AUTO DRAIN SYSTEM FOR VACUUM SIDE FUEL WATER SEPARATORS
First Claim
1. A fuel filtration system configured to provide filtered fuel to an internal combustion engine, the fuel filtration system comprising:
- a filter housing including an inlet, an outlet, a filter media, and a drain reservoir positioned at a bottom of the filter housing; and
an automatic drain assembly removably coupled to the filter housing, the automatic drain assembly comprising;
a drain assembly housing,a water inlet that extends into the filter housing,a valve coupled to the drain assembly housing,a water in fuel sensor coupled to the valve, anda controller configured to open and close the valve based at least in part on a water in fuel feedback signal of the water in fuel sensor without direct instruction from an operator of the internal combustion engine.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Fuel filtration systems having an automatic drain assembly for water that accumulates in the filter housing are described. The filtration system includes a filter media that is configured to remove particulate matter and dispersed water contained within the fuel. The water is drained to a drain reservoir within the filter housing where the water collects. When the water reaches a threshold level, a controller initiates a warning to the engine operator, such as a dashboard light, that instructs the operator to shut the engine off. When the engine is shut off, the collected water is drained through a valve of the automatic drain assembly. In some arrangements, the automatic drain assembly can be retrofitted to existing fuel filtration systems thereby reducing the cost of fitting the automatic drain assembly to existing internal combustion engines.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A fuel filtration system configured to provide filtered fuel to an internal combustion engine, the fuel filtration system comprising:
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a filter housing including an inlet, an outlet, a filter media, and a drain reservoir positioned at a bottom of the filter housing; and an automatic drain assembly removably coupled to the filter housing, the automatic drain assembly comprising; a drain assembly housing, a water inlet that extends into the filter housing, a valve coupled to the drain assembly housing, a water in fuel sensor coupled to the valve, and a controller configured to open and close the valve based at least in part on a water in fuel feedback signal of the water in fuel sensor without direct instruction from an operator of the internal combustion engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An automatic drain system for a fuel filtration system of an internal combustion engine, the automatic drain system comprising:
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a drain assembly housing, a water inlet configured to extend into a filter housing of the fuel filtration system, a valve coupled to the drain assembly housing, a water in fuel sensor coupled to the valve, and a controller configured to open and close the valve based at least in part on a water in fuel feedback signal of the water in fuel sensor without direct instruction from an operator of the internal combustion engine. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of automatically draining water separated from fuel by a fuel filtration system of an internal combustion engine via an automatic drain assembly, the method comprising:
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monitoring, by a controller of the automatic drain assembly, a water in fuel sensor of the automatic drain assembly; determining, by the controller, that a high water level exists within a filter assembly housing of the fuel filtration system; opening, by the controller, a valve of the automatic drain assembly without direct instruction from an operator of the internal combustion engine, wherein when the valve is open, the water is allowed to drain out of the filter assembly housing through a drain of a drain assembly housing; and closing, by the controller, the valve. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification