Gasoline Sorbed Patents (Class 95/146)
  • Patent number: 7827972
    Abstract: An adsorption/desorption device is communicated with an upper space of a fuel tank via a vapor passage. The adsorption/desorption device is configured to selectively adsorb or desorb air components contained in vapor. The adsorption/desorption device and the vapor passage are not communicated to the external atmosphere. The fuel tank is provided with a pressure detecting device for detecting the internal pressure of the fuel tank. A pressure regulating device is provided to the vapor passage for controlling and maintaining the pressure applied to the adsorption/desorption device. When the internal pressure of the fuel tank is higher than the atmospheric pressure, the internal pressure of the fuel tank is pressure-fed to the side of the adsorption/desorption device via the pressure regulating device until the internal pressure of the fuel tank becomes in equilibrium with the atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Makino
  • Publication number: 20100212496
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an adsorbent suitable as an adsorbent for a canister which is capable of reducing an amount of evaporated fuel gas released into the atmosphere even where a motor vehicle is allowed to park for a prolonged period of time, a process for producing the adsorbent as well as a canister using the adsorbent and a method for using the canister. The above object can be accomplished by an adsorbent in which an integrated volume of pores having an average diameter of 3,000 to 100,000 nm as measured with a mercury porosimeter is 6.5 mL/dl or more and an equilibrium adsorption as measured in an n-butane volume concentration of 2,000 ppm is 0.16 g/dL or more, a process for producing the adsorbent, as well as a canister and a method for using the canister.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: Kuraray Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Hanamoto, Susumu Abe, Kenichi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7727310
    Abstract: A system is configured to remove volatile organic compounds from a container. The system includes a vapor capture medium that is provided in a containment, and a particulatizer. The particulatizer is positioned to (i) receive volatile organic compounds that are removed from the container in a vapor flow, and (ii) introduce the volatile organic compounds into the vapor capture medium as micro-sized particles. The vapor capture medium is in liquid form and has a composition that is inherently attracted to bond with at least some of the volatile organic compounds that are removed from the container in the vapor flow, so that the vapor capture medium captures at least some of the micro-sized particles of volatile organic compounds that are introduced through the particulatizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Nanovapor Fuels Group, Inc
    Inventor: Elliott Moorhead
  • Patent number: 7677226
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of an improved hydrocarbon adsorbent coating for the treatment of evaporative emissions from a motor vehicle. More specifically, one or more hydrocarbon adsorbents, in accordance with the present invention, can be coated to any surface area of an air intake system to trap hydrocarbon vapors before they can escape to the atmosphere, through said air intake system. In another embodiment, one or more hydrocarbon adsorbents can be incorporated in the air filter of an air intake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: BASF Catalysts LLC
    Inventors: Mark Thomas Buelow, Jeffrey Barmont Hoke, John Joseph Steger
  • Patent number: 7670411
    Abstract: An air-cleaner includes a housing attached to an induction system of an internal combustion engine. The air-cleaner includes a filter element located within the housing and separating the internal of the housing into a dust side and clean side, the dust side having an introduction portion for introducing an external air into the housing, the clean side having a feeder portion for feeding a filtered air to an engine. The air-cleaner includes a plate-shaped adsorption element including an adsorbent to adsorb a vaporized fuel returned from an engine side and permitting an air to pass therethrough, the adsorption element arranged to cross the direction of an air flow and fitted to occupy the entire surface of the clean side in the housing. The adsorption element defines a port connecting the filter element and the feeder portion, and includes a valve disc to open or close the port. The valve disc is controlled to open during air inspiration for permitting an air to flow toward the feeder portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Toyo Roki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hayato Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7655064
    Abstract: A particulate matter-removing filter being resistant to clogging and ash blocking, requiring no special means such as back-washing and heating combustion, and being formed of inexpensive materials; and exhaust emission controlling method and device using this. (1) A particulate-matter-containing exhaust emission controlling filter which uses as a basic unit a pair of porous corrugated sheet and a porous flat sheet that support an exhaust emission controlling catalyst, has a molding formed by laminating the porous corrugated sheets so that their ridge lines alternately cross perpendicularly, has one of side surfaces, perpendicularly crossing the corrugated sheet ridge lines, of the molding or mutually-adjoining two surfaces that are the perpendicularly-crossing side surfaces sealed, and has exhaust gas in-flow passage and out-flow passage respectively formed between porous corrugated sheets via a porous flat sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Babcock-Hitachi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuyoshi Kato, Takashi Michimoto, Eiji Miyamoto, Naomi Imada, Masatochi Fujisawa, Kazuki Kobayashi, Hiroshi Ishizaka, Takeshi Hirota
  • Patent number: 7618479
    Abstract: An adsorption element for adsorbing gases and vapors from the gas atmosphere in a gas stream in an intake tract of an internal combustion engine, in which the gas atmosphere is present in a flow cross section of the intake tract. The adsorption element has free-flow channels through which the gas stream is passed. The adsorption element includes at least one adsorption layer, and the free-flow channels are formed by at least one spacer element, and the spacer element is arranged between adsorption layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventor: Jens Sohnemann
  • Patent number: 7604691
    Abstract: The invention relates to an adsorption filter for fuel vapors, particularly from the fuel tank of a combustion engine of a motor vehicle, which can be regenerated by desorptive reverse flow back flushing and which interacts with heat accumulating substances via the adsorbable or desorbable filter material. The aim of the invention is to increase the heat accumulability inside the filter material. To this end, the heat accumulating substances consist of phase-change materials (PCM) that are distributed in small units within the reactive filter material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Mable Filtersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Reiners, Hagen Zelssmann
  • Patent number: 7597745
    Abstract: A porous filter medium forms a filter or liner for extracting hydrocarbons from vapors emitted from a motorized vehicle, device or appliance fuel tank. The filter medium is a polymer network of a foam, nonwoven or collection of particles and has fine pore size and a butane working capacity (W/W %) of 4.0 percent or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Foamex Innovations Operating Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey I. Lebowitz, Joseph W. Lovette, Chiu Y. Chan
  • Patent number: 7491258
    Abstract: A gas and liquid separation device for use with a fuel tank. The separation device includes a body having at least one passage therethrough in fluid communication with the fuel tank, and a gas and liquid separator carried by the body in fluid communication with the at least one passage and being oriented at an angle with respect to horizontal when in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: TI Automotive Fuel Systems SAS
    Inventors: Christophe Gouzou, Eric Renard, Humbert de Monts de Savasse
  • Publication number: 20090031898
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon adsorption unit for recovery of volatile hydrocarbons which emanate from several sources and which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere through the air cleaner of an automobile engine when the engine is shut-off. The unit is positioned in the air intake system such that all air flowing through the engine passes through the unit. The unit comprises a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet. The housing contains a substrate and a volatile hydrocarbon adsorber material coated on the surface of the substrate. The adsorber material may be silica gel, a molecular sieve and/or activated carbon. The material further contains a binder that will cause the material to adhere to the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: BASF Catalysts LLC
    Inventors: John S. Foong, Jeffrey Hoke
  • Patent number: 7326275
    Abstract: A flow-through carbon adsorption device is provided with leads for imposing an electric current and with a temperature sensor at the desorption flow exit. The temperature sensor and electric current source are controlled by a controller. In adsorption mode, no current flows through the device. Hydrocarbons are adsorbed in the device before reaching atmosphere. In desorption mode, the temperature sensor and electric source are activated by the controller. Electric energy is converted to heat energy within the device. Air is drawn in reverse flow through the device. Because desorption is endothermic, the carbon bed becomes progressively cooler during desorption. When desorption is complete, the temperature of the device begins to rise and the controller shuts down the temperature probe and the electric heating system. Thus, full desorption of the device is assured without significant waste of electricity or compromise of subsequent adsorptive capacity of the device after desorption is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Chris C. Begley
  • Patent number: 7311088
    Abstract: An emission control module (14) includes a housing (52) that includes an atmospheric air opening (102) and a vapor emission inlet (104) for communication with a vapor region (32) of a fuel reservoir (16). A hydrocarbon filter (56) is disposed between the atmospheric air opening (102) and the vapor emission inlet (104) to passively filter vapor emissions within the vapor region (32). The housing (52) is configured for purging of the hydrocarbon filter (56) due to a low-pressure draw from the vapor emission inlet (104).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Miniature Precision Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas John Callahan, Brent J. Ertl, Juris J. Pruzinskis, Michael P. Farrey, Hans Bishop
  • Patent number: 7182802
    Abstract: An evaporative emissions filter for an engine air induction system. The evaporative emissions filter includes a hydrocarbon vapor-adsorbent member disposed within the air induction system. A mechanism is provided for mounting the evaporative emissions filter within the air induction system. Hydrocarbon vapors present in the air induction system after engine shut-down are substantially retained in the adsorbent member until air flows through the air induction system after the engine starts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel E. Bause, Ronald P. Rohrbach, Richard J. Berkey, Bryon W. Stremler, Robert L. Smith, Peter D. Unger, Gary B. Zulauf
  • Patent number: 7179382
    Abstract: A method for avoidance of attrited carbon dust is disclosed to lead to improved canister performance in emission control. Product attrition by dusting of granular and shaped activated carbons is disclosed to be reduced significantly, or essentially eliminated, by the application of a thin, continuous polymer coating on the granular or shaped activated carbon, without a reduction in adsorption velocity or capacity of the activated carbon when used in automotive emission control canisters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: MeadWestvaco Corporation
    Inventors: Laurence H. Hiltzik, Edward D. Tolles, David R. B. Walker
  • Patent number: 7022158
    Abstract: An adsorbent article having a base body or matrix onto which is applied an adsorptive coating. The body or matrix can be a honeycomb matrix or structure having a plurality of cells defining a plurality of passages extending through the body. The adsorptive coating comprises an adsorptive media, such as activated carbon or ion exchange resin, that is bound by a polymeric adhesive or resin. The adsorbent article has a minimal pressure loss therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin John Seguin, Steven Alan Carter, Andrew James Dallas, Lefei Ding, Brian Nghia Hoang, Jon Dennis Joriman
  • Patent number: 7021296
    Abstract: An evaporative emission control system for a vehicle comprises a scrubber containing an activated carbon fiber material selected to adsorb butane and/or pentane isomer vapors in low concentrations in air passing through the scrubber and to desorb the adsorbed butane and/or pentane isomers without being heated. A method for reducing bleed emission to below about 3 mg per day uses the scrubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Sam R. Reddy
  • Patent number: 6878185
    Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a method and a device for the separation of fuel-vapor/air mixtures into their components, in particular for purification of vapor mixtures, such as occur in fuel tanks of motor vehicles. A preseparator is arranged between the fuel tank and the filter. In the preseparator, the hydrocarbons are separated from the mixture and are supplied to the fuel tank again. The remaining mixture is supplied to the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Fühling, Knut Meyer, Martin Nockemann
  • Patent number: 6866699
