Claims:We claim:

1. An arrangement (10) for using pressure of a crank housing (16) of an Internal Combustion (IC ) engine (12), said arrangement (10) comprises
? at least one blow-by gas path (18, 18a, 18b) for ejecting engine blow-by gas from the crank housing (16) of the IC engine (12);
? at least one valve (20,21) provided at said blow-by gas path (18, 18a, 18b); characterized in that
? an energy-recovery element (22) located in said blow-by gas path (18, 18a, 18b); and
? said at least one valve (20,21) is selectively controlled to divert negative pressure of said blow-by gas to said energy-recovery element (22) to recover energy from said negative pressure of the blow-by gas.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one valve (20, 21) automatically opens/closes to divert negative pressure of said blow-by gas to said energy-recovery element (22).

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one valve (20, 21) is selectively opened/closed by a controller to divert negative pressure of said blow-by gas to said energy-recovery element (22).

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said energy-recovery element (22) is at least one of a pump, a diaphragm, a valve and an actuator.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one valve (20, 21) is selectively controlled to divert positive pressure of the blow-by gas towards an intake path (24) through an air-box. ,

Description:Field of the invention:

[0001] The invention relates to using blow-by gas of an internal combustion engine. More specifically, it relates to recovering energy from the blow-by gas.

Background of the invention:

[0002] Sometimes, combustion gases leak from the combustion chamber and get collected into crank case. These gases are called as blow-by gases. If these gases are let out in the atmosphere, it may cause pollutions. Hence they are filtered and recirculated.

[0003] US 20140352673 discloses a blow-by gas recirculation device for internal combustion engine. The device detects detachment of the upstream section or a bypass pipe from the intake passage or the ejector, and closes a stop valve to prevent discharge of blow-by gas to the atmosphere through the detached portion.

Brief description of the invention:

[0004] The invention discloses an arrangement for using pressure of a crank housing of an Internal Combustion (IC) engine. The arrangement comprises at least one blow-by gas path for ejecting engine blow-by gas from the crank housing of the IC engine. At least one valve is provided in the blow-by gas path. An energy-recovery element is located in said blow-by gas path. The at least one valve is selectively controlled to divert negative pressure of the blow-by gas to the energy-recovery element to recover energy from said negative pressure of the blow-by gas. Examples of the energy-recovery element includes, but not limited to, a pump, a diaphragm, a valve and an actuator.

[0005] In an embodiment of the invention, the at least one valve automatically opens/closes to divert negative pressure of the blow-by gas to the energy-recovery element.

[0006] In another embodiment of the invention, the at least one valve is selectively opened/closed by a controller to divert negative pressure of said blow-by gas to the energy-recovery element.

[0007] The at least one valve is selectively controlled to divert positive pressure of the blow-by gas towards an intake path through an air-box.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings:

[0008] Different embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the following
accompanying drawings,

[0009] Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic view of an arrangement for using pressure of a crank housing of an IC engine, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

[00010] Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic view of an arrangement for using pressure of a crank housing of an IC engine, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments:

[00011] Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic view of an arrangement for using pressure of a crank housing of an IC engine, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The arrangement 10 is used for regenerating or recovering energy from blow-by gas internal combustion (IC) engine 12. The blow-by gases flown out of the combustion chamber 14 of the IC engine 12 get collected into a crankcase or crank housing 16 and from there, it is emitted through a blow-by gas path 18.

[00012] During intake and power strokes of the IC engine 10, the blow-by gas coming out of the crank housing 16 has positive pressure. The blow-by gas contains fuel, air, moisture, oil, etc. During compression and exhaust strokes of the IC engine 12, the blow-by gas goes into the crank housing 16 again and it has negative pressure, i.e., it exhibits suction effect.

[00013] There could be many ways for taking out blow-by gas from the crank housing 16 through the blow-by gas path 18 and accordingly the layout of blow-by gas path 18 would vary. In Fig.1, the blow-by gas path 18 is coming out from the top of the IC engine 12. However, the blow-by gas path 18 can also be connected directly to the crank housing 16, i.e. the lower part of the IC engine 12.

[00014] One or more valves 20 are provided in the blow-by gas path 18. An energy-recovery element 22 is located in the blow-by gas path 18. Examples of the energy-recovery element 22 includes, but not limited to, a pump, a diaphragm, a valve and an actuator.

[00015] As shown in Fig.1, the blow-by gas path 18 is branched into two paths 18a and 18b. The first path 18a is called as a positive blow-by gas path 18a and the second path 18b called as a negative blow-by gas path 18b.

[00016] In this embodiment, the energy recovery element 22 is located in the negative blow-by gas path 18b. One valve 20 is provided in the positive blow-by gas path 18a. In this example, the valve 16 is a one-way valve 16. When the pressure of the blow-by gas in the crank housing 16 is positive, the valve 20 gets opened by the positive pressure of the blow-by gas. As a result, the positive pressure of the blow-by gas is diverted to an intake path 20 of the IC engine 14 through an air-box (not shown in the Figure). Necessary filtration or safety elements may be placed in the path so that positive pressure of the blow-by gas is diverted to an intake path 24, while the performance or life of the engine 12 is not affected by the blow-by gas.

[00017] When the pressure of the blow-by gas in the crank housing 16 is negative, the valve 20 is closed, therefore the negative pressure is diverted towards the energy-recovery element 22 to recover the energy from the negative pressure of the blow-by gas. For example, the negative pressure can be used to operate a micro-pump, valve, diaphragm or any pneumatic actuator.

[00018] In this embodiment, the valve 20 is operated automatically by the positive or negative pressure of the blow-by gas.

[00019] In another embodiment, the valve 20 is closed by a controller (not shown in the Figure) to divert the negative pressure towards the energy-recovery element 22 when the pressure of the crank housing 16 is negative. Similarly, the controller opens the valve 20 to divert the positive pressure towards the intake path 24 through the air-box.

[00020] Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic view of an arrangement for using pressure of a crank housing of an IC engine, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, two valves 20, 21 are provided in the blow-by gas path 18. To be specific, valve 20 is placed in the positive blow-by gas path 18a and valve 21 is placed in the negative blow-by gas path 18b.

[00021] When the pressure of blow-by gas in the crank housing 16 is positive, the valve 20 gets opened by the positive pressure of the blow-by gas. However the valve 21 is closed. As a result, the positive pressure of the blow-by gas is diverted to an intake path 20 of the IC engine 14 through an air-box (not shown in the Figure).

[00022] When the pressure of the blow-by gas in the crank housing 16 is negative, the valve 21 gets opened by the negative pressure of the blow-by gas. However the valve 20 is closed. As a result, the negative pressure of the blow-by gas is diverted to an energy recovery element 22. In another example, the valves 20, 21 can be selectively controlled by the controller.

[00023] Energy from the blow-the gas, especially the energy from the negative pressure of the blow-by gas is effectively utilized by certain devices/components in the vehicle which run on pressure pulses e.g. pumps. Since the negative pressure is used for driving other elements, the adverse effect of the negative pressure on the engine and its components is minimized considerably. Further, the positive pressure of the blow-by gas is sent back to intake path after filtration or other processing.

[00024] It should be understood that embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.