EP1552134A1 - Temporary vehicle fuel vapour accumulator - Google Patents

Temporary vehicle fuel vapour accumulator

Info

Publication number
EP1552134A1
EP1552134A1 EP03772670A EP03772670A EP1552134A1 EP 1552134 A1 EP1552134 A1 EP 1552134A1 EP 03772670 A EP03772670 A EP 03772670A EP 03772670 A EP03772670 A EP 03772670A EP 1552134 A1 EP1552134 A1 EP 1552134A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
accumulator
layer
retaining
chamber
filtering
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP03772670A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1552134B1 (en
Inventor
Pietro Di Biasi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Dayco Fuel Management SpA
Original Assignee
Dayco Fuel Management SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Dayco Fuel Management SpA filed Critical Dayco Fuel Management SpA
Publication of EP1552134A1 publication Critical patent/EP1552134A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1552134B1 publication Critical patent/EP1552134B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M25/00—Engine-pertinent apparatus for adding non-fuel substances or small quantities of secondary fuel to combustion-air, main fuel or fuel-air mixture
    • F02M25/08—Engine-pertinent apparatus for adding non-fuel substances or small quantities of secondary fuel to combustion-air, main fuel or fuel-air mixture adding fuel vapours drawn from engine fuel reservoir
    • F02M25/0854—Details of the absorption canister

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a temporary vehicle fuel vapour accumulator.
  • Known canisters substantially comprise a chamber filled with adsorbent material, such as activated carbon in granules.
  • the characteristics, in particular the grain size, of the activated carbon inside must remain unchanged; for which purpose, the granules must be compacted with no possibility of relative movement.
  • the storage chamber with a movable first wall or wall portion, which is loaded by springs or by means of spongy material to exert constant pressure on the activated carbon granules; and a second wall defined by a metal grille fitted with retaining and filtering means, or so-called retaining felts, made of polyester and which should provide for effectively filtering air flow in and out of the canister, while at the same time preventing any load loss.
  • the first layer and second layer are made of polymer material.
  • Number 1 in the accompanying drawing indicates a temporary fuel vapour accumulator or canister comprising a substantially cylindrical casing 2, in turn comprising a top end wall 3; a lateral wall 4; a bottom cover 5; and a vertical inner partition wall 6 extending axially from end wall 3 along a diametrical plane of casing 2 down to a distance D from cover 5, and cooperating hermetically with lateral wall 4 of casing 2.
  • Two blanks of a retaining and filtering web material 7 are fixed parallel to and a short distance from top wall 3 against spacer pins 31 on opposite sides of partition wall 16, so as to form, with top wall 3 and partition wall 6, a first and second compartment 8 and 9 interfacing canister 1 with the outside, as explained in detail later on.
  • web material 7 is welded, e.g. hot-blade welded, to peripheral shoulders 18 projecting inwards from top end wall 3.
  • Web material 7 defines, upwards, a main chamber 10 of canister 1, which is divided by partition wall 6 into two top compartments 11, 12, and has a continuous bottom portion 13 by which compartments 11, 12 communicate.
  • Chamber 10 houses granular adsorbent material 14, such as activated carbon.
