Air precleaner for internal combustion engine

• US 4,248,613 A
• Filed: 08/27/1979
• Issued: 02/03/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald E. Linhart
• Original Assignee: Donald E. Linhart
• Inventors: Linhart, Donald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nozick, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US06/070,169
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 55/337, 55/385 B, 55/394-398, 55/456, 55/457, 55/447, 55/350
• US Class Current: 55/394
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 45/12 by centrifugal forces centrifuges B04B; cyclones B04C
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 50/20 Combinations of devices covered by groups B01D45/00 and B01D46/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/022 acting by gravity, by centrifugal, or by other inertial forces, e.g. with moistened walls
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/08 with means for removing dust, particles or liquids from cleaners; with means for indicating clogging; with by-pass means; Regeneration of cleaners

Abstract

An air precleaner for an internal combustion engine includes an outer cylindrical casing with a top air intake opening and a set of stationary vanes within the casing which impart a centrifugal motion to air entering the casing. A clean air discharge tube positioned centrally within the casing extends from an upper air inlet below the vanes through a frusto-conical bottom of the casing to a connection with the conventional air filter of the engine. The bottom wall of the casing includes a generally radially extending slot, the upstream edge of which is offset downwardly from the downstream edge to discharge dirt-laden air from outer portions of the casing back to the atmosphere while cleaner air at central portions of the casing is drawn by engine suction through the discharge tube and air filter into the engine.

Claims

1. In an air precleaner for installation upstream of the air filter on the air intake side of an internal combustion engine, in which the precleaner includes an upright outer cylindrical casing with a top air intake opening, an inner clean air discharge tube centered within said casing and extending into said casing a substantial distance with a clean air discharge opening at the upper end thereof to define an air chamber between the sidewalls of the casing and tube and being spaced below said top intake opening, air spinning means positioned within said casing between said top air intake opening and said clean air discharge opening for imparting a downward centrifugal spinning motion to air entering said casing, whereby dirt-laden air follows a downwardly spiraling path between the sidewalls of the casing and the tube,

the improvement comprising an inverted generally frusto-conical bottom wall closure for said casing in surrounding relationship to said discharge tube and a substantial distance below said clean air discharge opening, said bottom wall defining one only generally radially extending slot opening therethrough with the upstream edge of the slot offset below the downstream edge of said slot and said slot discharging to atmosphere, whereby clean air is discharged from said casing centrally through said discharge tube and dirt-laden air is discharged from said casing to atmosphere through said slot,

said air chamber within said casing between said bottom wall and said air spinning means being unobstructed so that said downward centrifugal spinning motion within said chamber continues unimpeded to said bottom wall.