JP2004183522A - Fuel filter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel filter which can confirm that an internal air is discharged in a liquid filling work by providing a display unit for displaying a liquid level of a fuel introduced into the fuel filter in a gas removing unit. <P>SOLUTION: In the fuel filter 1 having elements 4, 5 in a space (outer peripheral space 9) surrounded by a case 3 and a shell cover 2 in which an inlet hole 6 and an outlet hole 7 are formed, the gas removing unit 8 having an exhaust hole 13 communicating with the outer peripheral space 9 and removing the gas of the outer peripheral space 9 by discharging the gas from the exhaust hole 13 is arranged on the upper portion of the shell cover 2. The fuel filter 1 is constituted so that the fuel introduced from the inlet hole 6 into the case is flowed from the outlet hole 7 to the exterior through the filter elements 4, 5. The gas removing unit 8 arranged in the fuel filter 1 is constituted to have a float 14 floating at the liquid level of the fuel introduced into the gas removing unit 8. Further, the gas removing unit 8 is constituted to have a display window 15 for displaying the position of the float 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fuel filter having a gas removing device that discharges air accumulated inside.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Fuels such as kerosene, light oil, gasoline, etc. sometimes contain solids and free moisture. Fuel filters are used for the purpose of purifying fuel. The fuel filter allows the fuel to pass through the filter element, captures and removes solids contained in the fuel, and aggregates free water to grow into water droplets. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0003]
Incidentally, when fuel passes through the filter element, static electricity due to friction is generated, and the fuel passing through the filter element may be charged. When the charged fuel approaches the metal part constituting the filter element, it is discharged.However, if air enters the fuel filter, the safety may be reduced. A device (called "air eliminator") is provided.
[0004]
The gas removing device is provided above the fuel filter, and has an exhaust hole communicating with the inside of the fuel filter and a float movable in the gas removing device. When the fuel is introduced into the fuel filter, the fuel is pushed by the fuel and the air inside is discharged from the exhaust hole. When the fuel fills the fuel filter and the gas removing device, the float floating at the liquid level of the fuel comes into contact with the exhaust hole and closes the exhaust hole, so that the fuel does not flow out from the exhaust hole to the outside. ing.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-8-38805
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the fuel filter configured as described above, at the start of use of the fuel filter, the fuel flow rate to the fuel filter is set to about 1/3 of that in normal processing so that the fuel is not charged. Normal operation is performed after the fuel is filled in the filter and the internal air is removed from the gas removing device (this operation of filling the fuel in the fuel filter and removing the internal air is called "liquid filling"). ).
[0007]
However, in the conventional fuel filter, there is no means for confirming the liquid level of the fuel introduced into the fuel filter, and it is necessary to empirically determine the time allotted for the liquid filling operation, and the air discharge in the fuel filter is required. There was a problem that the state could not be confirmed.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and by providing a display unit for displaying the liquid level of the fuel introduced into the fuel filter in the gas removing device, the air inside the fuel filling operation can be improved. To provide a fuel filter that can confirm that the fuel has been discharged.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, a fuel filter according to the present invention has a case in which an inlet hole and an outlet hole are formed, a filter element disposed in the case, and an upper part of the case which communicates with the case. A gas removal device that has an exhaust hole and removes gas in the case from the exhaust hole and removes the fuel; the fuel introduced into the case from the inflow hole passes through the filter element and flows out of the outflow hole to the outside It is configured to be. Then, the gas removal device provided in the fuel filter has a liquid level display unit (for example, the display window 15 in the embodiment) for displaying the liquid level of the fuel introduced into the case by a predetermined amount or more. To be configured.
[0010]
According to such a configuration, it can be visually confirmed that the fuel has been filled in the fuel filter, so that the fuel filter can be used in a state where the air in the fuel filter has been reliably discharged. Therefore, even if the fuel passing through the fuel filter is charged and discharged inside the fuel filter, safety is not reduced.
