Crankcase ventilation

Claim 1

In a crankcase ventilating device for controlling the flow of gases from the crankcase to the fuel-air inlet induction conduit of an internal combustion engine to effect a predetermined low rate of flow when a large pressure differential exists between said crankcase and conduit corresponding to idle operation of said engine and to effect an increasing rate of flow when said pressure differential decreases within a range of pressures corresponding to part load operation of said engine, a. a valve housing having a passage for gases extending therethrough and opening at upstream and downstream ends adapted respectively for connection with said crankcase and conduit, said housing comprising upstream and downstream tubular members telescoped one within the other to an adjusted position relative to each other, the passage through said downstream member defining a metering orifice, b. a valve element movable in said passage axially of said orifice and responsive to an increasing pressure differential thereacross for moving in the axial direction for progressively restricting said orifice, c. means for limiting the maximum restriction for said orifice, d. resilient means disposed within said passage and having a portion engaging said valve element for yieldingly opposing axial movement thereof in said direction for restricting said orifice, e. retaining means on said upstream member engaging another portion of said resilient means to anchor the latter portion relative to said orifice at a position determined by said adjusted position of said upstream and downStream members relative to each other, thereby to determine the force of said resilient means yieldingly opposing said axial movement of said valve element in said direction, said adjusted position effecting a preselected rate of gas flow through said orifice independently of production variations in the dimensions of said device when a preselected pressure differential is maintained between said upstream and downstream ends.