Abstract:
The present disclosure concerns a fuel filter assembly that can be easily installed on a portable fuel container, such as a race fuel jug or utility jug. The assembly includes a fuel filter positioned in the fuel container to filter fuel that is being poured or otherwise discharged from the container. The fuel filter desirably is selected to filter dirt and other particulate matter that can clog the carburetor or cause damage to other engine parts.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/619,639, filed on Oct. 17, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference. 

   FIELD 
   The present invention concerns embodiments of an interiorly disposed filter for a portable fuel container, such as race fuel jug. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Portable fuel containers, known as race fuel jugs or utility jugs, are used to supply gasoline to vehicles, such as snowmobiles, racecars, motorcycles, snowmobiles, ATVs, etc., or other gasoline-engine driven devices, such as lawnmowers. In some cases, the vehicle or engine-driven device may not have a fuel filter for filtering gasoline entering the engine. After repeated emptying and re-filling of a fuel jug, dirt and other particulate matter can collect in the jug. When fuel contaminated with particulate matter is supplied to a vehicle that does not have a fuel filter, various performance and maintenance issues can result. For example, the carburetor can become clogged, resulting in a “lean” condition where the engine runs hotter than usual. Unfortunately, this can cause serious damage to the pistons and other engine parts. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present application discloses a fuel filter assembly that can be easily installed on a portable fuel container. The assembly includes a fuel filter positioned in the fuel container to filter fuel that is being poured or otherwise discharged from the container. The fuel filter desirably is selected to filter dirt and other particulate matter that can clog the carburetor or cause damage to other engine parts. 
   In certain embodiments, the filter includes a filter body sized and shaped to fit inside the fuel container and an outlet spout extending from the filter body. The filter body can include a pleaded, generally cylindrical mesh screen (e.g., a 100-micron mesh screen) for filtering particulate matter from the fuel. The outlet spout is formed with external threads adapted to threadably engage an opening in the removable cap of the container. Thus, when the filter is secured to cap and the cap is placed on the container, the filter body resides inside the container and filters fuel as it flows outwardly from the container. The outlet spout in particular embodiments is sized such that an exposed end portion extends past the opening in the cap. This allows a coupling for a discharge conduit (e.g., a flexible hose or tube) to be screwed onto the exposed end portion of the outlet spout. The coupling can include a hose-barb type connection for securing the discharge conduit. 
   When the container is being used to store fuel, the coupling for the discharge conduit can be removed from the outlet spout and a removable cap can be screwed onto the outlet spout to prevent accidental spillage from the container. 
   The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of several embodiments, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying figures. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a portable fuel container having a fuel filter assembly, according to one embodiment, being used to supply fuel to the fuel tank of a vehicle. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective, exploded view of the fuel container and the fuel filter assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a vertical, cross-sectional view of the fuel filter assembly and the neck of the fuel container of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a cap that can be attached to the end of the filter outlet spout when the coupling for the discharge conduit is removed from the outlet spout. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” refer to one or more than one, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
   As used herein, the term “includes” means “comprises.” Referring to the figures, there is shown a portable fuel container  10  on which there is mounted a fuel filter assembly  12  for filtering fuel that is dispensed from the container, according to one embodiment. In particular embodiments, the fuel container  10  can be a conventional race fuel jug (also known as utility jugs), which typically is sized to hold about 2.5 or 5 gallons of fuel, although larger or smaller jugs also can be used. Also, in alternative embodiments, the fuel filter assembly  12  can be used with other types of fuel containers. 
   As best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the fuel filter assembly  12  in the illustrated embodiment comprises a filter  14 , an optional sealing member  16 , a removable container cap, or closure,  18  for covering the opening  56  of the container, a discharge-conduit coupling  20 , and a discharge conduit  22 . The illustrated filter  14  includes a filter body, or filter element,  24 , an end cap  26  mounted to the top of the filter element  24 , and an externally threaded outlet port  28  (also referred to herein as a connecting member) for connecting the filter to the container cap  18 . 
   The filter element  24  can have any construction suitable for filtering fuel. In the illustrated configuration, for example, the filter element  24  has a generally cylindrical, pleaded mesh screen  30  and a solid end cap  32  that is secured to the end of the filter element  24  opposite the end cap  26 . In one specific embodiment, the mesh screen  30  is a 100-micron mesh screen, although other mesh sizes also can be used. The filter element  24  also can include an internal perforated cylinder (not shown) for supporting the mesh screen  30 . The mesh screen  30  and the internal cylinder can be made of metal (e.g., steel, aluminum, etc.) or any of various other suitable materials. 
   In alternative embodiments, the filter element can include various types of filter media. For example, in lieu of or in additional to the mesh screen  30 , the filter element can include a fibrous filter element or any of various absorbent filter materials. 
   The filter  14  is sized and shaped to fit within the neck of the container  10 . The outlet port  28  is in fluid communication with the filter element  24  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). Thus, when fuel is dispensed from the container, unfiltered fuel flows radially inwardly through the mesh screen  30  and filtered fuel flows outwardly through the outlet port  28  in the axial direction. 
