Having An Adsorbent Canister Patents (Class 123/519)
  • Patent number: 8312867
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system for a fuel burning engine of a vehicle and a method of operating the fuel delivery system is provided. As one example, the method includes separating a first fuel and a second fuel from a fuel vapor on-board the vehicle, said fuel vapor including at least an alcohol component and a hydrocarbon component and said first fuel including a higher concentration of the alcohol component than the fuel vapor and the second fuel; condensing the separated first fuel from a vapor phase to a liquid phase; delivering the condensed liquid phase of the first fuel to the engine; and combusting at least the condensed liquid phase of the first fuel at the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Mark Allen Dearth
  • Patent number: 8312868
    Abstract: A device and a method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder and a tank ventilation system with a line designed to provide pneumatic communication between the tank ventilation system and the at least one cylinder. The line has at least one sensor for determining a hydrocarbon content of a gas flow. A determination, as a function of a measurement signal from the sensor, of a hydrocarbon content of a gas flow flowing from the tank ventilation system to the at least one cylinder is performed. At least one characteristic variable for a fuel quantity to be metered is determined as a function of the determined hydrocarbon content. A metering of fuel into the cylinder is determined as a function of the at least one determined characteristic variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Bierl, Stephan Heinrich, Wolfgang Mai, Paul Rodatz, Manfred Weigl, Andreas Wildgen
  • Patent number: 8297263
    Abstract: A method of operating a boosted engine system is described in which an ejector coupled with a fuel vapor purging system can generate vacuum during both purging and non-purging conditions, and during both boosted and non-boosted conditions. The vacuum can therefore be used to power vacuum actuated brakes, and/or other vacuum actuators, irrespective of the purging conditions, and irrespective of boost levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Publication number: 20120260893
    Abstract: A fuel vapor processing device may include a casing having an adsorption chamber defined therein, an adsorption material disposed within the adsorption chamber, a heating device capable of heating the adsorption material, and a passage member communicating between the adsorption chamber and the atmosphere. The passage member defines a flow space facing to an outer circumferential surface of the casing, so that heat can be transmitted between the adsorption chamber and the flow space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuhiko MAKINO
  • Publication number: 20120260892
    Abstract: A fuel system (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f) for a motor vehicle internal combustion engine, having a fuel tank (2) with a fuel vapor venting path (4) containing an activated carbon filter (3), in which a fresh air stream (7) blown or sucked in the direction of the tank venting valve (6) by an independent pump unit (5) arranged close to the activated carbon filter (3) can be made to flow through the activated carbon filter (3), at least at the periphery thereof and, in that case, preferably at the fresh air side to regenerate said filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Andreas Menke, Josef Oesterle, Horst Petri
  • Publication number: 20120255525
    Abstract: A fuel cap includes a communication chamber configured to make a charge path and the inside of the fuel tank communicate with each other while in a closed state. The communication chamber includes: a positive pressure control valve configured to open, and send evaporated fuel, which occurs inside the fuel tank, to an evaporated fuel reservoir via the communication chamber and the charge path when the internal pressure of the fuel tank becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined pressure; and a negative pressure control valve configured to open, and send air from the evaporated fuel reservoir to the fuel tank via the communication chamber and the charge path when the internal pressure of the fuel tank becomes equal to or less than the predetermined pressure. In addition, a key cylinder sets the negative pressure control valve open upon inserting a key into the key cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Takeshi Shimura, Ikuo Hara, Tadaaki Nagata, Shinji Kobayashi, Takahiro Imamura
  • Publication number: 20120247433
    Abstract: In a motorcycle including an engine equipped with an inlet system, a crankcase and a cylinder block; and a fuel tank which supplies fuel to the engine, an evaporation system is formed in a compact manner using the layout space above the crankcase. The evaporation system includes a canister which temporarily traps evaporated fuel evaporated inside the fuel tank; a purge device which introduces the evaporated fuel trapped in the canister into the inlet system; and a fresh air filter which filters air introduced to the canister during a purging operation for making the inlet system suction the evaporated fuel. In such evaporation system, the canister is disposed in the rear of the cylinder block and above the crankcase, and the air filter is disposed between the cylinder block and the canister.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu OZAKI, Takeshi SHIMURA
  • Patent number: 8276569
    Abstract: One aspect according to the present invention includes a fuel vapor processing apparatus including an insert. The insert can determine an effective flow passage area of the adsorption material chamber without producing a non-filled region of an adsorption material, through which fuel vapor containing gas flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryuji Kosugi
  • Publication number: 20120240905
    Abstract: A charge pipe passage includes a first tank-side pipe passage part which is connected to an upper surface of a fuel tank, and a second tank-side pipe passage part which is connected with the first tank-side pipe passage part and extends toward the other side of the fuel tank from one side of the fuel tank in the vehicle widthwise direction on an end portion thereof on a fuel tank side, and the first and second tank-side pipe passage parts, are fixed to the upper surface of the fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kondo, Hiroshi Inaoka, Teruhide Yamanishi, Kazuo Fujihara, Toshinao Takigawa, Toshiyuki Hyodo, Masaaki Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20120240904
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel treatment device for a vehicle is provided to suppress the flowout of evaporated fuel into atmospheric air. In the evaporated fuel treatment device, a communication chamber is formed in a fuel supply cap, allowing communication between a charge passage and the inside of a fuel tank in a closed state. In the communication chamber, a positive pressure adjusting valve is openable to supply evaporated fuel in the fuel tank to an evaporated fuel storage unit through the communication chamber and the charge passage, and a negative pressure adjusting valve is openable to supply atmospheric air to the fuel tank from the evaporated fuel storage unit through the communication chamber and the charge passage. An interlocking member is provided between the key cover and the negative pressure adjusting valve, and opens the negative pressure adjusting valve in an interlocking manner with an operation of opening the key cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Takeshi Shimura, Ikuo Hara, Tadaaki Nagata, Shinji Kobayashi, Takahiro Imamura
  • Patent number: 8273164
    Abstract: A fuel vapor processor has a fuel tank, a canister, a vapor pipe, a recovery pipe, an air pipe, a suction device, a vapor pipe valve, an air pipe valve, and a pressure regulator. The vapor pipe leads fuel vapor generated in the fuel tank to the canister for trapping the fuel vapor in the canister. The recovery pipe recoveries the fuel vapor desorbed from the canister into the fuel tank. The air pipe communicates the canister with the atmosphere. The suction device is disposed on the recovery pipe for desorbing the fuel vapor trapped in the canister. The pressure regulator is communicated with the air pipe between the air pipe valve and the canister in order to allow gas flow from the atmosphere toward the canister. During desorption of the fuel vapor due to the suction device, the vapor pipe valve and the air pipe valve are closed, and negative pressure is kept in the canister such that the fuel vapor is desorbed from the canister and fresh air is led into the canister via the pressure regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Makino, Masanobu Shinagawa, Hideki Teshima, Takashi Mani
  • Publication number: 20120234301
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel treating device includes a chamber, closest to an atmospheric port, divided into first, second, and third compartments by a partition member having a peripheral wall and a separating wall. The first compartment has an adsorbent layer and one end in communication with the third compartment and another end in communication with a tank port. The second compartment communicates with the first compartment through a first communication portion formed at one end of the peripheral wall. One end of the second compartment communicates with the third compartment through a second communication portion provided in the separating wall, while the other end thereof is closed. The airflow resistance of a second filter covering one end of the peripheral wall and one end of the separating wall is higher than the airflow resistance of a first filter covering one end of the adsorbent layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi TAKAMATSU
  • Publication number: 20120234269
    Abstract: An air induction system hydrocarbon trap is provided. In one example, the hydrocarbon trap includes an adsorber roll including an adsorbing material and a corrugate support, where the corrugate support is rolled with the adsorbing material to form a wound adsorber roll. A housing is further provided to retain the adsorber roll. A housing cap may be coupled to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Andrew George Bellis
  • Publication number: 20120234300
    Abstract: A tank system (1) for a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine to which fuel is supplied from a tank (2), wherein the tank (2) is assigned, in a ventilation path to the atmosphere (7), a flushable filter device (6, 6) for being loaded with hydrocarbon vapors of the fuel. The filter device (6, 6) has multiple mutually separate activated carbon filters (6). All of the activated carbon filters (6) are connected permanently in parallel. In this way, the ventilation resistance from the tank in the direction of the atmosphere can be kept low.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Andreas Menke
