Michael L Crouch

US Patent:

20150292373, Oct 15, 2015

Filed:

Apr 11, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/199094

Inventors:

Michael Lyner Crouch - Jackson's Gap AL, US

International Classification:

F01M 13/00

Abstract:

Problem/Reason for Solution and IdeaWe have a 2004 210 hp Caterpillar C7 ACERT engine in a F650 Pro-loader truck that at approximately 260,000 miles would blow out massive amounts of oil through the crankcase breathing tube while running. Once the vehicle got over 260,000 miles a piston ring wore out enabling compression to blow into the crankcase and build up pressure. The pressure inside the crankcase pushed the normally calm circulating oil that lubricates the engine, all around the inside of the crankcase. This is the same as blowing in a bucket of oil with a high power air hose. The crankcase breather tube is at the top of the crankcase, just below the pistons and hangs straight down to the bottom of the engine pointing to the ground. The position of this tube gave oil an easy route to escape due to the built up pressure, pushing the oil out of the crankcase through the breather and onto the ground. Once the oil was exiting out the crankcase breather, the vehicle was rendered inoperational due to Department of Transportation, (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA) standards. As the vehicle would leave a trail of oil along the entire route, DOT would cease our ability to drive the truck until fixed. Additionally, the truck would lose so much oil during a long trip that main engine parts would receive insufficient lubrication leading to a possible ceasing of the engine. If this mechanical issue is left unfixed and the oil was refilled every trip, the oil would coat additional parts of the outer engine creating more trouble in the full functioning of many additional parts. Caterpillar's, (this engine's manufacturer) recommendation, for this type of engine, is to replace after 150,000 to 170,000 miles, due to the way it was manufactured. The approximate cost of a new engine of this type is $21,000 excluding labor.Solution: Idea to be PatentThere are two attachments created for this idea that once added to the engine fixed the problem noted above. The first is an extension of the crankcase breather tube and the second is an extension of the oil filler with a breather cap attached at the top. By extending the crankcase breather tube up and over the engine to point towards the ground on the other side of the engine, gravity kept the oil from blowing up and out the tube while emissions still exited the tube from the crankcase. The extension of the breather tube still allows the pressure built up in the crankcase to release as originally intended by the manufacturer while using gravity to keep the oil in the crankcase. Then an extension was added to the oil filler with a breather cap on it. This oil filler extension allows for addition pressure release from the crankcase while also using gravity to keep the engine oil from escaping through the oil filler. Since this invention was added to the vehicle, there has been no oil blow out and/or leakage, and normal oil usage during continues vehicle usage. From 2 Nov. 2013 to 20 Feb. 2014 we have added an additional 22,000 miles to the vehicle while maintaining normal vehicle operation with no more major mechanical issues.ClosingSince the creation of this apparatus, we have temporarily saved the costs of a new engine costing approximately $21,000 while maintaining an operational vehicle capable of all originally intended tasks and maneuvers. This apparatus will work on most diesel engines with this type of mechanical problem as a, (currently Undetermined amount of time) temporary solution in avoiding purchasing a new engine. Thus far we have observed nearly five months of no oil blow out, normal oil usage, and a fully operation vehicle that would have been otherwise inoperational and grounded in place.