Canister using thermoelectric cooler

• US 4,732,588 A
• Filed: 05/14/1987
• Issued: 03/22/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Storey, Edwin C., Covert, Charles H., Gifford, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prunner, Kathleen J.
• Application Number:
  US07/049,405
• Time in Patent Office: 313 Days
• Field of Search: 55/196, 55/200, 55/201, 55/202, 55/208, 123/519
• US Class Current: 96/144
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 2025/0863 with means dealing with condensed fuel or water, e.g. having a liquid trap
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 2025/0881 with means to heat or cool the canister
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0854 Details of the absorption canister
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/13 characterised by the heat-exchanging means at the junction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A fuel vapor storage canister includes a vapor inlet for introducing vapor into the canister and a bed of adsorbant material in fluid communication with the inlet for adsorbing vapor within the canister. A vapor purge tube is in fluid communication with the bed for purging fuel vapor from the bed. A thermoelectric cooler/heater selectively cools the inlet tube to promote condensation of vapors therein and selectively and alternatively heats the bed to promote purging of vapors from the bed and the remainder of the canister.

Claims

1. In a fuel vapor storage canister of the type including:

vapor inlet means for introducing vapor into said canister;

adsorbing means in fluid communication with said inlet means for adsorbing vapor within said canister, said adsorbing means being temperature dependent by adsorbing vapor more efficiently when cooled and releasing vapor more efficiently when heated;

vapor purge means in fluid communication with said adsorbing means for purging fuel vapor from said adsorbing means, the improvement comprising heat exchange means for selectively cooling said inlet means to promote condensation of vapors therein and for selectively and alternatively heating said adsorbing means for promoting purging of vapors from said adsorbing means.

2. In a fuel vapor storage canister including:

an inlet chamber;

a region vented to atmosphere;

adsorbing means being in fluid communication with said chamber and said region for adsorbing fuel vapor between said chamber and said region, said adsorbing means adsorbing vapor more efficiently when cooled and releasing vapor more efficiently when heated;

fuel vapor inlet means extending through said adsorbing means and into said chamber for introducing vapor into said chamber;

vapor purge means opening to said chamber for causing air to flow from said region and through said adsorbing means to purge fuel vapor and liquid from said adsorbing means and chamber;

the improvement comprising a thermoelectric cooler/heater in proximity of said inlet means and said adsorbing means for selectively cooling said inlet means to promote condensation of vapors therein and for selectively and alternatively heating said adsorbing means for promoting purging of vapors from said adsorbing means.

3. In a fuel vapor storage canister including:

a housing;

an inlet chamber;

a region vented to atmosphere;

a bed of material for adsorbing fuel vapor between said chamber and said region;

a fuel vapor inlet tube extending through said bed and into said chamber;

a purge tube opening into said chamber;

the improvement comprising a thermoelectric cooler/heater mounted through said housing and having a heat exchange element extending into said bed, said inlet tube being curved and including portions adjacent said heat exchange element whereby said element selectively cools said inlet tube and selectively and alternatively heats said bed.