Water Retention Apparatus for Fuel-Water Separators
Field of the Invention
[001] The invention relates to apparatuses for separating fluids of different specific gravities, such as fuel-water separators. In particular, the invention provides apparatuses for retaining water that has been separated from a fuel-water mixture by a fuel-water separator.
Background
[002] The presence of water and particulate contaminants in fuel is a problem that is well known. It has been found that problems arising from water and particulate contaminants are magnified in fuel injection systems of internal combustion engines.
[003] Apparatuses for separating water and / or particulate contaminants from fuel-water mixtures are known within the art, and are typically implemented in the form of a fuel-water separator (optionally combined with one or more filters). A fuel-water separator may be positioned on the fuel line, so that fuel passes through the fuel-water separator prior to entering the FIP (fuel injection pump) and thereafter the engine. A fuel-water separator may comprise a housing having a fluid selective barrier media disposed therein to separate fuel from water. The fluid selective barrier media may comprise a hydrophobic filtration element, which allows passage of fuel onward to the engine, while preventing water from passing through.
[004] Given the differing specific gravities of water and fuel, the separated water component of the fuel-water mixture tends to settle at the bottom of the fuel-water separator housing, from where it can be removed through a drain or outlet at the lowest point of the housing. Draining water from a fuel-water separator may comprise opening a stop-cock or drainage valve in the housing to enable drainage.
[005] A problem with prior art devices is that water settled at the bottom of the fuel-water separator tends to emulsify (or re-emulsify) with the fuel-water mixture (due to engine or vehicle vibrations). This re-entrainment increases the water content within the fuel-water mixture, which further challenges the performance of the hydrophobic barrier media. Further, as the volume of water accumulated at the bottom of the fuel-water separator increases, severity of the re-

entrainment increases. Accordingly, accumulated water requires to be drained or otherwise removed from fuel-water separators on a regular basis.
[006] To ensure that accumulated water is periodically drained, drainage outlets in fuel-water separators may be provided with mechanical and / or electronic valve opening mechanisms which periodically open the drainage outlet(s). Likewise, to ensure that water levels remain below the level of the hydrophobic barrier media, one or more sensors may be provided within the fuel-water separator, which sensors may be configured to generate a signal (e.g. alert signal, alarm signal or other state change signal) when the accumulated water reaches a certain level. It has however been found that over time, exposure to particulate matter arid/ or other impurities within fuel-water mixtures results in clogging of electronic sensors and valve opening actuators that are located within the fuel-water separator, which limits their effectiveness. As water at the bottom of a fuel-water separator accumulates beyond desirable levels, performance of the electronic sensors and /or actuators has been found to deteriorate significantly.
[007] Additionally, even with the implementation of such sensors and / or actuators, water that accumulates between drainage events within the fuel-water separator tends to re-emulsify with the incoming fuel-water mixture, which for the reasons discussed above has negative consequences for performance of the fuel-water separator.
[008] There is accordingly a need for an apparatus that prevents water that has been separated by the fuel-water separator from re- emulsifying with the incoming fuel-water mixture, and further that is capable of reliably raising alarm or alert signals when such apparatus has retained or accumulated more than a pre-determined volume of water.
Summary
[009] The invention relates to apparatuses for separating fluids of different specific gravities, such as fuel-water separators. In particular, the invention provides apparatuses for retaining water that has been separated from a fuel-water mixture by a fuel-water separator.
[0010] An embodiment of the invention comprises a water absorption receptacle configured for insertion within a water retention apparatus. Said water retention apparatus may be configured for retention of water separated out of a fuel-water mixture by a fuel-water separator and may

comprise a housing that includes at least one housing inlet. The water absorption receptacle comprises (i) a top surface having a mounting aperture provided therein, (ii) a bottom surface, (iii) at least one side surface connecting said top surface and said bottom surface and forming a reservoir between said top surface, said bottom surface and said at least one side surface, said reservoir including one or more superabsorbent polymer materials disposed within the reservoir, wherein the at least one side surface is formed from at least one flexible fluid permeable barrier configured to permit passage of water from outside the water absorption receptacle into the reservoir, and to prevent migration of the one or more superabsorbent polymer materials from within the reservoir to outside the water absorption receptacle, (iv) a fluid passageway between the housing inlet and the flexible fluid permeable barrier, (v) a seating plate configured for affixing to a top end of the water retention apparatus, and positioned above the water absorption receptacle, and (vi) a mounting assembly.
[0011] The mounting assembly may in turn comprise (i) a vertically oriented mounting shaft having a top end and a bottom end, and (ii) a horizontally oriented base provided at the bottom end of said vertically oriented mounting shaft.
[0012] At least a portion of the vertically oriented mounting shaft may be dimensioned to enable passage of said portion of the vertically oriented mounting shaft through the mounting aperture provided in the top surface of the water absorption receptacle.
[0013] Additionally, the mounting assembly may be configured for insertion within the water retention apparatus such that (i) the horizontally oriented base of the mounting assembly is positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface of the water absorption receptacle, proximal to the bottom surface and distal to the top surface of the water absorption receptacle, (ii) the top end of the mounting shaft is affixed to the seating plate, and (iii) the bottom surface of the water absorption receptacle is held in an interference fit between the horizontally oriented base of the mounting assembly and a bottom surface of the housing.
[0014] In an embodiment of the water absorption receptacle, (i) the mounting assembly includes an abutment surface formed on the vertically oriented mounting shaft between said top end and said bottom end of the vertically oriented mounting shaft, wherein the abutment surface is dimensioned to prevent passage of said abutment surface through the mounting aperture provided in the top surface of the water absorption receptacle, and (ii) the abutment surface is positioned

between the top surface and the bottom surface of the water absorption receptacle, proximal to the top surface and distal to the bottom surface of the water absorption receptacle.
[0015] The seating plate may in a specific embodiment comprise a perforated seating plate.
[0016] The water absorption receptacle may include a biasing member position between the top surface of the water absorption receptacle and the seating plate, wherein said biasing member is configured to resiliently urge the top surface of the water absorption receptacle away from the seating plate and in the direction of the bottom surface of the water absorption receptacle.
[0017] The seating plate may include a seating recess configured to immovably retain the top end of the vertically oriented mounting shaft.
[0018] The top surface of the water absorption receptacle may include a removable closure, and in an embodiment, the mounting aperture is provided within the removable closure.
[0019] The flexible fluid permeable barrier may comprise a mesh barrier.
[0020] The flexible fluid permeable barrier may in certain embodiments be affixed to the top surface and the bottom surface of the water absorption receptacle.
[0021] In an embodiment, the engagement between the housing inlet of the housing and the outlet of the fuel-water separator may be such that the housing inlet is positioned vertically below the fuel-water separator.
[0022] In an embodiment of the water absorption receptacle, a magnet may be disposed upon said water absorption receptacle.
[0023] The water absorption receptacle may be configured for insertion within a water retention apparatus that is configured for sealing engagement with a fuel-water separator, said fuel-water separator comprising (i) an inlet, (ii) at least one hydrophobic barrier that allows passage of fuel therethrough and onward to a fuel outlet, and (iii) a water outlet for water separated by the hydrophobic barrier.

[0024] In an embodiment of the invention, the housing of the water retention apparatus includes at least one recess configured to enable driver based application of torque to the water retention apparatus in a first rotational direction, while disabling / preventing / rendering ineffective, driver based application of torque to the water retention apparatus in a second reverse rotational direction.
[0025] The invention additionally provides a water retention apparatus for retention of water separated out of a fuel-water mixture by a fuel-water separator. The water retention apparatus comprises (i) a housing comprising at least one housing inlet and (ii) a water absorption receptacle. The water absorption receptacle may comprise any of the embodiments described hereinabove or elsewhere in this specification.
[0026] The invention additionally provides a fuel-water separator comprising (i) an inlet, (ii) at least one hydrophobic barrier that allows passage of fuel therethrough and onward to a fuel outlet; and (iii) a water retention apparatus comprising any of the embodiments described above or elsewhere in this invention.
Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings
[0027] Figure 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a conventional fuel-water separator 100.
[0028] Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of a water retention apparatus in accordance with the present invention.
[0029] Figure 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the water retention apparatus of the present invention in operable engagement with a fuel water separator.
[0030] Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views of the water retention apparatus of the present invention.
[0031] Figure 6 illustrates a second embodiment of a water retention apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

[0032] Figure 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the water retention apparatus of the present invention in operable engagement with a fuel water separator.
Detailed Description
[0033] The present invention provides a water retention apparatus for receiving water that has been separated from a fuel-water mixture by a fuel-water separator. The apparatus of the present invention prevents water droplets that have already been separated within the fuel-water separator from re-emulsifying with an incoming fuel-water mixture. The apparatus is further configured to reliably raise alarm or alert signals when a predetermined amount or volume of water has accumulated.
[0034] Figure 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a conventional fuel-water separator 100. Fuel-water separator 100 comprises a housing 102, within which housing, components of the fuel-water separator may be disposed. Housing 102 is typically a cylindrical housing (or canister or bowl) arranged such that the longitudinal axis of the housing is substantially aligned with a vertical axis. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, housing 102 comprises top end 1022, bottom end 1024 and side surfaces 1026. Top end 1022 is an open top end, while bottom end 1024 is a closed bottom end. Housing 102 may be manufactured using any metal, hard plastic or composite rigid or semi-rigid material (for example, a glass reinforced polyamide).
[0035] Located at top end 1022 of housing 102, are one or more components configured to effect sealing engagement between housing 102 and the fuel injection system. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the one or more components located at top end 1022 include anchor plate 104 and retainer plate 106 - which are welded together or otherwise engaged. Anchor plate 104 serves as a closure for top end 1022 of housing 102, while retainer plate 106 enables sealing engagement of housing 102 with the engine / engine fuel supply system. In the illustrated embodiment, a gasket 108 may be interposed between retainer plate 106 and the fuel supply system to achieve sealing engagement with the fuel supply system.
[0036] Anchor plate 104 may be provided with one or more inlet orifices 1042, 1044 and at least one (and preferably only one) outlet orifice 1046. Outlet orifice 1046 may in a specific embodiment have one or more interface mechanisms 1048 that enable sealing engagement between the fuel-

water separator 100 and the engine / engine fuel supply system. Non-limiting examples of interface mechanisms 1048 that enable sealing engagement may include screw-threads and / or snap-fit or twist-lock arrangements.
[0037] Disposed within housing 102 is at least one hydrophobic barrier media, and in an embodiment said barrier media comprises an annular or tubular hydrophobic filter 110. In the illustrated cross-sectional view, the barrier media is an annular or tubular filter 110 disposed concentrically about a longitudinal axis of fuel-water separator 100. The illustrated filter 110 comprises outer surface 1102, 1104, inner surface 1106, 1108 and hydrophobic filter media 1110 disposed between said outer surface and inner surface. The illustrated filter additionally includes an impermeable bottom surface 1112 and a top surface 1114. Inner surface 1106, 1108 and bottom and top surfaces 1112 and 1114 define a reservoir 1116 within filter 1110, which reservoir 1006 houses fuel that has passed through hydrophobic filter media 1110.
[0038] The hydrophobic filter media 1110 may comprise a barrier media selected to allow fuel to pass through while preventing passage of water and / or particular matter.
[0039] The hydrophobic filter 1110 may be arranged within housing 102 to create fluid passageways 112, 114 – which permit the fuel-water mixture to enter housing 102 through inlet orifices 1042, 1044 and to come into contact with filter 110, thereby enabling separation of the fuel-water mixture into its respective fuel and water components. Separated fuel passes into reservoir 1116 and outward through outlet orifice 1046.
[0040] As a result of the differing specific gravities of water and fuel, water that is separated out of the fuel-water mixture settles towards bottom end 1024 of housing 102 and begins to accumulate in the space defined by bottom surface 1112 of the filter, bottom end 1024 of housing 102 and side surfaces 1026 of housing 102. Bottom end 1024 of housing 102 has drain valve 116 disposed therein. Drain valve 116 is provided with inlet end 1162, outlet end 1164 and valve 1166. By manipulating valve 1166, water accumulated at the bottom end of housing 102 may be allowed to pass through drain valve 116 i.e. in from inlet end 1162 and out from outlet end 1164 - thereby draining the accumulated water from the fuel-water separator. In the illustrated embodiment, drain valve 116 may be affixed to housing 102 by one or more removable or non-removable fasteners 118. In the illustrated embodiment, fastener 118 is a crimp-nut.

