Fuel Filter Bowl ESD Pin Concave Feature

The patent applies curvature by forming a concave feature in the bottom wall of the filter bowl to receive the ESD pin. This curved/recessed geometry allows the pin to be nestled securely within the concave feature, maintaining continuous contact with the bottom wall even under vibratory conditions. The curved surface of the concave feature ensures the pin remains engaged with the conductive path.

The patent introduces a pin support member as an intermediary component between the ESD pin and the filter bowl assembly. This pin support member includes an aperture that receives and secures the ESD pin, providing additional mechanical support and ensuring the pin maintains reliable contact with the bottom wall. The pin support member acts as a mediator that reinforces the connection and prevents pin displacement during operation.

The patent segments the filter bowl assembly into distinct functional components: the non-conductive filter bowl body for filtration, and a separate conductive ESD pin for electro-static discharge. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specialized function without compromise - the bowl material provides filtration while the metallic pin provides the conductive path for dissipating accumulated electrical charges to ground.

The bottom wall of the filter bowl serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the bowl, serves as the filtration boundary, and simultaneously provides a conductive ground path through its metallic construction. The concave feature in the bottom wall universally serves both structural and electro-static discharge functions by securing the ESD pin while maintaining the conductive connection to ground.