Air Filter Adapter With Hydrocarbon Trap
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Internal combustion engines emit hydrocarbons into the atmosphere when turned off, as excess unburned fuel vaporizes and moves back through the air filter, contributing to air pollution, and existing solutions like enclosing the air box are not always acceptable.
Innovation Solution
A filter adapter with a hydrocarbon trap is designed to capture vaporized hydrocarbons using an absorptive material, positioned between the inner and outer walls, with a gap allowing access to the trap, which is connected to the air filter and air conduit, ensuring effective absorption of hydrocarbons when the engine is turned off.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an open-type air filter is used, then ease of access and simplicity are improved, but hydrocarbon emissions increase due to vaporized fuel escaping into the atmosphere
Solution Approach 1:
The filter adapter is nested within the open-type air filter housing, creating an internal trap chamber that captures hydrocarbons while maintaining the external open structure. The adapter fits inside the filter assembly, allowing the filter to remain accessible and simple while adding the emission-capturing function internally.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter adapter acts as an intermediary component between the air filter and the engine intake manifold. It intercepts vaporized hydrocarbons that would otherwise escape directly into the atmosphere, providing a intermediate capture zone that prevents harmful emissions while maintaining system simplicity.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If an enclosed air box is used, then hydrocarbon emissions are reduced by containing vaporized fuel, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than enclosing the entire air box, the solution segments the containment function into a smaller, focused filter adapter component. This adapter is inserted into the existing filter assembly, providing localized hydrocarbon capture without requiring a complete enclosure of the air intake system.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter adapter serves multiple functions within a single compact component: it filters air, captures vaporized hydrocarbons, and maintains proper airflow to the engine. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate enclosed air box structures while achieving emission reduction goals.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a hydrocarbon trap is added to capture vaporized fuel, then hydrocarbon emissions are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrocarbon trap function is merged with the existing filter adapter structure. The absorptive material is integrated directly into the adapter walls, combining the trapping function with the air filtration and flow guidance functions in a single unified component rather than adding a separate trap system.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter adapter incorporates porous absorptive material within its walls to capture vaporized hydrocarbons. This porous structure provides extensive surface area for hydrocarbon absorption while maintaining a compact form factor, reducing emissions without requiring a large or complex trap system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The filter adapter significantly reduces evaporative emissions of hydrocarbons by capturing a substantial amount of vaporized fuel before it escapes into the atmosphere, thereby minimizing air pollution.
Implementation Method 1
an absorptive material is disposed in the space... allows for absorption of vaporized hydrocarbons
Data Source
AI summary
Present embodiments relate to an air filter adapter for use with open style engine air filters. More particularly, but without limitation, present embodiments relate to a filter adapter having a hydrocarbon trap positioned within the adapter.