TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure, in general, relates to mechanisms of separating engine oil from blow by gas coming out of an internal combustion engine. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a breather system of an automobile engine.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed subject matter, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Internal combustion (IC) engines generally require a breather system to receive and treat the blow by gas coming out of the IC engine. The blow by gas is gas that escapes from combustion chamber through piston rings, enters the crankcase of the IC engine, ventilate through drain holes present in the cylinder block and cylinder head and also through timing chain cover, and enters the cylinder head cover passing through cylinder head to reach the breather system mounted on the cylinder head cover. From the breather system, the gases are again fed back into the air intake system for the combustion chamber of the IC engine.
[0004] This blow by gas generally passes up through the crankcase containing engine oil and oil drainage passages in the IC engine. For instance, in the IC engines with overhead camshafts, the blow by gas carries engine oil from crankcase and also passes around the valve train area resulting in further mixing of engine oil with the blow by gas which if introduced directly to the intake system without separating engine oil from it, will result in increased unwanted emissions from the IC engine due to burning of engine oil along with fuel in the combustion chamber.

[0005] The presence of engine oil in the blow by gas can lead to the fouling of engine inlet ports and deposits on the spark plug electrodes gap causing misfiring. As requirements for the control of emissions get increasingly more severe, there is a need in the state of the art technologies to remove oil from blow by gas.
[0006] In conventional systems, the breather system employs baffles, which are either of vortex structure or are angled plates, to provide restriction to the oil/fluid contained in the blow by gas passing through the breather system during a breathing operation (full load operation) and/or a ventilation operation (part load operation). During the breathing operation, the restriction provided by the baffles is needed for the separation of oil from the blow by gas. However, such baffles are not required during the ventilation operation as these baffles may restrict the free flow of fresh air which is required for proper ventilation of the crankcase in IC engine.
[0007] Therefore, there is a need to develop a breather system with baffles that changes its orientation angle with change in the velocity of blow by gas within different engine speed range during the full load operation but do not provide restriction to the flow of the fresh air during the ventilation (part load) operation.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0008] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed herein below.
[0009] The main objective of the present disclosure is to provide a breather system for internal combustion engines of automobiles.
[0010] Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide a breather system with baffles that can provide restriction to the blow by gas only during the full load operation
[0011] Yet another objective of the present disclosure is to provide a breather system with baffles that provide null restriction to the flow of fresh air during the part load operation of engine.

[0012] Yet another objective of the present disclosure is to provide a breather system with increased engine oil separation efficiency from the blow by gas.
SUMMARY
[0013] The present invention relates to a breather system for an automobile engine. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0014] The present disclosure relates to a breather system that comprises a plurality of stoppers that are rigidly fixed at the top and bottom surfaces of a breathing chamber. The plurality of stoppers is positioned centrally inside the breathing chamber. Each of the plurality of supporters includes three plates that are coupled together at one end at an intersection point. The two of the three plates of the stoppers are positioned at a predefined angle and a third plate is positioned such that the third plate bisects the predefined angle. The present invention further includes a plurality of hinged baffles that are positioned adjacent to the stoppers. And each of the plurality of hinged baffles is having a pair of plate. The plate of the baffles is being hinged at the intersection point of the three plates of the stoppers.
[0015] In an aspect, during full load operation of an IC engine, the pair of plates of the plurality of baffles of the breather system, horizontally extends toward walls of the breather chamber and are restricted by the corresponding plates of the stopper to maintain a certain angular orientation with respect to the blow by gas and to provide a gap between the walls and the plates of the baffles for restricted flow of blow by gases through the breather chamber.
[0016] In an aspect, during part load operation, the pair of plates of plurality of baffles aligns with the third plate of the stopper so as to allow non-restricted flow of fresh air through breather channel towards the crankcase of the engine for improved crankcase ventilation.

[0017] It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.
[0018] 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 following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0019] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and/or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0020] Fig. 1A illustrates a perspective view of a breather system during full load operation, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0021] Fig. IB illustrates a top view of the breather system during full load operation; in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0022] Fig. 2A illustrates a perspective view of the breather system during part load operation, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0023] Fig. 2B illustrates a top view of the breather system during part load operation, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0025] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0026] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.
[0027] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises", "comprising", "includes" and/or "including," when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.

[0028] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0029] Various embodiments and/or implementations of the present disclosure described herein relates to a breather system of an IC engine, where the breather system is to receive blow by gas from the IC engine for separating engine oil from the received blow by gas.
[0030] A typical reciprocating internal combustion (IC) engine includes a cylinder head, a cylinder block, a crankcase, an engine oil reservoir in the form of a sump, a pair of overhead camshafts that are supported by the cylinder head camshaft journals. To further prevent the direct flow of engine oil into the intake system of the IC engine, a breather system having baffle plate is provided on the cylinder head. The baffle plate has a downturned longitudinal edge which is sealed by a ribbon of sealant to a cylinder head cover along its top edge and has a lower edge which is lightly engaged with a lip formed in the cylinder head.
[0031] In an aspect, the cylinder head cover has a generally flat cover portion which is strengthened to reduce vibrations by a number of ribs extending longitudinally and transversely with respect to the cylinder head cover.
[0032] In an aspect, the breather system is formed as an integral part of the cylinder head cover and extends longitudinally there along.
[0033] Figs. 1 A, IB, 2A, and 2B illustrate a breather system 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The breather system 100 includes an inlet 101 and an outlet (not shown in figures).

