Diverter assembly for fuel filter

Abstract

The base assembly of a fuel filter assembly includes a base member and a bimetallic disc. The base member has a fuel supply inlet for receiving a flow of new fuel from a fuel tank and an inlet plenum in fluid communication with the fuel supply inlet and the filter cartridge. The base member also has an excess fuel inlet for receiving a flow of excess fuel from the fuel injection pump, an excess fuel outlet in fluid communication with the fuel tank, and a fuel passage providing fluid communication between the excess fuel inlet and the excess fuel outlet. The bimetallic disc is disposed in the fuel passage adjacent an opening in the wall separating the fuel passage from the inlet plenum. The edge portion of the bimetallic disc is flexed away from the wall to open the opening when the temperature of the excess fuel is below a predetermined value, warming the new fuel to prevent formation of wax crystals. The bimetallic disc is flexed to engage the wall, closing the opening, when the temperature of the excess fuel is above the predetermined value. When the opening is open, the differential pressure between the excess fuel and the new fuel causes the excess fuel to flow from the fuel passage into the inlet plenum and prevents backflow of new fuel through the opening.