US3699683A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Engine exhaust emission control system
Assignee: Chemical Construction Corp
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Filing: 1971-04-05
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Granted: 1972-10-24
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Expires: 1991-04-05
Abstract
Abstract A system for the prevention of hydrocarbon emissions from engines during start up is provided, in which a cold engine generates an exhaust gas rich in unburned or thermally degraded hydrocarbons. The exhaust gas is passed through a hydrocarbon absorbent bed prior to atmospheric discharge, so that hydrocarbon vapor is absorbed in the bed. When the engine and exhaust gas are hot, and hydrocarbon emission low, most of the exhaust gas is discharged directly to atmosphere and the absorbent bed is regenerated by passing a small stream of hot exhaust gas through the bed. The resulting gaseous mixture of exhaust gas plug desorbed hydrocarbon vapor is recycled to the engine.
Inventors
- 👤 John F Tourtellotte
- 👤 John S Negra
- 👤 Abe Warshaw
- 👤 John F Villiers-Fisher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:30
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01N; F01N3/00; F01N3/08; F01N3/10; F01N3/24; F01N3/30; F01N3/32; B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/34; B01D53/92; B01D53/94; B01D53/944; B01D53/9495; F01N13/00; F01N13/009; F01N3/0807; F01N3/0828; F01N3/0835; F01N3/0871; F01N3/0878; F02; F02M; F02M26/00; F02M26/13; F02M26/14; F02M26/15; F01N2240/00; F01N2240/18; F01N2250/00; F01N2250/12; F01N2330/00; F01N2330/08; F01N2370/00; F01N2390/00; F01N2390/02; F01N2390/06; F01N2410/00; F01N2410/12; F01N3/18; F01N3/20; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12; Y10; Y10S; Y10S55/00; Y10S55/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, in which said engine is an internal combustion engine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2, in which said internal combustion engine is an automobile engine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1, in which said oxidizing catalyst is selected from the group consisting of oxides of nickel, cobalt, manganese and copper, and mixtures thereof, deposited on a carrier, and said solid absorbent is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, zeolite, activated alumina, fuller''s earth, kaolin, and organic resin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 1, in which said resulting minor portion of said hot exhaust gas stream containing desorbed unburned hydrocarbon is passed into said engine by aspirating said resulting minor portion of said hot exhaust gas stream into the throat section of a venturi inlet passage to said engine, and passing at least a portion of the combustion air feed stream to said engine through said venturi inlet passage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, in which said engine discharges said exhaust gas stream at a temperature in the range of 200* to 600* C during said subsequent time period.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
240 words
A system for engine exhaust emission control which comprises an engine, means to pass a fluid hydrocarbon and combustion air to said engine, whereby said fluid hydrocarbon is at least partially combusted with said combustion air by said engine, and power and an exhaust gas containing residual hydrocarbon vapor are generated, means to add air to said exhaust gas and thereby form a gaseous mixture containing excess free oxygen, a catalyst bed, said catalyst bed containing an active oxidizing catalyst for the oxidation of hydrocarbon vapor in said gaseous mixture, means to pass said gaseous mixture through said catalyst bed, whereby a portion of the residual hydrocarbon vapor in said gaseous mixture is selectively oxidized to innocuous products, an absorbent bed, said absorbent bed contaiNing an active absorbent for hydrocarbon vapor, means to pass the reacted gaseous mixture discharged from said catalyst bed through said absorbent bed, whereby residual hydrocarbon vapor is absorbed into said absorbent bed, means to measure the temperature of the hot reacted gaseous mixture within said absorbent bed, bypass means between said catalyst bed and said absorbent bed for direct discharge of a portion of said hot reacted gaseous mixture to atmosphere, said temperature measuring means serving to open said bypass means when the temperature in said absorbent bed reaches an elevated level, and means to recycle the balance of said hot reacted gaseous mixture containing desorbed hydrocarbon vapor from said absorbent bed to said engine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 7, in which said engine is an internal combustion engine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 8, in which said internal combustion engine is an automobile engine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 7, in which said oxidizing catalyst is selected from the group consisting of oxides of nickel, cobalt, manganese and copper, and mixtures thereof, deposited on a carrier, and said solid absorbent is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, zeolite, activated alumina, fuller''s earth, kaolin, and organic resin.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
121 words
The system of claim 7, in which said means to recycle the balance of said hot reacted gaseous mixture containing desorbed hydrocarbon vapor from said absorbent bed to said engine comprises a venturi mixer provided with a throat section, means to pass at least a portion of the combustion air feed stream to said engine through said venturi mixer, means to pass said balance of the hot reacted gaseous mixture to said throat section of said venturi mixture, whereby said balance of the hot reacted gaseous mixture containing desorbed hydrocarbon vapor is aspirated into said venturi mixer, and means to pass the resulting mixture of combustion air feed stream and hot reacted gaseous mixture containing desorbed hydrocarbon vapor to said engine.
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) | 1975-10-24 | 1976-04-24 | 1976-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-24 | 1980-04-24 | 1980-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-24 | 1984-04-24 | 1984-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |