Patent ID: 8181631

Claim:
A hydrocarbon canister purge system, comprising: a hydrocarbon storage canister having a fresh air port and a canister vent outlet area inside said hydrocarbon storage canister and generally adjacent to said fresh air port; a fuel tank disposed in fluid communication with said hydrocarbon storage canister; an engine disposed in fluid communication with said hydrocarbon storage canister; a hydrocarbon sensor provided in said hydrocarbon storage canister at said canister vent outlet area; and a controller disposed in signal-receiving communication with said hydrocarbon sensor and in signal-transmitting communication with said engine, wherein said controller is adapted to start and operate the engine when the concentration of hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon storage canister as sensed by said hydrocarbon sensor exceeds a hydrocarbon threshold concentration value and terminate operation of said engine when said concentration of hydrocarbons falls below said hydrocarbon threshold concentration value.