WO1998051397A1

WO1998051397A1 - Fuel vapor recovery canister utilizing activated carbon textile

Info

Publication number: WO1998051397A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/009832
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brian Mcmahon; Tim Munro May
Original assignee: Form Rite Corp.
Priority date: 1997-05-15
Filing date: 1998-05-14
Publication date: 1998-11-19
Also published as: AU7486598A

Abstract

A fuel vapor recovery canister (20) generally comprises the first (22) and second (24) chambers partially separated by a partition (26) extending downward from an upper end (27) of the canister (20). An inlet port (28) and outlet port (30) lead into the first (22) and second (24) chambers respectively. An activated carbon textile (40), such as activated carbon felt, is disposed within the first (22) and second chambers (24) in the canister (20). The activated carbon textile (40) is formed as a sheet and cut into segments which are inserted into the first (22) and second (24) chambers.

Description

FUEL VAPOR RECOVERY CANISTER UTILIZING ACTIVATED CARBON TEXTILE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Environmental regulations require fuel vapor from vehicles to be captured, or recovered, rather than released into the environment. Current fuel vapor systems for vehicles include canisters containing activated carbon granules. The activated carbon granules in the canister adsorb fuel vapors from the vehicle fuel system which would otherwise escape into the atmosphere. Periodically, the canister is "purged" by directing air rapidly through the canister, carrying away the adsorbed fuel vapors which are then consumed in the engine.

Locating the canisters in the vehicle has presented packaging problems. Generally, useful carbon canisters are sized between 750 milliliters to 1000 milliliters or even larger. In systems for recovering fuel vapors emitted during refueling, up to 4 liters of activated carbon granules are required. This presents problems in locating and packaging the activated carbon granules in the vehicle, which may have limited available space. Further, vehicle manufacturers would like to have a "universal" canister that can be used in many different vehicle styles. The relatively large size of the canisters and different space conformity challenges in each vehicle style have made this goal difficult to achieve.

A felt material containing activated carbon fiber has been developed. However, this material has not been adapted for use in fuel vapor recovery systems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved fuel vapor recovery canister utilizing an activated carbon textile, such as felt, for improved adsorbency of hydrocarbons. The activated carbon textile is preferably formed from a sheet of activated carbon textile. The sheet is cut into segments and inserted into chambers in the canister. An open cell media is then placed adjacent the activated carbon textile.

It is anticipated that the activated carbon textile will provide increased hydrocarbon adsorbency than activated carbon granules previously used. As a result, the canister can be made smaller. Further, it is expected that the activated carbon textile will be able to be used in canister having complex shapes and contours, thus providing more alternative for locating the canisters in vehicles. The activated carbon textile is also anticipated to have a longer life performance cycle then activated carbon granules.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above, as well as other advantages of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the fuel vapor recovery canister of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to Figure 1, a fuel vapor recovery canister 20 according to the present invention generally comprises a first chamber 22 and a second chamber 24 partially separated by a partition 26 extending downward from an upper end 27 of the canister 20. An inlet port 28 at the first end 27 leads into the first chamber 22. An outlet port 30 at the first end 27 leads out of the second chamber 24. Open cell media 34, such as is typically utilized in known carbon canisters, is disposed adjacent the first end 27 in each chamber 22, 24 adjacent each port 28, 30 respectively. Additional open cell media 36 is also disposed adjacent a bottom wall 38 of the canister 20 opposite the first end 27.

Segments of an activated carbon textile 40 are formed from a sheet of activated carbon textile 40, preferably between approximately 1/2 to approximately 2 inches thick. Special usage or advances in the art may dictate or enable other thickness limitations. The activated carbon textile 40 may comprise felt, cloth, mesh or other material impregnated with activated carbon or activated carbon fibers formed into a felt-like material. A suitable activated carbon textile, known as C-TEX, is available. Siebe Gorman of Gwent, Wales is also a source of suitable activated carbon textile 40. The segments of activated carbon textile 40 are then inserted into the first chamber 22 and the second chamber 24 as shown in Figure 1. Additional chambers may be used. The open cell media 36 is then placed adjacent the activated carbon textile 40. The bottom wall 38 is then secured to the bottom of the canister 20.

An anticipated advantage of the present invention is that the carbon canister 20 of the present invention will have higher hydrocarbon absorbency than prior art canisters having activated carbon granules. As a result, the canister 20 can be made smaller, thereby facilitating packaging and installation into a vehicle. Reduced canister size furthers the goal of space conformity packaging. Further, the activated carbon textile 40 has little chance of material destruction and therefore is expected to have a longer life performance cycle than known prior art carbon canisters utilizing activated carbon granules. Due to the flexibility of the activated carbon textile 40, other carbon canister shapes and designs than that shown can also be utilized. The activated carbon textile 40 can be inserted into canisters having more complex shapes and contours, thus providing more alternatives for locating the canisters in vehicles. In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A fuel vapor recovery canister having an inlet port and an outlet port leading into at least one chamber, said chamber containing activated carbon textile.

2. The fuel vapor recovery canister of Claim 1 wherein segments of a sheet of said activated carbon textile are stacked in said canister.

3. The fuel vapor recovery canister of Claim 1 wherein said activated carbon textile comprises an activated carbon felt.

4. The fuel vapor recovery canister of Claim 3 wherein said activated carbon felt comprises activated carbon fibers.

5. The fuel vapor recovery canister of Claim 1 wherein said canister includes a first chamber and a second chamber partially separated by a partition extending from a first end of the canister, said activated carbon textile disposed in said first and second chambers.

6. The fuel vapor recovery canister of Claim 5 further including an open cell media disposed adjacent a second end of said canister opposite said first end.

7. The fuel vapor recovery canister of Claim 5 wherein said inlet and outlet ports are at said first end of said canister, said inlet port leading into said first chamber, said outlet port leading into said second chamber.

8. A method for recovering fuel vapor including the step of inserting an activated carbon textile into at least one chamber in a canister having at least one port.

9. The method of Claim 8 further including the steps of: forming said activated carbon textile as a sheet; cutting said sheet into segments; and inserting said segments into said at least one chamber.

10. The method of Claim 8 further including the steps of: forming a partition in said canister to form two partially separated chambers, each having a port; and inserting said activated carbon textile in said two chambers.

11. The method of Claim 8 wherein said activated carbon textile is an activated carbon felt.

12. The method of Claim 11 wherein said activated carbon felt comprises activated carbon fibers.

13. A fuel vapor recovery device comprising: a canister having a first chamber and a second chamber partially separated by a partition extending from a first end of the canister; an inlet port at said first end of said canister leading into said first chamber; an outlet port at said first end of said canister leading into said second chamber; and activated carbon fibers formed into a felt disposed in said first and second chambers.

14. The fuel vapor recovery canister of Claim 13 further including an open cell media disposed adjacent a second end of said canister opposite said first end.