  • Patent number: 8261531
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable storage media are described in which exhaust gas is routed to a hydrocarbon retaining device during starting, and purged to the engine intake manifold. Various alternative approaches are described for controlling operation and diagnosing degradation. Further, various interrelated configurations are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Harendra S. Gandhi, Michael James Uhrich, Shane Elwart, James Michael Kerns, Jason Aaron Lupescu
  • Patent number: 8262785
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon adsorption trap for adsorption of evaporated fuel vapors includes a first fuel vapor permeable media retention layer, a second media retention layer positioned in a spaced parallel relationship to the first layer forming a gap therebetween and a hydrocarbon vapor adsorbent media disposed in the gap between the first and second layers for adsorbing evaporated fuel vapors from the intake tract when the engine is not operating. A mounting member is secured to peripheral edge portions of the layers and closes the gap between the layers while providing a means of securing the trap into an air intake tract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Joshua Barron, Beau Kidman
  • Publication number: 20120222656
    Abstract: One aspect according to the present teachings includes a fuel vapor processing device including a housing having a first port for introduction of fuel vapor, a second port for introduction of negative pressure, and a third port communicating with an atmosphere. An adsorption material is disposed within the housing. In a desorption mode, fuel vapor desorbed by the adsorption material is desorbed from the adsorption material as air flows into the housing via the third port and flows out of the second port. A plurality of heaters are disposed within the housing and are arranged along a path of flow of air from the third port to the second port in the adsorption mode. A controller controls the heaters such that the heaters start to heat the adsorption material in order of the air flow direction from the third port to the second port. The controller preferably also terminates heating of the adsorption material in the same manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiko MAKINO, Shota YAMANAKA
  • Patent number: 8251048
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel controlling apparatus for an all terrain vehicle can avoid the influence of disturbance and can be disposed efficiently. The evaporated fuel controlling apparatus includes a canister adapted to absorb evaporated fuel generated from a fuel tank, a purge path adapted to connect the canister and an intake system of an engine to each other, and a purge controlling section adapted to control a flow rate of the evaporated fuel to be supplied from the canister to the intake system of the engine through the purge path. At least the canister from among the canister, purge path and purge controlling section is mounted on a vehicle body front frame FrF which supports a steering mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuo Kusa
  • Patent number: 8245699
    Abstract: A fuel vapor recovery system and method for an automotive vehicle are disclosed. The vehicle fuel tank is vented to atmosphere via a passageway having a carbon canister to remove fuel vapors, a bladder, and a normally-closed isolation valve. When fueling the vehicle, the gases in the fuel tank displaced by entering fuel are introduced into the carbon canister where the fuel vapors are stored. The isolation valve is commanded to open to allow such flow through the carbon canister. When the vehicle is parked for a period of a day, it undergoes a diurnal temperature change which causes fuel to vaporize into the fuel system. According to an aspect of the present development, the isolation valve remains closed and the gases are contained within the bladder as it expands or contracts as the volume of gases increases or decreases in response to temperature changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Peters, Steven James Hoffman, John Hedges
  • Patent number: 8235028
    Abstract: A hermetically sealed fuel tank apparatus includes a pressure-resistant fuel tank for storing a fuel therein, the pressure-resistant fuel tank being capable of holding an internal pressure equal to or higher than the atmospheric pressure, a fuel vapor inlet pipe for introducing a fuel vapor produced in the pressure-resistant fuel tank, a canister contained in the pressure-resistant fuel tank and connected to the fuel vapor inlet pipe for adsorbing the fuel vapor, a drain passage through which the canister communicates with external air, and a shutoff valve connected to the drain passage and normally closed to hermetically seal the pressure-resistant fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Hidano, Masakazu Kitamoto, Mitsunobu Yamamoto, Hiroshi Kitamura, Yoshikazu Kaneyasu
  • Patent number: 8235027
