Hydrocarbon sensor and collector
First Claim
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1. A hydrocarbon sensor for detecting hydrocarbons and a collector for collecting hydrocarbons in an air intake system of an engine, said sensor and collector comprising:
- a purgeable hydrocarbon collecting element positioned in the air intake system upstream from said engine;
said purgeable hydrocarbon collecting element having a plurality of chambers defined therein, said chambers arranged so as to allow air to pass through said purgeable hydrocarbon collecting element; and
a detecting means for detecting the level of hydrocarbons engaged with said purgeable hydrocarbon collecting element, the detecting means having a first portion connected to the purgeable hydrocarbon collecting element and a second portion connected to the purgeable hydrocarbon collecting element such that an electrical connection between the first portion and the second portion is completed by the purgeable hydrocarbon collecting element.
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Abstract
A hydrocarbon sensor and collector. An element that is capable of absorbing and releasing hydrocarbons is positioned in the air intake system of a vehicle, upstream from the engine and wholly in the airflow. The element has a plurality of chambers defined in it that allow air to pass through the element. The hydrocarbon sensor and collector also includes a means for detecting the level of hydrocarbons absorbed by the element.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A hydrocarbon sensor for detecting hydrocarbons and a collector for collecting hydrocarbons in an air intake system of an engine, said sensor and collector comprising:
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a purgeable hydrocarbon collecting element positioned in the air intake system upstream from said engine;
said purgeable hydrocarbon collecting element having a plurality of chambers defined therein, said chambers arranged so as to allow air to pass through said purgeable hydrocarbon collecting element; and
a detecting means for detecting the level of hydrocarbons engaged with said purgeable hydrocarbon collecting element, the detecting means having a first portion connected to the purgeable hydrocarbon collecting element and a second portion connected to the purgeable hydrocarbon collecting element such that an electrical connection between the first portion and the second portion is completed by the purgeable hydrocarbon collecting element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A hydrocarbon sensor for detecting hydrocarbons and a collector for collecting hydrocarbons in an air intake system of an engine, said sensor and collector comprising:
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a purgeable hydrocarbon collecting element having a plurality of chambers defined therein to allow air to pass through said purgeable hydrocarbon collecting element and said purgeable hydrocarbon collecting element positioned in an intake system of an engine such that substantially all of the airflow entering said engine passes through said purgeable hydrocarbon collecting element; and
a circuit including an electrical connector and said purgeable hydrocarbon collecting element, said circuit being configured to detect the level of hydrocarbons engaged with said purgeable hydrocarbon collecting element. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for releasably collecting hydrocarbons and detecting the level of hydrocarbons in an air intake system of an engine, said method comprising the steps of:
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positioning a hydrocarbon absorbing element having a plurality of chambers arranged so as to allow air to pass through said element in the air intake system upstream from the engine;
operatively connecting said element to a detecting means for detecting the level of hydrocarbons in said element; and
detecting the level of hydrocarbons in said element. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification