Free jet with integrated oil separator

Abstract

A centrifuge for cleaning the lubricating oil of an internal combustion engine, which simultaneously cleans the crankcase gases in which the separation result is improved by introducing crankcase gases (dashed arrows) directly, without any shielding baffles, into the oil mist generated by the drive nozzles in the centrifuge housing in order to produce a scrubbing effect, so that the crankcase gases are precleaned. For additional cleaning, guide vanes mounted on the rotor swirl the crankcase gas so that further residues are deposited along the walls of the housing, thereby making further measures to clean the crankcase gases unnecessary, with the result that the apparatus highly economical since it saves both material costs and maintenance costs.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A free jet centrifuge for lubricating oil of an internal combustion engine, said centrifuge comprising: 
 a centrifuge rotor rotatable about an axis by jets of oil discharged from drive nozzles in said rotor, said rotor being configured as an oil separator for residues contained in crankcase gas of the engine; and    a housing in which the rotor is rotatably supported, said housing comprising an oil inlet for supplying the rotor with the lubricating oil to be cleaned, an oil outlet for discharging clean lubricating oil, a crankcase gas supply line for supplying crankcase gases to be cleaned, and a suction line for withdrawing clean crankcase gases;    wherein the crankcase gas supply line is connected to the housing in such a way that supplied crankcase gases are guided through a volume containing an oil mist produced by drive nozzles of the rotor, and    wherein the oil outlet and crankcase gas supply line are at least partially formed by a single connecting duct that opens into the housing of the free jet centrifuge.    
     
     
         2 . A free jet centrifuge according to  claim 2 , wherein the volume containing the oil mist extends into the connecting duct.  
     
     
         3 . A free jet centrifuge according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotor is equipped with guide vanes for accelerating the crankcase gas in circumferential direction of the rotor.  
     
     
         4 . A free jet centrifuge according to  claim 3 , wherein said guide vanes are disposed along the outer circumference the rotor.  
     
     
         5 . A free jet centrifuge according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotor further comprises at least one additional scrubber nozzle to enhance cleaning of the crankcase gases.  
     
     
         6 . A free jet centrifuge according to  claim 5 , wherein said scrubber nozzle discharges a scrubber jet in a radially outward direction relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor.  
     
     
         7 . A free jet centrifuge according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure relief valve for the crankcase gas, wherein said pressure relief valve is integrated into the centrifuge housing.