# US 11,439,948 B2 · Membrane module for mitigating evaporative fuel emissions of automobiles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,439,948 B2 - Document ID: US11439948B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/706,975 - Filed: 2019-12-09 - Published: 2021-06-10 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-09 - Assignees: Mahle International GmbH - Applicants: MAHLE International GmbH - Inventors: Thomas Ehlert; Achim Gommel; John Jackson; Simon Streng; Melanie Volz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439948B2 ## CPC - B01D 53/227: {in parallel connexion} - B01D 63/14: Pleat-type membrane modules - B01D 71/701: {Polydimethylsiloxane} - B01D 2053/222: {with plates} - B01D 2259/4516: for fuel vapour recovery systems - B01D 2311/13: Use of sweep gas - B01D 2313/086: Meandering flow path over the membrane - B01D 2313/143: on the feed side - B01D 2313/146: on the permeate side - B60K 15/03: Fuel tanks - B60K 2015/03236: {characterised by special filters, the mounting thereof} - B60K 2015/03243: {characterised by special pumps, the mounting thereof} - B60K 2015/03514: {with vapor recovery 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} - 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) - 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 - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF ## Abstract A modular structure for a mitigating evaporative fuel emissions, such as for an automobile, is described. The structure may include a plurality of frames and membranes for flowing fuel vapor and reducing the emission of hydrocarbon therefrom. The structure may include flow guides that provide a meandering flow path for both the fuel vapor and a permeate. A flow guide providing parallel flow paths is also described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A filter assembly for reducing hydrocarbon emissions of a vehicle, the filter assembly comprising: a plurality of modules each comprising a frame and a membrane disposed at least partially within the frame, each of the membranes having a first and second side with an active layer disposed on the first side and an inert support layer disposed on the second side; each of the frames of the plurality of modules being disposed adjacent to and in contact with the frame of at least one neighboring module with the membranes of neighboring modules having the active layer facing each other to define at least one feed channel and the inert support layer facing each other to define at least one sweep channel in the filter assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The filter assembly of claim 1, further comprising a feed port in fluid communication with the feed channel of each of the plurality of modules. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The filter assembly of claim 1, further comprising a sweep port in fluid communication with the sweep channel of each of the plurality of modules. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein each module comprises a plurality of voids therein. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one membrane comprises a silicone layer disposed on a support layer, the silicone layer defining a boundary of the feed channel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein each frame is rectangular in shape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the frames defines a curved shape. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the membranes defines a curved shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of membranes defines a pleat, a fold, a crease, a bend, or a bulge. ### Claim 10 A filter assembly for reducing hydrocarbon emissions of a vehicle, the filter assembly comprising: at least one feed flow guide defining at least one feed channel formed therein, at least one sweep flow guide defining at least one sweep channel formed therein, and a plurality of membranes disposed between the at least one feed flow guide and at least one sweep flow guide, the at least one feed flow guide and the at least one sweep flow guide functioning as frames for the plurality of membranes; each membrane having a first face with an active layer and a second face with an inert support layer opposite the first face, the first face being exposed to a feed flow channel, and the second face being exposed to a sweep flow channel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The filter assembly of claim 10, wherein a membrane of the plurality of membranes comprises a silicone layer disposed on a support layer, the silicone layer including the first face, and the support layer including the second face. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The filter assembly of claim 10, wherein the feed flow channel defines a curved path through the feed flow guide. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The filter assembly of claim 12, wherein the feed flow channel defines a plurality of curves. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The filter assembly of claim 12, wherein the sweep flow channel defines a curved path through the sweep flow guide, the sweep flow channel having a shape that differs from that of the feed flow channel such that fluid flow through the sweep flow channel and the feed flow channel causes a counterflow over at least a portion of a membrane. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The filter assembly of claim 10, wherein the feed flow guide defines a plurality of feed flow channels parallel to one another. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The filter assembly of claim 15, wherein the sweep flow guide defines a plurality of sweep flow channels parallel to one another.