Fuel Filter Backflow Cleaning for Common Rail Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fuel delivery devices for internal combustion engines, particularly those with common rail systems, face challenges in maintaining the long-term effectiveness and longevity of fuel filters due to the inability to efficiently remove particle contamination and surface deformations, leading to reduced service life and functional reliability.

Innovation Solution

A fuel delivery device that incorporates a pressure container, such as a hydraulic accumulator, and a switching valve to create a return flow of fuel through the fuel filter, allowing for the detachment and discharge of particles and surface deformations back into the fuel tank, thereby extending the service life and ensuring the functional reliability of the fuel filter.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fuel is continuously filtered through the fuel filter during operation, then particle contamination is removed from the fuel, but the fuel filter becomes clogged with particles and suffers surface deformations that reduce its service life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel filter service lifeVSAvoidparticle contamination accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies reverse flow through the fuel filter by connecting the return line from the fuel rail to the inlet side of the fuel filter. This inversion of the normal flow direction enables particles to be flushed off the filter surface and transported back to the fuel tank, preventing clogging and extending filter service life while maintaining reliable filtration during forward flow operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Productivity

If high injection pressure is used to achieve high specific performance and minimize emissions, then engine efficiency improves, but the requirement for fine filtration increases, making the fuel filter more susceptible to clogging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine specific performanceVSAvoidfuel filter longevity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful accumulation of particles on the filter surface into a beneficial flushing process. The return flow through the fuel filter, driven by pressure differences during engine operation, automatically removes particles that would otherwise clog the filter, thereby extending filter service life and enabling sustained high-performance operation without frequent filter replacements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively increases the service life of the fuel filter by enabling efficient particle removal and surface deformation correction, ensuring the longevity and reliability of the common rail system, even during periods of non-operation.

Implementation Method 1

A fuel delivery device that incorporates a pressure container, such as a hydraulic accumulator, and a switching valve to create a return flow of fuel through the fuel filter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic accumulator: Hydraulic Accumulator

Data Source

PatentEP2665919B1Fuel delivery device for an internal combustion engine
Publication Date: 2018.02.21 HYDAC FILTERTECHNIK GMBH
  • EP2665919B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2665919B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2665919B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a fuel delivery device for an internal combustion engine, comprising at least one fuel tank (2), from which a fuel pump (3) delivers fuel via a fuel line (1) to a fuel consumer (27), at least one fuel filter (12) being provided in the fuel line (1) for filtering the fuel, wherein said device is characterized in that a unit (8) is provided by means of which a back flow which is directed counter to the delivery direction of the fuel pump (3) can be supplied temporarily to the at least one fuel filter (12), in particular for detaching particles (10) on the fuel filter (12).