Patent ID: 7353809

Claim:
An evaporative emissions canister having a liquid-fuel trap integrally disposed therein, wherein said evaporative emissions canister is incorporated into an automotive evaporative emission system to control emission of fuel vapor to the atmosphere, the system including a fuel tank coupled to an automotive engine, said canister comprising: (a) a housing having a circumferential sidewall, a top wall shaving a circumferential groove therein, and a bottom wall, said housing comprising: (1) a fuel vapor adsorbent chamber containing a fuel vapor adsorbing material disposed therein for adsorbing fuel vapor flowing thereto; (2) a partition member extending partially into said fuel vapor adsorbent chamber from a top portion of said housing, wherein said fuel vapor adsorbent chamber is divided into a first compartment and a second compartment; (3) a fuel vapor-receiving chamber disposed above said vapor adsorbent chamber for receiving fuel vapor having liquid fuel entrained therewith from said fuel tank; (4) a first tubular member extending upwardly from said housing and in operable communication with said fuel vapor-receiving chamber, said first tubular member providing a passage through which said fuel vapor having said liquid fuel entrained therewith flows into said fuel vapor-receiving chamber; (5) a first port in said housing, said first port providing open communication between said housing and said first tubular member; (6) a second tubular member extending upwardly from said housing and in operable communication with said fuel-receiving chamber, said second tubular member providing a passage through which fuel vapor flows from said evaporative emissions canister to an automotive engine where said fuel vapor is consumed; (7) a second port in said housing, said second port providing open communication between said fuel vapor receiving chamber and said second tubular member; (8) a third tubular member extending upwardly from said housing, said third tubular member providing a passage through which fresh air is admitted to said housing during a purging, step and through which air from an air/fuel mixture is vented to the atmosphere in a venting step; and (9) a third port in said housing, said third port providing open communication between said fuel vapor adsorbent chamber and said third tubular member, and (b) a liquid-fuel trap disposed in said fuel vapor-receiving chamber above said fuel vapor adsorbent chamber, for separating said liquid fuel from said fuel vapor, wherein said liquid fuel trap is releasably installed in said housing by press fitting said fuel trap in the housing providing a seal sufficient to prevent said liquid fuel from passing to said fuel vapor adsorbent chamber.