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for the adsorption of organic vapours from gas mixtures containing them onto activated carbon, where the process comprises passing the gas mixture consecutively through at least a first and a second adsorption system, the first system consisting of activated carbon having a first adsorption rate for the organic vapours and the second system consisting of an adsorbent having a second adsorption rate for the organic vapours, the second adsorption rate being higher than the first adsorption rate, more in particular to such process when used in the operation of vehicle internal combustion engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Norit Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: James Duff MacDowall, Dirk van de Kleut, Michiel Trijnisse Kleij
  • Publication number: 20040226440
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon adsorption unit for recovery of volatile hydrocarbons which emanate from several sources and which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere through the air cleaner of an automobile engine when the engine is shut-off. The unit is positioned in the air intake system such that all air flowing through the engine passes through the unit. The unit comprises a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet. The housing contains a substrate and a volatile hydrocarbon adsorber material coated on the surface of the substrate. The adsorber material may be silica gel, a molecular sieve and/or activated carbon. The material further contains a binder that will cause the material to adhere to the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Applicant: ENGELHARD CORPORATION
    Inventors: John S. Foong, Jeffrey B. Hoke
  • Publication number: 20040182240
    Abstract: An evaporative emissions filter for an engine air induction system. The evaporative emissions filter includes a hydrocarbon vapor-adsorbent member disposed within the air induction system. A mechanism is provided for mounting the evaporative emissions filter within the air induction system. Hydrocarbon vapors present in the air induction system after engine shut-down are substantially retained in the adsorbent member until air flows through the air induction system after the engine starts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventors: Daniel E. Bause, Ronald P. Rohrbach, Richard J. Berkey, Bryon W. Stremler, Robert L. Smith, Peter D. Unger
  • Publication number: 20040050252
    Abstract: An air cleaner assembly for an internal combustion engine and process for eliminating fuel emissions from passing into the atmosphere. The air cleaner assembly includes a housing comprising a filter element situated therein, an outlet, and an inlet; and an adsorber panel disposed within the housing, wherein the adsorber panel comprises a pollutant treating material and a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Lee S. Wernholm, Gordon J. Rutland
  • Patent number: 6692551
    Abstract: An air cleaner assembly for an internal combustion engine and process for eliminating fuel emissions from passing into the atmosphere. The air cleaner assembly includes a housing including a filter element situated therein, an outlet for allowing filtered air to flow to the engine, and an inlet conduit extending from the housing for permitting the entry of air into the housing. A retainer is coupled to the inlet conduit. The retainer includes an adsorber member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee S. Wernholm, Paul C. Hunault, Corrado F. Biazzo
  • Publication number: 20040011197
    Abstract: An air cleaner assembly for an internal combustion engine and process for eliminating fuel emissions from passing into the atmosphere. The air cleaner assembly includes a housing including a filter element situated therein, an outlet for allowing filtered air to flow to the engine, and an inlet conduit extending from the housing for permitting the entry of air into the housing. A retainer is coupled to the inlet conduit. The retainer includes an adsorber member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Lee S. Wernholm, Paul C. Hunault, Corrado F. Biazzo
  • Patent number: 6669916
    Abstract: Disclosed are a carbon dioxide purification process and apparatus including (i) an adsorbing step for removing a predetermined amount of hydrocarbons from a carbon dioxide feed gas to reduce the caloric value of the feed stream, and (ii) a catalytic oxidation step located downstream of the adsorbing step for removing residual hydrocarbons from the feed gas by catalytic oxidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Joseph Heim, Amitabh Gupta
  • Patent number: 6645271
    Abstract: An adsorbent article having a base body or matrix onto which is applied an adsorptive coating. The body or matrix can be a honeycomb matrix or structure having a plurality of cells defining a plurality of passages extending through the body. The adsorptive coating comprises an adsorptive media, such as activated carbon or ion exchange resin, that is bound by a polymeric adhesive or resin. The adsorbent article has a minimal pressure loss therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin John Seguin, Steven Alan Carter, Andrew James Dallas, Lefei Ding, Brian Nghia Hoang, Jon Dennis Joriman
  • Publication number: 20030145728
    Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a method and a device for the separation of fuel-vapor/air mixtures into their components, in particular for purification of vapor mixtures, such as occur in fuel tanks of motor vehicles. For this purpose, a preseparator is arranged between the fuel tank and the filter. In said preseparator, the hydrocarbons are separated from the mixture and are supplied to the fuel tank again. The remaining mixture is supplied to the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: Stefan Fuhling, Knut Meyer, Martin Nockemann
  • Patent number: 6540815
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for sharply reducing diurnal breathing loss emissions from automotive evaporative emissions control systems by providing multiple layers, or stages, of adsorbents. On the fuel source-side of an emissions control system canister, high working capacity carbons are preferred in a first canister (adsorb) region. In subsequent canister region(s) on the vent-side, the preferred adsorbent should exhibit a flat or flattened adsorption isotherm on a volumetric basis and relatively lower capacity for high concentration vapors as compared with the fuel source-side adsorbent. Multiple approaches are described for attaining the preferred properties for the vent-side canister region. One approach is to use a filler and/or voidages as a volumetric diluent for flattening an adsorption isotherm. Another approach is to employ an adsorbent with the desired adsorption isotherm properties and to process it into an appropriate shape or form without necessarily requiring any special provision for dilution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: MeadWestvaco Corporation
    Inventors: Laurence H. Hiltzik, Jacek Z. Jagiello, Edward D. Tolles, Roger S. Williams
  • Publication number: 20030041733
    Abstract: An adsorbent article having a base body or matrix onto which is applied an adsorptive coating. The body or matrix can be a honeycomb matrix or structure having a plurality of cells defining a plurality of passages extending through the body. The adsorptive coating comprises an adsorptive media, such as activated carbon or ion exchange resin, that is bound by a polymeric adhesive or resin. The adsorbent article has a minimal pressure loss therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Kevin John Seguin, Steven Alan Carter, Andrew James Dallas, Lefei Ding, Brian Nghia Hoang, Jon Dennis Joriman
  • Patent number: 6478849
    Abstract: A vapor recovery system for a fuel storage tank. The system includes a pair of VOC adsorbent canisters that alternately recover VOC vapors from the fuel tank ullage or are regenerated. Regeneration of the VOC adsorbent canisters is provided by exhausting the VOC vapors from the VOC canisters using a vacuum pump and back into the fuel tank ullage. When the operating pressure of the fuel tank ullage is elevated, an auxiliary VOC adsorbent canister is operated in parallel with the pair of canisters in order to recover the increased amount of VOC vapors in the tank ullage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignees: Dresser, Inc., Nitrotec Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Ken W. Taylor, Robert G. McKinney, Herbert E. Reinhold
  • Patent number: 6413484
    Abstract: A combustion system includes a catalytic oxidizer for oxidizing a mixture of air and fuel vapor. The amount of air provided for mixing with the fuel vapors is determined in accordance with the temperature of the oxidation reaction as measured by a temperature sensor. Controlling the dilution level in this manner provides an efficient vent processing design. The system is used to process vapor emissions emanating from a vehicle fuel tank during refueling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Tokheim Corporation
    Inventor: Wolfgang H. Koch
  • Patent number: 6066192
    Abstract: A method of treating a gaseous hydrocarbon contained in waste gas by using adsorbent layers of single-tower or multi-tower configuration is characterized in that (1) double-cylinder type or multi-cylinder type adsorption apparatus, in which each adsorbent layer is indirectly cooled by cooling water, are employed as adsorption apparatus; (2) each adsorbent layer is a packed layer of one or more kinds of materials selected from activated carbon, synthetic zeolites and hydrophobic silica gel; (3) swing time required for switching between adsorption and desorption processes is set to 1 to 15 minutes; (4) each adsorbent layer is evacuated under vacuum while being purged by using part of clean gas evacuated from each adsorbent layer and/or air in the desorption process; and (5) the gaseous hydrocarbon is recovered from outflow purge gas. This method makes it possible to prevent abnormal temperature increase within each adsorbent layer and enhance the safety of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignees: Cosmo Engineering Co., Ltd., Idemitsu Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kawai Toshinaga, Tahara Hiroshi, Suzuki Kenithirou
  • Patent number: 5951741
    Abstract: An improved process and apparatus are provided for recovering hydrocarbons from an intermittent or continuous inlet air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture. The air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture is caused to flow through a bed of solid adsorbent whereby hydrocarbons are removed therefrom and a residue gas stream of substantially hydrocarbon-free air is produced. The substantially hydrocarbon-free air is vented into the atmosphere and a second bed of solid adsorbent having hydrocarbons previously adsorbed thereon is regenerated by evacuation. As long as the concentration of hydrocarbons contained in the vented air is below a predetermined concentration, the inlet air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture is caused to continue to flow through the first bed of adsorbent. After the second bed of adsorbent is regenerated, the pumping and evacuation of the second bed is shut down and not restarted so long as the monitored concentration of hydrocarbons is below the predetermined concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: John Zink Company
    Inventors: Randall F. Dahl, Scott J. Fox, Devin E. Greenfield, Thomas M. Steiner
  • Patent number: 5914457
    Abstract: An antidiffusion layer is provided between a first fuel adsorption layer communicated with a fuel tank and a second fuel adsorption layer communicated with air. Since adsorbing ability of the antidiffusion layer is lower than that of the first and second fuel adsorption layers, pore diffusion of the fuel vapor from the first fuel adsorption layer to the second fuel adsorption layer is reduced. Since the antidiffusion layer forms a plurality of nonlinear passages, air diffusion of the fuel vapor is reduced. Therefore, the diffusion of the fuel vapor is suppressed with a thin, small and simple antidiffusion layer, and the canister can be simplified and the reduction of the number of parts and the cost thereof can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Itakura, Naoya Kato, Tohru Yoshinaga, Tokio Kohama, Kazuto Maeda
  • Patent number: 5861050
    Abstract: Described are preferred vapor recovery canisters which are useful in on-board vehicle fuel vapor recovery systems. The preferred canisters incorporate thermal management of solid adsorbent with phase change materials to improve both adsorptive and desorptive capacity of the canisters. Also described are preferred encapsulation members for use in the vapor recovery canisters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Store Heat and Produce Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Pittel, Alexander P. Rafalovich, John D. Cathcart
  • Patent number: 5837036
    Abstract: A process in which a gas containing ozone and an organic substance is brought into contact with an ozone-binding polymer to remove the ozone and activated carbon to remove the organic substance. The process preferably makes use of a filter containing an ozone-binding polymer and activated carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Ticona GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Schleicher, Jorg Von Eysmondt, Georg Frank
  • Patent number: 5755854
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling the pressure in a fuel tank ullage. The apparatus includes a vapor pump which withdraws vapors from the tank ullage responsive to a signal generated by a pressure sensor in communication with the ullage. The vapors are directed to a canister containing a VOC-adsorbent material where the VOC content of the vapor is removed. Non-polluting VOC-free air is vented from the canister to the atmosphere. The invention also contemplates the provision of a second canister which would accept the tank ullage vapors after the material in a first canister becomes saturated. A portion of the VOC-free air exiting the first canister is used a purge gas to regenerate the saturated material in the first canister. The operation of the multiple canisters would alternate between adsorption and regeneration until the tank ullage pressure is reduced to below a threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.
