Disposable Fuel Filter Assembly with Internal Heating and Decantation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fuel filter assemblies face issues with contamination exposure during servicing, limited heat transfer capacity, and entrainment of fluidic contaminates due to their design, which affects the efficiency and longevity of the filter medium.

Innovation Solution

A filter assembly featuring a disposable filter body with a central support that provides rigidity and allows for easy replacement, integral heating elements to prevent wax particle formation, and an impermeable wall to protect the filter member from contamination, along with a decantation volume that isolates fluid from contaminates during transit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If a removable cartridge filter is used, then replacement part cost is reduced, but the filter medium is exposed to contamination during servicing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereplacement part costVSAvoidcontamination exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The filter cartridge is designed as a disposable component that is replaced entirely during servicing, eliminating the need to handle and protect the filter medium. The entire cartridge including the filter medium is discarded and replaced as a single unit, preventing contamination exposure during maintenance operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

A protective cover is introduced as an intermediary component that encloses the filter medium during servicing operations. This cover acts as a barrier between the filter medium and potential contaminants in the working environment, allowing the filter cartridge to be handled safely during replacement without direct exposure of the filter medium to contamination sources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If the heater is fixed on the periphery of the filter assembly, then heat transfer capacity is increased, but the overall size of the filter assembly increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer capacityVSAvoidfilter assembly size

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The heater is nested within the internal structure of the filter assembly, specifically positioned within the filter housing or cartridge area. This internal placement allows the heating element to be surrounded by fuel flow paths, maximizing heat transfer efficiency while keeping the external dimensions of the filter assembly compact and suitable for engine compartment installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of manufacture

If the fuel flows into the heater at the top and exits into the decantation volume at the bottom, then the heater is easily positioned, but fluidic contaminates are disturbed and entrained into the fuel flow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheater positioningVSAvoidcontaminant entrainment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The filter assembly is segmented into distinct functional zones: a filtration section, a heating section, and a decantation section. The fuel flow path is divided into separate channels that prevent mixing between the heated fuel and the decantation volume containing fluidic contaminates. This segmentation allows the heater to be positioned for ease of manufacture while preventing contaminant re-entrainment into the fuel flow.

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 simplifies servicing, enhances the operational life of the filter medium by preventing contamination and wax particle obstruction, and ensures efficient filtration by isolating fluid from contaminates, thereby reducing wear and maintenance costs.

Implementation Method 1

the use of a heater, the heater being arranged to heat the fuel to prevent the formation of wax particles in the fuel prior to filtration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

a filter medium for filtering particulate contaminates from a flow of fuel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 3

a water storage capacity or decantation volume for storing the fluidic contaminates once they have been filtered out of the fuel flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDecantation: Settling

Data Source

PatentUS8883004B2Filter assembly

Publication Date: 2014.11.11 PHINIA JERSEY HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

A filter assembly includes a disposable filter body and a central support for the disposable filter body. Openings are provided in upper and lower ends of the disposable filter body for receiving a respective end of the central support. The filter assembly also includes a disposable filter cartridge, housed within the disposable filter body, and housing a filter member for filtering particulate contaminates from a flow of fluid through the filter assembly. The filter member is hollow and the disposable filter cartridge also includes an impermeable wall that extends axially through the filter member. The central support is separable from the disposable filter body and removable from the openings to allow disposal and replacement of the filter body and the filter cartridge during servicing.