FUEL FILTER

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fuel filter (1), preferably for diesel, for a fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine. The fuel filter (1) extends along a filter axis (XX), comprising: – a filter medium (2), substantially tubular in shape, through which the fuel can pass radially during filtration in order to remove undesirable elements and separate it from water; – a filter housing (3) comprising a filtration chamber (30) adapted to contain the filter medium (2), in which the filter housing (3) comprises a base housing (4) and a head housing (5) comprising respective cylindrical side walls (41, 51).The head housing (5) includes a central opening (50) delimited by an opening edge (500), a flat head wall (53) extending substantially perpendicularly to the filter axis (XX) from the opening edge (500), and a junction segment (52) extending between the flat head wall (53) and the cylindrical side wall (51). Said junction segment (52) includes at least one flat junction wall (520). [Fig. 1].

Description

Title of the invention: FUEL FILTER Scope of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a fuel filter, preferably for diesel fuel. More specifically, the present invention relates to a fuel filter for a fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine, preferably of a vehicle.

[0002] The present invention relates in particular to the automotive field, and in particular to fuel filtration operations. State of the art

[0003] Prior art is known a plurality of fuel filter solutions adapted to filter fuel and in particular diesel fuel.

[0004] More specifically, in fuel filtration operations, the fuel is filtered to remove undesirable elements, for example particles and / or impurities, and is separated from the water.

[0005] Known fuel filters include a filter medium adapted to perform the filtration operations and a filter housing which encloses the filter medium in which the aforementioned filtration operations take place.

[0006] A characteristic problem with these embodiments is related to the high pressure inside the filter housing. Indeed, the high pressure sometimes causes swelling on the walls of the filter housing, particularly in its head area. Solution to the invention

[0007] In view of what is explained above, the requirement to solve this problem is strongly understood, by proposing a fuel filter suitable for withstanding high operating pressures inside the filter housing.

[0008] The present invention therefore aims to provide this filter solution.

[0009] This object is achieved by means of a filter in accordance with what is claimed in the independent claims. The dependent claims relate to preferred embodiments having further advantageous aspects. Description of the drawings

[0010] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the following description of its preferred embodiments, provided by way of example only and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

[0011] - [Fig. 1] represents a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a filter according to the present invention;

[0012] - [Fig.2] represents a top view of the filter illustrated in [Fig.1];

[0013] - Figures [Fig.3A] and [Fig.3B] are two cross-sectional views respectively along the section planes AA and BB of [Fig.2]. Detailed description

[0014] With reference to the attached figures, reference number 1 designates a fuel filter.

[0015] The fuel filter 1 is suitable for being part of a fuel system of an internal combustion engine, preferably of a vehicle.

[0016] The fuel filter 1 is particularly suitable for filtering diesel-type fuel.

[0017] Preferably, the fuel filter 1 is adapted to perform fuel filtration operations in order to remove undesirable elements and separate it from water.

[0018] According to the present invention, the fuel filter 1 extends along a filter axis XX.

[0019] Preferably, said filter axis XX, in the use of the fuel filter 1, is positioned vertically with respect to the ground plane.

[0020] According to the present invention, the fuel filter 1 comprises a filter medium 2, substantially tubular in shape along the filter axis XX, comprising a cavity 20. In particular, the filter medium 2 can be traversed radially and, in the radial traversal, the filter medium 2 filters the fuel by removing undesirable elements and separates it from the water.

[0021] According to the present invention, the fuel filter 1 comprises a filter housing 3 including a filtration chamber 30 adapted to contain the filter medium 2.

[0022] In other words, it is in said filtration chamber 30 that the fuel to be filtered flows in and the filtered fuel flows out.

[0023] According to the present invention, the filter housing 3 comprises a base housing 4 and a head housing 5 which can be axially coupled along the filter axis XX. In addition, the base housing 4 and the head housing 5 comprise respective cylindrical side walls 41, 51 which can be coupled along the filter axis XX in correspondence with respective connecting zones.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, the head housing 5 is obtained by means of a machined sheet of metal. Preferably, said sheet of metal has a thickness of between 0.3 mm and 1.5 mm. Preferably, said sheet of metal has a thickness of substantially 0.5 mm. By way of example, the head housing 5 is obtained from a sheet of metal machined by plastic deformation, preferably by deep drawing.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment, the basic housing 4 is obtained from a machined sheet of metal. Preferably, said sheet of metal has a thickness of between 0.3 mm and 1.5 mm. Preferably, said sheet of metal has a thickness of approximately 0.5 mm. By way of example, the basic housing 4 is obtained from a sheet of metal machined by plastic deformation, preferably by deep drawing.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment, the cylindrical base side wall 41 and the cylindrical head side wall 51 are joined together in a non-removable manner by mechanical crimping.

[0027] According to the present invention, the head housing 5 comprises a central opening 50 delimited by an opening edge 500.

[0028] In addition, the head housing 5 includes a flat head wall 53 which extends substantially perpendicularly to the filter axis XX from the aperture edge 500.

[0029] According to the present invention, the head housing 5 includes a connecting segment 52 which extends between the flat wall 53 and the cylindrical side wall 51.

[0030] Said junction segment 52 comprises at least one junction plane wall 520.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment, the head housing 5 comprises a single wall junction plane 520. According to a preferred embodiment, said junction plane wall 520 corresponds to a part of a lateral surface of a truncated cone having an axis of rotation which coincides with the filter axis XX and a larger base whose diameter coincides substantially with the diameter of the cylindrical wall 51 of the head housing 5.

[0032] According to a preferred embodiment, in longitudinal section, at least one flat junction wall 520 is inclined relative to the flat head wall 53 at an angle α less than or equal to 45°, preferably less than or equal to 40°, in particular 39.5°.

[0033] According to a preferred embodiment, the junction segment 52 comprises at least three flat junction walls 520.

[0034] According to a preferred embodiment, the junction segment 52 comprises three flat junction walls 520.

[0035] According to a preferred embodiment, each flat junction wall is inclined relative to the head wall 53 at a different angle than that formed with the adjacent flat junction wall.

[0036] According to a preferred embodiment, each flat junction wall is inclined relative to the head wall 53 at an acute angle different from that formed with the adjacent flat junction wall.

[0037] According to a preferred embodiment, each flat wall is inclined at a respective angle, the value of the angle increasing progressively from the wall junction plane close to the head wall 53 to the junction plane distant from the head wall 53.

[0038] According to a preferred embodiment, the first flat connecting wall 521 is inclined at an angle [3 less than or equal to 15° relative to the flat head wall 53, the second flat connecting wall 520 is inclined relative to the flat head wall 53 at an angle a less than or equal to 45° and the third flat connecting wall 522 is inclined relative to the flat head wall 53 at an angle y less than or equal to 65°.

[0039] According to a preferred embodiment, the angular values ​​indicated above have a tolerance of + / -5°.

[0040] According to a preferred embodiment, the joining segment 52 engages with the flat head wall 53 and the cylindrical side wall 51 with respective fittings having a radius of curvature less than 3 millimeters, preferably equal to 2.5 millimeters.

[0041] Preferably, two consecutive flat junction walls 520 come into contact with each other with a fitting having a radius of curvature less than 3 millimeters, preferably equal to 2.5 millimeters.

[0042] According to the preferred embodiment, the radius of each fitting has a tolerance of + / - 0.2 mm.

[0043] According to a preferred embodiment, the basic housing 4 further includes a central drainage opening 40.

[0044] According to a preferred embodiment, the basic housing 4 further includes a drainage element 8 which closes said central drainage opening 40 and drains the water separated from the fuel by means of the filter medium 2.

[0045] According to a preferred embodiment, the connection zone between the cylindrical base side wall 41 and the cylindrical head side wall 51 is located at an axial part included between the central opening 50 and the central evacuation opening 40.

[0046] According to a preferred embodiment, the head housing 5 further includes a mechanical seal 6 which embraces the upper and lower edge of the opening 500.

[0047] In an innovative way, the fuel filter that is the subject of the present invention largely corresponds to the object of the present invention by solving the problems that have appeared in typical solutions of the prior art.

[0048] Advantageously, the fuel filter, and in particular the head housing, is adapted to withstand high pressures.

[0049] Advantageously, the head housing has a flat connecting wall adapted to relieve the pressure action on the flat head wall and on the cylindrical side wall.

[0050] Advantageously, the head housing has a multitude of flat connecting walls adapted to relieve the pressure action on the flat head wall and on the cylindrical side wall. Advantageously, the head housing has an incremental mechanical resistance by means of at least one flat junction wall adapted to interact with corresponding flat matching surfaces provided on the housing head on which said filter is installed.

[0051] Advantageously, the presence of flat walls divides the thrust action of the pressure into a multitude of perpendicular actions.

[0052] Advantageously, the filter is a simple component with limited production costs.

[0053] It is evident that a person skilled in the art will be able, in order to satisfy specific requirements, to make modifications to the convection heater and the filter, provided that they all remain within the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the following claims. List of reference numbers#:

[0054] 1 filter 2 filtering medium 20 cavity 3 filter housing 30 filtration chamber 4 basic crankcase 41 cylindrical base side wall 40 evacuation opening 5 head casing 50 central opening 500 opening edge 51 cylindrical head side wall 52 junction segment 520 flat junction wall 521, 522 connecting side walls 6 mechanical seal 8 evacuation elements a, [3, y angle XX filter axis

Claims

Demands

1. Fuel filter (1), preferably for diesel, for a fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine, extending along a filter axis (XX), comprising: - a filter medium (2), substantially tubular in shape along the filter axis (XX), comprising a cavity (20), through which the filter medium (2) can be radially passed during filtration by the fuel in order to remove undesirable elements and separate it from water; - a filter housing (3) comprising a filtration chamber (30) adapted to contain the filter medium (2), in which the filter housing (3) comprises a base housing (4) and a head housing (5) comprising respective cylindrical side walls (41, 51) that can be coupled together along the filter axis (XX) in correspondence with respective connecting zones;in which the head housing (5) includes a central opening (50) delimited by an opening edge (500), a flat head wall (53) extending substantially perpendicularly to the filter axis (XX) from the opening edge (500) and a junction segment (52) extending between the flat wall (53) and the cylindrical side wall (51), in which the junction segment (52) includes at least one flat junction wall (520).

2. Fuel filter (1) according to claim 1, wherein, in longitudinal section, at least one flat junction wall (520) is inclined relative to the flat head wall (53) at an angle (a) less than or equal to 45°, preferably less than or equal to 40°.

3. Fuel filter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the junction segment (52) comprises a plurality of junction plane walls, preferably at least three junction plane walls.

4. Fuel filter (1) according to claim 3, wherein the junction segment (52) comprises three flat junction walls (520, 521, 522).

5. Fuel filter (1) according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein each junction plane wall is inclined relative to the head wall (53) at a different angle than that formed with the adjacent junction plane wall.

6. Fuel filter (1) according to claim 5, wherein each flat wall is inclined at a respective angle, the value of the angle increasing progressively from the junction flat wall close to the head wall (53) to the junction flat wall distant from the head wall (53).

7. Fuel filter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with claim 4, wherein the first junction plane wall (521) is inclined at an angle (|3) less than or equal to about 15° relative to the head plane wall (53), the second junction plane wall (520) is inclined relative to the head plane wall (53) at an angle (a) less than or equal to 45°, the third junction plane wall (522) is inclined relative to the head plane wall (53) at an angle (y) less than or equal to about 65°.

8. Fuel filter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting segment (52) engages with the flat head wall (53) and the cylindrical side wall (51) with respective fittings having a radius of curvature less than 3 millimeters, preferably equal to 2.5 millimeters.

9. Fuel filter (1) according to claim 8 in combination with claims 3 or 4, wherein two consecutive flat connecting walls (520) engage with each other with a fitting having a radius of curvature less than 3 millimeters, preferably equal to 2.5 mm.

10. Fuel filter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the head housing (5) is obtained by means of a sheet of metal machined by plastic deformation, preferably by stamping.

11. Fuel filter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base housing (4) is obtained by means of a sheet of metal machined by plastic deformation, preferably by stamping.

12. Fuel filter (1) according to claims 10 and 11, wherein the cylindrical base side wall (41) and the cylindrical head side wall (51) are joined together in a non-removable manner by mechanical crimping.

13. Fuel filter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the basic housing (4) further comprises a central discharge opening (40), in which the base housing (4) further includes a discharge element (8) which closes the central discharge opening (40) and discharges the water separated from the fuel by means of the filter medium (2).

14. Fuel filter (1) according to claim 13 and claim 12, wherein the bonding zone between the cylindrical base side wall (41) and the cylindrical head side wall (51) is located at an axial portion included between the central opening (50) and the central discharge opening (40).

15. Fuel filter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the head housing (5) further comprises a mechanical seal (6) which embraces at the upper and lower level the opening edge (500).

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