Claims:We Claim:
1. A fuel filter 100, said fuel filter 100 located upstream to fuel tank 102 and downstream to a fuel injection pump 104 and comprises at least:
an inlet path 106 to receive fuel, a filter chamber 108 comprising a filter element and an outlet path 109; characterized in that:
a dampening plate 110 located along said inlet path 106 and attached to at least a part of said filter element.

2. The fuel filter 100 of claim 1, wherein said dampening plate 110 is flexibly attached to said filter element.

3. The fuel filter 100 of claim 1, wherein said dampening plate 110 is rigidly attached to said filter element.

4. The fuel filter 100 of claim 1, wherein said dampening plate 110 comprises perforations.
, 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]This invention relates to the field of a fuel filter.

Background of the invention
[0002]In a fuel injection system, fuel from a fuel tank is delivered to a common rail and/or injector via a fuel filter and a high pressure fuel injection pump. The function of a fuel filter is to prevent impurities present in the fuel from reaching the high pressure fuel injection pump. When a vehicle is cranked fuel that is present in the fuel tank flows via the fuel filter to reach the high pressure fuel injection pump, an electric feed pump present in the fuel tank pumps fuel out of the tank. During start when the electric feed pump is switched “ON” the fuel flow creates a pressure peak in front of the fuel filter for a short time, before it stabilizes. This pressure build up can cause the particles collected on the fuel filter element to be pushed through the filter element causing a deterioration in filtration. This problem is aggravated during engine start-stop function on vehicles for saving fuel, as the number of times an engine is started is multifold compared to vehicles with no start stop function.

[0003]Prior art patent application EP0290787A1 discloses a damper element is proposed for reducing pressure fluctuations in a fuel supply system for internal-combustion engines in motor vehicles, which damper element is installed on the inlet side of a filter housing, and which guides the arriving pulsating fuel flow through sealed flow channels. The damper element has at least two relatively short flow channels, which are connected in parallel and run in a straight line, and which, in the housing, connect an inlet chamber to a supply chamber located between the end faces of the filter housing and the filter insert, and which, when fuel flows through them, significantly damp vibration and noise caused by the fuel pump.

Brief description of the accompanying drawing
[0004] Different modes of the invention are disclosed in detail in the description and illustrated in the accompanying drawing:

[0005] FIG. 1 illustrates a fuel filter in a fuel injection system.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates a fuel filter 100 in a fuel injection system. The fuel filter 100 is located located upstream to fuel tank 102 and downstream to a fuel injection pump 104 and comprises at least an inlet path to receive fuel, a filter chamber 108 comprising a filter element and the fuel filter comprises an outlet path 109. The fuel filter 100 is characterized in that a dampening plate 110 located along the inlet path and attached to at least a part of the filter element. In an embodiment the dampening plate 110 is flexibly attached to the filter element. Alternately, the dampening plate 110 is rigidly attached to said filter element. The dampening plate 110 may comprise perforations.

[0007]The construction of the fuel filter 100 will now be explained in further detail. The fuel filter 100 comprises an inlet path that is adapted to receive fuel from the fuel tank 102 at one end. The other end of the inlet path opens into a filter chamber 108. The filter chamber 108 comprises filter element that is used to purify the fuel. The filter comprises an outlet path 109 through which the filtered fuel flows into the high pressure fuel injection pump 104. The dampening plate 110 located along the inlet path 106 and attached to at least a part of the filter element. The dampening plate 110 comprises perforations through which the fuel flows.

[0008]The working of the fuel filter 100 will be explained in further detail. The fuel tank 102 may contain an electric feed pump, when the electric feed pump is switched “ON” fuel from the fuel tank 102 flows into the fuel filter 100 via the inlet path 106 into the filter chamber 108 where the fuel is filtered with the help of filtration element. The dampening plate 110 that is located along inlet path 106, allows fuel to flow via the perforations in the plate 110. The pressure associated with the fuel is reduced because of the dampening plate 110. This prevent particulates from getting pushed across the filter and also reduces the pressure that is associated with the fuel during flow of fuel.

[0009] ‘Adapted’ or ‘arranged’, in the context of the instant disclosure, refers to the technical capability or the technical capacity of a component, in relation to which the term ‘adapted’ or ‘arranged’ is used, to carry out or executed a specified action or actions, upon the requirement of the specified action or actions to be carried out or executed. Moreover, the usage of the term ‘adapted’ or ‘arranged’ here, is in reference with the normal technical capability or technical capacity of the component, imparted by the design or the structure or the composition of the component, and not in reference with any special or extraneous capability or capacity, beyond the scope of the normal technical capability or technical capacity. Therefore there is a need to address this problem.

[0010]It should be understood that embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention in terms of the type of fuel filter used. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.