# US 10,480,458 B2 · Device having an activated carbon canister and motor vehicle having such a device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,458 B2 - Document ID: US10480458B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/543,753 - Filed: 2015-12-22 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-27 - Assignees: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Thomas Ratte - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480458B2 ## CPC - F02M 25/0854: {Details of the absorption canister} - B60K 15/035: characterised by venting means - F02M 25/0836: {Arrangement of valves controlling the admission of fuel vapour to an engine, e.g. valve being disposed between fuel tank or absorption canister and intake manifold} - F02M 25/0872: {Details of the fuel vapour pipes or conduits} - F02M 25/089: {Layout of the fuel vapour installation} - B01D 2253/102: Carbon - B01D 2257/702: Hydrocarbons - B01D 2257/708: Volatile organic compounds V.O.C.'s - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract A device having activated carbon canisters. A fuel tank used to supply fuel is vented into the activated carbon canisters that have, as activated carbon filters, carbon granules having large surfaces for temporarily adsorbing the hydrocarbon gases contained in the fuel tank emissions. The regeneration occurs cyclically by backflushing where fresh air is sucked in through an outlet and conducted through the activated carbon canisters to lead the hydrocarbon gases back into the region of the combustion apparatus. The device has structurally identical activated carbon canisters arranged in the same plane and connected in series by connecting lines, whereby an outlet opening of a first activated carbon canister is connected to an inlet opening of a further activated carbon canister. The outlet opening of the activated carbon canister is arranged above the inlet opening with respect to gravity. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for temporary storage of gas containing hydrocarbons emitted by fuel in a fuel tank of a motor vehicle, wherein density of the gas containing hydrocarbons is greater than density of ambient air, the device comprising: a plurality of activated carbon canisters, each enclosing an activated carbon filter charged in a flow direction from bottom up to counter to the force of gravity; and connecting lines connected to the plurality of activated carbon canisters such that the plurality of activated carbon canisters are arranged in a cascade progression, wherein an outlet opening of a first activated carbon canister is, in each case, connected to an inlet opening of a further activated carbon canister, wherein, in each of the plurality of activated carbon canisters, the respective outlet opening is arranged higher than the inlet opening, and wherein an increased pressure difference required for the gas containing hydrocarbons to overcome height differences resulting from positioning of the inlets and outlets in the cascaded arrangement prevents escape of the gas containing hydrocarbons as a result of the relative density of the gas containing hydrocarbons in comparison to ambient air such that the device collects the gas containing hydrocarbons in lowest regions of the plurality of activated carbon canisters by the force of gravity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the connecting lines connecting the plurality of activated carbon canisters are spiral hoses with increased flow resistance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein at least one of the collecting lines includes a pipe bend. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of activated carbon canisters have substantially corresponding volumes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the outlet openings and/or the inlet openings of the plurality of activated carbon canisters are, in each case, arranged in a common horizontal plane. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of activated carbon canisters are exchanged individually and/or expanded in modular fashion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the diameter of a free line cross section of the connecting lines is more than 8 mm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein a subset of the plurality of activated carbon canisters are arranged one inside the other. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the outlet opening is an overflow opening. ### Claim 10 A motor vehicle having a device for temporary storage of gas containing hydrocarbons emitted by fuel in a fuel tank of the motor vehicle, wherein density of the gas containing hydrocarbons is greater than density of ambient air, the device comprising: a plurality of activated carbon canisters, each enclosing an activated carbon filter charged in a flow direction from bottom up to counter to the force of gravity; and connecting lines connected to the plurality of activated carbon canisters such that the plurality of activated carbon canisters are arranged in a cascade progression, wherein an outlet opening of a first activated carbon canister is, in each case, connected to an inlet opening of a further activated carbon canister, wherein, in each of the plurality of activated carbon canisters, the respective outlet opening is arranged higher than the inlet opening, and wherein an increased pressure difference required for the gas containing hydrocarbons to overcome height differences resulting from positioning of the inlets and outlets in the cascaded arrangement prevents escape of the gas containing hydrocarbons as a result of the relative density of the gas containing hydrocarbons in comparison to ambient air such that the device collects the gas containing hydrocarbons in lowest regions of the plurality of activated carbon canisters by the force of gravity. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the diameter of a free line cross section of the connecting lines is more than 10 mm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The motor vehicle of claim 10, wherein the connecting lines connecting the plurality of activated carbon canisters are spiral hoses with increased flow resistance. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The motor vehicle of claim 12, wherein at least one of the connecting lines includes a pipe bend. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The motor vehicle of claim 10, wherein the plurality of activated carbon canisters have substantially corresponding volumes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The motor vehicle of claim 10, wherein the outlet openings and/or the inlet openings of the plurality of activated carbon canisters are, in each case, arranged in a common horizontal plane. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The motor vehicle of claim 10, wherein the plurality of activated carbon canisters are exchanged individually and/or expanded in modular fashion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The motor vehicle of claim 10, wherein the diameter of a free line cross section of the connecting lines is more than 8 mm. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The motor vehicle of claim 17, wherein the diameter of a free line cross section of the connecting lines is more than 10 mm. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The motor vehicle of claim 10, wherein a subset of the plurality of activated carbon canisters are arranged one inside the other. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The motor vehicle of claim 10, wherein the outlet opening is an overflow opening.