FUEL FILTER ELEMENT

The present application relates to the field of fuel filter components of internal combustion engines, and discloses a fuel filter element, including a support tube, a filter medium, and an upper cover plate and a lower cover plate. The upper cover plate is provided with a first channel. The lower cover plate is provided with a second channel. An air duct is arranged between the upper cover plate and the lower cover plate. The air duct communicates with the first channel and the second channel, and the air duct is positioned on an outer side of the filter medium. The filter medium is arranged between the air duct and a fuel feeding position, such that the stability of a fuel supply pressure and an exhaust state of this fuel filter element is enhanced.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present application relates to the field of fuel filter components of internal combustion engines, in particular to a fuel filter element.

BACKGROUND

In general, a fuel filter element is widely used in the field of fuel filtration of internal combustion engines to filter out debris in fuel, and plays a very important role in filtration. In a fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine, gas is present during installation or the solubility of gas in fuel decreases under the influence of a negative pressure during operation to cause gas overflow or fuel vapor is produced under the influence of a high temperature, and the accumulation of gas will lead to unstable fuel supply, insufficient power output, or stalling of the internal combustion engine. As a result, a filter element in a filter of the fuel supply system needs to have an exhaust function.

In the prior art, an exhaust channel is usually arranged in the center of a filter element. Since the exhaust channel in the center is close to a fuel feeding position, the pulsating impact of a fuel feeding pressure directly acts on the exhaust channel, such that gas cannot be exhausted normally, and the hermetical connection between the exhaust channel and a fuel inlet will also be damaged due to pressure pulse fatigue to cause unstable fuel supply pressure and exhaust state. In addition, an existing filter element only roughly filters fuel in general, and filtered fuel often contains some impurities and needs to be further filtered, so there is a problem of relatively low filtration precision.

SUMMARY

In order to solve the technical problems of unstable fuel supply pressure, unstable exhaust state, and relatively low filtration precision in the prior art, the present application provides a fuel filter element. An air duct is arranged on an outer side of a filter medium, and the air duct communicates with a first channel and a second channel, such that the process that fuel enters the filter element is not easily affected, and the separation of gas in the fuel will not be affected, thereby improving the exhaust performance, and enhancing the stability of a fuel supply pressure and an exhaust state of this fuel filter element. A secondary filtering element is annularly arranged outside the filter medium, such that crudely filtered fuel can be further filtered in time, thereby improving the filtration precision and efficiency of this fuel filter element.

In order to achieve the above objective, the present application adopts the following technical solution:

A fuel filter element, including a support tube, a filter medium surrounding the support tube, and an upper cover plate and a lower cover plate positioned at two ends of the filter medium, where the upper cover plate is provided with a first channel, the lower cover plate is provided with a second channel, an air duct is arranged between the upper cover plate and the lower cover plate, the air duct communicates with the first channel and the second channel, and the air duct is positioned on an outer side of the filter medium. The air duct is arranged on the outer side of the filter medium, the air duct communicates with the first channel and the second channel, and the filter medium is arranged between the air duct and a fuel feeding position, such that a pulsating pressure of fuel feeding is buffered by the filter medium, and a pulsating pressure on an exhaust channel is reduced, thereby improving the sealing reliability of the exhaust channel. Meanwhile, after the pulsating pressure of fuel feeding is buffered, the separation and exhaust of gas in fuel are facilitated, and the stability of a fuel supply pressure and an exhaust state of this fuel filter element are enhanced.

Further, a secondary filtering element is annularly arranged outside the filter medium, and the secondary filtering element includes a porous support frame and a filtering layer, and the filtering layer is attached to an inner side of the porous support frame. The secondary filtering element is annularly arranged outside the filter medium, such that crudely filtered fuel can be further filtered in time, thereby improving the filtration precision and efficiency of this fuel filter element. The filtering layer is a filter screen or filter cloth, which improves the filtration precision of this fuel filter element. The porous support frame is configured to increase the strength of the filter element, and may effectively prevent the filter element from being deformed, twisted, and damaged by a high pressure of the fuel.

Further, a plurality of rings are arranged at intervals on an outer peripheral side of the porous support frame, a plurality of ribs are arranged at intervals between adjacent two of the rings, and the ribs are configured to increase the strength of the filter element; and the air duct is arranged between the filter medium and the filtering layer. The separation of the gas in the fuel will not affected, such that the exhaust performance of this fuel filter element is improved.

Further, the upper cover plate includes an upper cover outer plate and an upper cover inner plate, and the upper cover outer plate and the upper cover inner plate are hermetically connected and form the first channel. The hermetical connection is an adhesive connection, rubber vulcanization or ultrasonic welding, such that the stability of this fuel filter element is enhanced.

Further, the upper cover inner plate is provided with a first hollow bulge penetrating through the air duct, and the first channel communicates with the first hollow bulge. The exhaust stability of this fuel filter element is improved.

Further, the lower cover plate comprises a lower cover outer plate and a lower cover inner plate, and the lower cover outer plate and the lower cover inner plate are hermetically connected and form the second channel. The hermetical connection is an adhesive connection, rubber vulcanization or ultrasonic welding, such that the stability of this fuel filter element is enhanced.

Further, the lower cover inner plate is provided with a second hollow bulge penetrating through the air duct, and the second channel communicates with the second hollow bulge. The second channel communicates with the second hollow bulge, such that the seal performance of the exhaust channel of this fuel filter element is improved.

Further, the first channel communicates to a gas inlet end of the upper cover outer plate, and the second channel is provided with a gas outlet for a gas to flow back into a fuel tank. Gas is conveniently exhausted, such that the exhaust convenience of this fuel filter element is improved.

Further, the upper cover inner plate and the lower cover inner plate are hermetically connected to the air duct. The stability of this fuel filter element is improved.

Further, the filter medium is in a star-like divergent shape. A contact surface of filtration is added, such that the filtration efficiency of this fuel filter element is improved.

Compared with the prior art, the present application has the following advantages: the air duct is arranged on the outer side of the filter medium, the air duct communicates with the first channel and the second channel, and the filter medium is arranged between the air duct and the fuel feeding position, such that the pulsating pressure of fuel feeding is buffered by the filter medium, and the pulsating pressure on the exhaust channel is reduced, thereby improving the sealing reliability of the exhaust channel. Meanwhile, after the pulsating pressure of fuel feeding is buffered, the separation and exhaust of the gas in the fuel are facilitated, and the stability of the fuel supply pressure and the exhaust state of this fuel filter element are enhanced. The secondary filtering element is annularly arranged outside the filter medium, such that the crudely filtered fuel can be further filtered in time, thereby improving the filtration precision and efficiency of this fuel filter element. The porous support frame is configured to increase the strength of the filter element, and may effectively prevent the filter element from being deformed, twisted, and damaged by the high pressure of the fuel.

In the figures:1: support tube;2: filter medium;31: upper cover plate;311: first channel;3111: gas inlet end;312: upper cover inner plate;3121: first hollow bulge;313: upper cover outer plate;32: lower cover plate;321: second channel;3211: gas outlet;322: lower cover inner plate;3221: second hollow bulge;323: lower cover outer plate;33: air duct;4: secondary filtering element;41: porous support frame;411: ring;412: rib; and42: filtering layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments of the present application are described in detail below, and the examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present application, and should not be construed as a limitation to the present application.

In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the orientational or positional relationships indicated by the terms “center”, “longitudinal”, “transverse”, “length”, “width”, “thickness”, “upper”, “lower”, “front”, “back”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”. “horizontal”, “top”. “bottom”, “inside”, “outside”, etc. are based on the orientational or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are only used for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description rather than indicating or implying that the referred device or element must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation to the present application.

In addition, the terms “first” and “second” are only used for descriptive purposes, and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, the features limited with “first” and “second” may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In the description of the present application, “a plurality of” means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise expressly and specifically limited.

In the present application, the terms “installed”, “connected”, “connection”, “fixed”, etc. should be understood in a broad sense, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited. For example, it may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or integrated; it may be a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a mutual communication; and it may be directly connected, indirectly connected via an intermediate medium, an internal connection between two elements, or an interactive relationship between the two elements, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those of ordinary skill in the art may understand specific meanings of the above terms in the present application according to specific circumstances.

Referring toFIGS.1to5that show an embodiment of a fuel filter element in the present application, in this embodiment, the fuel filter element includes a support tube1and a filter medium2. The above support tube1plays a supporting role in this fuel filter element. The above filter medium2is configured to filter fuel. The above filter medium2surrounds the above support tube1. An upper cover plate31and a lower cover plate32are arranged at two ends of the above filter medium2. The above upper cover plate31is provided with a first channel311. The above lower cover plate32is provided with a second channel321. An air duct33is arranged between the upper cover plate31and the lower cover plate32. Two ends of the air duct33respectively communicate with the first channel311and the second channel321to form an exhaust channel for discharging fuel vapor. The above air duct33is positioned on an outer side of the above filter medium2to avoid affecting the process that the fuel enters the filter element, such that the separation of gas in the fuel is not easily affected. The filter medium2is arranged between the air duct33and a fuel feeding position, such that a pulsating pressure of fuel feeding is buffered by the filter medium2, and a pulsating pressure on the exhaust channel is reduced, thereby improving the sealing reliability of the exhaust channel. Meanwhile, after the pulsating pressure of fuel feeding is buffered, the separation and exhaust of the gas in the fuel are facilitated.

