Description:Complete Specification:
The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed

Field of the invention
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a fuel filter.

Background of the invention

[0002] Fuel filters are present between the fuel tank and the fuel pump of a vehicle. The fuel filter protects the internal combustion engine from unwanted substances including dirt , particulate matter and water. Typically, filtration of fuel occurs in multiple stages.
[0003] The Water present in the Fuel can be separated using fuel filter elements. Water collected is stored at bottom of the fuel filter needs to be removed frequently based on the vehicle run time.
[0004] Typically, the existing method use water Drain plug where water collected isbe stored at bottom of the fuel filter needs to be removed (manually) based on the vehicle run time. Vehicles also possess WIF Sensor (water in fuel sensor) to give notification in dashboard when water collected is at full level. Operator can remove water based on the indication.
[0005] High tech vehicles are also adapted for automated water removal through wif sensor and motorized drain plug wherein the WIF sensor gives signal based on which automated drainage of water happens by activation of small motor.
[0006] The present disclosure also proposes a fuel filter adapted to drain water automatically where a bottom cap of the fuel filter comprises a hydrophilic mesh and the drain plug is adapted to absorb water. This absorbed water is released into the surrounding at predefined flow rate. This allows the automatic drainage functionality to the filter without the increased operating cost.

[0007] Brief description of the accompanying drawings

[0008] An embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the following accompanying drawing:
[0009] Figure 1 depicts a filter to remove particulates and water from a fuel.

Detailed description of the drawings

[0010] Typically, in a fuel filter, a filter element is housed in a housing (also known as a spin-on). The filter element(s) are placed between a fuel tank and a fuel pump. In a few existing filers, a ‘protect filter’ removes the particulate matters from the fuel and a ‘main filter’ that separates the water from the fuel along with the particulate matter.

[0011] The present disclosure will now be described by way of example, with reference to accompanying drawings. Throughout all the figures, same or corresponding elements may generally be indicated by same reference numerals. These depicted embodiments are to be understood as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting in any way. It should also be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by phantom lines, diagrammatic representations, and fragmentary views. In predetermined instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention, or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.

[0012] Referring to Figure 1, disclosed is a filter adapted to drain water. The fuel filter comprises a filter head (1) comprising at least one inlet (2) and at least one outlet (3)for a fuel. A housing (4) is detachably fixed to the filter head(1). The housing (4) (also called spin-on) comprises at least one filter element(5,6) to remove water and particles up to the pre-defined particle size from the fuel. A top cap(7) and a bottom cap (8) fixed at an upper and a lower end of the housing. A drain plug (9) is used to release the water removed from the fuel that gets collected at the bottom of the housing after separation from the fuel. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a section of the bottom cap (8) comprises a hydrophilic mesh (8a). The hydrophilic mesh (8a) is adapted to direct water to the drain plug(9). The drain plug(9) adapted to absorb water and release it to a surrounding at a pre-defined rate of flow. The drain plug is composed of a material with a pre-defined porosity. In an example the drain plug (9) may be a cork made up of sintered porous material.

[0013] During working of the proposed fuel filter(10), when water collects at bottom of the fuel filter , water is made to submerge the drain plug(9). When water starts to accumulate on top of the drain plug, it will make water to pass through in it (porous material will absorb the water). The other side of the drain plug is exposed to atmosphere. In an example, as the vehicle runs, forced air blows on the other side of the drain plug(9). This will make the water to pass through minute space the drain plug (through capillary action). Further exposing a section of the drain plug to the surrounding atmosphere allows water particles to evaporate to the atmosphere. In an example, a wind blowing mechanism such as fan may be provided near the drain plug to allow the removal of water at a faster rate.

[0014] It is to be understood that the Fuel filter that hydrophilic mesh (8a) at the bottom cap (8) acts in a manner that only is allowed at bottom of the fuel filter. This will ensure the fuel will not pass from the element and only water will be available in bottom of the bowl. This will eliminate the risk of fuel leakage or fuel evaporation from the drain plug.

[0015] The advantages of the present disclosure will now be elaborated. By replacing the conventional drain plug with a cork of sinter porous material, the water collected in the fuel filter may be evaporated at the same rate therefore there is no need to monitor the water level. Further, existing Water in Fuel (WIF) sensor can be replaced by the proposed drain plugs. Since the water collection and removal rate from the filter will be same, no indication of water collection to the user will be required. Further, the filter as a whole is cost effective.
, Claims:
We Claim

1. A fuel filter (10) adapted to drain water automatically, the fuel filter comprising:
- a filter head (1) comprising at least one inlet (2) and at least one outlet (3) for a fuel;
-a housing (4) detachably fixed to the filter head (4), said housing comprising at least one filter element (5,6) to remove water and particles up to the pre-defined particle size from the fuel;
-a top cap(7) and a bottom cap (8) fixed at an upper and a lower end of the housing;
characterized in the fuel filter,
a section of the bottom cap comprising a hydrophilic mesh (8a) adapted to direct water to a drain plug (9), said drain plug adapted to absorb water and release it to a surrounding at a pre defined rate of flow.

2. The fuel filter as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, the drain plug is composed of a material with a pre-defined porosity.

3.The fuel filter as Claimed in Claim 2, wherein the material is sinter.

4. The fuel filter as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, a section of the drain plug is exposed to the surrounding.

5. The fuel filter as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, the absorbed water from the section of the drain plug is evaporated into the surrounding.