[0034] During full load operation, i.e., when the IC engine runs in Wide Open Throttle mode (WOT- 100% open), the breather system 100 receives blow by gas through an entry 101 and passes the gas through a breathing chamber 110. The breather system 100 further includes a plurality of stoppers 104 and a plurality of hinged baffles 103. Each of the plurality of stoppers 104 is rigidly connected to a bottom surface of a breather plate in the breather chamber 110. Also, each of the plurality of stoppers 104 includes a first plate 401, a second plate 402 and a third plate 403. The first plate 401 and the second plate 402 are coupled with each other at an intersection point 400 at a predefined angle, say 9. The third plate 403 is connected at the intersection point 400 such that it bisects the angle 9 defined by the first plate 401 and second plate 402. In an aspect, the predefined angle may range from 45° to 60°. However, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, the predefined angle can have values outside the range of 45° to 60°.
[0035] The plurality of hinged baffles 103 further includes a pair of plates 301, 302. In the pair of plates, a first plate 301 and a second plate 302 of the hinged baffle 103 are hinged at the intersection point 400 such that they remain free to move angularly about an axis passing through the intersection point 400.
[0036] During the first (full load) operation as shown in Figs. 1A and IB, the blow by gas passes in the direction shown by an arrow shown with reference numeral 106. During this full load operation, due to the pressure created by the blow by gas, the first and second plates 301 and 302 of the hinged baffles 103 is swept along the direction of the air. The first and second plates 301 and 302 of the plurality of baffles 103 horizontally extend toward walls 111 and 112 of the breathing chamber 110 and are restricted by the corresponding stopper plates 401 and 402 of the stopper 104 to maintain a proper angular orientation of baffles with respect to the blow by gas so as to ensure improved engine oil separation capability of breather system 100. The hinged baffles 103 provide restriction to the flow of the blow by gas, thereby resulting in separation of oil and gases due to collision with the surface of hinged baffles 103. The engine oil thus separated will go down to the oil sump through drain holes provided on floor of the breather chamber 110.

[0037] During the second (part load) operation as shown in Figs. 2A and 2B, the breather system 100 works as a ventilator by flushing fresh air to the crankcase for positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) functioning. During this ventilation operation, the IC engine runs on part load and a PCV circuit remains active. During this ventilation operation, the fresh air flows in the arrow direction shown by a reference numeral 210 through the breather baffles 103 to the crankcase and exits out through PCV circuit to the intake manifold. During this ventilation operation, the pair of baffle plates 301 and 302 of the hinged baffles 103 moves towards each other and aligns with the third plate 403 of the stoppers 104. In this ventilation operation, null restriction is posed by the baffles 103 to ensure non-restrictive flow of the fresh air, ensuring proper crankcase ventilation process.
[0038] Thus, with the implementation of the present subject matter, the breather system 100 with baffles 103 can provide restriction to the blow by gas only during the full load operation, and can provide null restriction to the flow of fresh air during the part load operation of engine. With such structure, the proposed breather system 100 can have increased engine oil separation efficiency from the blow by gas.
[0039] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the present disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The present disclosure is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the present disclosure when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

CLAIM

1.A breather system (100) for an automobile engine, the breather system (100)
comprising:
a plurality of stoppers (104) rigidly fixed at bottom surface of a breathing chamber (110) and positioned centrally inside the breathing chamber (110), each of the plurality of stoppers (104) includes three plates (401, 402, 403) coupled together at one end at an intersection point (400), wherein two of the three plates being positioned at a predefined angle and a third plate (403) being positioned such that the third plate (403) bisects the predefined angle; and
a plurality of hinged baffles (103) positioned adjacent to the stoppers (104), each of the plurality of hinged baffles (104) having a pair of plates (301, 302), each of which is hinged at the intersection point of the three plates (400) of the stoppers (104).
2. The breather system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein during full load
operation, the pair of plates (301, 302) of the plurality of baffles horizontally
extend toward walls (111, 112) of the breathing chamber (110) and are
restricted by the corresponding plates (401, 402) of the stopper (104),
maintain a proper angular orientation of baffles with respect to the blow by
gas so as to ensure improved engine oil separation capability of breather
system, for restricted flow of blow by gas through the breathing chamber
(110)
3. The breather system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein during part load
operation, the pair of plates (301, 302) of a plurality of baffles (103) aligns
with the third plate of the stopper (104) so as to allow non-restricted flow of
fresh air towards the engine crankcase.