Fuel Filter Cup Element Water Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fuel filters for internal combustion engines require high maintenance efforts due to the accumulation of contaminants and water in the receptacle, which can cause corrosion and necessitate cleaning, complicating the maintenance process.

Innovation Solution

A fuel filter design where a coalescer is integrated within the filter body, and a cup element with a water collection space is coupled to the filter element, allowing water separation inside the filter body, reducing contamination risks and eliminating the need for receptacle cleaning during maintenance, with a clip connection or other detachable fastening methods simplifying the exchange of components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If water collection chamber is integrated into the receiving container, then water separation function is improved, but contamination and corrosion of the receiving container occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater separation functionVSAvoidcontamination and corrosion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the water collection function into a separate cup element that can be detached from the receiving container. The cup element contains the water collection chamber and is separated from the receiving container, allowing the water separation function to be isolated from the container that would otherwise be contaminated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The water collection chamber is extracted from the receiving container and placed into a separate cup element. This extraction allows the water collection function to be removed from the receiving container, preventing contamination and corrosion of the container while maintaining water separation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If receiving container is cleaned regularly, then contamination is removed, but maintenance time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination removalVSAvoidmaintenance time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The water collection chamber is extracted into a separate cup element that can be easily removed and replaced. This eliminates the need for cleaning the receiving container, as the cup element can be simply detached and disposed of or reused, significantly reducing maintenance time and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The cup element is designed as a disposable or easily replaceable component. Instead of cleaning the receiving container, the entire cup element containing the water collection chamber can be removed and replaced with a new one, simplifying maintenance to a quick replacement operation rather than a time-consuming cleaning process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Productivity

If coalescer is placed upstream of filter element, then water separation occurs earlier, but water accumulates in receiving container causing corrosion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater separation efficiencyVSAvoidcorrosion

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into distinct functional zones: the coalescer for water separation, the filter element for particle filtration, and the cup element for water collection. This segmentation allows water to be separated and collected in the detachable cup element rather than accumulating in the receiving container, preventing corrosion while maintaining efficient water separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

This design significantly reduces the risk of contaminating the receptacle, simplifies maintenance by allowing the cup element to be removed and replaced independently, and ensures water separation occurs on the clean side of the filter, thereby reducing maintenance efforts and preventing corrosion.

Implementation Method 1

The coalescer (9) is arranged within the interior (10) of the filter body (8)... Water separation thus takes place inside the filter body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCoalescence: Coagulation

Implementation Method 2

The filter element (6) separates a raw side (16) from a clean side (17)... the flow through its filter element is from radially outside to radially inside

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP2635359B1Fuel filter for an internal combustion engine

Publication Date: 2018.07.25 MAHLE INT GMBH

Figure 1
Figure 2

AI summary

The present invention relates to an insert (5) for a fuel filter (1) of an internal combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle. For simplified maintenance of the fuel filter (1), the insert comprises a filter element (6) which has an annular filter body (8) and a cylindrical coalescer (9) arranged coaxially thereto in the interior (10) of the filter body (8), and a cup element (7) which contains a water collecting space (12) which is open to the interior (10) of the filter body (8) and which, in a base (14), contains an outlet opening (13) which can be closed by a closure (15) and which is fluidically connected to the water collecting space (12).