Automatic water drainage device for fuel filter

Abstract

The utility model is applicable to the technical field of fuel filters, in particular to an automatic water drainage device for a fuel filter, which comprises a filter main body, a filter seat is arranged at one end of the filter main body, an electric pump is mounted on the surface of the filter seat, and a lower shell is sleeved on the outer side of the filter main body. An air inlet electromagnetic valve is installed on the surface of the filter seat, an air inlet is formed in the surface of the air inlet electromagnetic valve, a water drainage electromagnetic valve is installed on the surface of the lower shell, and a water drainage opening is formed in the surface of the water drainage electromagnetic valve. The utility model effectively solves the problem of slow speed in the existing automatic water drainage technology. Different from a traditional design that a water draining valve and an air inlet valve are both located at the bottom of a filter and pressure is balanced by means of synchronous air inlet, a more efficient design is adopted, the water draining process is not obviously affected by negative pressure of an inner cavity any more, and therefore the water draining speed is greatly increased.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of fuel filters, and specifically relates to an automatic water discharging device for a fuel filter. Background Art

[0002] In the existing fuel filter drainage technology, moisture in fuel is likely to deposit at the bottom of the filter due to its density being greater than that of fuel, and the discharge of accumulated water needs to be processed by means of an automatic water discharging device. However, the existing automatic water discharging technology usually adopts a design where both the water discharging valve and the air intake valve are located at the bottom of the filter. During the water discharging process, the inner cavity of the filter is often in a negative pressure state due to the gravity of the fuel, and the discharge of moisture requires the air intake valve to introduce external air to balance the internal and external pressures. When the negative pressure in the inner cavity is significant, the air intake process is relatively slow, thereby resulting in a slower water discharging rate. Therefore, in the prior art, the drainage efficiency is low and it is difficult to meet the requirements for efficient and rapid drainage.

[0003] Since this drainage method requires simultaneous air intake and water discharging operations in practical applications, the system is often affected by the change of internal and external pressures during the operation process, resulting in a long water discharging process, and it may face the situation of poor drainage under low temperature or complex working conditions. The long water discharging process not only affects the normal operation of the vehicle fuel system, but also may have an adverse impact on precision components such as fuel injectors and fuel pumps due to the retention of moisture in the filter, thereby affecting the overall performance and operation stability of the engine. Therefore, the existing automatic water discharging technology has great limitations in dealing with the negative pressure in the inner cavity and air intake balance. Content of the Utility Model

[0004] The purpose of the embodiment of the utility model is to provide an automatic water discharging device for a fuel filter, aiming to solve the technical problems mentioned in the background art.

[0005] To achieve the above purpose, the utility model provides the following technical solutions:

[0006] An automatic water discharging device for a fuel filter includes a filter main body, and a filter base is arranged at one end of the filter main body. An electric pump is installed on the surface of the filter base. A lower housing is sleeved outside the filter main body. An air intake solenoid valve is installed on the surface of the filter base, and an air intake port is arranged on the surface of the air intake solenoid valve. A water discharging solenoid valve is installed on the surface of the lower housing, and a water discharging port is arranged on the surface of the water discharging solenoid valve;

[0007] A third water detection electrode, a second water detection electrode and a first water detection electrode are arranged at the inner bottom of the lower housing, and the height of the third water detection electrode is greater than that of the second water detection electrode, and the height of the second water detection electrode is greater than that of the first water detection electrode.

[0008] Further, the intake solenoid valve is connected to the inside of the filter seat, and the drain solenoid valve is connected to the inside of the lower housing.

[0009] Further, a controller is mounted on the surface of the lower housing.

[0010] Further, a third connecting wire harness is provided on the surface of the controller, a first connecting wire harness is jointly provided on the surfaces of the controller and the intake solenoid valve, a second connecting wire harness is jointly provided on the surfaces of the controller and the electric pump, and a fourth connecting wire harness is provided between the controller and the drain solenoid valve.

[0011] Further, a protective cover is provided on the surface of the lower housing, and the controller is arranged inside the protective cover.

[0012] A control method for an automatic drain device of a fuel filter includes the following steps:

[0013] Step S1, analyze whether the duration that the water level inside the fuel filter exceeds the third water detection electrode exceeds a first preset duration;

[0014] Step S2, if it is determined whether the duration that the water level inside the fuel filter exceeds the third water detection electrode exceeds the first preset duration, obtain the control instruction of the vehicle instrument panel, and analyze whether to allow the fuel filter to drain water according to the control instruction of the vehicle instrument panel;

[0015] Step S3, if it is determined that the fuel filter is allowed to drain water, obtain the engine speed data and the fuel oil temperature data;

[0016] Step S4, judge whether the engine is running and whether the fuel oil temperature is greater than 0 degrees Celsius according to the engine speed data and the fuel oil temperature data;

[0017] Step S5, if it is determined that the engine is in a stopped state and the fuel oil temperature is greater than 0 degrees Celsius, control the intake solenoid valve and the drain solenoid valve to open, and perform the water draining operation of the fuel filter;

[0018] Step S6, during the water draining process, analyze whether the water level inside the fuel filter is lower than the second water detection electrode. If it is determined that the water level inside the lower housing is lower than the second water detection electrode, control the intake solenoid valve and the drain solenoid valve to close and stop the water draining operation;

[0019] Step S7, control the electric pump to run for a second preset duration, and then turn off the electric pump.

[0020] Further, in step S1, the preset duration is 10 seconds.

[0021] An automatic drain device for a fuel filter provided by the present utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0022] It effectively solves the problem of slow speed in the existing automatic water drainage technology. Different from the traditional design where both the water discharge valve and the air intake valve are located at the bottom of the filter and rely on synchronous air intake to balance pressure, the utility model adopts a more efficient design, making the water discharge process no longer significantly affected by the negative pressure in the inner cavity, thus greatly improving the drainage speed. This device can not only quickly drain the accumulated water, but also ensure the normal operation of the fuel system, without affecting the engine startup and working efficiency, and has good practicability and adaptability. It better meets the needs of vehicles in actual use, improves the maintenance efficiency of the fuel system, and extends the service life of engine components. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of an automatic water drainage device for a fuel filter.

[0024] Figure 2 It is a front plan view of an automatic water drainage device for a fuel filter.

[0025] Figure 3 It is a schematic side structure diagram of an automatic water drainage device for a fuel filter.

[0026] Figure 4 It is a schematic bottom structure diagram of an automatic water drainage device for a fuel filter.

[0027] Figure 5 It is a schematic internal structure diagram of the lower housing in an automatic water drainage device for a fuel filter.

[0028] Figure 6 It is a schematic control logic diagram of a control method for an automatic water drainage device for a fuel filter.

[0029] Figure 7 It is a schematic CAN communication control logic diagram of a control method for an automatic water drainage device for a fuel filter.

[0030] In the figure: 1, filter base; 2, filter body; 3, lower housing; 4, first connection harness; 5, intake solenoid valve; 6, electric pump; 7, second connection harness; 8, water discharge solenoid valve; 9, water discharge port; 10, third connection harness; 11, intake port; 12, fourth connection harness; 13, first water detection electrode; 14, second water detection electrode; 15, third water detection electrode; 16, controller. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0031] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present utility model clearer and more understandable, the present utility model will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present utility model and are not used to limit the present utility model.

[0032] The following describes in detail the specific implementation of the present utility model in conjunction with specific embodiments.

[0033] As Figures 1-5 shown, an automatic water draining device for a fuel filter provided by an embodiment of the present utility model includes a filter body 2, and a filter base 1 is provided at one end of the filter body 2. An electric pump 6 is installed on the surface of the filter base 1. A lower housing 3 is sleeved outside the filter body 2. An intake solenoid valve 5 is installed on the surface of the filter base 1, and an intake port 11 is provided on the surface of the intake solenoid valve 5. A water draining solenoid valve 8 is installed on the surface of the lower housing 3, and a water draining port 9 is provided on the surface of the water draining solenoid valve 8. The intake solenoid valve 5 is communicated with the inside of the filter base 1, and the water draining solenoid valve 8 is communicated with the inside of the lower housing 3.

[0034] A third water detection electrode 15, a second water detection electrode 14 and a first water detection electrode 13 are provided at the inner bottom of the lower housing 3, and the height of the third water detection electrode 15 is greater than the height of the second water detection electrode 14, and the height of the second water detection electrode 14 is greater than the height of the first water detection electrode 13.

[0035] A controller 16 is installed on the surface of the lower housing 3. A third connection wire harness 10 is provided on the surface of the controller 16. A first connection wire harness 4 is jointly provided on the surface of the controller 16 and the intake solenoid valve 5. A second connection wire harness 7 is jointly provided on the surface of the controller 16 and the electric pump 6. A fourth connection wire harness 12 is provided between the controller 16 and the water draining solenoid valve 8.

[0036] In an embodiment of the present utility model, the automatic water draining device includes a variety of key components, which work together in the system. The filter body 2 is used to filter the fuel and intercept water and impurities. Since the specific gravity of water is greater than that of fuel, water will deposit at the bottom of the filter. One end of the filter is equipped with a filter base 1, which is tightly connected to the filter body 2 and supports components such as the electric pump 6 and the intake solenoid valve 5. After the water draining process is completed, the electric pump can compress the air in the filter cavity to ensure that the fuel system returns to the normal pressure state after the drainage is completed, so as to ensure the smooth start of the engine.

[0037] The intake solenoid valve 5 is used together with the intake port 11 and is installed on the filter base 1. By controlling the opening and closing of the intake solenoid valve 5, air is allowed to enter the filter inner cavity. This plays a role in balancing the internal and external pressures during the water drainage process, enabling water to smoothly drain out from the drain port 9. The lower housing 3 is sleeved outside the filter body 2, and three water detection electrodes (the first water detection electrode 13, the second water detection electrode 14, and the third water detection electrode 15) are installed at the bottom. They respectively detect the water levels at different heights to ensure accurate monitoring of the water accumulation situation.

[0038] The first water detection electrode 13 is located at the lowest position and usually serves as the negative electrode. When the water level rises and touches this electrode, a circuit is formed through the conductivity of water, providing a preliminary water level signal to the controller, indicating that there is a small amount of accumulated water in the filter. The second water detection electrode 14 is located at the middle height and serves as the positive electrode. When the water level rises to this level, the conductivity of water will transmit a signal to the controller, but it does not trigger any operation and is only used to monitor the further change of the water level. When the third water detection electrode 15 (at the highest position and serving as the positive electrode) detects that the water level reaches its height, the controller 16 triggers an alarm and, under appropriate conditions (such as the engine speed being 0, the ambient temperature being greater than 0 °C, etc.), opens the intake solenoid valve 5 and the drain solenoid valve 8 to drain the accumulated water. During the water drainage process, the water level gradually drops. When the water level drops below the second water detection electrode 14, it means that the water drainage operation is completed. The controller 16 then closes the intake and drain solenoid valves and starts the electric pump 6 to compress the air in the filter to ensure the restoration of the system pressure, thus facilitating the restart of the engine. When the water level drops to the first water detection electrode 13, the controller 16 continues to monitor the change of the water level to ensure that the system can respond to the accumulated water situation at any time.

[0039] In this way, the device effectively solves the problem of slow speed in the existing automatic water drainage technology. Different from the traditional design where both the drain valve and the intake valve are located at the bottom of the filter and rely on synchronous intake to balance the pressure, the present utility model adopts a more efficient design, making the water drainage process no longer significantly affected by the negative pressure in the inner cavity, thereby greatly improving the drainage speed. The device can not only quickly drain the accumulated water but also ensure the normal operation of the fuel system, without affecting the starting and working efficiency of the engine, and has good practicability and adaptability. It better meets the needs of vehicles in actual use, improves the maintenance efficiency of the fuel system, and extends the service life of engine components.

[0040] In this embodiment, a protective cover is provided on the surface of the lower housing 3, and the controller 16 is arranged inside the protective cover. The design of this protective cover has multiple advantages. First of all, it can effectively protect the controller 16 from the external environment such as dust, moisture and impact, enhancing the durability and reliability of the system. Secondly, the protective cover can prevent vibration from interfering with the controller, ensuring the stability of the device during vehicle driving. In addition, the design of the protective cover also helps to simplify the maintenance of the equipment, making it more convenient to replace or check the controller, thereby improving the long-term use performance and safety of the entire automatic water draining device.

[0041] As Figure 6 shown, in an embodiment of the present utility model, a control method for an automatic water draining device for a fuel filter includes the following steps:

[0042] Step S1, analyze whether the duration that the water level inside the fuel filter exceeds the third water detection electrode 15 exceeds a first preset duration;

[0043] Step S2, if it is determined whether the duration that the water level inside the fuel filter exceeds the third water detection electrode 15 exceeds the first preset duration, obtain the control instruction of the vehicle instrument panel, and analyze whether to allow the fuel filter to drain water according to the control instruction of the vehicle instrument panel;

[0044] Step S3, if it is determined to allow the fuel filter to drain water, obtain the engine speed data and the fuel oil temperature data;

[0045] Step S4, judge whether the engine is running and whether the fuel oil temperature is greater than 0 degrees Celsius according to the engine speed data and the fuel oil temperature data;

[0046] Step S5, if it is determined that the engine is in a stopped state and the fuel oil temperature is greater than 0 degrees Celsius, control the intake solenoid valve 5 and the drain solenoid valve 8 to open to perform the water draining operation of the fuel filter;

[0047] Step S6, during the water draining process, analyze whether the water level inside the fuel filter is lower than the second water detection electrode 14. If it is determined that the water level inside the lower housing 3 is lower than the second water detection electrode 14, control the intake solenoid valve 5 and the drain solenoid valve 8 to close and stop the water draining operation;

[0048] Step S7, control the electric pump 6 to run for a second preset duration, and then turn off the electric pump 6.

[0049] In this embodiment, the control method includes multiple steps to ensure that the water in the fuel filter can be automatically discharged under suitable conditions and maintain the normal operation and safety of the entire system. First, the device detects whether the water level inside the fuel filter exceeds the third water detection electrode 15 and determines whether the duration of the water level at this position exceeds the first preset duration. The basis for this judgment is that when the water level remains at a high level for a long time, it indicates that the accumulated water volume in the filter has reached the warning level and further processing is required.

[0050] If the duration of the water level at the third water detection electrode 15 indeed exceeds the first preset duration, the system obtains the control instruction from the vehicle instrument panel and determines whether to allow the water discharge operation according to this instruction. The implementation of this step is based on ensuring that the water discharge operation conforms to the driver's intention and the operating state of the entire vehicle, so as to avoid water discharge under inappropriate conditions, thereby increasing the safety and flexibility of the system.

[0051] After determining that water discharge is allowed, the system further obtains the engine speed data and fuel oil temperature data. This step is crucial because the water discharge operation of the fuel filter can only be carried out under specific conditions. Specifically, the system analyzes whether the engine has stopped running and whether the fuel oil temperature is higher than 0 degrees Celsius. The setting of these judgment conditions is to ensure that the water discharge is carried out when the engine is not working, avoiding affecting the fuel supply system, and at the same time ensuring that the fuel oil temperature is suitable for operation to prevent situations such as icing from affecting the water discharge process.

[0052] When the system determines that the engine has stopped running and the fuel oil temperature is greater than 0 degrees Celsius, the controller 16 issues an instruction to open the intake solenoid valve 5 and the water discharge solenoid valve 8, thereby starting the water discharge operation of the fuel filter. At this time, external air enters the filter cavity through the intake solenoid valve 5 to balance the internal pressure, enabling the accumulated water to be smoothly discharged from the water discharge port of the lower housing 3. During the water discharge process, the system continuously monitors the water level change in the lower housing 3. When it detects that the water level drops below the second water detection electrode 14, it means that the accumulated water has been basically emptied.

[0053] When the water level is below the second water detection electrode 14, the controller 16 closes the intake solenoid valve 5 and the water discharge solenoid valve 8 to stop the water discharge operation to prevent excessive air from entering the system and affecting the normal function of the fuel filter. Next, the system controls the electric pump 6 to start and keep running for a second preset duration. The start of the electric pump 6 is to compress the air in the filter to ensure that an appropriate pressure is re-established in the filter cavity after water discharge, so that the fuel system can quickly return to the normal working state when the engine is started next time. After the electric pump 6 runs for the second preset duration, the controller 16 automatically shuts down the electric pump, and the entire water discharge operation process ends.

[0054] In summary, the design of this control method fully considers multiple key factors such as water level, engine status, and temperature to ensure that the fuel filter can automatically complete the water drainage operation under safe and effective conditions. When detecting the water level, the system uses the precise monitoring of the water detection electrode to ensure that the water drainage process is only initiated when the water level reaches the warning line, avoiding the burden on the system caused by frequent operations. At the same time, by analyzing the operating status of the engine and the fuel temperature, the system can ensure that the water drainage operation is carried out under appropriate conditions, avoiding water drainage during engine operation to prevent adverse effects on fuel supply and ensuring the stable operation of the engine and fuel system.

[0055] In addition, during the automatic water drainage process, the coordinated operation of the intake solenoid valve and the water drainage solenoid valve enables the internal and external pressures to quickly balance during water drainage, thus accelerating the water drainage speed. Compared with the traditional method that requires manual pressure adjustment, this automated design significantly shortens the drainage time and improves the operation efficiency. Even in a low-temperature environment, the system will first check the fuel temperature to ensure that the water drainage is carried out within an appropriate temperature range to prevent water freezing caused by low temperature, thereby further ensuring the stability and durability of the device.

[0056] Each operation in the control method is provided with clear trigger conditions and closing conditions. For example, when the water level is lower than the second water detection electrode, the water drainage stops, or the electric pump automatically shuts down after reaching the preset operation time. These all provide guarantees for the precise operation of the device. In the last operation stage of the electric pump, it not only effectively restores the appropriate pressure in the filter but also ensures that the system can quickly enter the normal working state when starting up next time.

[0057] This design makes the automatic water drainage process of the fuel filter not only more intelligent but also adaptable to various actual usage environments, reducing the necessity of human intervention and the maintenance difficulty. Overall, this control method significantly improves the reliability and durability of the fuel system, enabling the vehicle to maintain a good operating state under complex working conditions, reducing potential damage to the engine and fuel system caused by water problems, and greatly improving the usage convenience and safety of the vehicle.

[0058] In this embodiment, in step S1, the preset duration is 10 seconds. First of all, the 10-second time setting can effectively distinguish between instantaneous water level fluctuations and continuous water accumulation. If the water level only touches the third water detection electrode 15 within a short period, this may be due to the short-term water level fluctuations caused by the vehicle's bumps or fuel sloshing during driving, rather than an actual water accumulation problem. By setting a 10-second duration, the system can avoid mis-triggering the water drainage operation due to short-term fluctuations, thereby improving the operating stability of the device.

[0059] Secondly, the 10-second delay setting helps protect system components from frequent on-off operations. The automatic water drainage process involves the opening and closing operations of the intake solenoid valve and the water drainage solenoid valve. Without proper delay, the system may increase the wear of the solenoid valves due to unnecessary startups, shortening their service life. Setting a 10-second duration can ensure that the water drainage operation is only initiated under real and continuous water accumulation conditions, extending the overall service life of the system.

