Coalescing element of a water separator device, and water separator device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10486093-B2
Application number	US-201615342950-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 3, 2016
Priority date	May 5, 2014
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

A coalescing element for a water separator device for fuel is provided with at least one coalescing medium that separates water contained in the fuel from the fuel. The coalescing element is arranged in a housing of the water separator device such that the coalescing element separates at least one fuel inlet of the housing from at least one fuel outlet of the housing. The at least one coalescing medium is arranged in a flow path of the fuel from the at least one fuel inlet to the at least one fuel outlet. The at least one coalescing medium contains at least one sponge-like coalescing material suitable for coalescing water. The coalescing element is used in fuel filters such as diesel fuel filters of an internal combustion engine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A coalescing element for a water separator device for fuel, the coalescing element comprising
at least one coalescing medium configured to separate water contained in a fuel from the fuel,
wherein the coalescing element is configured to be arranged in a housing of the water separator device such that the coalescing element separates at least one fuel inlet of the housing from at least one fuel outlet of the housing and the at least one coalescing medium is arranged in a flow path of the fuel from the at least one fuel inlet to the at least one fuel outlet,
wherein the at least one coalescing medium comprises at least one sponge-like cloth coalescing material comprising cotton fibers, viscose and a pore forming agent of Glauber's salt crystals embedded into the cotton fibers, the embedded Glauber's salt crystals forming pores in the at least one sponge-like cloth coalescing material, a size of the Glauber's salt crystals determining a size of the pores in the at least one sponge-like cloth coalescing material;
wherein the viscose bonds the cotton fibers together, holding the at least one sponge-like cloth coalescing material together;
wherein the cotton fibers, viscose and embedded Glauber's salt crystals form multiple contiguous areas of coalescing material that are bonded to each other, forming holes or pores between the contiguous areas, the holes or pores configured for catching water droplets and for passage of the water, wherein the sponge-like cloth coalescing material can swell so the absorption capacity for water is increased,
wherein the at least one coalescing medium is suitable for coalescing water
wherein the at least one coalescing material is produced from a mass containing the pore forming agent,
wherein the pore forming agent has been removed from the at least one coalescing material when finished.

2. The coalescing element according to claim 1 , further comprising
at least one filter medium.

3. The coalescing element according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one coalescing material is comprised of a layered fabric sponge cloth material.

4. The coalescing element according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one coalescing material is comprised of a sponge cloth material produced by a viscose method.

5. The coalescing element according to claim 4 , wherein
the viscose method is a cellulose xanthate method.

6. The coalescing element according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one coalescing medium is a hollow body.

7. The coalescing element according to claim 1 , further comprising
at least one hydrophobic fuel-permeable separating medium in the form of a hollow body for separation of water contained in the fuel,
wherein the at least one separating medium is a hydrophobic screen fabric arranged in the flow path of the fuel downstream of and spaced apart away from the at least one coalescing medium such that at least one precipitation gap for separated water is formed between the at least one coalescing medium and the at least one separating medium.

8. The coalescing element according to claim 7 , wherein
the at least one separating medium surrounds the at least one coalescing medium or is arranged in an interior of the at least one coalescing medium.

9. The coalescing element according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one coalescing medium,
at least one filter medium, and
at least one separating medium are coaxially arranged.

10. The coalescing element according to claim 1 , wherein
the coalescing element is a round filter element.

11. A water separator device comprising:
a housing comprising
at least one fuel inlet for a fuel to be treated,
at least one fuel outlet for treated fuel, and
at least one water outlet for water separated from the fuel;

a coalescing element according to claim 1 having at least one coalescing medium for separation of water contained in the fuel,
the at least one coalescing medium arranged in a flow path of the fuel from the at least one fuel inlet to the at least one fuel outlet.

12. The water separator device according to claim 11 , further comprising
at least one filter medium arranged in the housing.

13. The water separator device according to claim 11 , wherein
the housing is openable and the at least one coalescing medium is arranged exchangeably in the housing.

Assignees

• Mann & Hummel Gmbh

Inventors

• Veit Martin
• Boiger Gernot
• Behling Gerd

Classifications

• B01D36/003 Primary

  Filters in combination with devices for the removal of liquids (B01D35/185 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F02M37/24

  characterised by water separating means · CPC title

• B01D35/005

  Filters specially adapted for use in internal-combustion engine lubrication or fuel systems · CPC title

• B01D29/15

  arranged for inward flow filtration · CPC title

• F02M37/34

  by the filter structure, e.g. honeycomb, mesh or fibrous · CPC title