Hydrocarbon emission scavenger and method for making
AssigneeMultisorb Technologies, Inc.
InventorsThomas J. Hurley, Samuel A. Incorvia
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hydrocarbon adsorber and a thermoplastic resin combined and formed to a porous scavenger for insertion into the air intake system of a motor vehicle engine. The resulting porous scavenger adsorbs volatile hydrocarbon molecules from raw fuel remaining in the air intake when the engine is shout off. The adsorbed molecules are then stripped or purged from the scavenger and reintroduced into the air intake when the engine is next started.
Claims9
A method of repeatedly scavenging hydrocarbon from unburned fuel in the intake system of a hydrocarbon fueled engine and returning the hydrocarbon for combustion comprising:
- a) disposing in the aft intake of the engine a porous scavenger body comprising a resin bonded sorbent having an outside surface adjacent to an inner wall of the intake system that conforms to the air intake passage and an inner surface forming a passage for the flow of intake air without passing through the bulk of the body, wherein the porous scavenger body comprises a porous resin barrier ring disposed inside the body;
- b) adsorbing hydrocarbon molecules from the air intake system of the engine by binding the molecules to the sorbent when the engine is not running;
- c) purging the hydrocarbon molecules from the sorbent into the air intake system of the engine when the engine is running;
- and
- d) repeating the adsorbing and purging steps.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.