    Inventor: Seifollah S. Nanaji
  • Patent number: 5658369
    Abstract: A method for the collection and subsequent regeneration of substances exhausted through a vacuum pump. In a first phase, an exhaust stream from the pump to an adsorption bed in which one or more components of the stream are adsorbed. In a second phase, adsorbed component(s) are regenerated from the bed by connecting the bed to the inlet side of the vacuum pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: The BOC Group plc
    Inventor: Roland Gregor Paul Kusay
  • Patent number: 5653788
    Abstract: A canister in which a supplying conduit is disposed at a position to penetrate through layers of an absorbent, includes a casing made of resin which includes a peripheral wall and a bottom integrally formed on the lower surface of the peripheral wall, and is opened at the top, a conduit support portion formed on the inner surface of the bottom, the supplying conduit secured in the conduit support portion and extended upright, and a top cover made of resin which is welded on an upper end portion of the casing. A purge port is attached to the top cover and has a recess into which the supplying conduit is inserted. The supplying conduit is dimensioned so that it creates a circumferential gap between the recess and the upper portion of the supplying conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazumi Haruta
  • Patent number: 5599384
    Abstract: A fuel vapor treatment device adapted to prevent evaporative emission from an automotive vehicle has a casing formed of a plastic and defines therein a space filled with a fuel vapor absorbent. An end wall is sealingly connected to a first end of the casing and provided with a first pipe through which fuel vapor is charged to the space, and a second pipe through which the fuel vapor within the space is purged. A cover plate is sealingly connected to a second end of the casing. A partition member is integral with the casing and disposed within the space of the casing to define first and second chambers. The partition member includes first and second partition walls that are parallel with each other and form a predetermined space therebetween. The partition member further includes a first lateral wall to connect first ends of the respective first and second partition walls, and a second lateral wall to connect second ends of the respective first and second partition walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Tsuchiya Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yoshida, Masashi Uchino, Yuzi Chino
  • Patent number: 5595586
    Abstract: A method for separating volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as trichloroethylene, from air by sorption followed by desorption of the VOCs. The VOCs from the contaminated ground water are air stripped and then sorbed on a sorbent, such as a polyester elastomer or carbon filled rubber. The VOCs are then desorbed by, for example, heating the sorbent, to recover the VOCs. The recovered VOCs may be incinerated or reused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Timothy M. Sivavec
  • Patent number: 5587084
    Abstract: An quaternary phosphonium ion-exchanged clay and method of removing organic contaminants from air and/or water, by contacting the contaminants in the air or water with a quaternary phosphonium organo-clay. The clay is prepared by ion-exchange of an ion-exchangeable clay with (a) tetra-short chain alkyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4) quaternary phosphonium ion or (b) a di- or tri-short chain alkyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4) quaternary phosphonium ion having 1 or 2 mono-substituted or unsubstituted cycloakyl moieties, or one or two alkaryl moieties for removing air-laden and water-laden organic contaminants. The new organo-clays and methods are particularly adapted for removal of aromatic petroleum-based contaminants from water, such as benzene; alkyl-benzenes, such as toluene; xylenes (o-, m- and p-isomers); and chlorinated 1 and 2 carbon compounds, such as CCl.sub.4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Board of Trustees operating Michigan State University
    Inventors: Stephen A. Boyd, Ravi Kukkadapu
  • Patent number: 5562757
    Abstract: Fuel vapors leaving the fuel tank of a motor vehicle are recovered with a filter cartridge inserted between the tank and the intake manifold of the engine. An atmospheric connection duct of the cartridge can be selectively connected to the intake partial vacuum with a pneumatic distributor. The leaktightness of the device is thereby tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive S.A.
    Inventors: Francois Brun, Francis Tarroux
  • Patent number: 5540757
    Abstract: A method is described for the preconditioning of an adsorbent, such as activated carbon, prior to charging the adsorbent into a reaction vessel of a vapor recovery system. The method includes the steps of (1) treating the adsorbent in order to establish in the adsorbent a residual heel of vapor of the type to be subsequently adsorbed in vapor recovery processing and (2) adding the treated and, therefore, preconditioned adsorbent to the reaction vessel of the vapor recovery system. In this way vapor recovery system downtime is significantly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Jordan Holding Company
    Inventor: John F. Jordan, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5538543
