Engine oil spray collector

Abstract

An engine including an oil spray collector is provided. The collector is located on an underside surface of the valve cover to accept a previously identified oil spray from at least one engine component.

1 . An engine valve cover comprising:
 an underside surface exposed to engine components; and   a collector located on the underside surface to accept a oil spray from at least one engine component.   
   
   
       2 . The engine valve cover of  claim 1  wherein the collector further includes a ridge defining a basin inside. 
   
   
       3 . The engine valve cover of  claim 2  wherein the basin is concave. 
   
   
       4 . The engine valve cover of  claim 2  wherein the ridge is annular. 
   
   
       5 . The engine valve cover of  claim 1  further including a top wall and side walls extending from the top wall and wherein the collector is located on the top wall. 
   
   
       6 . The engine valve cover of  claim 1  wherein the oil spray is previously identified. 
   
   
       7 . An engine comprising a collector located to accept a oil spray from at least one engine component. 
   
   
       8 . The engine of  claim 7  further including a bottom end and top end and wherein the collector is located in the top end. 
   
   
       9 . The engine of  claim 8  wherein the top end further includes a valve cover and wherein the collector is located on an underside surface of the valve cover. 
   
   
       10 . The engine of  claim 9  wherein the valve cover further includes a top wall and side walls extending from the top wall and wherein the collector is located on the top wall. 
   
   
       11 . The engine of  claim 7  wherein the collector further includes a ridge defining a basin inside. 
   
   
       12 . The engine of  claim 11  wherein the basin is concave. 
   
   
       13 . The engine of  claim 11  wherein the ridge is annular. 
   
   
       14 . The engine of  claim 7  wherein the oil spray is previously identified. 
   
   
       15 . A method of reducing oil emulsion in an engine comprising:
 identifying localized areas of an oil spray in the engine; and   locating a collector over selected localized areas of oil spray.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising designing the collector's shape and size based on characteristics of the oil spray and engine. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the collector is located on the underside of a valve cover. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the collector includes a ridge defining a basin inside. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the basin is concave. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the ridge is annular.