    Abstract: A vent-on-demand fuel sump and vehicle fuel system having such a fuel sump are provided. The fuel sump may include a pressurized vessel and at least two sensors configured to detect a level of fuel within the vessel. A valve coupled to the vessel may be configured to release air and/or fuel vapor to the atmosphere. The fuel sump may also include a programmable electronic controller configured to modulate the valve between a closed position and an open position based on signals received from the sensors corresponding to the fuel level. The valve may be configured to remain in the closed position until the fuel level drops below a predetermined level and the controller sends a signal to open the valve to release air and/or fuel vapor from the vessel into the atmosphere. The vehicle fuel system having such a fuel sump may include a fuel container and an engine having an intake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: AAI Corporation
    Inventors: R. Michael Guterres, James Jeter
  • Publication number: 20120186563
    Abstract: A canister has a canister case, an adsorbent chamber defined in the canister case, and an adsorbent disposed in the adsorbent chamber. The adsorbent can adsorb fuel vapor as the fuel vapor flows through the adsorbent chamber in a first direction. On the other hand, the adsorbent allows desorption of fuel vapor as air flows through the adsorbent in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The adsorbent chamber includes a first adsorbent chamber and a second absorbent chamber communicating with each other. The first adsorbent chamber is disposed on an upstream side of the second adsorbent chamber with respect to the first direction. The adsorbent includes a first adsorbent disposed in the first adsorbent chamber and a second adsorbent disposed in the second adsorbent chamber. A desorption promoting device is disposed in the second adsorbent chamber and can promote desorption of fuel vapor from the second adsorbent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masakazu HASEGAWA, Hiroshi SUGIURA, Hiroshi TAKAMATSU, Masahiro SUGIURA
  • Patent number: 8220438
    Abstract: An apparatus including a canister and an accessory component associated with the canister. The canister may be filled with an adsorption material for adsorbing fuel vapor generated within a fuel tank. A communicating pipe extends downwardly from a housing of the accessory component for communication with the canister. An engaging protrusion is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the housing. An outer peripheral portion of an upper portion of the canister includes a wall portion for engagement with the engaging protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukihiro Kaneda, Tsuneyuki Kurata, Masamitsu Hayakawa, Naohito Buseki
  • Patent number: 8215290
    Abstract: A fuel tank vent system includes a carbon canister and an engine fuel system coupled to the carbon canister. Fuel vapor discharged from a fuel tank included in the engine fuel system flows during certain conditions into the carbon canister to encounter charcoal stored in the carbon canister. Hydrocarbon material associated with the discharged fuel vapor is captured by the charcoal and a stream of cleaned vapor is discharged from the carbon canister to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Stant USA Corp.
    Inventors: Gary Lee Dunkle, Louis Thomas Frank
  • Patent number: 8210302
    Abstract: A vehicle may include a body frame, an engine body mounted on the body frame, an exhaust pipe connected to a cylinder head of the engine body, and a canister supported to the engine body. The exhaust pipe(s) includes a portion extending along one side surface of a cylinder block of the engine body. The canister is located between the cylinder block and the portion of the exhaust pipe(s) extending along one side surface of the cylinder block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kensuke Mori, Jun Nakano, Takehiko Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20120160218
    Abstract: A fuel system in particular of a motor vehicle, includes a fuel tank and a ventilation device for ventilating the fuel tank. The ventilation device has at least one separation device which has a temporary accumulator for liquid fuel. The separation device is made at least in part of a porous material and/or is filled with the porous material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventor: Harald Hagen
  • Publication number: 20120160219
    Abstract: A device for ventilating and aerating a fuel tank includes a tank shut-off valve and two tank pressure control valves. One of the tank pressure control valves opens in response to an overpressure in the fuel tank and the other one of the tank pressure control valves closes in response to a negative pressure in the fuel tank. A valve unit which is formed from one or multiple of the valves is mountable vertically or horizontally and has a fuel connection which communicates with the fuel tank and a filter connection which communicates with an activated carbon filter. The two connections are generally oriented parallel and point downwards in vertical mounting position of the valve unit and in sideward direction(s) in horizontal mounting position of the valve unit and are arranged at or near the bottom side of the valve unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventor: Harald Hagen
  • Patent number: 8205442
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon adsorption assembly for an air induction system is disclosed. The hydrocarbon adsorption assembly includes a fluid conduit having an outer surface and a spaced apart inner surface to form a fluid path therein, the conduit including a recessed area formed in the inner surface thereof. A hydrocarbon trap is disposed in the recessed area of the fluid conduit to adsorb hydrocarbons passing through the conduit. The recessed area and the hydrocarbon trap cooperate to cause a portion of an air flowing through the flow path of the conduit to flow through the hydrocarbon trap to facilitate a purging thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Richard Dobert, Scott Allen Schaffer, Anthony C. Arruda