[0011]
In addition, by having a float movable in the gas removing device and floating on the liquid surface of the fuel introduced into the gas removing device, the case is filled with fuel and introduced into the gas removing device, In the gas removing device configured such that the float pushed up by the fuel comes into contact with the exhaust hole to close the exhaust hole so that the fuel does not flow out from the exhaust hole, the liquid level indicator displays the position of the float. It is preferable that the display window be configured with a display window.
[0012]
According to such a configuration, since it can be realized by providing a display window in the conventional gas removing device, it can be realized with a simple structure.
[0013]
Alternatively, it is preferable that the liquid level display section is constituted by a liquid level gauge for displaying the liquid level of the fuel introduced into the inside of the gas removing device.
[0014]
According to such a configuration, the liquid level of the fuel introduced into the fuel filter is displayed more accurately, so that it is easy to confirm.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 2, the fuel filter 1 includes a shell cover 2 and a cylindrical case 3 having a bottom. Filter elements 4 and 5 are provided in a space defined by the shell cover 2 and the case 3. are doing.
[0016]
Each of the filter elements 4 and 5 has a structure as shown in FIG. 3, for example, and has an inner tube 20 formed in a cylindrical and lattice-like shape, and a filter member 21 disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner tube 20. And The filter medium portion 21 is formed by wrapping a filter paper folded in a bellows shape and rounded in an annular shape around the outer peripheral surface of the inner tube 20, and has a chrysanthemum shape in cross section. End plates 22, 22 each having a disk-like shape and having an opening 23 are provided at both ends of the inner tube 20 and the filter medium portion 21 in the cylindrical axis direction. 21 are sandwiched between the filter elements 4 and 5. A gasket 24 is provided on the outer surface of the end plate 22 so as to surround the opening 23. The opening 23 of the end plate 22 communicates with an inner peripheral space 25 surrounded by the inner peripheral surface of the inner tube 20. In addition, the shape and material of the filter medium portion 21 are not limited to the filter paper formed in a chrysanthemum flower shape as described above, and those formed in a cylindrical shape by glass fiber, nonwoven fabric, or the like having a predetermined thickness. A material formed by combining these materials or a sintered product formed in a cylindrical shape may be used, and the optimum material and shape can be selected according to the fuel to be filtered and the contaminants to be removed.
[0017]
The lower part of the case 3 communicates from the outside to the inside of the case 3 (referred to as “outer peripheral space 9” because of the space formed by the outer peripheral surfaces of the filter elements 4 and 5 and the inner surface of the case 3). Extending inflow holes 6 and outflow holes 7 are formed. The filter element 4 is disposed so that the inflow hole 6 is inserted into the inner peripheral space 25 through the opening 23 of the filter element 4, and the filter element 5 passes through the opening 23 of the filter element 5. The outflow hole 7 is disposed so as to be inserted into the inner peripheral space 25. The inflow holes 6 and the outflow holes 7 and the openings 23 of the filter elements 4 and 5 are configured to be sealed by the gasket 24 described above. Does not flow in. The end plate 22 (the end plate 22 located above the filter elements 4 and 5 in the fuel filter 1) faces the end plate 22 in which the inflow holes 6 and the outflow holes 7 of the filter elements 4 and 5 are inserted. The opening 23 is closed by a member (not shown), and the space formed by the shell cover 2 and the case 3 by the filter elements 4 and 5 is separated into an inner peripheral space 25 and an outer peripheral space 9.
[0018]
In the above-described embodiment, the openings 23 are provided in the end plates 22 at both ends of the filter elements 4 and 5. This is because when the filter elements 4 and 5 are attached to the fuel filter 1, It is intended to be able to be attached even if it is inserted from the direction, thereby improving the work efficiency. Therefore, the end plate 22 into which the inflow hole 6 and the outflow hole 7 are inserted is determined at one end of the filter elements 4 and 5, and the opening 23 is provided in the end plate 22, and the opening 23 is not provided in the other end plate 22. It is also possible.
[0019]
As described above, the fuel filter 1 allows the fuel introduced from the inflow hole 6 to the inner peripheral space 25 of the filter element 4 to pass through the filter medium portion 21 of the filter element 4 and to flow out to the outer peripheral space 9, and further to the filter element 5. Is passed through the filter medium portion 21 and flows into the inner peripheral space 25 of the filter element 5, and flows out through the outflow hole 7 to the outside.
[0020]
At this time, the operation of the two filter elements 4 and 5 is as follows. First, the filter element 4 captures and removes the solid matter contained in the fuel introduced from the inflow hole 6 by the filter medium portion 21 and agglomerates free water contained in the fuel to form water droplets (for this reason, the filter element 4 Is called a "coalesce cartridge"). The water droplets aggregated in the filter medium part 21 of the filter element 4 precipitate from the outer peripheral surface of the filter medium part 21 and flow out to the outer peripheral space 9 together with the fuel. At this time, water droplets having a diameter larger than a predetermined size settle in the outer peripheral space 9 by their own weight and accumulate on the bottom surface of the outer peripheral space 9 and are separated and removed from the fuel. However, water droplets having a small diameter will flow out together with the fuel. And Therefore, the water droplets are separated by the filter medium portion 21 of the filter element 5, and only the fuel passes through the filter element 5 (for this reason, the filter element 5 is called a "separator cartridge"). The fuel filter 1 is configured to allow clean fuel to flow out of the outflow hole 7.
[0021]
When the fuel passes through the filter element (particularly, the filter element 4) configured as described above, the fuel may be charged due to friction between the filter medium portion 21 and the fuel. For this reason, when the charged fuel approaches, for example, a metal member constituting the filter elements 4 and 5, discharge may occur. Normally, since the inside of the fuel filter 1 (outer peripheral space 9) is filled with fuel, there is no problem in safety even if such a discharge occurs, but after the fuel filter 1 is installed or the filter element 4, After maintenance such as replacement of the fuel cell 5, the outer space 9 is not filled with fuel and air is present inside. Therefore, if discharge occurs in such a state, safety may be reduced.
[0022]
For this reason, a gas removing device 8 for discharging the air in the outer peripheral space 9 to the outside is provided above the fuel filter 1 (shell cover 2). At the upper part of the shell cover 2, a cylindrical mounting part 10 is formed so as to protrude upward, and an opening (not shown) is formed on the upper surface of the mounting part 10 so that it passes through the shell cover 2. And communicates with the outer peripheral space 9.
[0023]
The gas removing device 8 is mounted on the upper part of the mounting portion 10. The gas removing device 8 includes a cylindrical portion 12 formed in a cylindrical shape and mounted on the upper portion of the mounting portion 10, a head portion 11 mounted on the upper portion of the cylindrical portion 12, and the head portion 11 and the cylindrical portion 12. And a float 14 which is movable in the space formed. An exhaust hole 13 is formed in the upper part of the head portion 11, and a circular safety sight glass (with a triple glass portion) is formed on the circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 12 so that the position of the internal float 14 can be confirmed. A display window 15 made of a sight glass having a structure is provided. The float 14 is configured to float at the level of the fuel introduced into the gas removing device 8. When the fuel is not introduced, the float 14 is located at the bottom of the gas removing device 8, but is configured such that the float 14 does not block the opening of the mounting portion 10.
[0024]
When fuel is introduced from the inflow hole 6 of the fuel filter 1 into the outer peripheral space 9, the fuel tends to flow out of the outflow hole 7, but a certain degree of resistance is generated when the fuel passes through the filter elements 4 and 5. Then, the fuel does not immediately flow out of the outflow hole 7, and the fuel fills the outer peripheral space 9. When the outer space 9 is filled with fuel, the air in the outer space 9 is pushed by the fuel and discharged to the outside through the exhaust holes 13 of the gas removing device 8.
[0025]
When the fuel is filled in the outer peripheral space 9, the fuel is further introduced into the gas removing device 8 through the mounting portion 10 of the shell cover 2. Then, the float 14 floats at the liquid level of the fuel and moves upward together with the fuel. The lower surface of the head portion 11 of the gas removing device 8 is configured to close the exhaust hole 13 when the float 14 comes into contact with the float portion 14. Therefore, when the fuel is filled in the gas removing device 8 and the float 14 comes into contact with the lower surface of the head portion 11, the float 14 serves as a valve for closing the exhaust hole 13, so that the fuel flows out from the exhaust hole 13 to the outside. Nothing.
