An integrated heater and pressure sensor assembly for a positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system for a vehicle internal combustion engine includes a heater assembly configured to fluidly couple a PCV/makeup air (MUA) line and a vehicle air induction system line, the heater assembly configured to heat fluid passing into and out of the PCV/MUA line, and a pressure sensor assembly integrated directly into the heater assembly, the pressure sensor assembly configured to sense pressure pulsations in the PCV/MUA line.

An improved blow-by gas return structure minimizes the occurrence of a drawback caused by freezing at a low temperature by bringing a state where freezing minimally occurs in a blow-bay gas passage such as a pipe disposed outside an engine. The blow-by gas return structure is configured such that a blow-by gas is introduced into an intake manifold through an inner passage formed in a head cover. The blow-by gas return structure includes an outer pipe which connects a blow-by gas outlet of the head cover and a blow-by gas inlet of a main pipe of the intake manifold in a communicable manner, and a temperature elevating mechanism configured to elevate a temperature of the blow-by gas inlet. The temperature elevating mechanism is configured such that a cooling water transfer passage is formed in a portion of the blow-by gas inlet of the main pipe.

As a further improvement of the technique of minimizing or preventing excessive cooling of an oil separator, an effective blow-by gas heating apparatus which minimizes or solves the problems due to frozen blow-by gas in an engine externally equipped with an oil separator is provided. The blow-by gas heating apparatus includes: a heat emitting structure abutted onto an oil separator configured to trap and remove oil from blow-by gas. The heat emitting structure has a heat emitting case including inside a passage for engine cooling water. The heat emitting case includes a ceiling wall being in surface-contact from below with a bottom surface of the oil separator.

Apparatuses, systems and methods are disclosed including apparatus for separating oil from a blow-by gas of an engine. The apparatus can include an outer housing, an inner housing, a filter, one or more ports, a first cover and a second cover. The inner housing can be positioned within the outer housing and defines an inner cavity. The inner housing and the outer housing can form a jacket therebetween. The filter configured to separate the oil from the blow-by gas positioned within the inner cavity. The one or more ports can be configured for fluid communication with the jacket. The first cover can have at least a first port therein to receive the blow-by gas or allow the blow-by gas to pass from the first cover. The second cover can have a second port therein to receive the blow-by gas or allow the blow-by gas to pass from the second cover.

An integrated heater and pressure sensor assembly for a positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system for a vehicle internal combustion engine includes a heater assembly configured to fluidly couple a PCV/makeup air (MUA) line and a vehicle air induction system line, the heater assembly configured to heat fluid passing into and out of the PCV/MUA line, and a pressure sensor assembly integrated directly into the heater assembly, the pressure sensor assembly configured to sense pressure pulsations in the PCV/MUA line.

A method for operating a rotation separator in an internal combustion engine, wherein, after the engine and separator have been switched off, it is determined whether there is a danger of the condensate in the separator freezing to ice because of cold ambient temperatures. If there is danger of ice formation, the separator is started up again by itself, i.e., without the engine being re-started, and is operated at a speed that effectively removes condensate from the rotor of the separator, so as to prevent icing of the separator.

A fluid pipe device is provided, which includes a pipe member forming a flow channel for flowing a fluid; a heating member for generating heat to heat the pipe member; a metal heat transfer member abutting against the heating member and conducting the heat to the pipe member; and a terminal member electrically connecting the heating member and the heat transfer member. The heat transfer member includes a first heat transfer member and a second heat transfer member, and at least one of the first heat transfer member and the second heat transfer member forms the terminal member at one portion, and the first heat transfer member is provided in the pipe member in such a way as not to be exposed inside the flow channel of the pipe member.

A method for improving the cold start capacity of an internal combustion engine which is cooled with water that is pre-heated for the cold start. The pre-heated hot water is conducted through flow paths in a region of the crankcase ventilating device and/or in a water/air heat exchanger of the crankcase ventilating device. An internal combustion engine with at least one cooling water circuit, at least one cooling water pump which is arranged in the cooling water circuit, and at least one crankcase ventilating device. The crankcase ventilating device is at least temporarily integrated into the cooling water circuit of the internal combustion engine, and the cooling water circuit has a pre-heating assembly for pre-heating the cooling water when the internal combustion engine is cold started.

A blow-by gas return device includes: a gas path which is configured to introduce a blow-by gas generated in a crankcase into an intake system through an inside of a head cover, a pressure control valve and a blow-by pipe; and an orifice provided to the gas path, the orifice mounted on a wall portion of an intake manifold on a cylinder head side. A passage for a blow-by gas is formed in the wall portion on the cylinder head side, and the orifice is formed on a joint pipe mounted on the passage for the blow-by gas for communicably connecting the blow-by pipe with the passage for the blow-by gas.

An internal combustion engine includes a crankcase having first and second pluralities of openings. A oil separation module has at least one inlet housing that communicates with a oil separation filter and is connectable to at least one opening from the first plurality of openings or from the second plurality of openings to define a crankcase vent.