Drain valve for fuel filter water separator
First Claim
1. A drain valve for a fuel filter water separator for an internal combustion engine, said fuel filter water separator having a housing defining a water collection space and a vent space, the housing having a wall with a drain opening therethrough for draining water from said water collection space, and having a vent opening therethrough and permitting incoming air to replace outgoing water, said engine having a running condition wherein said fuel filter water separator is pressurized, said engine having an off condition wherein said fuel filter water separator is not pressurized, said drain valve comprising a housing mounted to said fuel filter water separator housing and having a first port mating with said vent opening, a second port mating with said drain opening, and a third port, and an actuator member in said drain valve housing and actuable between a closed position blocking communication of said first port with said third port and blocking communication of said second port with said third port, and an open position providing communication of said first port with said third port and providing communication of said second port with said third port such that if said actuator member of said drain valve is actuated to said open position when said engine is in said off condition, collected water and vent air each flow through said third port in opposite directions, said actuator member comprising a reciprocal plunger reciprocal along an axis, and comprising vent passage having a first portion extending radially in said drain valve housing, relative to said axis, and a second portion extending axially in said drain valve housing, wherein said vent passage has a third portion extending radially in said drain valve housing and a fourth portion extending axially in said drain valve housing, said second portion extending axially along said plunger, said first and third portions being joined by said second portion, said fourth portion being radially spaced from said second portion.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A drain valve for a fuel filter water separator for an internal combustion engine has a first port mating with the vent opening of the separator, a second port mating with the drain opening of the separator, and a third port. The drain valve is actuatable between a closed position blocking communication of the first port with the third port and blocking communication of the second port with the third port, and an open position providing communication of the first port with the third port and providing communication of the second port with the third port. If the valve is actuated to the open position when the engine is off, collected water and vent air each flow through the third port but in opposite directions. If the drain valve is actuated while the engine is running, pressurized fuel spray from the vent opening and collected water from the drain opening of the separator each flow through the third port in the same direction.
46 Citations
12 Claims
- 1. A drain valve for a fuel filter water separator for an internal combustion engine, said fuel filter water separator having a housing defining a water collection space and a vent space, the housing having a wall with a drain opening therethrough for draining water from said water collection space, and having a vent opening therethrough and permitting incoming air to replace outgoing water, said engine having a running condition wherein said fuel filter water separator is pressurized, said engine having an off condition wherein said fuel filter water separator is not pressurized, said drain valve comprising a housing mounted to said fuel filter water separator housing and having a first port mating with said vent opening, a second port mating with said drain opening, and a third port, and an actuator member in said drain valve housing and actuable between a closed position blocking communication of said first port with said third port and blocking communication of said second port with said third port, and an open position providing communication of said first port with said third port and providing communication of said second port with said third port such that if said actuator member of said drain valve is actuated to said open position when said engine is in said off condition, collected water and vent air each flow through said third port in opposite directions, said actuator member comprising a reciprocal plunger reciprocal along an axis, and comprising vent passage having a first portion extending radially in said drain valve housing, relative to said axis, and a second portion extending axially in said drain valve housing, wherein said vent passage has a third portion extending radially in said drain valve housing and a fourth portion extending axially in said drain valve housing, said second portion extending axially along said plunger, said first and third portions being joined by said second portion, said fourth portion being radially spaced from said second portion.
- 4. A drain valve for a fuel filter water separator for an internal combustion engine, said fuel filter water separator having a housing extending axially along an axis and defining a water collection space and a vent space, the housing having a wall with a drain opening therethrough for draining water from said water collection space, and having a vent opening therethrough and permitting incoming air to replace outgoing water, said engine having a running condition wherein said fuel filter water separator is pressurized, said engine having an off condition wherein said fuel filter water separator is not pressurized, said drain valve comprising a housing mounted to said fuel filter water separator housing and having a first port mating with said vent opening, a second port mating with said drain opening, and a third port, and an actuator member in said drain valve housing and actuable between a closed position blocking communication of said first port with said third port and blocking communication of said second port with said third port, and an open position providing communication of said first port with said third port and providing communication of said second port with said third port such that if said actuator member of said drain valve is actuated to said open position when said engine is in said off condition, collected water and vent air each flow through said third port in opposite directions, and comprising a vent passage extending through said actuator member and said drain valve housing and communicating with each of said first and third ports when said actuator member is in said open position, and blocked from communication with at least one of said first and third ports when said actuator member is in said closed position.
- 8. A drain valve for a fuel filter water separator for an internal combustion engine, said fuel filter water separator having a housing defining a water collection space and a vent space, the housing having a wall with a drain opening therethrough for draining water from said water collection space, and having a vent opening therethrough and permitting incoming air to replace outgoing water, said engine having a running condition wherein said fuel filter water separator is pressurized, said engine having an off condition wherein said fuel filter water separator is not pressurized, said drain valve comprising a housing mounted to said fuel filter water separator housing and having a first port mating with said vent opening, a second port mating with said drain opening, and a third port, and a rotary piston actuator member rotatable about an axis in said drain valve housing between a closed position blocking communication of said first port with said third port and blocking communication of said second port with said third port, and an open position providing communication of said first port with said third port and providing communication of second port with said third port such that if said rotary piston is rotated to said open position when said engine in said off condition, collected water and vent air each flow through said third port in opposite directions, a vent passage communicating with each of said first and third ports when said rotary piston is in said open position, and blocked from communication with at least one of said first and third ports when said rotary piston is in said closed position.
Specification