[0026]
The exhaust hole 13 is provided with a plurality of valves including the valve constituted by the float 14 described above, and these valves will be described with reference to FIG. The exhaust hole 13 is open when fuel is not charged into the gas removing device 8, and is closed by the float 14 when fuel is charged into the gas removing device 8. There is a check valve 17 which communicates with the valve 16 and which can be exhausted from the gas removing device 8 to the outside, but serves to prevent gas from flowing into the inside through the exhaust hole 13 from the outside. Since the check valve 17 prevents air from entering the fuel filter 1, even if the fuel filtered through the fuel filter 1 stops, no air enters the fuel filter 1 and the gas removal device 8 Since the inside becomes a negative pressure, the state where the fuel is filled in the fuel filter 1 is always maintained. An intake valve 18 which is normally closed in parallel with the exhaust valve 16 and the check valve 17 and is opened to allow air to flow into the fuel filter 1 for removing fuel from the fuel filter 1 for maintenance or the like. Are arranged.
[0027]
As described above, in the fuel filter 1, before the normal operation is started, the fuel is charged into the outer space 9 in order to discharge the air inside the fuel filter 1 (that is, the outer space 9) to the outside. Work (liquid filling work) must be performed. At this time, when the flow rate of the fuel passing through the fuel filter 1 is large (that is, when the flow rate is high), the fuel is particularly likely to be charged. And do it. By performing the liquid filling operation with the flow rate reduced in this manner, even if air is left in the outer peripheral space 9, the fuel is not charged and safety can be secured. As described above, since the display window 15 through which the position of the float 14 can be confirmed is formed in the gas removing device 8, the position of the float 14 can be visually confirmed through the display window 15, whereby the fuel can be removed. It can be confirmed that the inside of the gas removing device 8 (that is, the outer peripheral space 9) is filled. With the float 14 moving upward and confirming that the fuel filter 1 is filled with fuel, the flow rate of the fuel is returned to the normal operation state.
[0028]
When the gas removing device 8 is configured as described above, it can be realized by providing the display window 15 for displaying the position of the float 14, and thus can be realized with a simple structure. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4A, the conventional gas removing device 8 is mounted on a mounting portion 10 formed on the upper part of the shell cover 2. Therefore, if the gas removing device 8 is configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 4B, the gas removing device 8 having the display window 15 in the attachment portion 10 formed on the upper part of the shell cover 2. Can be attached, so that it is possible to replace the existing fuel filter.
[0029]
In the above description, a display window 15 for confirming the position of the internal float 14 is provided in the cylindrical portion 12 of the gas removing device 8, and the position of the float 14 is visually checked from the display window 15. Although the liquid level of the fuel inside is confirmed, it is also possible to use a liquid level gauge instead of the display window 15. FIGS. 5 (A) and 5 (B) show a case where the present invention is realized by a liquid level gauge. As shown in FIG. 5 (A), a liquid level gauge 30 is provided in the cylinder section 12, and the liquid level of the fuel filled in the cylinder section 12 can be confirmed from the display section 30a of the liquid level gauge. It is configured. Also in this case, since it is configured to be attachable to the attachment portion 10 formed on the upper part of the shell cover 2, it can also be attached to an existing fuel filter.
[0030]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the liquid level of the fuel introduced into the gas removing device 8 is confirmed has been described. However, the fuel liquid in a wider range (for example, from the shell cover 2 to the gas removing device 8) is checked. It is also possible to configure so as to display the plane level. FIG. 6 shows a case where a liquid level gauge 31 is attached to display the liquid level of the fuel between the shell cover 2 and the gas removing device 8. In the case where a liquid level gauge is provided in the gas removing device 8, the level of the fuel in the fuel filter 1 cannot be confirmed until the fuel is filled in the outer peripheral space 9 and introduced into the gas removing device 8. By displaying the liquid level of the fuel in the fuel filter 1 from the shell cover 2 as described above, the situation of the fuel in the fuel filter 1 can be grasped more accurately. In this case, since the liquid level gauge 31 is provided on the shell cover 2 and the gas removing device 8, it cannot be dealt with by replacing only the gas removing device 8. Difficult, with new fuel filters.
[0031]
By realizing the display of the liquid level of the fuel filled in the fuel filter 1 with the liquid level meter in this way, a more accurate liquid level can be obtained as compared with checking the position of the float 14 from the display window 15. You can know. In addition, as the above-mentioned liquid level gauge, a direct-view type liquid level gauge, a magnet type liquid level gauge, or the like can be used. In the fuel filter 1 according to the present invention, since the liquid level gauge is provided on the upper part of the fuel filter 1, if the magnet type liquid level gauge is used, when the liquid level gauge is looked up from below, the liquid level is lower. The display becomes easier to see.
[0032]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the fuel filter 1 is configured by using the two filter elements 4 and 5 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and one filter element is used. In such a case, it can be configured to have the same effect.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, the fuel filter according to the present invention has the liquid level indicator for indicating the liquid level of the fuel introduced into the gas removing device provided in the upper part of the case. With such a configuration, it is possible to visually confirm that the fuel is filled in the fuel filter, so that the fuel filter can be used in a state where the air in the fuel filter is securely discharged. Therefore, even if the fuel passing through the fuel filter is charged and discharged inside the fuel filter, safety is not reduced.
[0034]
It should be noted that when the gas removal device is configured to have a float movable in the gas removal device and floating on the liquid surface of the fuel introduced into the gas removal device, and to have a display window for displaying the position of the float. The fuel level can be displayed with a simple structure.
[0035]
Alternatively, when the liquid level display section is constituted by a liquid level gauge, the liquid level of the fuel introduced into the fuel filter is displayed more accurately, so that the liquid level of the fuel filled in the fuel filter can be checked. Easier to do.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view of a gas removal device for a fuel filter according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of a fuel filter according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a filter element used for a fuel filter.
FIG. 4 is a side view of a gas removing device used in a fuel filter, (A) is a side view of a conventional gas removing device, and (B) is a gas removing device used in a fuel filter according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a side view of a gas removing device and a system diagram showing a valve of the gas removing device.
5A and 5B are side views when a liquid level gauge is used for the fuel filter according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 5A is a side view of the entire gas removing device, and FIG. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a side view showing a case where the liquid level gauge is provided and realized between the shell cover of the fuel filter and the gas removing device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fuel filter 2 Shell cover 3 Case 4 Filter element (Coalescer cartridge)
5 Filter element (separator cartridge)
6 Inlet 7 Outlet 8 Gas remover 14 Float 15 Display window 30 Level gauge

Claims (3)

A case in which an inflow hole and an outflow hole are formed,
A filter element disposed in the case;
A gas removing device disposed at an upper portion of the case, having an exhaust hole communicating with the inside of the case, and removing a gas in the case by discharging the gas from the exhaust hole to the outside of the case;
In a fuel filter configured to allow fuel introduced into the case from the inflow hole to pass through the filter element and flow out of the outflow hole to the outside,
The fuel filter according to claim 1, wherein the gas removing device has a liquid level display unit for displaying a liquid level of the fuel introduced into the case by a predetermined amount or more. A float that is movable in the gas removal device and floats on the liquid surface of the fuel introduced into the gas removal device,
When the fuel is filled in the case and introduced into the gas removing device, the float pushed up by the fuel abuts on the exhaust hole to close the exhaust hole, and the fuel flows from the exhaust hole. In the gas removal device configured not to flow out,
The fuel filter according to claim 1, wherein the liquid level display unit includes a display window that displays a position of the float. The liquid level display section,
2. The fuel filter according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid level gauge for displaying a liquid level of the fuel introduced into the gas removing device.

Images