US 12,312,984 B2
Cylinder block baffle for separating oil from crankcase gasses
Erzabeth J. Holcombe, Northville, MI (US); Joshua D. Simon, Sylvania, OH (US); Theodore Beyer, Howell, MI (US); Christopher K. Palazzolo, Ann Arbor, MI (US); Louis Van Hout, Berkley, MI (US); and John McNally, Garden City, MI (US)
Assigned to FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Jul. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/876,157.
Prior Publication US 2024/0035404 A1, Feb. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. F01M 13/04 (2006.01); B01D 45/08 (2006.01)
CPC F01M 13/04 (2013.01) [B01D 45/08 (2013.01); F01M 2013/0433 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus comprising:
a baffle adapted to be mounted in an oil gallery defined by a cylinder block of an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft extending in a longitudinal direction, the baffle having—
a lower section including a bottom wall facing downwardly toward the crankshaft, a first side entry window opening and a second side entry window opening facing in the longitudinal direction, wherein the first and second side entry windows are defined by the bottom wall, a right side wall, a left side wall and a top edge of the lower section, wherein the top edge defines a top opening, wherein crankcase gasses flow into the first side entry window opening, the second side entry window, and through the top opening, wherein the crankcase gasses flow through the side entry windows and vertically up through the top opening, wherein the bottom wall restricts larger droplets of oil from entering the gallery, and
an upper section disposed above the lower section, the upper section including a plurality of ribs disposed in a horizontal plane between a fore side wall of the upper section and an aft side wall of the upper section, wherein the plurality of ribs are vertically spaced apart from each other, wherein each rib extends from a first wall of the oil gallery toward a second wall of the oil gallery to an opening defined between a distal end of the rib and the other of the first and second walls of the oil gallery, wherein openings are horizontally offset in a lateral direction, and wherein the plurality of ribs define a passage for crankcase gasses that flow between the first and second walls of the oil gallery in the lateral direction to separate oil particles from the crankcase gasses and return the oil particles to the crankcase, and wherein one of the plurality of ribs is disposed immediately above the top opening to return the oil particles through the top opening and back into the lower section.