  • Patent number: 8196567
    Abstract: Fuel is evacuated from a fuel rail by directing liquid fuel from the fuel rail to a fuel tank and then by directing gaseous fuel from the fuel rail to a fuel vapor canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Joseph Norman Ulrey
  • Patent number: 8191536
    Abstract: A method of operating the evaporative purge system for an engine of a vehicle propulsion system is provided. In one example, the method provides for charging and purging two fuel vapor canisters independently or at the same time. The method may provide for improved fuel vapor processing under some conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Eugene Devries, Mark William Peters
  • Patent number: 8177259
    Abstract: A canister that adsorbs evaporated fuel in a fuel tank is protected from an impact force and is mounted sufficiently at a height above the ground to eliminate the need for a protection member. A pair of left and right side members extend in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle on a lower side of a rear floor of the vehicle. The canister is disposed between the fuel tank and the spare tire housing. A pair of front and rear cross members extending in the widthwise direction of the vehicle connect to the side members between the fuel tank and the spare tire housing. The canister is disposed directly below the rear floor between the pair of front and rear cross members, and the canister is mounted to the front and rear cross members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Minao Ohara
  • Publication number: 20120103309
    Abstract: An integrally molded carbon canister is provided. The integrally molded carbon canister includes a housing including four external side walls and an upper portion at least partially enclosing an internal cavity connected to a vapor inlet and outlet port, the upper portion including a depressed flow disruptor positioned rearward of an injection gate, and a first and second projected flow channel positioned adjacent to the injection gate and laterally spanning the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jhun Lin, Mark Edward Hipp, Mohammad Usman, Syed Ahmad, Chris Kersman
  • Patent number: 8166955
    Abstract: A unitized fuel vapor separator and evaporative emission device; marine fuel system, and marine engine therewith are provided. The device includes a fuel vapor separator and evaporative emissions chamber having a common wall separating the fuel vapor separator from the evaporative emissions chamber. The fuel vapor separator is configured for fluid communication with an upstream fuel tank and with a fuel pump and has a fuel vapor outlet to channel fuel vapor outwardly therefrom. The evaporative emissions chamber is configured for fluid communication with the fuel tank to receive fuel vapor therefrom and has an adsorption material for adsorbing fuel vapor and dissipating air from the fuel vapor through an air outlet to channel the air outwardly therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Federal Mogul Corporation
    Inventor: Kyle Achor
  • Patent number: 8157904
    Abstract: An active carbon filter unit for a tank system consists of a housing (13) in which two chambers (31, 32) are formed, carrying an active carbon filling, which form a section of a flow path which at its one end leads via a valve (6) and an air filter (7) into the ambient atmosphere and at its other end leads via a valve (9) and a non-return valve (10) to a connection for producing an underpressure or into the suction region of an internal combustion engine and via a connection (17) into the tank system. The valves (6, 9), the non-return valve (10) and a housing part (27) receiving the electrical connections thereof are part of a uniform control module (15), which is exchangeably inserted into a recess (14) of the housing (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: A. Kayser Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Ammermann, Heiko Freter
  • Patent number: 8151768
    Abstract: One aspect according to the present disclosure includes a first coupling device and a second coupling device. The first coupling device can mechanically couple the canister and the accessory component to each other. The second coupling device can couple the canister and the accessory component to allow flow communication with each other. The second coupling device is operable in conjunction with the operation of the first coupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukihiro Kaneda, Tsuneyuki Kurata, Masamitsu Hayakawa, Naohito Buseki
  • Patent number: 8151769
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing and assembling a carbon canister for a fuel vapor management system of a vehicle includes injection molding a housing partially defining a first chamber, a second chamber, a third chamber, and a baffle. The housing includes a first wall defining an interface between the first and second chambers and a second wall with a portion of the second wall defining an interface between the second chamber and the baffle with apertures proximate a first side of the housing. The method may include injection molding first and second retention plates, filling first, second, and third chambers with carbon pellets, installing the first retention plate into the second side of the housing proximate the first and second chambers to enclose the carbon pellets, and installing the second retention plate into the second side proximate the third chamber to enclose the carbon pellets in the third chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jhun Lin, Mark Edward Hipp, Christopher Michael Kersman
