Fuel Filter Heating Sensor Module Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel filters for internal combustion engines lack a compact and efficient solution for regulating fuel temperature, which affects the viscosity and fluidity of the fuel before it reaches the filter element, leading to inefficiencies and potential clogging.
Innovation Solution
A compact heating sensor module is integrated with a separate heating chamber outside the filter housing, where the heating elements are located upstream of the filter element, allowing for even heating of the fuel before it enters the filter, and includes a temperature sensor with a negative temperature coefficient for precise control, along with a water level sensor for managing water separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If heating elements are integrated inside the filter housing, then the fuel can be heated before filtration, but the device complexity increases and maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The heating device is segmented from the filter housing into a separate, detachable module. This module can be independently installed, maintained, and replaced without disassembling the entire fuel filter system, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the heating function.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating elements are extracted from the internal filter housing structure and placed in an external heating chamber. This extraction simplifies the filter housing design and allows the heating module to be serviced separately, addressing the maintenance difficulty issue.
2Temperature
If heating elements are placed inside the filter housing, then fuel heating is achieved, but the filter housing structure becomes complex and hard to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The heating device is divided into a separate module that can be independently accessed and maintained. This segmentation allows technicians to service the heating elements without disassembling the filter housing, significantly improving ease of repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating elements are taken out of the filter housing and placed in an external chamber. This extraction creates a clear separation between the filtration system and heating system, making both easier to maintain independently.
3Volume of moving object
If a compact heating sensor module is used, then the overall device size is reduced, but the heating chamber must be positioned outside the filter housing
Solution Approach 1:
The heating chamber is positioned in a different spatial arrangement outside the filter housing, utilizing available space in another dimension. This allows the compact module design to accommodate the heating function without increasing the overall device footprint.
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 configuration ensures efficient heating of the fuel, reducing viscosity and pressure differences, improving fluidity and filter efficiency, while allowing for easy integration and detachment of the module from the filter housing, enhancing safety and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical heating device for heating the fuel
Implementation Method 2
a temperature sensor with a negative temperature coefficient for precise control
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a fuel filter, in particular a diesel fuel filter (10) of an internal combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle, and to a heating sensor module (72). A filter housing (14) comprises at least one inlet for the fuel to be cleaned and at least one outlet for the cleaned fuel. A filter element (36) is arranged in the inner chamber (20) of the filter housing (14), in such a manner that it separates at least one inlet from the at least one outlet (32). At least one heating unit (106) for heating the fuel, at least one temperature sensor (110) for detecting a temperature of the fuel and at least one water level sensor (90) for detecting a water level of water separated from the fuel in a water collection space (22) are integrated in the heating sensor module (72). At least one heating element (104) of the heating unit (106) is arranged in a heating chamber (102) which is located outside of the inner chamber (20) of the filter housing (14) in respect of a fuel flow (118, 120) between the inlet (74) and a dirty side of the filter element (36) and which is delimited as well by a module housing (80) of the heating sensor module (72).