Crankcase ventilation and centrifugal oil filter

Abstract

A filter for an internal combustion engine includes an oil filter and a separator. The oil filter has a rotor that rotates about an axis in response to oil that is discharged from the rotor. The separator has a spindle that is detachably coupled to the rotor. A plurality of discs are mounted to the spindle, which is rotated about the axis by the rotation of the filter. The rotate of the spindle rotates the discs, which separates oil from gasses introduced into the separator.

1 . A filter, comprising:
 (a) an oil filter configured to filter particulate matter from oil, the oil filter comprising a rotor configured to be rotated about an axis by oil discharged from the rotor; and   (b) a crankcase ventilation filter configured to separate oil from exhaust gases, the crankcase ventilation filter comprising a separator having a spindle detachably coupled to the rotor and a plurality of discs mounted thereto, rotation of the rotor driving the spindle to rotate about the axis, wherein rotation of the spindle rotates the discs to separate oil from gases introduced into the separator.   
     
     
         2 . The filter of  claim 1 , the rotor comprising an engagement element sized and configured to engage the spindle, engagement of the engagement element with the spindle limiting rotation of the rotor relative to the spindle about the axis. 
     
     
         3 . The filter of  claim 2 , wherein the engagement element is configured to slidably receive a portion of the spindle. 
     
     
         4 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein a channel extends through the spindle, a first end of the channel being configured to received pressurized oil, a second end of the channel being in fluid communication with an oil inlet formed in the engagement element. 
     
     
         5 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the oil filter comprises a first housing and the separator comprises a second housing, the first housing being threadedly coupled to the second housing. 
     
     
         6 . The filter of  claim 5 , wherein the rotor is slidably removable from the filter when the first housing is decoupled from the second housing. 
     
     
         7 . The filter of  claim 5 , wherein the first housing supports the rotor when the first housing is coupled to the second housing. 
     
     
         8 . A filter for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 (a) an centrifugal oil filter configured to filter particulate matter from oil, the oil filter comprising:
 (i) a rotor mounted within a first housing for rotational movement about an axis; 
 (ii) an engagement element having an oil inlet configured to receive pressurized oil into a cavity within the rotor; and 
 (iii) a nozzle configured to discharge oil from the cavity to rotate the rotor about the axis; and 
   (b) a crankcase ventilation filter, the crankcase ventilation filter comprising a separator configured to separate oil particles from crankcase gases, the separator comprising:
 (i) a second housing having a gas inlet and a gas outlet; 
 (ii) a spindle at least partially disposed within the second housing, the spindle engaging the engagement element, rotation of the rotor rotating the spindle about the axis; and 
 (iii) a plurality of discs mounted to the spindle; the plurality of discs being configured to separate oil particles from crankcase gases flowing between the discs. 
   
     
     
         9 . The filter of  claim 8 , wherein the spindle has a first shape, and the engagement element has an aperture corresponding to the first shape, engagement of the spindle with the aperture limiting rotation of the engagement element relative to the spindle about the axis. 
     
     
         10 . The filter of  claim 9 , wherein the engagement element configured to slidably receive the the spindle. 
     
     
         11 . The filter of  claim 8 , wherein a channel extends through the spindle, a first end of the channel being configured to received pressurized oil, a second end of the channel being in fluid communication with the oil inlet of the engagement element. 
     
     
         12 . The filter of  claim 8 , wherein the first housing is threadedly coupled to the second housing. 
     
     
         13 . The filter of  claim 12 , wherein the rotor is slidably removable from the filter when the first housing is decoupled from the second housing.