[0041] Bottom end 1024 of housing 102 is additionally provided with a sensor 120 - which sensor may be configured to generate a signal when the level of water accumulated at the bottom of housing 102 reaches a predetermined level. In an embodiment, responsive to sensor 120 indicating that the accumulated water has reached a predetermined level, drain valve 116 may be manipulated or actuated to allow the accumulated water to drain out of housing 102.
[0042] In Figure 1, resilient member 122 may be disposed between bottom end 1024 of housing 102 and bottom surface 1112 of filter 110, to resiliently urge filter 110 away from bottom end 1024 of housing 102 and into sealing engagement with anchor plate 104. In the illustrated embodiment, resilient member 122 comprises a coil spring. Grommet 124 may be interposed between anchor plate 104 and top end 1114 of filter 110 to enable sealing (preferably fluid tight) engagement between top end 1114 of filter 1110 and anchor plate 104, which reduces wear and tear.
[0043] Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of a water retention apparatus 200 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Water retention apparatus 200 comprises external housing 202, which comprises top end 2022, bottom end 2024 and side surfaces 2026, 2028. In an embodiment, top end 2022, bottom end 202 and side surfaces 2026, 2028 of external housing 202 define a substantially cylindrical or tubular inner region. External housing 202 may in an embodiment, comprise a rigid or semi rigid housing manufactured using metal, plastic or composite materials (for example, a glass reinforced polyamide).
[0044] Water absorption receptacle 204 is disposed within external housing 202. As shown in Figure 2, water absorption receptacle 204 may positioned within external housing 202 so that a vertical axis of water absorption receptacle 204 is substantially aligned with a vertical axis of external housing 202.
[0045] Figures 2 and 5 respectively provide a cross-section illustration and a perspective illustration of embodiments of water absorption receptacle 204. Said water absorption receptacle 204 is an embodiment a cylindrical / tubular (or substantially cylindrical / tubular) receptacle comprising a rigid or semi rigid top end 2042, a rigid or semi rigid bottom end 2044, and side surfaces 2046, 2048. The receptacle 204 defines a reservoir 214. In an embodiment of the invention, side surfaces 2046, 2048 comprise a flexible (or deformable) fluid permeable barrier-wherein the fluid permeable barrier is configured to permit passage of fuel and/or water from outside the water absorption receptacle into reservoir 214. The fluid permeable barrier may in an

embodiment of the invention, comprise a flexible mesh barrier or a porous barrier selected to enable passage of water and /or fuel into reservoir 214, while preventing migration of non-fluid materials (for example solid, particulate or granular materials) from reservoir 214 to outside of water absorption receptacle 204. In an embodiment of the invention, the fluid permeable barrier may comprise a metal mesh having mesh pores sized to prevent migration of non-fluid materials of a desired size from reservoir 214 to outside of water absorption receptacle 204, while permitting passage of water and / or fuel into reservoir 214. In an embodiment of the invention, the fluid permeable barrier used to form side surfaces 2046, 2048 of water absorption receptacle 204 may have any pore size smaller than the particle size(s) of the superabsorbent material disposed within the water absorption receptacle 204 (and which superabsorbent material is discussed in more detail subsequently).
[0046] In addition, use of a flexible fluid permeable barrier as material for side surfaces 2046, 2048 ensures a collapsible configuration for the water absorption receptacle 204, wherein top end 2042 and bottom end 2044 of water absorption receptacle 204 can be moved towards each other, or moved away from each other – which movement is made possible due to the flexible or collapsible properties of side surfaces 2046, 2048. Responsive to top end 2042 and bottom end 2044 moving towards each other, said flexible side surfaces correspondingly assume or move towards a folded or collapsed configuration. Responsive to top end 2042 and bottom end 2044 moving away from each other, said flexible side surfaces correspondingly assume or move towards, a stretched, expanded or extended configuration. It would be understood that the maximum expansion or distance between top end 2042 and bottom end 2044 may be determined by the length or dimensions of side surfaces 2046, 2048 connecting said top end 2042 and bottom end 2044.
[0047] In an embodiment of the invention, top end 2042 of water absorption receptacle 204 may consist of or include a removable closure 2050, which can be removed for accessing reservoir 214. The removable closure 2050 may be provided for depositing materials within reservoir 214, after which said removable closure 2050 may be used to seal the reservoir 214 and thereby seal within said reservoir 214, any solid, (including particulate or amorphous) materials that have been deposited therewithin. In an embodiment said closure 2050 may be removably engaged either with other parts of top end 2042 or with side surfaces 2026, 2028 by any number of fastening arrangements, including any of screw threads, snap-fit or twist-lock arrangements, screws, pins, clasps, rivets or other fasteners.

