The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 14, 1981
Filed:
Oct. 15, 1979
Kevin L Belore, Chatham, CA;
Tiong H Kho, Chatham, CA;
Canadian Fram Limited, Chatham, CA;
Abstract
An air filter for filtering combustion air for an internal combustion engine includes a housing holding a filter element and an inlet snorkel tube connected to the housing. A 'trap door' valve mechanism is located in the snorkel tube and includes a valve seat mounted on a support which circumscribes the inner wall of the snorkel tube and a valve element pivotally mounted on the support which is yieldably urged into sealing engagement with the valve seat when the engine is turned off. The valve mechanism presents a surface substantially transverse to the direction of air flow through the snorkel tube, so that combustion air communicated through the snorkel tube when the engine is running acts against the transverse surface urging the valve element to an opened position. The valve element is 'cracked open' by a solenoid when the engine is to be started in order to permit initial air flow through the air cleaner to facilitate starting. Accordingly, when the vehicle engine is turned off, the valve element closes, thereby preventing the escape of gasoline vapors to the ambient atmosphere. The filter element inside the air cleaner housing includes a charcoal impregnated pleated paper element in series with the conventional pleated paper filter element. The charcoal impregnated element adsorbs the vapors trapped in the housing by closure of the valve mechanism when the engine is turned off. The charcoal impregnated paper is purged by the normal air flow through the air cleaner when the engine is started again.