In this embodiment, a secondary filtering element4is annularly arranged outside the above filter medium2. The secondary filtering element4is configured to further filter the fuel. The secondary filtering element4includes a porous support frame41and a filtering layer42. The porous support frame41is configured to increase the strength of the filter element, and may effectively prevent the filter element from being deformed, twisted, and damaged by a high pressure of the fuel. Specifically, the porous support frame41is formed with a plurality of filtering holes arranged in a matrix and configured to install a filter screen or other filter devices. The above filtering layer42is attached to an inner side of the above porous support frame41. The above filtering layer42is the filter screen or filter cloth and is configured to further filter the fuel.

In this embodiment, at least two rings411are arranged at intervals on an outer peripheral side of the porous support frame41, at least two ribs412are arranged at intervals between adjacent two of the above rings411, and the above filtering holes are formed between adjacent two of the above rings411and adjacent two of the above ribs412. The above ribs412are configured to increase the strength of the above filter element, and may effectively prevent the filter element from being deformed, twisted, and damaged by the high pressure of the fuel. The above air duct33is arranged between the above filter medium2and the above filtering layer42.

In this embodiment, the above upper cover plate31includes an upper cover outer plate313and an upper cover inner plate312, and the upper cover outer plate313and the upper cover inner plate312are hermetically connected and form the above first channel311. In the prior art, the joint is usually sealed by means of a sealing ring. The relevant performance such as expansion strength and tear strength of the sealing ring is relatively weak and not enough to stabilize an air pressure state in the first channel311. The above upper cover outer plate313and the above upper cover inner plate312are connected by an adhesive or a sealing element, can stabilize the air pressure state in the first channel311, and are configured to stabilize an exhaust state in the first channel311.

In this embodiment, the above upper cover inner plate312is provided with a first hollow bulge3121penetrating through the above air duct33, a top end of the air duct33is sleeved on an outer peripheral side of a second hollow bulge3221, and the above first channel311communicates with the above first hollow bulge3121. The two ends of the above air duct33respectively communicate with the first channel and the second channel. The first hollow bulge3121is arranged to improve the air tightness of the air duct33, thereby preventing the gas from leaking into the filter element, and preventing the fuel from leaking into the air duct33.

In this embodiment, the above lower cover plate32includes a lower cover outer plate323and a lower cover inner plate322, and the lower cover outer plate323and the lower cover inner plate322are hermetically connected and form the above second channel321. In the prior art, the joint is usually sealed by means of the sealing ring. The relevant performance such as expansion strength and tear strength of the sealing ring is relatively weak and not enough to stabilize an air pressure state in the second channel321. The above lower cover outer plate323and the above lower cover inner plate322are connected by an adhesive or a sealing element, can stabilize the air pressure state in the second channel321, and are configured to stabilize an exhaust state in the second channel321.

In this embodiment, the above lower cover inner plate322is provided with a second hollow bulge3221penetrating through the above air duct33, a bottom end of the air duct33is sleeved on an outer peripheral side of the second hollow bulge3221, and the above second channel321communicates with the above second hollow bulge3221. The second hollow bulge3221is arranged to improve the air tightness of the air duct33, thereby preventing the gas from leaking into the filter element, and preventing the fuel from leaking into the air duct33.

In this embodiment, the above first channel311communicates to a gas inlet end3111of the above upper cover outer plate313, and the above second channel321is provided with a gas outlet3211for a gas to flow back into a fuel tank. The gas inlet end3111or/and the gas outlet3211has/have a small hole diameter, can stabilize the air pressure state in the exhaust channel, and is/are configured to maintain a stable exhaust state and a certain fuel pressure.

In this embodiment, the above upper cover inner plate312and the above lower cover inner plate322are hermetically connected to the above air duct33and configured to form the sealed exhaust channel.

Referring toFIG.2, in this embodiment, the filter medium2is in a star-like divergent shape and is configured to increase the area of contact with the fuel that needs to be filtered. Correspondingly, the filter medium2may also be set to be of other cylindrical or columnar structures.

The technical features of the above embodiments may be combined arbitrarily. For the sake of brevity, all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are not described. However, the combinations of these technical features should be considered to be within the scope of this specification as long as there is no contradiction between them.

The above embodiments only express several implementations of the present application and are described more specifically and in details, but they should not be construed as a limitation to the scope of the patent of the application. It should be pointed out that those of ordinary skill in the art may also make several modifications and improvements without departing from the conception of the present application, and these modifications and improvements fall within the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the patent of the present application should be determined by the appended claims.