  • retaining and filtering web material 7 is a multilayer web material including a first layer 7a, preferably of polymer material, in particular polycarbonate, for ensuring the necessary rigidity of retaining and filtering web material 7; and a second layer 7b of polymer material, preferably a nonwoven fabric of polyester or polyamide, in particular aromatic polyamide (or so-called aramide) , for ensuring the necessary filtration capacity.
  • the total weight of web material 7 preferably ranges between 150 and 200 gr/sq.m, and is preferably 190 gr/sq.m, and the total thickness preferably ranges between 0.6 and 1.5 mm, is preferably about 0.9 mm, and is therefore advantageously thinner than the known web material 7 described previously, which on average are about 2.5 to 3.5 mm thick.
  • a layer 15 of elastically deformable spongy polymer material 16, in particular polyurethane foam is placed in contact with bottom cover 5; which material 16 is precompressed to compact adsorbent material 14 between retaining and filtering web material 7 and layer 15, and exert sufficient compression to ensure maximum compaction of adsorbent material 14 and prevent any relative movement of the granules .
  • the height of layer 15, in the precompressed in-use condition, is less than distance D between the bottom end of partition wall 6 and bottom cover 5, so that part of bottom portion 13 of chamber 10 is filled with a continuous layer of material 14, and defines, with top compartments 11 and 12 of chamber 10, a substantially U- shaped air and fuel vapour path connecting compartments 8 and 9 through material 14.
  • Canister 1 comprises a first fitting 20 extending through end wall 3 and retaining and filtering web material 7, and which comes out directly inside compartment 11 of chamber 10, is connected to the vehicle tank (not shown) by a pipe (not shown) , and defines the fuel vapour inlet of canister 1.
  • end wall 3 are also formed a second fitting 21 connecting compartment 8 to the atmosphere; and a third wash fitting 22 communicating with compartment 9, and which is connected to the intake manifold of the engine (not shown) via a control valve (not shown) .
  • Canister 1 is assembled by placing the blanks of retaining web material 7 on spacer pins 31, welding web material 7 to shoulders 18, filling chamber 10 with adsorbent material 14, placing layer 15 of spongy material and closing chamber 10 with cover 5.
  • Retaining web material 7 preferably provides for a 100% filtration power of less than 25 ⁇ m, and in particular of 15 ⁇ m, as compared with 40 ⁇ m to 80 ⁇ m of known web materials of the same section and made of polyester or polyamide, in particular aromatic polyamide
  • the load loss, measured at 20 cm/s, of web material 7 according to the present invention is 0.18 mbar, i.e. much less than that of known web material, which ranges roughly between 0.30 and 0.35 mbar.
  • the retaining and filtering web material employed provide for high air filtration capacity with no load loss, while at the same time providing the necessary rigidity to keep the granules of adsorbent material 14 compact, thus eliminating the drawbacks typically associated with known vapour accumulators .
  • the retaining and filtering web material are thinner and have a longer working life.
  • vapour accumulator as described herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention.
  • different materials may be used for each of the two layers defining retaining web material 7.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Supplying Secondary Fuel Or The Like To Fuel, Air Or Fuel-Air Mixtures (AREA)
  • Filtering Materials (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)
  • Valves And Accessory Devices For Braking Systems (AREA)
  • Electrical Control Of Air Or Fuel Supplied To Internal-Combustion Engine (AREA)
  • Separation Of Gases By Adsorption (AREA)

Abstract

A temporary vehicle fuel vapour accumulator having a casing (2) defining a chamber (10) containing an adsorbent material (14) in granules, preferably activated carbon; elastic means (15) for exerting compression on the adsorbent material (14); and filtering and retaining means (7) for retaining the granules inside the chamber; the filtering and retaining means comprise a multilayer web material (7) comprising a first layer (7a) of polymer material, preferably polycarbonate, for ensuring rigidity; and a second layer (7b) of polymer material, preferably nonwoven polyester or polyamide fabric, for ensuring filtration power.

Description

TEMPORARY VEHICLE FUEL VAPOUR ACCUMULATOR
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a temporary vehicle fuel vapour accumulator. BACKGROUND ART
Automotive pollution regulations require that vehicles be equipped with a temporary accumulator or so- called "canister" for storing fuel vapours produced inside the tank when parking. Known canisters substantially comprise a chamber filled with adsorbent material, such as activated carbon in granules.
To ensure constant efficiency of the canister, the characteristics, in particular the grain size, of the activated carbon inside must remain unchanged; for which purpose, the granules must be compacted with no possibility of relative movement.
This is normally done by providing the storage chamber with a movable first wall or wall portion, which is loaded by springs or by means of spongy material to exert constant pressure on the activated carbon granules; and a second wall defined by a metal grille fitted with retaining and filtering means, or so-called retaining felts, made of polyester and which should provide for effectively filtering air flow in and out of the canister, while at the same time preventing any load loss.
In actual practice, however, it is difficult to select materials capable of maintaining high filtration power with no load loss. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
It is a main object of the present invention to provide a temporary vapour accumulator comprising retaining and filtering means which provide for high filtration power with very little load loss. According to the present invention, there is therefore provided a temporary vapour accumulator, as claimed in Claim 1.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first layer and second layer are made of polymer material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a schematic axial section of a vapour accumulator in accordance with the present invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Number 1 in the accompanying drawing indicates a temporary fuel vapour accumulator or canister comprising a substantially cylindrical casing 2, in turn comprising a top end wall 3; a lateral wall 4; a bottom cover 5; and a vertical inner partition wall 6 extending axially from end wall 3 along a diametrical plane of casing 2 down to a distance D from cover 5, and cooperating hermetically with lateral wall 4 of casing 2. Two blanks of a retaining and filtering web material 7 are fixed parallel to and a short distance from top wall 3 against spacer pins 31 on opposite sides of partition wall 16, so as to form, with top wall 3 and partition wall 6, a first and second compartment 8 and 9 interfacing canister 1 with the outside, as explained in detail later on. Preferably, web material 7 is welded, e.g. hot-blade welded, to peripheral shoulders 18 projecting inwards from top end wall 3. Web material 7 defines, upwards, a main chamber 10 of canister 1, which is divided by partition wall 6 into two top compartments 11, 12, and has a continuous bottom portion 13 by which compartments 11, 12 communicate.
Chamber 10 houses granular adsorbent material 14, such as activated carbon. According to a feature of the present invention, retaining and filtering web material 7 is a multilayer web material including a first layer 7a, preferably of polymer material, in particular polycarbonate, for ensuring the necessary rigidity of retaining and filtering web material 7; and a second layer 7b of polymer material, preferably a nonwoven fabric of polyester or polyamide, in particular aromatic polyamide (or so-called aramide) , for ensuring the necessary filtration capacity. The total weight of web material 7 preferably ranges between 150 and 200 gr/sq.m, and is preferably 190 gr/sq.m, and the total thickness preferably ranges between 0.6 and 1.5 mm, is preferably about 0.9 mm, and is therefore advantageously thinner than the known web material 7 described previously, which on average are about 2.5 to 3.5 mm thick. In bottom portion 13 of chamber 10, a layer 15 of elastically deformable spongy polymer material 16, in particular polyurethane foam, is placed in contact with bottom cover 5; which material 16 is precompressed to compact adsorbent material 14 between retaining and filtering web material 7 and layer 15, and exert sufficient compression to ensure maximum compaction of adsorbent material 14 and prevent any relative movement of the granules .
The height of layer 15, in the precompressed in-use condition, is less than distance D between the bottom end of partition wall 6 and bottom cover 5, so that part of bottom portion 13 of chamber 10 is filled with a continuous layer of material 14, and defines, with top compartments 11 and 12 of chamber 10, a substantially U- shaped air and fuel vapour path connecting compartments 8 and 9 through material 14. Canister 1 comprises a first fitting 20 extending through end wall 3 and retaining and filtering web material 7, and which comes out directly inside compartment 11 of chamber 10, is connected to the vehicle tank (not shown) by a pipe (not shown) , and defines the fuel vapour inlet of canister 1. In end wall 3 are also formed a second fitting 21 connecting compartment 8 to the atmosphere; and a third wash fitting 22 communicating with compartment 9, and which is connected to the intake manifold of the engine (not shown) via a control valve (not shown) .
Operation of canister 1 when parking and washing is known and therefore not described in detail .
Canister 1 is assembled by placing the blanks of retaining web material 7 on spacer pins 31, welding web material 7 to shoulders 18, filling chamber 10 with adsorbent material 14, placing layer 15 of spongy material and closing chamber 10 with cover 5.
Retaining web material 7 preferably provides for a 100% filtration power of less than 25 μm, and in particular of 15 μm, as compared with 40 μm to 80 μm of known web materials of the same section and made of polyester or polyamide, in particular aromatic polyamide
(or so-called aramide) , felt as described above. At the same time, the load loss, measured at 20 cm/s, of web material 7 according to the present invention is 0.18 mbar, i.e. much less than that of known web material, which ranges roughly between 0.30 and 0.35 mbar.
The advantages of the vapour accumulator according to the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description.
In particular, the retaining and filtering web material employed provide for high air filtration capacity with no load loss, while at the same time providing the necessary rigidity to keep the granules of adsorbent material 14 compact, thus eliminating the drawbacks typically associated with known vapour accumulators .
Moreover, by virtue of the materials used, the retaining and filtering web material are thinner and have a longer working life.
Clearly, changes may be made to the vapour accumulator as described herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention. In particular, different materials may be used for each of the two layers defining retaining web material 7.

