Filter device for diesel engines

Claim 1

A fuel filter device for diesel fuel comprising: a main body portion open at one end and having an apertured end wall at the other end, said main body portion constituting a filter chamber; a fuel expansion chamber attached to the apertured end wall of the main body, said fuel expansion chamber constituting a depressurization zone; a baffle system enclosed within said fuel expansion chamber to control the flow of fuel therethrough, said baffle system including an upper skirt portion having a central aperture, lower conical portion spaced therebelow, and a plurality of radiate rib structures which project between said upper skirt portion and said lower conical portion to provide passageways between successive radiating ribs through which fuel flows into said expansion chamber is substantially laminar flow so as to separate entrained air, water and solids from said fuel by gravity separation; a cover plate sealingly engaging the open end of the filter chamber and including inlet and outlet passageways therein at substantially the same level in relation to the filter chamber; a handle assembly rotatably journaled on the cover plate and including an elongated conduit connecting said inlet passageway with the central aperture in said baffle system within said expansion chamber whereby fuel is caused to flow through said baffle system and into said fuel expansion chamber for depressurization and separation prior to flowing through said filter chamber; and a fuel filter element disposed within said filter chamber and disposed concentrically about said elongated conduit, said fuel filter being arranged in relation to said filter chamber so that fuel flows from said baffle system upwardly through said apertured end wall of said main body portion, surrounds the exterior of the filter element, and flows radially inwardly through the filter element and thence upwardly through the interior thereof to be discharged directly into said outlet passage, said outlet passage communicating directly with the interior of the filter chamber and the filter element being closed at its end remote from said apertured end wall, whereby the fuel must pass through said filter before reaching the outlet passageway.