The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 07, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 02, 1999
Ismail Bagci, Cookeville, TN (US);
Byron A. Pardue, Cookeville, TN (US);
Paul D. Miller, Cookeville, TN (US);
Charles W. Hawkins, Sparta, TN (US);
Wayne N. Harrington, Cookeville, TN (US);
Fleetguard, Inc., Nashville, TN (US);
Abstract
A fuel filter for an engine includes a housing having an interior space and is assembled into a fuel flow path between a source of fuel and the engine. The housing includes a passageway which has an inlet aperture which is used to control the delivery of fuel to either the engine or back to the source of fuel. The housing also includes a return-fuel passageway which is in flow communication with the interior space and is adapted to couple to the source of fuel. A filter cartridge is installed within the housing and includes an end cap with an air vent tube having an inlet opening. The air vent tube is designed so as to assemble into the passageway, so as to plug the inlet aperture. Once the inlet aperture is plugged by the air vent tube, the flow entrance to the passageway is raised from the inlet aperture to the inlet opening of the air vent tube. The plugging of the inlet aperture by the air vent tube allows fuel to be delivered to the engine. When the air vent tube is not assembled into the inlet aperture, fuel is drained back to the source and does not reach the engine. The fuel filter further includes a pressure-regulated control valve which is installed within the return fuel passageway and is activated by the internal pressure within the housing. This valve permits excess fuel to be returned to the source of fuel.