Fuel Filter Housing Design for Air Inhaling Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel feed systems for vehicles face issues with air inhaling phenomena due to fuel movement and exposure of the fuel filter to air, leading to reduced power efficiency and increased clogging, especially when the fuel quantity is low and the vehicle experiences jumps or slopes.
Innovation Solution
A fuel feed system design where the fuel filter is shaped to extend outward from the fuel pump unit, with a filter housing covering the upper, lower, and side portions to prevent air ingestion and maintain a larger fuel suction area, ensuring the fuel filter remains submerged and reducing clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the fuel filter is disposed as close as possible to the bottom wall of the fuel tank to ensure complete fuel suction, then the fuel suction efficiency is improved, but the fuel filter is temporarily exposed to air during vehicle movement or acceleration, causing air inhaling phenomenon
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel filter is nested within the filter housing, which is in turn nested within the fuel pump unit. This nested structure allows the fuel filter to be positioned close to the bottom wall for complete suction while the housing protects it from air exposure during vehicle movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter housing acts as an intermediary structure between the fuel filter and the external environment. It provides a protective enclosure that prevents direct air contact with the fuel filter while allowing the filter to maintain its optimal position for suction.
2Reliability
If the fuel filter is covered with a filter housing to prevent air inhaling, then the air inhaling phenomenon is prevented, but the suction area of the fuel filter is restricted and clogging occurs more easily
Solution Approach 1:
The filter housing extends in the vertical dimension above the fuel filter, providing protection without restricting the horizontal suction area. This dimensional extension allows the filter to maintain a large surface area for fuel intake while the housing encloses the structure to prevent air ingress.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter housing is segmented into multiple portions (upper portion, lower portion, front and rear portions, right and left portions) that can be independently designed and assembled. This segmentation allows the housing to provide comprehensive protection while maintaining access to the fuel filter for cleaning and replacement.
3Device complexity
If the fuel filter is supported in an inclined state to fit into the fuel pump region, then the space utilization is improved, but the upper portion of the fuel filter is exposed to air and clogging occurs more easily
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel filter is nested within the filter housing, which provides a protective enclosure. This nesting structure allows the filter to be positioned in the limited space of the fuel pump region while the housing prevents the upper portion from being exposed to air during vehicle movement.
Data Source
AI summary
It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel feed system for a vehicle in which, even if a small fuel quantity remains in a fuel pump, an air inhaling phenomenon is not generated when a vehicle jumps or runs on an upward slope. In the fuel feed system, a fuel pump unit is accommodated in a fuel tank, and the fuel pump unit includes a fuel pump and a fuel filter connected to a lower-end fuel suction portion of the fuel pump. The fuel filter is shaped so as to extend outward from a region of the fuel pump as seen from the above, and a filter housing for covering at least one of an upper portion and a lower portion of the fuel filter, front and rear portions of the fuel filter, and right and left portions of the fuel filter is provided with the fuel pump unit.