Hydrocarbon absorbing air filter box

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023398485-A1
Application number	US-202318237346-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 23, 2023
Priority date	Oct 27, 2018
Publication date	Dec 14, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A hydrocarbon absorbing air filter box is provided for absorbing evaporative hydrocarbon emissions from an air intake duct of an internal combustion engine. A combined mass airflow sensor and hydrocarbon trap comprising the hydrocarbon absorbing air filter box includes a duct supporting a hydrocarbon absorbing sheet within an interior of a housing. The duct communicates an airstream from an air filter to the air intake duct during operation of the internal combustion engine. An opening in the housing receives a mass airflow sensor into the duct, such that the mass airflow sensor is disposed within the airstream. Guide vanes extending across the duct reduce air turbulence within the airstream passing by the mass airflow sensor. Ports disposed along the duct allow the evaporative hydrocarbon emissions to be drawn into the interior and arrested by the hydrocarbon absorbing sheet when the internal combustion engine is not operating.

First claim

1 . A hydrocarbon absorbing air filter box for arresting evaporative hydrocarbon emissions from an air intake duct of an internal combustion engine, the hydrocarbon absorbing air filter box comprising:
a housing including at least one air inlet for communicating an airstream into an interior of the housing; an air filter supported within the interior for removing particulate matter from the airstream; and a combined mass airflow sensor and hydrocarbon trap configured to communicate the airstream from the air filter to the air intake duct.

2 . The hydrocarbon absorbing air filter box of claim 1 , wherein the combined mass airflow sensor and hydrocarbon trap includes at least one hydrocarbon absorbing sheet for absorbing evaporative hydrocarbon emissions emanating from the air intake duct.

3 . The hydrocarbon absorbing air filter box of claim 2 , wherein the combined mass airflow sensor and hydrocarbon trap includes a duct configured for communicating the airstream from the air filter to the air intake duct.

4 . The hydrocarbon absorbing air filter box of claim 3 , wherein the duct includes a multiplicity of ports configured to allow the evaporative hydrocarbon emissions to be drawn into an interior of the combined mass airflow sensor and hydrocarbon trap and captured by the at least one hydrocarbon absorbing sheet.

5 . The hydrocarbon absorbing air filter box of claim 1 , wherein the combined mass airflow sensor and hydrocarbon trap includes a duct for communicating the airstream from the air filter to the air intake duct.

6 . The hydrocarbon absorbing air filter box of claim 5 , wherein the duct includes at least one support having a shape that matches the shape of an interior of the combined mass airflow sensor and hydrocarbon trap, and wherein the at least one support has a size that provides clearance for a hydrocarbon absorbing sheet to be disposed between the edges of the at least one support and an inner perimeter surface of the interior of the combined mass airflow sensor and hydrocarbon trap.

7 . The hydrocarbon absorbing air filter box of claim 6 , wherein a housing comprising the combined mass airflow sensor and hydrocarbon trap is configured to be coupled with the hydrocarbon absorbing air filter box, such that the airstream is communicated through the duct during operation of the internal combustion engine.

8 . The hydrocarbon absorbing air filter box of claim 7 , wherein the housing comprises a mounting surface that is configured to mate with a substantially similar surface disposed on the hydrocarbon absorbing air filter box, one or more holes disposed in the mounting surface being configured to receive fasteners suitable for coupling the housing and the hydrocarbon absorbing air filter box.

9 . The hydrocarbon absorbing air filter box of claim 7 , wherein the housing comprises an opening that is configured to receive a mass airflow sensor into the interior of the combined mass airflow sensor and hydrocarbon trap, such that the mass airflow sensor is disposed within the airstream.

10 . The hydrocarbon absorbing air filter box of claim 7 , wherein a channel is disposed within the duct and a separation comprising the hydrocarbon absorbing sheet are configured to accommodate the mass airflow sensor during assembling the combined mass airflow sensor and hydrocarbon trap.

11 . The hydrocarbon absorbing air filter box of claim 1 , wherein the combined mass airflow sensor and hydrocarbon trap comprises:
a housing coupled with the air filter; a duct disposed within the housing to communicate the airstream from the air filter to the air intake duct; and a hydrocarbon absorbing sheet disposed between the duct and the housing to arrest evaporative hydrocarbon emissions from the air intake duct.

12 . The hydrocarbon absorbing air filter box of claim 11 , wherein the duct includes at least one support configured to maintain the hydrocarbon absorbing sheet disposed in an unfolded configuration adjacent to an inner perimeter surface of the housing.

13 . The hydrocarbon absorbing air filter box of claim 11 , wherein the duct includes a multiplicity of ports configured to allow the evaporative hydrocarbon emissions to be drawn from the air intake duct to the hydrocarbon absorbing sheet within the housing.

14 . The hydrocarbon absorbing air filter box of claim 11 , wherein the duct includes at least one pair of guide vanes that extend across an interior of the duct adjacent to the mass airflow sensor and are configured to reduce air turbulence within the airstream.

15 . The hydrocarbon absorbing air filter box of claim 11 , wherein the housing includes an opening to receive the mass airflow sensor, such that the mass airflow sensor is disposed within the airstream.

16 . A method for arresting evaporative hydrocarbon emissions emanating from an air intake duct of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
forming a housing that includes at least one air inlet for communicating an airstream into an interior of the housing; supporting an air filter within the interior for removing particulate matter from the airstream; coupling a hydrocarbon trap with the air filter for communicating the airstream from the air filter to the air intake duct; disposing a hydrocarbon absorbing sheet within the hydrocarbon trap for absorbing the evaporative hydrocarbon emissions; and combining a mass airflow sensor with the hydrocarbon trap.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein disposing includes supporting the hydrocarbon sheet in an unfolded configuration within an interior of the combined mass airflow sensor and hydrocarbon trap.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein coupling includes configuring a duct within the hydrocarbon trap to communicate the airstream through the hydrocarbon trap to the air intake duct.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein configuring the duct includes forming a multiplicity of ports along the duct to allow the evaporative hydrocarbon emissions to be drawn to the hydrocarbon absorbing sheet.

20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein combining includes configuring an opening in the hydrocarbon trap to receive the mass airflow sensor, such that the mass airflow sensor is disposed within the airstream.

21 . The method of claim 16 , wherein combining includes disposing guide vanes adjacent to the mass airflow sensor to reduce air turbulence within the airstream.

Assignees

• K&N Eng Inc

Inventors

• Williams Steve

Classifications

• B01D53/02 Primary

  by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography {(solid sorbent compositions B01J20/00, preparation of inorganic compounds or elements C01)} · CPC title

• B01D2257/702

  Hydrocarbons · CPC title

• B01D2259/4566

  for use in transportation means · CPC title

• G01F1/00

  Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow (measuring a proportion of the volume flow G01F5/00) · CPC title

• B01D53/0407 Primary

  Constructional details of adsorbing systems · CPC title