the engine (100)
through a second hose (103), the outlet portion (106) is being adapted to
allow passage of the blow-by-gases received from the inlet portion (105) to
5 the air intake conduit (114); and
a stopper plate (108) disposed at a junction portion (111) formed
between the inlet portion (105) and the outlet portion (106), the stopper
plate (108) comprises:
a first plate (110) coupled to at least a portion of the junction portion
10 (111) and displaceable between a first position and a second position;
a second plate (109) coupled to at least a portion of the junction
portion (111) and disposed on the first plate (110), wherein the second plate
(109) is configured to exert force onto the first plate (110) to maintain the
first plate (110) in the first position;
15 wherein, the first plate (110) displaces to the second position relative
to the second plate (109), when pressure exerted by the blow-by-gases
entering through the inlet portion (105) exceeds a threshold pressure, to
selectively allow the passage of the blow-by-gases from the inlet portion
(105) to the outlet portion (106).
20 13. The engine (100) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first hose (102) comprises a first
end (125) and a second end (126), the first end (125) of the first hose (102) is connected
to the cylinder head cover (115) and the second end (126) of the first hose (102) is
connected to the inlet portion of the reed valve (104).
14. The engine (100) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second hose (103) comprises a
25 first end (127) and a second end (128), the first end (127) of the second hose (103) is
connected to the outlet portion (106) of the reed valve (104) and the second end (118)
of the second hose (103) is connected to the air intake conduit (114) of the engine (100).
15. The engine (100) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first plate (110) is defined with a
uniform profile and the second plate (109) is defined with a curved profile. 16. The engine (100) as claimed in claim 15, wherein the curved profile of the second plate
(109) is structured to exert force on to the first plate (110) to maintain the first plate
18
(110) in the first position, and allows the first plate (110) to displace relative to the
second plate (109) to the second position, when pressure exerted by the blow-by-gases
on the first plate (110) exceed the threshold pressure.