Composite Air Filter Assembly with Carbon Trap for Engine Intake
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air filtration systems for motor vehicle intake manifolds are inefficient in preventing evaporative emissions and compromise engine performance due to flow restrictions, despite their ability to remove particulate matter.
Innovation Solution
A tamper-resistant composite filter assembly featuring a cylindrical carbon trap filter with granulated activated charcoal and a conventional air filter, surrounded by porous material, supported by a redesigned tubular adaptor with a flared transitional section to enhance airflow and trap emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flat-panel hydrocarbon trap filter is permanently secured to a conventional OEM closed air box with a conventional flat panel air filter, then tamper resistance is improved, but airflow is restricted and engine performance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The filter assembly is divided into separate components: a removable air filter and a permanently secured hydrocarbon trap filter. This segmentation allows the air filter to be easily replaced for maintenance while the trap filter remains fixed to prevent tampering, thereby maintaining both accessibility and tamper resistance without compromising airflow
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a flat-panel filter design to a three-dimensional cylindrical hydrocarbon trap filter. This dimensional change increases the surface area and volume of the carbon trap, improving its effectiveness in capturing evaporative emissions while maintaining compact packaging that does not restrict airflow to the engine
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a conventional flat panel air filter and hydrocarbon trap filter are arranged in series, then emissions are reduced, but flow restriction increases and engine efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The air filter is designed to surround the hydrocarbon trap filter in a nested arrangement. This configuration allows both filters to operate in series for effective emissions control, while the nested structure minimizes the overall space required and reduces flow path length, thereby maintaining better airflow and engine efficiency compared to traditional side-by-side or stacked arrangements
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs porous materials in both the air filter and hydrocarbon trap filter construction. The porous structure provides large surface area for filtration while maintaining low flow resistance, allowing effective particulate and evaporative emissions removal without significantly restricting airflow to the engine, thus preserving engine efficiency
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 composite filter assembly achieves a 50% increase in airflow, effectively reducing evaporative emissions and improving engine efficiency while maintaining tamper-resistant characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
The carbon trap filter is formed with one (and possible more) layers of granulated activated charcoal (GAC) sandwiched between layers of porous material
Data Source
AI summary
A tamper resistant hydrocarbon trap and air filter assembly includes a cylindrical carbon trap filter extending from a sealed upstream end to a downstream end seated and sealed in a forwardly facing recess of an adaptor. A conventional cylindrical air filter surrounds the carbon trap filter with a sealed upstream end and a downstream end removable secured to an annular flange on the adaptor with the downstream end of the adaptor being arranged to be coupled to a vehicle's air intake.