Claims

1) A temporary vehicle fuel vapour accumulator comprising a casing (2) defining a chamber (10) containing an adsorbent material (14) in granules; elastic means (15) for exerting compression on said adsorbent material (14) ; and filtering and retaining means (7) for retaining said granules inside said chamber; characterized in that said filtering and retaining means comprise a multilayer web material (7) comprising a first layer (7a) for ensuring rigidity, and a second layer (7b) for ensuring filtration power.
2) An accumulator as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the total thickness of said web material (7) is less than 1.5 mm.
3) An accumulator as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that said first layer (7a) and said second layer (7b) are made of polymer material.
4 ) An accumulator as claimed in Claim 3 , characterized in that said first layer (7a) is made of polycarbonate .
5) An accumulator as claimed in Claim 3 or 4 , characterized in that said second layer (7b) is made of nonwoven fabric . 6) An accumulator as claimed in Claim 5, characterized in that said nonwoven fabric is made of polyester .
7) An accumulator as claimed in Claim 5, characterized in that said nonwoven fabric is made of polyamide . 8) An accumulator as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized by having a 100% filtration power of less than 20 μm.
9) An accumulator as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized by having a load loss at 20 cm/s of less than 0.25 mbar.
10) An accumulator as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized by comprising elastic means (15) exerting compression on said adsorbent material (14) and defined by a layer of spongy polymer material (16) .
11) An accumulator as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized in that said adsorbent material (14) is activated carbon.
EP03772670A 2002-10-17 2003-10-16 Temporary vehicle fuel vapour accumulator Expired - Lifetime EP1552134B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT000906A ITTO20020906A1 (en) 2002-10-17 2002-10-17 TEMPORARY FUEL VAPOR ACCUMULATOR FOR A VEHICLE.
ITTO20020906 2002-10-17
PCT/IT2003/000637 WO2004036024A1 (en) 2002-10-17 2003-10-16 Temporary vehicle fuel vapour accumulator

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1552134A1 true EP1552134A1 (en) 2005-07-13
EP1552134B1 EP1552134B1 (en) 2006-04-26

Family

ID=32104801

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03772670A Expired - Lifetime EP1552134B1 (en) 2002-10-17 2003-10-16 Temporary vehicle fuel vapour accumulator

Country Status (8)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1552134B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE324521T1 (en)
AU (1) AU2003279561A1 (en)
BR (1) BR0314888A (en)
DE (1) DE60304886T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2260667T3 (en)
IT (1) ITTO20020906A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2004036024A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102010055320A1 (en) * 2010-12-21 2012-06-21 Audi Ag Fuel system

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3158266B2 (en) * 1994-06-15 2001-04-23 株式会社テネックス Steam fuel processing equipment
FR2744036B1 (en) * 1996-01-26 1998-05-15 Filtrauto ADSORBER FILTER FOR FUEL VAPORS
JP3995881B2 (en) * 1999-12-28 2007-10-24 株式会社マーレ フィルターシステムズ Canister for evaporative fuel treatment

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2004036024A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE60304886T2 (en) 2006-10-12
DE60304886D1 (en) 2006-06-01
ES2260667T3 (en) 2006-11-01
EP1552134B1 (en) 2006-04-26
AU2003279561A1 (en) 2004-05-04
ATE324521T1 (en) 2006-05-15
BR0314888A (en) 2005-08-02
ITTO20020906A1 (en) 2004-04-18
WO2004036024A1 (en) 2004-04-29

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