Bill S Hedgecough

US Patent:

58557725, Jan 5, 1999

Filed:

Nov 1, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/742631

Inventors:

Paul D. Miller - Cookeville TN
Keith Lilly - Cookeville TN
Bill Hedgecough - Cookeville TN
A. Caner Demirdogen - Cookeville TN
Zemin Jiang - Cookeville TN

Assignee:

Fleetguard, Inc. - Nashville TN

International Classification:

B01D 3518

US Classification:

210 86

Abstract:

A fuel filter constructed and arranged with a heater and designed for fuel-water separation includes a unitary housing (casting) which has an open top to be closed by a threaded lid and a closed base which in combination with a surrounding sidewall defines an interior space. A fuel filter cartridge including a filter element, centertube, and top and bottom endplates is disposed in the interior space such that there is a water collection space between the bottom endplate and the closed base of the housing. The lid includes a plurality of snap-fit fingers arranged in an annular array for press-on attachment to the top endplate. A heater ring is provided within the housing and is positioned around the filter cartridge. The heater ring provides both a flow path for entering fuel and a plurality of positive-temperature-coefficient stones which assist in the heating of the fuel. Control of the heater ring is provided by a heater connector and thermostat combination.