Patent Application
20170335812
The present disclosure relates generally to fuel water separators for use with internal combustion engines.
Internal combustion engines generally require clean fuel for efficient operation. Contaminants, such as dirt and water, in fuel can damage the internal combustion engines and decrease the efficiency of the internal combustion engines. Accordingly, most internal combustion engines utilize fuel filtration systems. The fuel filtration systems remove various particulate and water from fuel prior to delivering the fuel to an external system, such as an internal combustion engine. The water separated from the fuel is often stored in the filter system housing until it is periodically drained from the housing through a valve. The valve is typically a manual valve operated by an operator of the internal combustion engine (e.g., via a specialized tool, via a command initiated by the user, etc.). However, some operators allow the internal combustion engine to run with too much water in the housing, which potentially allows water to pass through the filtration system and into the internal combustion engine.
One embodiment relates to a fuel filtration system configured to provide filtered fuel to an internal combustion engine. The fuel filtration system includes a filter housing having an inlet, an outlet, a filter media, and a drain reservoir positioned at a bottom of the filter housing. The fuel filtration system further includes an automatic drain assembly removably coupled to the filter housing. The automatic drain assembly includes a drain assembly housing and a water inlet that extends into the filter housing. The automatic drain assembly further includes a valve coupled to the drain assembly housing. The automatic drain assembly includes a water in fuel sensor coupled to the valve. The automatic drain assembly includes 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.
Another embodiment relates to an automatic drain system for a fuel filtration system of an internal combustion engine. The automatic drain system includes a drain housing and a water inlet configured to extend into a filter housing of the fuel filtration system. The automatic drain system includes a valve coupled to the drain assembly housing. The automatic drain system further includes a water in fuel sensor coupled to the valve. The automatic drain system includes 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.
A further embodiment relates to 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 includes monitoring, by a controller of the automatic drain assembly, a water in fuel sensor of the automatic drain assembly. The method further includes determining, by the controller, that a high water level exists within a filter assembly housing of the fuel filtration system. The method includes 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. The method further includes closing, by the controller, the valve.
These and other features, together with the organization and manner of operation thereof, will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements have like numerals throughout the several drawings described below.
Referring generally to the figures, a fuel filtration system is described that includes an automatic drain assembly for water that accumulates in the filter housing. 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 by illuminating a dashboard light, that instructs the operator to shut the engine off. When the engine is shut off, the collected water is drained through an electrically actuated valve, e.g., a solenoid 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.
Referring to
Referring to
The controller 502 is coupled to the drain assembly housing 308 such that the controller 502 and the solenoid valve 402 are integrated into a single component. As shown in
The controller 502 controls the operation of the solenoid valve 402 automatically (i.e., without direct instruction from an operator of the internal combustion engine). Once the height of the water within the fuel filter housing 106 reaches the WIF pins 310, the controller 502 will automatically drain the collected water after the internal combustion engine is powered down. For example, as shown in
The above-described automatic drain assembly 114 can replace a manual drain assembly of an existing fuel filtration system. Accordingly, the automatic drain assembly 114 is an independent part that can be retrofitted to existing fuel filtration systems by screwing the automatic drain assembly 114 to the bottom of the existing fuel filtration housing (e.g., as described above with respect to the fuel filter housing 106). The wire harness 312 can connect to existing electrical connection ports on the ECU of the engine having the existing fuel filtration system. Because the automatic drain assembly 114 can be a retrofit part, older fuel filtration systems can be updated to have an automatic drain feature without the added expense or complex service of replacing the entire fuel filtration system. In some arrangements, the retrofit may require a new connector to properly receive the drain assembly 114, however, the connector is still less expensive than replacing the entire fuel filtration system. Further, the above-described automatic drain assembly does not require manual input or a special tool (e.g., such as a special valve opening tool) to initiate a drainage cycle.
Referring to
If a high water level is determined, the controller triggers an operator indicator (706). The controller is in communication with the ECU of the internal combustion engine. The controller can send an error code to the ECU to trigger the operator indicator. The operator indicator may be a dashboard light or a display message. For example, the operator indicator may be a dashboard light that displays “DRAIN WATER” or a similar message. The operator indicator alerts the operator that the internal combustion engine should be shut off so that the automatic drain assembly can properly drain the separated water from the fuel assembly housing. The controller determines that the internal combustion engine has been shut off (708). In some arrangements, the controller determines that the internal combustion engine is off based on a voltage reading of the key-switch. In other arrangements, the controller receives the indication that the internal combustion engine has been shut off from the ECU. The ECU prevents the operator from restarting the engine until the controller informs the ECU that the water has been drained (as discussed below at 722).
After the controller determines that the internal combustion engine was shut off, the controller opens a valve (710). The valve may be the solenoid valve 402. When the valve is opened, separated water is allowed to flow from the filter assembly housing into the drain assembly housing (e.g., drain assembly housing 302), and out of a drain (e.g., drain 404) in the drain assembly housing. After a designated period of time, the controller closes the valve (712). The controller determines whether the water level has fallen below a threshold water level (e.g., based on a feedback signal from the WIF sensor) (714). If the water level has not fallen below the threshold water level, the controller returns to 712 and opens the valve. In some arrangements, the controller does not loop between 710 and 714. In one such arrangement, the controller closes the solenoid when the WIF sensor no longer detects a high water level. In another such arrangement, the controller closes the valve after a predetermined time period once the water level falls below the WIF sensor pins, which allows the water to drain below the high water level. In such an arrangement, process 714 does not exist, and if the water does not fall below the high water level, the alarm will resound when the internal combustion engine is restarted, and method 700 will begin from the start.
After the valve has been closed and the water level has fallen below the threshold, the controller checks the position of the valve (716). The valve may have an integrated position sensor (e.g., position sensor 506). The position sensor provides a feedback signal to the controller indicative of the position of the valve. During some drainage cycles, the valve may close improperly (e.g., remain slightly open despite power not being provided to the valve). Based on the feedback signal from the position sensor, the controller determines whether the valve is properly closed (718). If the valve is not properly closed, the controller “clicks” the valve (720). The controller clicks the valve by providing a quick flow of current to the valve that quickly opens and closes the valve. The valve “clicks” for a predetermined number of clicks before powering off. Once the valve is properly closed, the controller sends a signal to the ECU to clear the operator indicator (722). The ECU clears the operator indicator, and the operator is permitted to restart the internal combustion engine.
As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially,” and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended to allow a description of certain features described and claimed without restricting the scope of these features to the precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of the invention as recited in the appended claims.
It should be noted that the term “exemplary” as used herein to describe various embodiments is intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible examples, representations, and/or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such term is not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).
References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below,” etc.) are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the FIGURES. It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.
It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or resequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201410504844.X | Sep 2014 | CN | national |
| 201420561634.X | Sep 2014 | CN | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CN2015/090281 | 9/22/2015 | WO | 00 |