[0048] Top end 2042 of water absorption receptacle 204 is additionally provided with a mounting aperture 2052, which mounting aperture 2052 is sized to enable said water absorption receptacle 204 to be mounted on a mounting assembly, which is described in further detail in the paragraphs below. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, mounting aperture 2052 is provided within removable closure 2050.
[0049] Mounting assembly 206 comprises a vertically oriented mounting shaft 2062 having a top end 2066 and a bottom end 2068, wherein said bottom end 2068 is affixed to a horizontally oriented base 2064. In an embodiment, base 2064 is affixed substantially perpendicular to mounting shaft 2062. Mounting shaft 2062 and base 2064 may be integrally formed, or may consist of multiple components that are fastened together immovably. In various embodiments, base 2064 may comprise a circular, square, rectangular, triangular, or any other regular or irregular polygonal shapes. Base 2064 may consist of a solid surface or a perforated or grid surface.
[0050] Mounting shaft 2062 may be dimensioned such that it can be passed through mounting aperture 2052. In a specific embodiment mounting aperture 2052 and mounting shaft 2062 are respectively sized and shaped such that the circumference of mounting aperture 2052 substantially conforms to the circumferential shape of mounting shaft 2062. In an embodiment of the invention, mounting shaft 2062 has a substantially key-hole shaped cross-section – i.e. mounting shaft 2062 comprises a cylinder having a rectangular strip disposed longitudinally thereon. In another embodiment, mounting shaft 2062 may comprise a cylinder having one or more protuberances or grooves disposed longitudinally thereon. By ensuring that mounting shaft 2062 passes through mounting aperture 2052, and additionally by ensuring that the mounting aperture 2052 substantially conforms to the circumferential shape of mounting shaft 2062, it is ensured that top end 2042 of water absorption receptacle 204 can move smoothly up and down mounting shaft 2062, thereby enabling top end 2042 of water absorption receptacle 204 to be moved nearer to or further away from bottom end 2044.
[0051] Mounting shaft 2062 additionally includes an abutment surface 2070 formed on mounting shaft 2062 between top end 2066 and bottom end 2068. The abutment surface 2070 may be integrally formed on mounting shaft 2062 or may be removably (and immovably) fastened thereon. In various embodiments, abutment surface 2070 2064 may comprise a circular, square, rectangular, triangular, or any other regular or irregular polygonal shape. The abutment surface 2070 may be

dimensioned (in terms of size and / or shape) so as to prevent passage of said abutment surface 2070 through mounting aperture 2052.
[0052] Mounting assembly 206 is additionally positioned within water absorption receptacle 204 so as to ensure that both base 2064 and abutment surface 2070 of mounting assembly 206 are positioned between top end 2042 and bottom end 2044 of water absorption receptacle 204, while at least a portion of mounting shaft 2062 passes through mounting aperture 2052 provided in top end 2042 of water absorption receptacle 204 – and extends outside of water absorption receptacle 204. Additionally, mounting assembly 206 is positioned such that base 2064 is positioned proximal to bottom end 2044 and distal to top end 2042 of water absorption receptacle 204, while abutment surface 2070 is positioned proximal to top end 2042 and distal to bottom end 2044 of water absorption receptacle 204.
[0053] By configuring abutment surface 2070 so as to disable or prevent passage of said abutment surface 2070 through mounting aperture 2052, the abutment surface 2070 serves as a positive stop, ensuring at all times, at least a predetermined separation between top end 2042 and bottom end 2044 of water absorption receptacle 204. It would be understood that said predetermined separation comprises at least the distance between base 2064 and abutment surface 2070 of mounting assembly 206.
[0054] As shown in the cross-section view of Figure 2 and the perspective views of Figure 4 and Figure 5, top end 2066 of mounting shaft 2062 is affixed to perforated seating plate 208, wherein perforated seating plate 208 is configured to be fastened to top end 2022 of external housing 202. Perforated seating plate is provided with one or more perforations 2086, 2086’, 2086’’ – which perforations permit fluid (for example, water droplets that exit from a fuel-water separator positioned in fluid communication with external housing 202) to enter external housing 202.
[0055] Perforated seating plate 208 may be fastened to top end 2022 of external housing 202 by any number of removable or irremovable arrangements 2084, 2086, including through any of screw threads, snap-fit or twist-lock arrangements, screws, pins, clasps, rivets or other fasteners that fasten perforated seating plate 208 to top end 2022 of external housing 202. In an embodiment of the invention, top end 2066 of mounting shaft 2062 is seated within a seat or seating recess 2082 provided on perforated seating plate 208. In an embodiment of the invention, top end 2066 of

mounting shaft 2062 may be press fitted into a seating recess 2082 provided on perforated seating plate 208.
[0056] In an embodiment of the invention, one or more of the length of mounting shaft 206, the depth and configuration of seating recess 2082 (that is provided on perforated seating plate 208) and the distance separating perforated seating plate 208 and bottom end 2024 of external housing 202, may be selected such that bottom end 2044 of water absorption receptacle is immovably held in position between base 2064 (of mounting assembly 206) and bottom end 2024 of external housing 202 – by virtue of an interference fit caused by said base 2064 pushing against said bottom end 2024. It would be understood that this arrangement serves to prevent relative movement between bottom end 2044 of water absorption receptacle 204 and external housing 202.
[0057] In an embodiment, mounting assembly 206 may additionally include biasing member 210 that is positioned between perforated seating plate 208 and top end 2042 of water absorption receptacle 204, and which is configured to bias or urge top end 2042 of water absorption receptacle away from perforated seating plate 208 and towards abutment surface 2070. In an embodiment of the invention biasing member 210 is any resilient member, including for example, a coil spring.
[0058] Reservoir 214 of water absorption receptacle 204 has a plurality of super absorbent materials 212 (preferably superabsorbent polymer materials) disposed therein. For the purposes of the invention, "superabsorbent" material shall be understood as a water-swellable, water-insoluble, organic material capable of absorbing water in several multiples of its own weight (preferably upto and over 300 times its own weight). A "superabsorbent polymer" is a crosslinked polymer which is capable of absorbing large amounts of water, with a corresponding swelling and formation of hydrogels, and which is also capable of retaining the absorbed water. Superabsorbent polymers for the purposes of the present invention shall include all commercially available superabsorbent polymers based on cross-linked polyacrylic acids or starch-acrylic acid graft polymers.
[0059] When water droplets pass into reservoir 214, such droplets come into contact with the superabsorbent materials 212. These superabsorbent materials absorb the water droplets, swell up and retain the water droplets therewithin - thereby preventing such water droplets from passing back out of reservoir 214. In an embodiment of the invention, the superabsorbent materials may comprise superabsorbent polymer materials. In a more specific embodiment, the superabsorbent

materials disposed within reservoir 214 may be in any one or more of particulate, powdered, granule or bead form.
[0060] As discussed above, the flexible or deformable fluid permeable barrier side surfaces 2046, 2048 of water absorption receptacle 204, enable top end 2042 to be moved towards or away from bottom end 2044 of water absorption receptacle 204. For the purposes of the present invention, when said top end 2042 moves towards said bottom end 2044, the water absorption receptacle 204 is understood to be moving from an expanded configuration to a compressed configuration. Conversely, when said top end 2042 moves away from said bottom end 2044, the water absorption receptacle 204 is understood to be moving from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration.
[0061] Stated differently, (i) when the distance between top end 2042 and bottom end 2044 of water absorption receptacle 204 is less than the maximum possible distance permitted by the length of flexible or deformable side surfaces 2046, 2048, the water absorption receptacle 204 may be understood as being in a compressed configuration and (ii) when the distance between top end 2042 and bottom end 2044 of water absorption receptacle 204 is the maximum possible distance permitted by the length of flexible or deformable side surfaces 2046, 2048, the water absorption receptacle 204 may be understood as being in an expanded configuration.
[0062] When water absorption receptacle 204 is initially filled with superabsorbent materials 212, it may be placed within external housing 202 in a compressed configuration. It would be understood that in this configuration, and as a result of biasing member 210 urging top end 2042 of water absorption receptacle 204 towards abutment surface 2070, top end 2042 of water absorption receptacle 204 may be substantially in contact with abutment surface 2070 of mounting assembly 206.
[0063] During operation, as water droplets enter reservoir 214 and are absorbed by the superabsorbent materials 212, the volume of saturated superabsorbent materials 212 progressively increases, which increase in volume eventually begins to push top end 2042 of water absorption receptacle away from bottom end 2044 of water absorption receptacle and / or away from abutment surface 2070 - thereby causing water absorption receptacle 204 to move from a compressed configuration towards an expanded configuration.

[0064] As illustrated in Figure 3, the water retention apparatus 200 of Figure 2 may be configured to be positioned vertically beneath a fuel-water separator 300 (of the same or similar type as has been previously illustrated and discussed in connection with Figure 1). By virtue of being positioned beneath fuel water separator 300, water accumulating towards the bottom end of said fuel water separator 300 passes from fuel water separator 300 into water retention apparatus 200, preferably under flow induced by gravity.
[0065] Referring again to Figure 2, water absorption receptacle 204 may be disposed within external housing 202 in a way that a fluid passageway is created between side surfaces 2026, 2028 of external housing 202 and side surfaces 2046, 2048 of water absorption receptacle 204. Water droplets separated out of the fuel-water mixture in fuel water separator 300 pass into the water retention apparatus 200 positioned directly below it (i.e. through perforated sealing plate 208 affixed at top end 2022 of external housing 202, and into the fluid passageway between side surfaces 2026, 2028 of external housing 202 and side surfaces 2046, 2048 of water absorption receptacle 204). The water droplets in this fluid passageway come into contact with side surfaces 2046, 2048 of water absorption receptacle 204 and pass through said side surfaces 2046, 2048 into reservoir 214 — whereinafter said water droplets are absorbed by the superabsorbent materials 212 disposed within reservoir 214 and thereby are prevented from re-emulsifying with the fuel-water mixture and recirculating within the fuel-water separator. Additionally, the fluid permeable barrier flexible fabric used for constructing the flexible fluid permeable side surfaces 2046, 2048 of water absorption receptacle 204 prevent saturated as well as unsaturated superabsorbent materials 212 that are disposed within reservoir 214 from migrating from inside reservoir 214 to outside of said reservoir 214 and / or outside of water absorption receptacle 204.
[0066] In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the invention additionally comprises a mechanism for generating a signal when the water retained by the superabsorbent material 212 within the water absorption receptacle 204 has reached a predetermined volume— thereby indicating that the saturated superabsorbent materials 212 within water absorption receptacle 204 require to removed and replaced with fresh unsaturated superabsorbent materials, or that the water absorption receptacle 204 needs to be replaced.
[0067] In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 2, the mechanism for generating an alert signal includes a first component 216 disposed on water absorption receptacle 204 and a second component 218 disposed within external housing 202. The first component 216 disposed

on water absorption receptacle 204 comprises a magnet 2162 affixed to a rigid support member 2164 - which rigid support member 2164 is in turn affixed to top end 2042 of water absorption receptacle 204. This arrangement ensures that the distance between magnet 2162 and top end 2042 of water absorption receptacle 204 remains constant - regardless of whether water absorption receptacle 204 is in a compressed configuration or in an expanded configuration. At the same time, this arrangement ensures that magnet 2162 is moveable relative to bottom end 2044 of water absorption receptacle 204 - which relative movement occurs as water absorption receptacle 204 moves from a compressed configuration towards an expanded configuration.
[0068] The second component 218 of the mechanism for generating a signal comprises at least one magnetic field sensitive switch 218 (for example, a reed switch) positioned on external housing 102. Said magnetic field sensitive switch 218 may be configured to generate an alert signal, alarm signal or other signal in response to being influenced by the magnetic field generated by magnet 2162. It would be understood that the magnetic field sensitive switch 218 would generate the necessary signal when the distance separating magnet 2162 from magnetic field sensitive switch 218 is a distance less than the maximum distance within which magnetic field sensitive switch 218 can detect the magnetic field generated by magnet 2162.
[0069] The combination of one or more of (i) position of the water absorption receptacle 204 on external housing 202 (ii) position of magnet 2162 relative to top end 2042 of water absorption receptacle 204, and (iii) position of magnetic field sensitive switch 218 on external housing 202, may be selected such that, the magnetic field sensitive switch 218 is triggered to generate a signal when magnet 2162 moves a predetermined distance away from bottom end 2044 of water absorption receptacle 204.
[0070] Referring to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, it would be understood that in operation, superabsorbent materials 212 within reservoir 214 absorb water and increase in volume, and said expanding superabsorbent materials 212 force top end 2042 of water absorption receptacle 204 (and correspondingly the magnet 2162 that is positioned at a fixed distance relative to top end 2042 of water absorption receptacle 204) to move away from bottom end 2044 of water absorption receptacle 204. Additionally, as consequence of bottom end 2044 of water absorption receptacle 204 being immovably affixed to bottom end 2024 of external housing 202, top end 2042 of water absorption receptacle 204 (and magnet 2162) are also forced to move relative to bottom end 2024 and side surfaces 2026, 2028 of external housing 202. Accordingly, in the embodiment

illustrated in Figure 2, as water absorption receptacle 204 moves from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration, magnet 2162 moves closer to magnetic field sensitive switch 218 until it is sufficiently close to trigger magnetic field sensitive switch 218 to generate an alarm or alert signal. By appropriate positioning of magnet 2162 and magnetic field sensitive switch 218, the present invention can be configured to generate alerts in response to absorption of a predetermined volume of water within water absorption receptacle 204.
[0071] It would additionally be understood that more than one magnetic field sensitive switch may be provided on external housing 202 so that each switch is triggered at a different position of magnet 2162 relative to external housing 202 — thereby ensuring that multiple alert signals can be generated corresponding to various positions of magnet 2162 i.e. corresponding to various different volumes of water absorbed by the superabsorbent materials 212 in water absorption receptacle 204.
[0072] In an embodiment of the invention, at least first and second magnetic field sensitive switches may be provided on external housing 202.
[0073] Each of the first and second magnetic field sensitive switches may be disposed on external housing 202 such that (i) the first magnetic field sensitive switch is triggered when the magnet 2162 moves a first predefined distance away from a bottom end 2044 of the water absorption receptacle 204 / bottom end 2024 of external housing 202, and (ii) the second magnetic field sensitive switch is triggered when the magnet 2162 moves a second predefined distance away from the bottom end 2044 of the water absorption receptacle 204 / bottom end 2024 of external housing 202.
[0074] In an embodiment of the invention, magnetic field sensitive switch 218 may comprise a potted, reed-type contact switch 218 that is disposed within a rigid holder. Said rigid holder may in an embodiment be isolated from any fluid passageways, thereby ensuring that magnetic field sensitive switch 218 is protected from exposure to the fuel-water mixture.
[0075] External housing 202 may additionally be provided with one or more fastening features that enable water retention apparatus 200 to be positioned vertically beneath a fuel-water separator 300 (in the manner illustrated in Figure 3).

[0076] Referring to the embodiments illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, a top end 2022 of external housing 202 may be provided with suitable screw threads 2030 (or any other fastening surfaces or fasteners) to engage with corresponding screw threads 3030 (or other fastening surfaces or fasteners) provided at a bottom end 3024 of the fuel water separator 300 (see Figure 3). In various embodiments, screw threads 2030 may be provided on one or both of inner and outer peripheries of a top end 2022 of external housing 202.
[0077] In various embodiments of the invention, external housing 102 of water retention apparatus 200 is additionally provided with one or more fluid passageways which allow any excess fluid that drips or leaks from the fuel-water separator through the fastening mechanisms and into the external housing 202, to pass into the fluid passageways formed between side surfaces 2026, 2028 of external housing 202 and side surfaces 2046, 2048 of water absorption receptacle 204. Additionally, or alternatively, external housing 202 may be provided with one or more drain channels to allow fluid from such drips or leaks to drain out of external housing 202.
[0078] In an embodiment of the invention, top end 2022 of external housing 202 may additionally be provided with one or more grooves having one or more gaskets seated therein, to ensure fluid tight engagement between fuel-water separator 300 and external housing 202.
[0079] Referring specifically to Figure 3, the illustrated embodiment comprises water retention apparatus 200 positioned vertically beneath fuel- water separator 300. Water accumulating towards the bottom end of said fuel water separator 300 passes from fuel water separator 300, through the perforations 2086, 2086’, 2086’’ of perforated sealing plate 208, into water retention apparatus 200, preferably under flow induced by gravity. In the illustrated embodiment, fuel-water separator 300 comprises includes housing 302 having top end 3022 and bottom end 3024 – and additionally having hydrophobic barrier media 310 comprising an annular or tubular hydrophobic filter 310, assembled within housing 302, whose top end 3022 is provided with an anchor plate 304 affixed to a retainer plate 306.
[0080] A resilient member or spring 322 is positioned between bottom end 3024 of housing 302 and a bottom end of filter 310 - so as to urge filter 310 away from bottom end 3024 of housing 302. Bottom end 3024 of housing 302 additionally is provided with one or more fasteners (such as screw threads 3030) to enable fluid tight engagement with corresponding fasteners (such as screw threads 2030) on external housing 202 of water retention apparatus 200. It will additionally

be observed that bottom end 3024 of housing 302 may be provided with one or more orifices 324 which allow water accumulating at bottom end 3024 of fuel water separator 300 to flow onward through the perforations of perforated sealing plate 208 and into water retention apparatus 200.
[0081] In an embodiment, the invention comprises an improved fuel-water separator comprising, an inlet, at least one hydrophobic barrier that allows passage of fuel therethrough and onward to a fuel outlet, and a water retention apparatus comprising any of the embodiments of water retention apparatuses described in detail hereinabove. In one embodiment, said water retention apparatus comprises (i) a housing comprising at least one inlet, (ii) a water absorption receptacle comprising (a) a reservoir, and (b) at least one flexible fluid permeable barrier configured to permit passage of water from outside the water absorption receptacle into the reservoir, and (iii) a fluid passageway between the housing inlet and the fluid permeable barrier.
[0082] It would be understood that the present invention presents multiple advantages over arrangements known in the prior art. First, by using a flexible fluid permeable barrier within water absorption receptacle 204 to allow passage of water into reservoir 214 and simultaneously prevent migration of superabsorbent materials 212 disposed within reservoir 214 to outside of water absorption receptacle 204, the water retention apparatuses 200 of the present invention prevents water droplets that have already been separated, from re-emulsifying with an incoming fuel-water mixture. Additionally, by providing a sensing mechanism where the electronic sensors (e.g. the magnetic field sensitive switches) are isolated from and do not come into contact with the fuel-water mixture and particulate matter, the invention ensures longevity of the sensing and alert mechanisms. By selecting an appropriate size of a water retention apparatus 200 and an appropriate quantity of superabsorbent materials for storage within the water absorption receptacle, the invention significantly reduces (and can even do away entirely) the need for removing accumulated water that has been separated out from a fuel supply by a fuel-water separator. Yet further, by implementing a mounting assembly in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, significant advantages have been discovered in terms of both manufacturing costs and manufacturing efficiencies associated with manufacturing the water retention apparatus 200.
[0083] Figure 6 illustrates a second embodiment 600 of a water retention apparatus comprising external housing 202 and water absorption receptacle 204 disposed therein. Said external housing 202 and water absorption receptacle 204 correspond substantially to the descriptions provided previously in connection with Figure 2, with the additional feature that bottom end 2024 of

external housing 202 is provided with a recess 602 on its outer surface – which recess 602 is configured to provide a drive feature / engagement mechanism that only allows a driver to urge the external housing to rotate in a direction required to enable disengagement of the water retention apparatus / external housing of said water retention apparatus from a fuel water separator. For example, in the case where disengagement of the water retention apparatus / external housing of said water retention apparatus from the fuel water separator requires rotation of said external housing in a counter-clockwise direction, recess 602 is configured to enable application of torque by a correspondingly configured driver to urge the external housing to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, while preventing application of torque by the driver in a manner that would urge the external housing to rotate in a clock-wise direction (or vice versa).
[0084] In one embodiment, recess 602 may be provided with one or more ramp projections within said recess 602 – which ramp projection(s) enable application of torque on external housing 202 by the use of a flat-bladed tool, such as a screwdriver. The ramp slope directions and the raised end of said ramp are selected in manner that ensures that the ramp projection(s) are only usable for causing the external housing to rotate in one direction and not the other.
[0085] In another embodiment, recess 602 may be configured to include a toothed or ratchet-like arrangement, such that application of torque in a first rotational direction on a tool or driver that is sized to fit within recess 602 and having corresponding projections to engage with the recess teeth or ratchets would cause external housing 602 to rotate, while application of torque in an opposite rotational direction on said tool or driver would simply cause the driver to rotate within recess 602 without causing any corresponding rotational movement to the housing.
[0086] By implementing the above feature in the water retention apparatus, such that a driver can only be used to rotate the external housing 202 in the direction of disengagement, it can be ensured that a driver cannot be used for the purpose of tightening the engagement between the external housing 202 and the fuel water separator. In such embodiments, any engagement would have to be effected by rotating the external housing 202 by hand – which limits the application of torque and avoids the dangers of over-tightening.
[0087] Figure 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the water retention apparatus 600 in operable engagement with a fuel water separator.

[0088] While the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described and illustrated herein, it will be appreciated that they are merely illustrative. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications in form and detail may be made therein without departing from or offending the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Additionally, the invention illustratively disclose herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein – and in a particular embodiment specifically contemplated, is intended to be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.

We Claim:
1. A water absorption receptacle configured for insertion within a water retention apparatus, said water retention apparatus configured for retention of water separated out of a fuel-water mixture by a fuel-water separator and comprising a housing that includes at least one housing inlet, the water absorption receptacle comprising:
a top surface having a mounting aperture provided therein;
a bottom surface;
at least one side surface connecting said top surface and said bottom surface and forming a reservoir between said top surface, said bottom surface and said at least one side surface, said reservoir including one or more superabsorbent polymer materials disposed within the reservoir, wherein the at least one side surface is formed from at least one flexible fluid permeable barrier configured to permit passage of water from outside the water absorption receptacle into the reservoir, and to prevent migration of the one or more superabsorbent polymer materials from within the reservoir to outside the water absorption receptacle;
a fluid passageway between the housing inlet and the flexible fluid permeable barrier;
a seating plate configured for affixing to a top end of the water retention apparatus, and positioned above the water absorption receptacle;
and
a mounting assembly comprising:
a vertically oriented mounting shaft having a top end and a bottom end;
a horizontally oriented base provided at the bottom end of said vertically oriented mounting shaft; and

wherein at least a portion of the vertically oriented mounting shaft is dimensioned to enable passage of said portion of the vertically oriented mounting shaft through the mounting aperture provided in the top surface of the water absorption receptacle;
and wherein the mounting assembly is configured for insertion within the water retention apparatus such that:
the horizontally oriented base of the mounting assembly is positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface of the water absorption receptacle, proximal to the bottom surface and distal to the top surface of the water absorption receptacle;
the top end of the mounting shaft is affixed to the seating plate; and
the bottom surface of the water absorption receptacle is held in an interference fit between the horizontally oriented base of the mounting assembly and a bottom surface of the housing.
2. The water absorption receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
the mounting assembly includes an abutment surface formed on the vertically oriented mounting shaft between said top end and said bottom end of the vertically oriented mounting shaft, wherein the abutment surface is dimensioned to prevent passage of said abutment surface through the mounting aperture provided in the top surface of the water absorption receptacle; and
the abutment surface is positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface of the water absorption receptacle, proximal to the top surface and distal to the bottom surface of the water absorption receptacle.
3. The water absorption receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seating plate is a perforated seating plate.
4. The water absorption receptacle as claimed in claim 1, comprising a biasing member position between the top surface of the water absorption receptacle and the seating plate, wherein

said biasing member is configured to resiliently urge the top surface of the water absorption receptacle away from the seating plate and in the direction of the bottom surface of the water absorption receptacle.
5. The water absorption receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seating plate includes a seating recess configured to immovably retain the top end of the vertically oriented mounting shaft.
6. The water absorption receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top surface of the water absorption receptacle includes a removable closure, and wherein the mounting aperture is provided within the removable closure.

7. The water absorption receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible fluid permeable barrier comprises a mesh barrier.
8. The water absorption receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible fluid permeable barrier is affixed to the top surface and the bottom surface of the water absorption receptacle.
9. The water absorption receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engagement between the housing inlet and the outlet of the fuel-water separator is such that the housing inlet is positioned vertically below the fuel-water separator.

10. The water absorption receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water absorption receptacle includes a magnet disposed upon said water absorption receptacle.
11. The water absorption receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water retention apparatus is configured for sealing engagement with a fuel-water separator, said fuel-water separator comprising:
an inlet;
at least one hydrophobic barrier that allows passage of fuel therethrough and onward to a fuel outlet; and

a water outlet for water separated by the hydrophobic barrier.
12. The water absorption receptacle as claim 1, wherein the housing of the water retention apparatus includes at least one recess configured to enable driver based application of torque to the water retention apparatus in a first rotational direction, while disabling driver based application of torque to the water retention apparatus in a second reverse rotational direction.
13. A water retention apparatus for retention of water separated out of a fuel-water mixture by a fuel-water separator, the water retention apparatus comprising:
a housing comprising at least one housing inlet;
a water absorption receptacle comprising:
a top surface having a mounting aperture provided therein;
a bottom surface;
at least one side surface connecting said top surface and said bottom surface and forming a reservoir between said top surface, said bottom surface and said at least one side surface, said reservoir including one or more superabsorbent polymer materials disposed within the reservoir, wherein the at least one side surface is formed from at least one flexible fluid permeable barrier configured to permit passage of water from outside the water absorption receptacle into the reservoir, and to prevent migration of the one or more superabsorbent polymer materials from within the reservoir to outside the water absorption receptacle;
a fluid passageway between the housing inlet and the flexible fluid permeable barrier;
a seating plate affixed to a top end of the water retention apparatus, and positioned above the water absorption receptacle;
and
a mounting assembly comprising:

a vertically oriented mounting shaft having a top end and a bottom end;
a horizontally oriented base provided at the bottom end of said vertically oriented mounting shaft; and
wherein at least a portion of the vertically oriented mounting shaft is dimensioned to enable passage of said portion of the vertically oriented mounting shaft through the mounting aperture provided in the top surface of the water absorption receptacle;
and wherein the mounting assembly is disposed within the water retention apparatus such that:
the horizontally oriented base of the mounting assembly is positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface of the water absorption receptacle, proximal to the bottom surface and distal to the top surface of the water absorption receptacle;
the top end of the mounting shaft is affixed to the seating plate; and
the bottom surface of the water absorption receptacle is held in an interference fit between the horizontally oriented base of the mounting assembly and a bottom surface of the housing.
14. A fuel-water separator comprising:
an inlet;
at least one hydrophobic barrier that allows passage of fuel therethrough and onward to a fuel outlet; and
a water retention apparatus comprising:
a housing comprising at least one housing inlet;

a water absorption receptacle comprising:
a top surface having a mounting aperture provided therein;
a bottom surface;
at least one side surface connecting said top surface and said bottom surface and forming a reservoir between said top surface, said bottom surface and said at least one side surface, said reservoir including one or more superabsorbent polymer materials disposed within the reservoir, wherein the at least one side surface is formed from at least one flexible fluid permeable barrier configured to permit passage of water from outside the water absorption receptacle into the reservoir, and to prevent migration of the one or more superabsorbent polymer materials from within the reservoir to outside the water absorption receptacle;
a fluid passageway between the housing inlet and the flexible fluid permeable barrier;
a seating plate affixed to a top end of the water retention apparatus, and positioned above the water absorption receptacle;
and
a mounting assembly comprising:
a vertically oriented mounting shaft having a top end and a bottom end; and
a horizontally oriented base provided at the bottom end of said vertically oriented mounting shaft;
wherein at least a portion of the vertically oriented mounting shaft is dimensioned to enable passage of said portion of the vertically oriented mounting shaft through the mounting aperture provided in the top surface of the water absorption receptacle;

and wherein the mounting assembly is disposed within the water retention apparatus such that:
the horizontally oriented base of the mounting assembly is positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface of the water absorption receptacle, proximal to the bottom surface and distal to the top surface of the water absorption receptacle;
the top end of the mounting shaft is affixed to the seating plate; and
the bottom surface of the water absorption receptacle is held in an interference fit between the horizontally oriented base of the mounting assembly and a bottom surface of the housing.