[0060] In addition, the 10-second duration is a relatively reasonable time interval. It is short enough to respond promptly after water accumulation occurs, preventing damage to the engine and fuel system caused by water remaining in the fuel filter for a long time. Such a setting balances the requirements of response speed and prevention of misoperations, making the entire water drainage process both agile and accurate in operation, thus better protecting the normal operation of the fuel system.

[0061] In this embodiment, in step S6, the second preset duration is 30 seconds. The basis for this setting is to ensure that the electric pump 6 can operate for a sufficient period of time to compress the air in the filter and restore the normal pressure in the system cavity.

[0062] The 30-second time setting is a trade-off that enables the electric pump to effectively inject air into the filter cavity during the evacuation process, ensuring that there is not too much negative pressure remaining in the filter after water drainage and maintaining an appropriate pressure balance. This is crucial for the restart of the engine because after the pressure in the filter cavity returns to the normal level, fuel can flow into the engine more smoothly, ensuring that the vehicle can start smoothly.

[0063] At the same time, this time setting is long enough for the electric pump to complete its task, but not too long to avoid unnecessary energy consumption and overoperation of the electric pump, thereby improving the energy efficiency of the system and the service life of the electric pump. Therefore, the 30-second second preset duration achieves a balance between time and efficiency, ensuring the normal function of the system while extending the life of the electric pump and other related components.

[0064] Such as Figure 7As shown, in the above steps, the transmission of some information and the execution of instructions are completed through CAN (Controller Area Network) communication. Specifically, when the system obtains the control instructions of the vehicle dashboard and the engine speed data, CAN communication is used for real-time data transmission. Through CAN communication, the controller 16 can receive the instruction on whether to allow water drainage from the dashboard, and at the same time obtain the status information of the engine, such as whether the speed is zero, and whether the fuel oil temperature is greater than 0°C and other data. The application of CAN communication ensures the reliability and real-time nature of these data transmissions, enabling the controller to make judgments in a timely manner based on the latest vehicle status, thereby precisely controlling the opening and closing of the intake solenoid valve 5 and the water drainage solenoid valve 8 to ensure the efficiency and safety of the automatic water drainage process.

[0065] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention shall be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automatic water draining device for a fuel filter, comprising a filter body (2), and a filter base (1) is arranged at one end of the filter body (2), an electric pump (6) is installed on the surface of the filter base (1), and a lower housing (3) is sleeved outside the filter body (2), characterized in that, An intake electromagnetic valve (5) is mounted on the surface of the filter base (1), and an air inlet (11) is provided on the surface of the intake electromagnetic valve (5). A water discharge electromagnetic valve (8) is mounted on the surface of the lower housing (3), and a water discharge port (9) is provided on the surface of the water discharge electromagnetic valve (8). A third water detection electrode (15), a second water detection electrode (14), and a first water detection electrode (13) are provided at the inner bottom of the lower housing (3), and the height of the third water detection electrode (15) is greater than that of the second water detection electrode (14), and the height of the second water detection electrode (14) is greater than that of the first water detection electrode (13).

2. The automatic water draining device for a fuel filter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The intake electromagnetic valve (5) is communicated with the inside of the filter base (1), and the water discharge electromagnetic valve (8) is communicated with the inside of the lower housing (3).

3. The automatic water draining device for a fuel filter according to claim 1, characterized in that, A controller (16) is mounted on the surface of the lower housing (3).

4. The automatic water draining device for a fuel filter according to claim 3, characterized in that, A third connection wire harness (10) is provided on the surface of the controller (16). A first connection wire harness (4) is jointly provided on the surface of the controller (16) and the intake electromagnetic valve (5). A second connection wire harness (7) is jointly provided on the surface of the controller (16) and the electric pump (6). A fourth connection wire harness (12) is provided between the controller (16) and the water discharge electromagnetic valve (8).

5. The automatic water draining device for a fuel filter according to claim 3, wherein A protective cover is provided on the surface of the lower housing (3), and the controller (16) is arranged inside the protective cover.

Images