Claims:We Claim

1. A filter element (10), said filter element (10) comprising:
a top cap (12);
a filter media (14), a top portion of said filter media (14) secured to said top cap (12);
a bottom cap (16) secured to a bottom portion of said filter media (14);
a filter inner core (15) defined within said filter media (14), said filter inner core (15) bounded by an inner sidewall of said filter media (14), said top cap (12), and said bottom cap (16); characterized in that
said bottom cap (16) comprising a flat shaped portion (17), a stepped portion (19) that is adjacent to said flat shaped portion (17) that accommodates a spring therein, and a U-shaped portion (21) that is adjacent to said stepped portion (19), said U-shaped portion (21) of said bottom cap (16) positioned within said filter inner core (15) such that the space occupied by fuel that flows through said filter media (14) and that is within said filter inner core (15) is lower than a volume of said filter inner core (15).

2. The filter element (10) in accordance with Claim 1 wherein a space is defined between the inner sidewall of said filter media (14) and said U-shaped portion of said bottom cap (16) that is occupied by fuel that flows through said filter media (14).

3. The filter element (10) in accordance with Claim 1 wherein a space is defined between the inner sidewall of said top cap (12) and said U-shaped portion of said bottom cap (16) that is occupied by fuel that flows through said filter media (14).
, 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 a U-shaped bottom cap, and more specifically to a U-shaped bottom cap that is secured to a fuel filter element.

Background of the invention
[0002] IN Patent Application Number 201841019048 describes a fuel filter element. The fuel filter element comprises a top cap, a filter media and a bottom cap. The top portion of the filter media is secured to the top cap via gluing and the bottom cap is secured to a bottom portion of the filter media via gluing. A drain plug is secured to the bottom cap, the drain plug adapted to facilitate retaining water that is collected in the fuel filter.

Brief description of the accompanying drawing
[0003] Figure 1 illustrates a fuel filter in one embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0004] Figure 1 illustrates a fuel filter element 10. The fuel filter element 10 comprises a top cap 12 and a filter media 14, a top portion of the filter media 14 secured to the top cap 12. A bottom cap 16 is secured to a bottom portion of the filter media 14. A fuel filter inner core 15 is defined within the filter media 14, the fuel filter inner core 15 bounded by an inner sidewall of the filter media 14, the top cap 12, and the bottom cap 16. The bottom cap 16 comprises a flat shaped portion 17, a stepped portion 19 that is adjacent to the flat shaped portion 17 that accommodates a spring therein, and a U-shaped portion 21 that is adjacent to the stepped portion 19, the U-shaped portion 21 of the bottom cap 16 positioned within the fuel filter inner core 15 such that the space occupied by fuel that flows through the filter media 14 and that is within the fuel filter inner core 15 is lower than a volume of the fuel filter inner core 15.

[0005] The fuel filter element 10 comprises a top cap 12. A filter media 14 is secured to the top cap 12. More specifically, a top portion of the filter media 14 is secured to the top cap 12. A bottom cap 16 is secured to the filter media 14. More specifically, the bottom cap 16 is secured to a bottom portion of the filter media 14 by gluing means that is known in the art. The bottom cap 16 that is secured to the bottom portion of the filter media 14 is used to secure the fuel that flows through the filter media 14 within the filter inner core 15 of the fuel filter element 10, and thereby prevents the flow of fuel out of the fuel filter element 10.

[0006] The bottom cap 16 comprises a first flat shaped portion 17, a second flat shaped portion 27, a first stepped portion 19 that is adjacent and secured to the first flat shaped portion 17, and a second stepped portion 29 that is adjacent and secured to the second flat shaped portion 27. A U-shaped portion 21 is defined between the first stepped portion 19 and the second stepped portion 29, and forms an integral part with the bottom cap 16. The U-shaped portion 21 is inserted within the filter inner core 15 such that a major portion of the volume of the filter inner core 15 is occupied by the U-shaped portion 21 of the bottom cap 16. Therefore, only a small gap exists between the U-shaped portion 21 and the inner sidewall of the filter media 14.

[0007] The working of the bottom cap 16 that is secured to the fuel filter element 10 is described as an example. When the bottom cap 16 is secured to the filter media 14 by securing the flat shaped portion 17 of the bottom cap 16 to a bottom surface of the fuel filter media 14, the U-shaped portion 21 is inserted within the filter inner core 15 such that a major portion of the volume of the filter inner core 15 is occupied by the U-shaped portion 21 of the bottom cap 16. A space is defined between the U-shaped portion 21 and the inner sidewall of the filter media 14. The fuel that flows through the filter media 14 occupies the space between the U-shaped portion 21 and the inner sidewall of the filter media 14. As the fuel fills the space between the U-shaped portion 21 and the inner sidewall of the filter media 14, the fuel that overflows from the filter inner core 15 flows into the high pressure fuel pump. Due to the reduction in the volume of the filter inner core 15 due to the insertion of the U-shaped portion 21 of the bottom cap 16 within the fuel filter bowl 15, a very small volume of the fuel is required to fill the filter inner core 15 before the fuel overflows from the filter inner core 15 and is delivered to the high pressure fuel pump. Therefore, the U-shaped portion 21 of the bottom cap 16 assists in reducing the dead volume that would normally result when fuel is filled within the filter inner core 15. Due to the reduction in the dead volume by the insertion of the U-shaped portion 21 within the filter inner core 15, a lesser quantity of fuel that flows into the filter inner core 15 via the filter media 14 would result in the overflow of the fuel from the filter inner core 15 to the high pressure fuel pump.

[0008] It must be understood that the embodiments explained above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. Many modifications in the embodiments with regard to dimensions of various components are envisaged and form a part of this invention. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.