Abstract: An oil fill cap for an internal combustion engine replaces a standard cap and provides separation of air and oil in a separation zone within the cap body. The cap body defines a plurality of passages therethrough, including an upstream passage, and first and second downstream passages meeting at a separation junction. The cap body defines a separation zone at the separation junction and receiving the air/oil mixture from the engine through the upstream passage, and sending separated air to the first downstream passage, and sending separated oil to the second downstream passage.

Abstract: A coalescer has variable characteristics including variable diameter of individual fibers along their length such that an individual fiber has differing diameters at different points along its length, and including variable porosity.

Abstract: A method is provided for servicing a filter, and structure is provided disabling assembly of the filter unless an authorized replacement filter element is used.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing free and emulsified water as well as solid contaminants from an oil/water mixture produced in lubricating the bearings of a steam turbine employs a singular, closed housing having a lowermost, filter-free gravity chamber, an uppermost filter element chamber, and a filter-free water collection chamber between the gravity chamber and the filter element chamber. The oil/water mixture introduced into the housing has its free water component removed in the gravity chamber and has its emulsified water and solid contaminant components removed by coalescence in the filter element chamber. Free water, emulsified water and solid contaminants are collected, monitored and selectively drained from the water collection chamber and gravity chamber.

Abstract: A system for separating two immiscible liquids of different specific gravities, such as oil and water. The system includes a gravity separator and oil-contaminated water is continually pumped into the separator tank by a main pump and is impinged against an inclined baffle which directs the water upwardly toward the top of the tank. Larger droplets of oil are collected as a layer in the upper end of the tank, while the effluent is discharged from the lower end of the tank to a coalescer unit, where residual oil is removed from the water. A liquid level sensor is located in the upper end of the separator tank and when the collected layer of oil reaches the level of the sensor, the sensor discontinues operation of the main pump and operates an oil pump to discharge the collected layer of oil from the separator tank to an oil recovery location. The oil collected in the coalescer unit is recirculated and mixed with the oil-contaminated water being introduced into the separator tank.