    Abstract: A fuel vapor capturing canister includes a casing formed into the shape of a cylinder and accommodating an adsorbent material and a plurality of partition plates each formed of an impermeable material. The adsorbent material accommodated in the casing has one of two faces communicating with the atmosphere and the other face communicating both with a fuel storage system and an intake system of an engine. The partition plates are disposed in the casing so as to divide the adsorbent material into a plurality of layers. The partition plates has respective communicating holes formed so as not to lie one above another. This arrangement of the partition plates lengthens a path of fuel vapor passing through the activated carbon layers. Since the distance of flow of the fuel vapor in contact with the adsorbent material is thus increased, the fuel component adsorbing efficiency can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignees: Toyo Roki Seizo Kabushikikaisha, Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Watanabe, Hiroaki Mihara, Kouichi Ikuma, Takenori Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5538542
    Abstract: A fuel vapor capturing canister includes a casing formed into the shape of a cylinder and accommodating an adsorbent material. A partition member divides the activated carbon into lower and upper layers. The partition member includes a cross rib and upper and lower walls sandwiching the rib. One of four pieces of the cross rib is connected to the inner peripheral wall of the partition member. Two chambers located at both sides of the piece connected to the inner peripheral wall of the partition member communicate with each other through a communicating path defined between the other pieces of the rib and the inner peripheral wall of the partition member. One of the two chambers has in its underside openings communicating with the lower activated carbon layer while the other chamber has in its top openings communicating with the upper activated carbon layer. The fuel vapor flows between the two layers of activated carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignees: Toyo Roki Seizo Kabushikikaisha, Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Watanabe, Hiroaki Mihara, Kouichi Ikuma, Takenori Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5395428
    Abstract: An adsorption filter to prevent the emission of hydrocarbons from the tanks of motor vehicles comprises a highly air-permeable, substantially stable, three-dimensional bearer structure of wires, monofilaments or webs to which is secured a layer of granular, especially bead-structured adsorbent particles with a diameter of 0.1 to 1 mm, whereby the size of the micropores of the adsorbent is reduced in the direction of flow of the hydrocarbons emitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Inventors: Hasso von Blucher, Ernest De Ruiter
  • Patent number: 5393329
    Abstract: A fuel-sorbing device excellent in sorbing evaporated fuel includes a sorbent of layered porous silica for capturing evaporated fuel and a container which houses the sorbent and into which the evaporated fuel is introduced. The layered porous silica is composed of a plurality of superposed sheets made of a framework of SiO.sub.2. Adjacent sheets are partly bonded each other to form a three-dimensional framework having a large number of pores. The sorbent can be used in combination with an organic polymer sorbent, so as to sorb evaporated fuel in two stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Shinji Inagaki, Yoshiaki Fukushima, Takashi Ohta, Akane Okada
  • Patent number: 5348929
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a fuel absorbent, which comprises the steps of: dissolving an organic polymer having a function of trapping fuel in a solvent to produce a polymer solution; adding a crosslinking agent to said polymer solution to allow said organic polymer to react in the presence of said crosslinking agent; and collecting, after the completion of the crosslinking reaction, the resultant fine polymer gel particles.The invention also relates to a porous fuel absorbent produced by the above process comprised of fine cross-linked organic polymer formed into particles. The above fuel absorbent along with coatings and a carrier may be used to control fuel evaporation loss in automobile canisters or boiler fuel tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ito, Koji Sasaki, Tadaoki Okumoto, Takashi Ohta, Mitsumasa Matsushita, Norio Sato
  • Patent number: RE38844
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for sharply reducing diurnal breathing loss emissions from automotive evaporative emissions control systems by providing multiple layers, or stages, of adsorbents. On the fuel source-side of an emissions control system canister, high working capacity carbons are preferred in a first canister (adsorb) region. In subsequent canister region(s) on the vent-side, the preferred adsorbent should exhibit a flat or flattened adsorption isotherm on a volumetric basis and relatively lower capacity for high concentration vapors as compared with the fuel source-side adsorbent. Multiple approaches are described for attaining the preferred properties for the vent-side canister region. One approach is to use a filler and/or voidages as a volumetric diluent for flattening an adsorption isotherm. Another approach is to employ an adsorbent with the desired adsorption isotherm properties and to process it into an appropriate shape or form without necessarily requiring any special provision for dilution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: MeadWestvaco Corporation
    Inventors: Laurence H. Hiltzik, Jacek Z. Jaqiello, Edward Don Tolles, Roger S. Williams