Fluid flow baffle for fuel processor

Claim 2

A baffle for a fuel processor of the type wherein a filter element is disposed within a canister having an upper plate forming fuel inlet and outlet passages, said canister further including heater means disposed in the lower portion thereof, said baffle comprising; a generally cup-shaped article having a top surface and generally axially extending side surfaces defining a lower opened end, said baffle disposed within said canister and surrounding said filter element such that said baffle side surfaces are positioned radially outwardly of said filter element whereby fuel flowing into said inlet passage flows downwardly along the radially outer surface of said baffle, into the lower portion of said canister, and thereafter flows upwardly along the radially inner surface of said baffle prior to passing through said filter element.

Claim 3

A baffle for a fuel processor according to claim 1 wherein said baffle side surfaces form radially outwardly disposed portions and radially inwardly disposed portions.

Claim 4

A baffle for a filtration system according to claim 1 wherein said baffle top surface forms a central port.

Claim 5

A baffle for a filtration system according to claim 1 wherein said baffle side surfaces have corrugations extending in a generally axial direction.

Claim 6

A baffle for a filtration system according to claim 1 wherein said generally axially extending side surfaces extend downwardly to a lower edge positioned below the bottom surface of said filter media element.

Claim 7

A baffle for a filtration system according to claim 1 wherein said heater is disposed in said canister such that it lies radially inwardly of said lower opened end of said baffle whereby fuel heated by said heater means rises vertically to direct contact with said filter element thereby heating said filter element.

Claim 8

A baffle for a fuel processor of the type having a spool-shaped filter element defining an inside chamber and having an upper end defining fuel inlet and outlet passages such that fuel entering said fuel processor flows into said inside chamber of said filter and flows through said filter element in a generally radially outward direction, said fuel processor further defining a lower chamber, said baffle comprising; an article having a tube-shaped body, said baffle disposed within said inside chamber of said filter element, thereby directing fuel flowing into said fuel inlet downwardly inside said tube-shaped body, and then outside said tube-shaped body and through said filter element.

Claim 9

A baffle for a fuel processor of the type having a spool-shaped filter element defining an inside chamber and having an upper end defining fuel inlet and outlet passages such that fuel entering said fuel processor flows into said inside chamber of said filter and flows through said filter element in a generally radially outward direction, said fuel processor further defining a lower chamber, said baffle comprising; an article having a tube-shaped body, said baffle disposed within said inside chamber of said filter element, thereby directing fuel flowing into said fuel inlet downwardly inside said tube-shaped body, and then outside said tube-shaped body and through said filter element.

Claim 10

A baffle for a fuel processor according to claim 7 wherein said baffle further defines an upper radially projecting flange for mounting said baffle within said fuel processor.

Claim 11

A fuel processor device adapted to replace a fuel filter and to be mounted to a filter mounting block having fuel inlet and outlet passages, said fuel processor being mountable and demountable from said filter mounting block as a unit, said fuel processor operative to separate out water or other impurities from fuel, said fuel processor comprising: an upper plate defining a central fuel outlet port and one or more angularly spaced fuel inlet ports and adapted to connect to said filter mounting block, a canister connected to said upper plate, said canister defining threaded means at a lower opened end thereof, filter means disposed within the upper portion of said canister, the lower portion of said canister defining a chamber, a seal element positioned between said upper plate and said filter means, filter mounting means within said canister engaging said canister and supporting said filter means, and a lower plate removably attachable to the lower end of said housing and engageable with said threaded means thereof, said lower plate having a drain valve for draining water and impurities from said chamber.

Claim 12

A fuel processor device adapted to replace a fuel filter and to be mounted to a filter mounting block having fuel inlet and outlet passages, said fuel processor being mountable and demountable from said filter mounting block as a unit, said fuel processor operative to separate out water or other impurities from fuel, said fuel processor comprising: an upper plate defining a central fuel outlet port and one or more angularly spaced fuel inlet ports and adapted to connect to said filter mounting block, a canister connected to said upper plate, said canister defining threaded means at a lower opened end thereof, filter means disposed within the upper portion of said canister, the lower portion of said canister defining a chamber, a seal element positioned between said upper plate and said filter means, filter mounting means within said canister engaging said canister and supporting said filter means, and a lower plate removably attachable to the lower end of said housing and engageable with said threaded means thereof, said lower plate having a drain valve for draining water and impurities from said chamber.

Claim 13

A fuel processor device according to claim 9 wherein said filter mounting means comprising said canister having an inwardly formed rib and a retainer element which engages said canister rib and said filter.

Claim 14

A fuel processor device according to claim 9 further comprising heater means mounted to said lower plate.

Claim 15

A fuel processor device according to claim 9 further comprising impurity sensing means mounted to said lower plate.