  • Patent number: 8141672
    Abstract: A canister layout structure in a motorcycle includes a swing arm vertically swingably supported to a rear portion of a body frame and supporting a wheel, a canister located below the swing arm for trapping an evaporative fuel evaporated in a fuel tank, and a center stand pivotably supported to a lower portion of the body frame for making the body frame stand on a road surface when parking. The center stand is retractable to keep a horizontal position substantially parallel to a road surface during running. The canister is located above the center stand in its retracted condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Kuramochi, Hisafumi Shako, Hikaru Yokomura
  • Patent number: 8132559
    Abstract: A filter assembly having: an air filter; an air filter compartment having the air filter disposed therein; and a cap covering the air filter compartment. The cap has ribs disposed along inner sidewalls of the cap. The ribs, outer sidewalls of the compartment, and inner sidewalls of the cap form a plurality of channels having inlets for receiving a mixture of air and water. The walls of the channels collect droplets of a water portion of the mixture entering the channels. The collected water portion is removed from the filter assembly by gravity. The air filter compartment receives the air portion of the mixture exiting outlets of the channels. The exiting air portion received by the compartment passes through the air filter and after passing through the air filter passes out of the filter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mike Dong, Syed K Ali, Mohammad Usman, Charles Frank Bartus
  • Patent number: 8109259
    Abstract: A method for combusting a vapor of a fuel accumulated in a crankcase of an engine, the engine disposed in a vehicle having a fuel tank and an adsorbent canister coupled to the fuel tank. The method comprises flowing compressed air from a first air source through the crankcase to yield a crankcase effluent enriched in gasses leaked from the combustion chamber, which include the fuel vapor. The method further comprises combining the crankcase effluent with an effluent from the adsorbent canister, also enriched in the vapor, and, flowing the combined crankcase and adsorbent-canister effluent to an intake of the engine via a conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 8104453
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel treating apparatus and method of treating evaporated fuel, that can re-gasify adsorbed fuel within a canister and supply it to an engine, are obtained. A compressor, a first control valve, a storage container and a second control valve are provided at a supply delivery piping that communicates a canister with an engine air intake tube, in that order from the canister side. By driving the compressor, vapor within the canister is fed to the storage container, canister internal pressure is lowered, and gasification of a fuel component adsorbed by an adsorbent is promoted. Further, evaporated fuel stored in the storage container is forcibly fed to an engine by internal pressure of the storage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahide Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8105426
    Abstract: The present invention includes a canister having a housing for receiving therein an adsorption material and a heat storage material. The adsorption material can adsorb a fuel vapor. The heat storage material can absorb and dissipate a heat in response to change in temperature within the housing. The heat storage material includes a plurality of heat storage granules each having a cover layer made of an alcohol resistance material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryuji Kosugi, Masataka Suzuki, Kenji Seki
  • Publication number: 20110315125
    Abstract: An intake system is provided. The intake system including an intake manifold coupled to an engine and a vacuum port located in said intake manifold and in an air flow path downstream of a throttle body and upstream of said plurality of intake runners, the vacuum port including a molded flow disruptor including a cross-beam traversing an outlet of the vacuum port. The intake system may further include a vacuum passage coupling the vacuum port to a vehicle subsystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: John Carl Lohr
  • Publication number: 20110315126
    Abstract: In a carbon canister including a casing with first and second casing parts connected through a passage, a first type of granulated adsorbing material 14, 19 packed in the first and s second casing parts, a charge port pipe 9 connected to the first casing part, a purge port pipe 10 connected to the first casing part, an air inlet pipe 11, 34 fluidly connected to the second casing part, there is provided an additional carbon canister section CC, 32 between the air inlet pipe 11,34 and the second casing, the additional carbon canister section containing therein a second type of granulated adsorbing material 23 of which fuel vapor adsorbing/clearing ability is equal to or higher than that of the first type of granulated adsorbing material 14, 19.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Hiroyuki YOSHIDA, Takashi HASUMI
