Drain valve for fuel filter

Claim 2

In a filter assembly having an outer shell open at one end, a filter element within said shell and closure means for closing said open end of said shell, an improved drainage valve comprising: a. an opening in that end of said shell opposite said closure means; b. a valve member placed adjacent the inner surface of said shell for covering said opening; c. a filter element hold-down compressive spring between said filter element and said valve member for pressing said filter element into engagement with said closure means and for urging said valve member into sealing engagement with said inner surface of said shell surrounding said opening; and d. said valve member being actuable through said opening for permitting fluid flow through said opening.

Claim 3

The filter drainage valve as defined in claim 1 together with an annular inwardly extending projection surrounding said opening and contacting said valve means for providing an essentially line contact valve seat.

Claim 4

The filter draInage valve as defined in claim 1 in which said valve member further comprises a resilient seal means for engaging said inner surface of said shell.

Claim 5

The filter drainage valve as defined in claim 1 together with valve actuation means attached to said valve member and extending through said opening.

Claim 6

The filter drainage valve as defined in claim 4 in which said valve actuation means is an integral projection of said valve member.

Claim 7

The filter drainage valve as defined in claim 4, in which said valve actuation means has a radially extending shoulder formed as a transition between a portion of said valve actuation means and another portion of said valve actuation means being relatively smaller in cross-section whereby said shoulder can be placed against an edge defining said opening for maintaining said valve member in an unsealed or open position.

Claim 8

In a fluid filter assembly having a normally sealed drain valve member with an external actuator for unsealing said valve member the improvement comprising: a. a drain opening through which said actuator extends into said filter assembly for actuating said valve member; b. an edge surrounding said opening; and c. a radially extending shoulder on said actuator for engaging said edge of said opening when said actuator is pushed inward and then laterally toward a portion of said edge of said opening for maintaining said valve member in an unsealed position.

Claim 9

In a fluid filter assembly having a normally sealed drain valve member with an external actuator for unsealing said valve member the improvement comprising: a. a drain opening through which said actuator extends into said filter assembly for actuating said valve member; b. an edge surrounding said opening; and c. a radially extending shoulder on said actuator for engaging said edge of said opening when said actuator is pushed inward and then laterally toward a portion of said edge of said opening for maintaining said valve member in an unsealed position.

Claim 10

In a filter assembly having an outer shell open at one end, a filter element placed within the outer shell, and a filter element compressive hold-down spring placed between a closed end of said outer shell and an end of said filter element adjacent said closed end of said outer shell and closure means fastened to said open end of said outer shell whereby said filter element compressive hold-down spring serves for biasing that end of said filter element adjacent said closure means into sealingly engagement with said closure means a drainage valve comprising: a. an opening in that end of said outer shell adjacent said compressive hold-down spring; b. a valve member between said opening and said spring; c. said valve member being urged into sealing engagement with the inner surface of said outer shell by said spring for preventing fluid flow through said opening; and d. said valve member being actuable through said opening for permitting fluid flow through said opening.

Claim 11

In a filter assembly having an outer shell open at one end, a filter element placed within the outer shell, and a filter element compressive hold-down spring placed between a closed end of said outer shell and an end of said filter element adjacent said closed end of said outer shell and closure means fastened to said open end of said outer shell whereby said filter element compressive hold-down spring serves for biasing that end of said filter element adjacent said closure means into sealingly engagement with said closure means a drainage valve comprising: a. an opening in that end of said outer shell adjacent said compressive hold-down spring; b. a valve member between said opening and said spring; c. said valve member being urged into sealing engagement with the inner surface of said outer shell by said spring for preventing fluid flow through said opening; and d. said valve member being actuable through said opening for permitting fluid flow through said opening.

Claim 12

The filter drainage valve defined in claim 8 together with an inwardly extending annulus surrounding said opening for providing a substantially line contact valve seat.

Claim 13

The filter drainage valve defined in claim 8 in which said valve member is a substantially rigid, circular disc having: a. upstanding projection means about the periphery of said disc for providing assurance said disc will be maintained substantially coaxial with said compressive hold-down spring; b. resilient seal means between said disc and said inner surface of said outer shell surrounding said opening; and c. valve actuation means sealingly fastened to said disc and extending through said resilient seal means and said opening in said outer shell for permitting actuation of said valve by manually pressing inwardly on the exposed end of said valve actuation means.

Claim 14

The filter drainage valve as defined in claim 10 in which said valve actuation means has a radially extending shoulder formed as a transition between a portion of said valve actuation means and another portion of said valve actuation means being relatively smaller in cross-section whereby said shoulder can be placed against an edge defining said opening for maintaining said valve means in an unsealed or open position.