Axially Compact Fuel Filter With Radial Outlet Port

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fuel filters face challenges in minimizing axial length while maintaining desired filtering capacity, as the length of the filter element and port positions determine the overall axial length, making it difficult to achieve optimal filtering performance with reduced size.

Innovation Solution

The fuel filter design incorporates a recessed outlet port that is radially aligned with the second axially disposed side wall, allowing for a minimized overall axial length by not contributing to the overall length, thus maximizing the length of the filter element while maintaining filtering capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the filter element length is increased to maintain filtering capacity, then the axial length of the filter increases, but the overall axial length increases making the filter too long for compact applications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltering capacityVSAvoidaxial length
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The outlet port is positioned in the second radially disposed end wall instead of extending axially, changing the port orientation from axial to radial direction. This dimensional change allows the filter element to maintain full axial length for filtering while the outlet port does not contribute to axial length, resolving the contradiction between filtering capacity and compact axial length

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Length of moving object

If the outlet port is positioned to minimize axial length, then the overall axial length is reduced, but the filter element length may be compromised affecting filtering capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxial lengthVSAvoidfiltering capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented into two radially disposed end walls, with the outlet port positioned in the second end wall. This segmentation allows the filter element to extend the full axial distance between end walls, maximizing filtering capacity while the outlet port configuration minimizes overall axial length contribution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2902085B1Axially compact fuel filter
Publication Date: 2020.10.14 MOTOR COMPONENTS LLC
  • EP2902085B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2902085B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP2902085B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A fuel filter, including: a housing, an inlet port, and an outlet port. The housing includes: a first axially disposed side wall forming a radially outermost portion of a circumference for the housing; a second axially disposed side wall located radially inward of the first axially disposed wall; a first radially disposed end wall connected to a first axial edge of the first axially disposed wall; and a second radially disposed end wall connected to a first axial edge of the second axially disposed side wall. The outlet port extends from the second radially disposed end wall and is radially aligned with the second axially disposed side wall. The inlet port extends from the first radially disposed end wall.