  • Patent number: 8082905
    Abstract: A tank venting device for a motor vehicle has a fuel tank, a fuel vapor accumulator for storing fuel vapors escaping from the fuel tank and a connection line, via which the fuel vapors may flow from the fuel tank into the fuel vapor accumulator. Furthermore, an overpressure line having an overpressure valve is provided, via which the fuel vapors may flow from the fuel tank into the fuel vapor accumulator when the overpressure valve is open. An attachment of the connection line on the fuel vapor accumulator and an attachment of the overpressure line on the fuel vapor accumulator are situated at different points on the fuel vapor accumulator. The operational reliability of a tank venting procedure may thus be increased and the adsorption capacity of the fuel vapor accumulator may be used better.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache
  • Publication number: 20110301823
    Abstract: A vapor recovery system for an internal combustion engine is provided, the system having a fuel tank containing fuel and vapor that is in select fluid communication with an intake of the internal combustion engine, a compressor, a condensate tank, a condensate composition sensor, and an engine control unit. The engine control unit can be configured to select a desired operating mode for the internal combustion engine and to control the supply of condensate to the intake of the internal combustion engine based on the selected desired operating mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: The Board of Trustees of the University System of Alabama
    Inventors: Marcus Demetris Ashford, Daniel Timothy Daly, Scott Kevin Spear
  • Publication number: 20110297127
    Abstract: In a vehicle that runs by drive power of a motor in addition to that of an engine, a device for treating evaporated fuel is provided that may heat a canister and improve desorption efficiency even in a state in which there is little exhaust heat from the engine. A vehicle is provided with a first battery and a second battery. A canister is disposed in front of the first battery and below the second battery. Because the canister is disposed near to the batteries, heat is transferred from the batteries to the canister and an adsorbing agent in the canister is heated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shuichi Aso
  • Publication number: 20110290203
    Abstract: A fuel pump temperature is regulated by selectively directing liquid fuel to an expansion section to evaporate the liquid fuel and create a drop in temperature to thermally cool the fuel pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Publication number: 20110247592
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a canister mounted in a vehicle to reduce the discharge of fuel gas. The canister of the present invention includes at least one pocket installed in a canister housing. The pocket divides the inner space of the canister housing into first and second spaces. A heater is inserted into the pocket from the outside of the canister housing. The heater generates heat during running of an engine to heat active carbon filled in the canister. When the active carbon is heated, fuel gas adsorbed onto the active carbon in a liquid phase is easily evaporated and supplied to the engine. The heater can significantly improve desorption efficiency of the fuel gas by the active carbon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: KOREA FUEL-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hyun KI Kim, Tae Kyu Hwang, Joon Young Choi, Yu Min Kim
  • Patent number: 8020534
    Abstract: A four-pass carbon canister includes a cover sealingly coupled to an injection-molded housing having a first chamber, a second chamber fluidly coupled to the first chamber, a baffle fluidly coupled to the second chamber, and a third chamber fluidly coupled to the baffle. The three chambers are filled with carbon pellets to absorb carbon pellets provided to the carbon canister from the fuel tank. The carbon canister is periodically purged by drawing fresh air into the carbon canister, with the fresh air desorbing the hydrocarbons and then provided to and consumed in an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jhun Lin, Mark Edward Hipp, Christopher Michael Kersman
  • Patent number: 8015965
    Abstract: A fuel vapor storage canister for adsorbing fuel vapor evaporated from a fuel tank of an automotive vehicle. The fuel vapor storage canister includes a casing provided with charge and purge ports at its first end and an atmospheric port at its second end. At least first and second fuel vapor adsorbent layers are respectively located near the first and second ends of the casing. In this arrangement, the first fuel vapor adsorbent layer is larger in cross-sectional area perpendicular to flow direction of fuel vapor than the second fuel vapor adsorbent layer. The first and second fuel vapor adsorbent layers respectively include first and second granular fuel vapor adsorbents. The first granular fuel vapor adsorbent has a microporous structure, while the second granular fuel vapor adsorbent has a macroporous structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Mahle Filter Systems Japan Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Yamasaki