US3646731A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air cleaner and fuel vapor storage assembly remotely associated with an engine
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1970-09-02
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Granted: 1972-03-07
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Expires: 1990-09-02
Abstract
Abstract The engine air cleaner is essentially vertically disposed in a side-by-side relationship to the carburetor. The two are connected by a conduit in a manner that the lower portion of the air cleaner acts as a vapor trap to prevent excess carburetor float bowl vapors from passing out through the air cleaner air inlet into the atmosphere. A bed of activated carbon is connected to the lower portion of the air cleaner casing to store the excess fuel vapors at times, the vapors being purged therefrom back into the engine during normal engine operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Gunnar W Hansen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:54
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M25/00; F02M25/08; F02M35/00; F02M35/02; F02M35/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
An air supply and fuel vapor control system for an engine having a carburetor secured thereto with an air inlet for receiving a supply of air for said engine, said carburetor also having a fuel bowl with a vent means connecting the vapor space in said bowl to said air inlet, said system including an air cleaner including a hollow like casing essentially vertically disposed with a fresh air inlet in one side adjacent the upper portion thereof, said casing containing an essentially vertically disposed, axial flow type filter element secured therein, said casing being located remotely from said carburetor air inlet and connected thereto by conduit means having in end-to-end relationship an essentially horizontal first portion connected to said carburetor air inlet and a downwardly depending second portion attached to the side of said casing that is opposite to that containing said casing air inlet, said filter element extending across said casing forcing all airflow from said casing air inlet to said conduit means to pass therethrough, and fuel vapor adsorption means connected to a lower portion of said casing for storing excess fuel vapors from said carburetor fuel bowl during a hot soak cycle of said engine by the flow of said vapors through said bowl vent into said carburetor air intake and therefrom through said conduit means and by gravity flow into said adsorption means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
An air supply and fuel vapor control system for an engine having a carburetor secured thereto with an air inlet for receiving a supply of air for said engine, said carburetor also having a fuel bowl with a vent means connecting the vapor space in said bowl to said air inlet, said system including an air cleaner including a hollow like casing essentially vertically disposed with a fresh air inlet in one side adjacent the upper portion thereof, said casing containing an essentially vertically disposed, axial flow type filter element secured therein, said casing being located remotely from said carburetor air inlet and connected thereto by conduit means having in end-to-end relationship an essentially horizontal first portion connected to said carburetor air inlet and a downwardly depending second portion attached to the side of said casing that is opposite to that containing said casing air inlet, said filter element extending across said casing forcing all airflow from said casing air inlet to said conduit means to pass therethrough, and fuel vapor adsorption means connected to a lower portion of said casing for storing excess fuel vapors from said carburetor fuel bowl during a hot soak cycle of said engine by the flow of said vapors through said bowl vent into said carburetor air intake and therefrom through said conduit means and by gravity flow into said adsorption means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A control system as in claim 1, said adsorption means being purged of the stored fuel vapors during airflow through said casing to said carburetor, said adsorption means comprising a bed of activated carbon having a fresh air inlet at one end and a connection to said lower portion of said casing at its other end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
A control system as in claim 2 including vertically extending vapor barrier means located on the clean air side of said filter element at a point below the casing air intake to guide the flow of fuel vapors toward the lower portion of said casing and minimize the bypass of any fuel vapors into said casing air intake.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A Control system as in claim 1, said casing and carburetor air inlet being disposed in a side-by-side relationship.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
144 words
An air supply and fuel vapor control system for an internal combustion engine comprising in combination, a carburetor air inlet and an essentially vertically disposed air cleaner assembly remotely located from each other, said assembly having an air inlet adjacent the top thereof, a filter element extending from top to bottom thereof, conduit means connecting said carburetor air inlet to a portion of said assembly, the lower portion of said assembly and said conduit means constituting a vapor trap type reservoir for containment of excess fuel vapors passing thereinto, and fuel vapor adsorption means connected to said assembly and operatively associated with said reservoir for storing fuel vapors flowing at times into said reservoir from a carburetor, said fuel vapors being purged from said adsorption means upon airflow in a normal direction from said air cleaner assembly to said carburetor during normal engine operation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
144 words
An air supply and fuel vapor control system for an internal combustion engine comprising in combination, a carburetor air inlet and an essentially vertically disposed air cleaner assembly remotely located from each other, said assembly having an air inlet adjacent the top thereof, a filter element extending from top to bottom thereof, conduit means connecting said carburetor air inlet to a portion of said assembly, the lower portion of said assembly and said conduit means constituting a vapor trap type reservoir for containment of excess fuel vapors passing thereinto, and fuel vapor adsorption means connected to said assembly and operatively associated with said reservoir for storing fuel vapors flowing at times into said reservoir from a carburetor, said fuel vapors being purged from said adsorption means upon airflow in a normal direction from said air cleaner assembly to said carburetor during normal engine operation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as in claim 5, said assembly and carburetor air inlet being disposed in essentially a side-by-side relationship.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as in claim 5, said assembly having a hollow rectangularlike casing closed on opposite sides with said air inlet on one side and the said conduit means connected to the opposite side.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as in claim 7, including baffle means extending between said casing air inlet and said conduit means to divert fuel vapors into said reservoir.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as in claim 5, said vapor adsorption means comprising an activated carbon bed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system as in claim 9, said carbon bed being located remotely from said assembly and having conduit means connecting the fuel vapors in said reservoir thereto for the flow of fuel vapors into said bed and the purge therefrom.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as in claim 5, said conduit means being connected to said assembly at a point below the assembly air intake and adjacent the reservoir.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
A system as in claim 7, said casing including a sheetlike axial flow filter means extending across said casing from top to bottom of said casing whereby all airflow and fuel vapor flow from said casing air inlet towards said carburetor air inlet and vice versa passes through said filter element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as in claim 12, said adsorption means comprising an activated carbon bed remotely located from said casing and having a fresh air inlet at one end and a fuel vapor line at the other end.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as in claim 13, the connection of said line to said reservoir being made at essentially the lowest point of said casing whereby fuel vapors will flow by gravity from said reservoir into said carbon bed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-07 | 1975-09-06 | 1976-03-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-07 | 1979-09-06 | 1980-03-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-07 | 1983-09-06 | 1984-03-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |