Fuel filter element and filter assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12201924-B2
Application number	US-202318344017-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2023
Priority date	May 3, 2018
Publication date	Jan 21, 2025
Grant date	Jan 21, 2025

Abstract

A fuel filter element has a screen fabric as a filter medium and a support tube supporting the screen fabric. A valve body guide for guiding a spherical valve body is provided. The valve body guide has a fluid channel and one or more support ribs for supporting the spherical valve body. The support ribs extend along a longitudinal direction of the fluid channel and project radially into the fluid channel. A filter assembly with such a fuel filter element is provided. The filter assembly has a ball valve with spherical valve body and a filter housing with a valve seat for the spherical valve body of the ball valve.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An exchangeable fuel filter element configured for exchangeable installation into a filter housing pot having a valve seat, the fuel filter element comprising:
a support tube which is axially elongated and surrounding a symmetry axis, the support tube having a disk-shaped connecting section formed on and covering a first axial end of the support tube;
wherein the disk-shaped connecting section of the support tube comprises:
a tubular valve body guide projecting axially outward from an axial outer side of the disk-shaped connecting section of the support tube;
wherein the tubular valve body guide has a fluid channel extending axially through the tubular valve body guide and opening into an interior of the filter element;
wherein the tubular valve body guide has a plurality of guide sections formed as projections, projecting axially outward away from an axially outer end of the tubular valve body guide, the plurality of guide sections spaced circumferentially apart about a circumference of the fluid channel;

one or more support ribs formed on an interior wall of the tubular valve body guide and protruding radially into the fluid channel, the one or more support ribs extending in an interior of the fluid channel along a longitudinal direction of the fluid channel,
wherein the one or more support ribs project radially and extend onto at least a portion of a radially inner surface of the plurality of guide sections;
wherein the tubular valve body guide is configured and adapted to receive and guide movement of a spherical valve body in an interior of the plurality of guide sections at the fluid channel, such that the spherical valve body is movable between a closed state and an open state,
wherein the spherical valve body, when in the open state, is configured and adapted to contact the one or more radially projecting support ribs in the valve body guide,
wherein in the closed state, the spherical valve body is configured and adapted to close against the valve seat of the filter housing pot.

2. The exchangeable fuel filter element according to claim 1 , wherein the valve body guide is connected detachably to the filter element.

3. The exchangeable fuel filter element according to claim 1 , wherein
the one or more radially projecting support ribs comprise a curved support surface configured to support the spherical valve body.

4. The exchangeable fuel filter element according to claim 3 , wherein the curved support surface is spherically curved or curved in a circular cylinder shape.

5. The exchangeable fuel filter element according to claim 1 , wherein the valve body guide comprises at least two of the one or more radially projecting support ribs.

6. The exchangeable fuel filter element according to claim 1 , wherein
the valve body guide and the one or more radially projecting support ribs project into an interior of the filter element.

7. The exchangeable fuel filter element according to claim 1 , wherein
the valve body guide comprises a coupling pipe,
wherein the fluid channel extends through the coupling pipe,
wherein the coupling pipe comprises an end face,
wherein the plurality of guide sections project from the end face away from the coupling pipe.

8. The exchangeable fuel filter element according to claim 7 , wherein
the plurality of guide sections extend in a circumferential direction and comprises
a circumferential extension that is significantly larger than a circumferential extension of the one or more radially projecting support ribs.

9. The exchangeable fuel filter element according to claim 8 , wherein
the circumferential extension of the plurality of guide sections is at least twice as large as the circumferential extension of the one or more radially projecting support ribs.

10. The exchangeable fuel filter element according to claim 8 , wherein
the circumferential extension of the plurality of guide sections is at least three times as large as the circumferential extension of the one or more radially projecting support ribs.

11. The exchangeable fuel filter element according to claim 8 , wherein
the plurality of guide sections surround the one or more radially projecting support ribs on a radially outer circumference.

12. The exchangeable fuel filter element according to claim 7 , wherein
the plurality of guide sections are of a trapezoidal shape.

13. The exchangeable fuel filter element according to claim 1 , wherein the fuel filter element is a strainer element.

14. A filter assembly comprising:
the exchangeable fuel filter element according to claim 1 , further comprising a screen fabric as a filter medium, the screen fabric supported on the support tube;
a ball valve comprising the spherical valve body;
a filter housing comprising the valve seat for the spherical valve body of the ball valve;
wherein the tubular valve body guide interacts with and guides the spherical valve body,
wherein the one or more radially projecting support ribs extend along a longitudinal direction of the fluid channel and project radially into the fluid channel;
wherein the spherical valve body is resting on the valve seat in a closed state of the ball valve and
wherein the valve body is resting on the one or more radially projecting support ribs when in an open state of the ball valve.

15. The filter assembly according to claim 14 , wherein a diameter of the fluid channel is larger than a diameter of the spherical valve body.

16. The filter assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the valve seat is curved.

17. The filter assembly according to claim 16 , wherein the valve seat is spherically curved.

18. The filter assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the filter assembly is a strainer assembly.

Assignees

• Mann & Hummel Gmbh

Inventors

• Oprisch Christine
• Weindorf Martin
• Veit Martin
• Lippert Felix

Classifications

• B01D2201/305

  Snap, latch or clip connecting means · CPC title

• B01D2201/0415

  Details of supporting structures · CPC title

• B01D35/30

  Filter housing constructions · CPC title

• F02M37/48

  Filters structurally associated with fuel valves · CPC title

• B01D2201/162

  with snap, latch or clip connecting means · CPC title