Low airflow loss hydrocarbon trap
View Patent ↗In one aspect of the present invention, a hydrocarbon trapping device is provided, including a conduit and an adsorbing element positioned within the conduit. The conduit includes a wall having a wall thickness and the adsorbing element has an adsorbing element thickness that is generally equal to or less than the wall thickness. Furthermore, the adsorbing element defines a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a flow path extending between the leading and trailing edges in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the conduit.
1. A hydrocarbon trapping device for an air intake system, the hydrocarbon trapping device comprising:
a conduit in fluid connection with, and configured to deliver air to, the air intake system, the conduit including a wall having a wall thickness, an inner surface, and a longitudinal axis; and
an adsorbing element positioned within the conduit and including a hydrocarbon adsorbing material, the adsorbing element having an adsorbing element thickness generally equal to or less than the wall thickness, the adsorbing element having a leading edge a trailing edge and side edges that define a flow path extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis;
a retainer extending from the inner surface of the conduit and retainingly engaging the side edges of the adsorbing element;
wherein the adsorbing element extends substantially completely around an inner perimeter of the conduit adjacent to the inner surface.
2. A hydrocarbon trapping device as in claim 1 , wherein the adsorbing element has a generally annular cross-section.
3. A hydrocarbon trapping device as in claim 1 , further comprising a protective cap substantially covering a leading edge of the adsorbing element.
4. A hydrocarbon trapping device as in claim 3 , further comprising a second protective cap substantially covering a trailing edge of the adsorbing element.
5. A hydrocarbon trapping device as in claim 1 , wherein the retainer extends from the inner surface and includes a tab extending in a direction substantially parallel to the conduit inner surface and retaining the arcuate sheet in contact with the conduit inner surface.
6. A hydrocarbon trapping device as in claim 1 , wherein the adsorbing element is in contact with the inner surface of the conduit.
7. A hydrocarbon trapping device as in claim 1 , wherein the adsorbing element further includes a planar sheet extending across the conduit so as to divide the conduit into two side-by-side flow passageways.
8. A hydrocarbon trapping device as in claim 1 , wherein the adsorbing element further includes first and second planar sheets extending across the conduit so as to divide the conduit into three side-by-side flow passageways.
9. A hydrocarbon trapping device as in claim 1 , wherein the adsorbing element further includes first, second, and third planar sheets extending across the conduit so as to divide the conduit into four side-by-side flow passageways.
10. A hydrocarbon trapping device as in claim 1 , the adsorbing element including a sheet of paper having carbon particles.
11. A hydrocarbon trapping device as in claim 1 , the adsorbing element including a foam material having carbon particles.
12. A hydrocarbon trapping device as in claim 1 , the adsorbing element including a plurality of pellets having carbon particles and being supported by a semi-permeable membrane.
13. A hydrocarbon trapping device as in claim 1 ,the adsorbing element having a generally spiral configuration.
14. A hydrocarbon trapping device as in claim 1 , wherein the flow path is at least 95% unobstructed by the adsorbing element.
15. A hydrocarbon trapping device as in claim 1 , wherein the flow path is at least 95% unobstructed by the adsorbing element.
16. A hydrocarbon trapping device as in claim 1 , wherein the flow path extends from a leading edge of the adsorbing element to a trailing edge of the adsorbing element in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis.
17. A hydrocarbon trapping device as in claim 1 wherein the adsorbing element extends substantially completely around an inner perimeter of the conduit adjacent to an inner surface of the conduit.
18. A hydrocarbon trapping device as in claim 17 , wherein the adsorbing element includes a planar sheet extending across an opening of the conduit so as to divide the conduit into two side-by-side flow passageways.
19. A hydrocarbon trapping device as in claim 1 , wherein the adsorbing element thickness is less than 5 millimeters.
20. A hydrocarbon trapping device as in claim 19 , wherein the adsorbing element thickness is generally equal to 1 millimeter.