   The container cap  18  can be the cap of a conventional race fuel jug. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the cap  18  is formed with internal threads  34  that engage the threads  36  on the neck of the container when the cap is screwed onto the container. The top wall  38  of the cap  18  is formed with a centrally disposed opening  40 . The opening  40  desirably is internally threaded to engage the outlet port  28  of the filter  14 . In this manner, the filter  14  can be easily installed or removed from the cap  18  by simply screwing or unscrewing the filter  14 , such as for cleaning or replacing the filter. 
   As further shown in  FIG. 3 , the discharge-conduit coupling  20  in the illustrated embodiment includes an internally threaded, first end portion  42  and a second end portion  44  comprising a hose-bard type connector. The outlet port  28  is dimensioned such that an exposed end portion of the outlet port extends beyond the opening  40  in the container cap  18 . This allows the first end portion  42  of the coupling  20  to be screwed onto the exposed end portion of the outlet port  28 . The top surface of the container cap  18  can be formed with an annular recess  46  that receives the bottom end of the coupling  20 . In a particular embodiment, the discharge-hose coupling comprises a standard size hose-bard fitting having a ¾ inch threaded end portion and a ¾ inch hose-bard end portion. In the latter embodiment, the outer diameter of the threaded end portion (the first end portion  42  in the illustrated embodiment) can be reduced, such as by machining the outer surface, so that it can fit more easily into the annular recess  46 . 
   The discharge conduit  22  can be, for example, a flexible hose or tube, which can be connected to coupling  20  by inserting the hose-bard end  44  into one end of the hose. The hose-bard end  44  frictionally engages the inner surface of the hose to secure the hose to the coupling. In other embodiments, the discharge conduit can be non-flexible or rigid tubing or piping. Additionally, the discharge conduit and/or the coupling  20  can have other forms. In one implementation, for example, the discharge conduit can be connected to a coupling by a threaded connection (e.g., the conduit can be provided with a threaded end portion that screws onto a threaded end portion of the coupling). In another implementation, the second end  44  of the coupling  20  can have relatively smooth outer surface (without hose barbs), in which case a conventional hose clamp can be used to connect the discharge conduit to the second end of the coupling. 
   The filter and/or the discharge-conduit coupling can be configured to mount to the container cap using other techniques or mechanisms. In one implementation, for example, the filter can be provided with a non-threaded outlet spout and the container cap can be provided with a non-threaded opening, with outlet spout being configured to be inserted into and form a frictional fit with the cap opening. In another implementation, the discharge-conduit coupling can be configured to be mounted directly to the container cap, rather than the outlet spout  28  as shown, such as by a threaded connection. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the sealing member  16  in the illustrated embodiment is an annular gasket formed with a central opening  48  sized to receive the outlet spout  28  of the filter  14 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the sealing member is sized and shaped such that an annular outer peripheral edge is disposed and forms a liquid-tight seal between the top edge of the container opening and an adjacent inner surface of the container cap  18 . An annular inner peripheral edge of the sealing member  16  is disposed and forms a liquid-tight seal between a raised portion  50  of the filter  14  and an adjacent inner surface of the container cap  18 . The sealing member  16  desirably is made of a resilient or elastomeric material that is compatible with the liquid stored in the container. For example, the sealing member can be of Teflon®, rubber, or any of various other suitable materials. 
   In an alternative embodiment, the filter can be permanently attached to the container cap. For example, the container cap and the filter outlet spout can be molded as a unitary piece. Similarly, the discharge-conduit coupling can be permanently attached to the container cap or the filter outlet spout, such as by molding the container cap, the discharge-conduit coupling, and the outlet spout of the filter as a unitary piece. 
   In use, the end of the discharge conduit  22  can be placed in the opening of a gas tank  54  (shown schematically in  FIG. 1 ), which can be the gas tank of a vehicle, such as a racecar or other gasoline-engine driven device. Fuel in the container  10  can then be gravity fed into the gas tank  54 . As noted above, fuel flowing outwardly from the container is filtered by the filter  14 . The container  10  can have a vent cap  52  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , which can be removed to facilitate the flow of fuel into the tank. 
   When not being used for supplying fuel to a gas tank, the discharge-conduit coupling  20  and the discharge conduit  20  can be removed from the container cap  18 . An internally threaded cap  58  ( FIG. 4 ) can be screwed onto the exposed upper end portion of the outlet spout  28  to prevent accidental spillage from the container. Alternatively, the outlet spout  28  can be partially unscrewed from the cap opening  40  such that the outlet spout does not extend beyond the cap opening and a few of the threads in the cap opening are exposed. An externally threaded plug or cap (not shown) can then screwed into the cap opening  40  to prevent spillage from the container. Still alternatively, a plug or cap (not shown) can be provided for attaching to and closing the free end of the discharge conduit  20 . 
   The present invention has been shown in the described embodiments for illustrative purposes only. The present invention may be subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. I therefore claim as my invention all such modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the following claims.