Patent ID: 8584702

Claim:
A fuel-water separator for separating water from fuel and draining the water, the fuel-water separator comprising: a container configured to be in fluid communication with a fuel tank, the container configured to receive fuel distributed from the fuel tank and contain the fuel; a self-venting drain apparatus in fluid communication with the container, the self-venting drain apparatus including: an inner drain body disposed on the container; an inner liquid outlet in a lower portion of the inner drain body; an air inlet disposed at a radial offset from the inner liquid outlet and above the inner liquid outlet, the air inlet having a cross-sectional area smaller than a cross-sectional area of the inner liquid outlet; an outer drain body disposed around and below the inner drain body, the outer drain body adjustably coupled to the inner drain body; an outer liquid outlet in the outer drain body, the outer liquid outlet disposed substantially below the inner liquid outlet; a lower seal disposed below the inner liquid outlet and between the inner drain body and the outer drain body, the lower seal engaging a lower sealing surface; and an upper seal circumscribing the inner liquid outlet and the air inlet, the upper seal disposed between the inner drain body and the outer drain body, the upper seal engaging an upper sealing surface that extends further beyond the upper seal than the lower sealing surface extends beyond the lower seal, the self-venting drain apparatus being arranged in connection with the container so as to include a fully closed position, a partially open position configured to allow draining the water separated from the fuel in the container under pressure from a pump, and a fully open position to allow venting air through the air inlet for draining the water separated from the fuel in the container under atmospheric pressure.