Claims:We Claim:
1. A filter (100) having a housing (101); said housing (101) comprising:
an inlet (101a) and an outlet (101b); said inlet (101a) adapted to receive a fuel from a source;
a filter element (102) dividing said housing (101) into a non-filtered portion (102a) and a non-filtered portion (102b); wherein fuel enters in said non-filtered portion (102a) via said inlet (101a) and flows to said filter element (102);
characterized in that
a holding element (103) located at the bottom of said filter element (102) a first portion of said holding element (103) extending towards said non-filtered portion (102a) and a second portion of said holding element (103) extending into said filtered portion (102a), said holding element (103) having plurality of holes (104) in said second portion of said holding element (103);
said outlet (101b) is located at the bottom of said housing (101) such that the fuel from said filtered portion (102b) flows to said outlet (101b);

2. The filter (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one flexible element (107) located in a way that it holds said holding element at one position.

3. The filter (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fuel from said filtered portion (102b) flows to said outlet (101b) of said filter (100) through said plurality of holes (104) in said second portion of said holding element (103);
, 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 invention relates to a fuel filter.

Background of the invention
[0002] In Common rail fuel injection system, fuel tank acts as a reservoir of fuel from where the fuel is sucked into the pump. The system has a filter outside the tank to filter the fuel before it flows to the pump so that the filtered fuel flows into the system in order to increase the efficiency.

[0003] The patent application US20100038305 A1 discloses a filter. The filter includes a sheet of filter media defining a body having an upper portion, a lower portion, a first end surface proximate the upper portion, a second end surface proximate the lower portion, and a first side surface extending between the first and second end surfaces. One or more of the upper and lower portions define a ledge, wherein the ledge defines a third end surface arranged between the first and second end surfaces, and a second side surface extending between the first and third end surfaces; and a seal disposed upon the ledge. A method for manufacturing the seal is also disclosed.

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

[0005] FIG. 1 illustrates a filter according to an embodiment in the invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0006] Figure 1 illustrates a filter 100 according to an embodiment of the disclosure. A filter 100 having a housing 101. The housing 101 comprises an inlet 101a, an outlet 101b and a filter element 102. The filter element 102 dividing the housing 101 into a non-filtered portion 102a and a filtered 102b portion. The inlet 101a is adapted to receive a fuel from a source. The fuel enters in the non-filtered portion 102a via inlet 101a and flows to the filter element 102. The housing 101 of the filter 100 further comprises a holding element 103 located at the bottom of the filter element 102, a portion of the holding element 103 extending towards the non-filtered portion 102a. And a second portion of holding element extending into filtered portion 102a. The holding element 103 having plurality of holes 104. The outlet 101b is located at the bottom of the housing 101 such that the fuel from the filtered portion 102b flows to the outlet 101b.

[0007] The holding element 103 here holds the filter element 102 as well as the first portion seals the non-filtered portion 102a so that it restricts the mixing of the fuel from non-filtered portion 102a to the filtered portion 102b. The non-filtered portion 102a receives the fuel from inlet 101a from first end and the first portion of the holding element 103 seals the second end so that the non-filtered fuel flows only to the filter element 102.

[0008] In the filter 100 disclosed above, in accordance with the embodiment of the invention, an overflow valve 105 is located in the housing 101. The overflow valve 105 is used to maintain the pressure inside the filter 100. For example, when the pressure is high then the overflow valve 105 opens releasing the pressure and closes when the normal pressure is achieved in the filter 100. A controller operates the over flow valve 105. Based on the requirement, the controller opens and closes the overflow valve 105.

[0009] In the filter 100, at least one connector 106 is located into the inlet 101a, the outlet 101b and in an overflow valve 105 of the housing 101. The use of the connector 106 is dependent on the pressure requirement in the filter 100 and is not limited to any particular type. For example, the connector 106 can be a quick fit banjo connector or it can be a hose or pipe connector. Like the quick fit banjo, connector is used for high-pressure fuel path and the hose or pipe connector is used for low-pressure fuel path.

[0010]According to an embodiment of the invention, a flexible element 107 is located in a way that it holds the holding element 103 at one position inside the housing 101. In the housing 101, the flexible element 107 is not restricted to springs only but to any component used for holding purpose and withstand the operating condition in the filter 100.

[0011] In the disclosure disclosed above, the fuel from the filtered portion 102b flows to the outlet 101b of the filter 100 via plurality of holes 104 in the second portion of the holding element 103. Here, the second portion of the holding element 103is in proximity with the filtered portion 102b of the housing 101. The profile of the second portion of the holding element 103 is not limited to any particular shape. The plurality of holes 104 are only located on the profile in the second portion of the holding element 103 to achieve maximum flow of filtered fuel.

[0012] The working of the filter 100 is disclosed here. Under normal pressure condition, the fuel enters inside the non-filtered portion 102a through the inlet 101a from the source. The filter element 102 filters the fuel and the fuel flows to the filtered portion 102b of the housing 101. From the filtered portion 102b, the fuel flows to the bottom of the filter housing 101 via plurality of holes 107 of the second portion of holding element 103 and then fuel flows to the pump via the outlet 101b of the housing 101 of filter 100. In case when the pressure is beyond the normal limit in the filter 100, the controller opens the overflow valve and the excess pressure is released. The controller closes the overflow valve 105 once the pressure inside the filter 100 is in normal limit.

[0013] By using this filter 100, the starvation of vehicle due to less fuel supply is avoided as this filter 100 works on gravity and the outlet 101b is at the bottom of the filter 100 so fuel after filtration flows down to the outlet 101b. Since the gravitational force is involved, the air present in the fuel stays on the upper portion of the filter 100, as air density is less than the fluid. In the state of art, the outlet is at one end of the filter, so fuel mixed with the airflows into the pump. Air bubble bursts in very small clearance and removes the surface coating, which in turn tend to system failure like the one start ability and improper fuel spray in cylinder. In the disclosure disclosed above, the clean fuel flows to the pump. These features in turn helps to increase the overall performance of the vehicle.

[0014] ‘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

[0015] It should be understood that embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. 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.