Fluid flow baffle for fuel processor

Claim 2

A unitary fuel processing and filtering unit, particularly for diesel fuel and operative to separate out water and impurities from the fuel adapted to be mounted to a mounting head having a fuel inlet passage and a fuel outlet passage comprising: a housing including a lower portion defining a combined heating and sediment chamber, a concentric annular shaped filtering means positioned within an upper portion of said housing, a top plate having a fuel inlet and fuel outlet, a generally cup-shaped baffle having side surfaces which extend along said filtering means whereby fuel flowing into said fuel inlet passage flows downwardly along the radially outer surface of said baffle and into said heating and sediment chamber, said baffle further defining a passage for conducting fuel from said chamber to said filtering means, characterized by heating means in said lower portion operative to heat the incoming fuel by direct contact therewith in said chamber, said heating means including a heated portion in close proximity to said passage, and said heating means extending through a substantial part of said lower portion.

Claim 3

A unitary fuel processing and filtering unit according to claim 1 wherein said baffle side surfaces form radially outwardly disposed portions and radially inwardly disposed portions.

Claim 4

A unitary fuel processing and filtering unit according to claim 1 wherein said baffle defines a top surface with a central port.

Claim 5

A unitary fuel processing and filtering unit according to claim 1 wherein said baffle side surfaces have corrugations extending in a generally axial direction.

Claim 6

A unitary fuel processing and filtering unit according to claim 1 wherein said baffle side surfaces extend downwardly to a lower edge thereby defining an opened bottom of said baffle, said lower edge positioned below the bottom surface of said filtering means.

Claim 7

A unitary fuel processing and filtering unit according to claim 5 wherein said heater means is disposed in said housing such that it lies radially inwardly of said lower edge of said baffle whereby fuel heated by said heating means rises vertically into said baffle opened bottom to directly contact said filtering means thereby heating said filtering means.

Claim 8

A component for a unitary fuel processing and filtering unit according to claim 1 wherein said baffle further defines an upper radially projecting flange for mounting said baffle within said fuel processor.

Claim 9

The unitary fuel processing and filtering unit according to claim 1 wherein said top plate defines a central fuel outlet port and one or more angularly spaced fuel inlet ports and is adapted to be mounted to said mounting head, and said housing being connected to said top plate and defining threaded means at a lower opened end thereof, said fuel processing and filtering unit further comprising a seal element positioned between said top plate and said filtering means, filter mounting means within said housing engaging said housing and supporting said filtering means, and a lower plate removably attachable to said lower opened end of said housing and engageable with said threaded means thereof, said lower plate supporting said heating means and having a drain valve for draining water and impurities from said chamber.

Claim 10

A unitary fuel processing and filtering unit according to claim 8 wherein said filter mounting means comprising said housing having an inwardly formed rib and a retainer element which engages said housing rib and said filtering means.

Claim 11

A unitary fuel processing and filtering unit according to claim 8 further comprising impurity sensing means mounted to said lower plate.

Claim 12

A component for a unitary fuel processing and filtering unit, particularly for diesel fuel and operative to separate out water and impurities from the fuel adapted to be mounted to a mounting head having a fuel inlet passage and fuel outlet passage and further adapted to support heating means, said component comprising: a housing having a lower portion defining a combined heating and sediment chamber, a concentric annular shaped filtering means positioned within an upper portion of said housing, a top plate having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, a generally cup-shaped baffle having side surfaces which extend along said filtering means whereby fuel flowing into said fuel inlet passage flows downwardly along the radially outer surface of said baffle and into said heating and sediment chamber, said baffle further defining a passage for conducting fuel from said chamber to said filtering means, means for mounting said heating means to said housing wherein said heating means is disposed in said chamber lower portion operative to heat the incoming fuel by direct contact therewith in said chamber, said heating means positioned in close proximity to said passage, and said heating means extending through a substantial part of said lower portion.

Claim 13

A component for a unitary fuel processing and filtering unit, particularly for diesel fuel and operative to separate out water and impurities from the fuel adapted to be mounted to a mounting head having a fuel inlet passage and fuel outlet passage and further adapted to support heating means, said component comprising: a housing having a lower portion defining a combined heating and sediment chamber, a concentric annular shaped filtering means positioned within an upper portion of said housing, a top plate having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, a generally cup-shaped baffle having side surfaces which extend along said filtering means whereby fuel flowing into said fuel inlet passage flows downwardly along the radially outer surface of said baffle and into said heating and sediment chamber, said baffle further defining a passage for conducting fuel from said chamber to said filtering means, means for mounting said heating means to said housing wherein said heating means is disposed in said chamber lower portion operative to heat the incoming fuel by direct contact therewith in said chamber, said heating means positioned in close proximity to said passage, and said heating means extending through a substantial part of said lower portion.

Claim 14

A component for a unitary fuel processing and filtering unit according to claim 11 wherein said baffle side surfaces form radially outwardly disposed portions and radially inwardly disposed portions.

Claim 15

A component for a unitary fuel processing and filtering unit according to claim 11 wherein said baffle defines a top surface with a central port.

Claim 16

A component for a unitary fuel processing and filtering unit according to claim 11 wherein said baffle side surfaces have corrugations extending in a generally axial direction.

Claim 17

A component for a unitary fuel processing and filtering unit according to claim 11 wherein said baffle axially extending side surfaces extend downwardly to a lower edge thereby defining an opened bottom of said baffle, said lower edge positioned below the bottom surface of said filtering means.

Claim 18

A component for a unitary fuel processing and filtering unit according to claim 15 wherein said heater means is disposed in said housing such that it lies radially inwardly of said lower edge of said baffle whereby fuel heated by said heater means rises vertically into said baffle opened bottom to directly contact with said filtering means thereby heating said filtering means.

Claim 19

A component for a unitary fuel processing and filtering unit according to claim 11 wherein said top plate defines a central fuel outlet port and one or more angularly spaced fuel inlet ports and is adapted to be mounted to said mounting head, and said housing being connected to said top plate and defining threaded means at a lower opened end thereof, said fuel processing and filtering unit further comprising a seal element positioned between said top plate and said filtering means, filter mounting means within said housing engaging said housing and supporting said filtering means, and a lower plate removably attachable to said lower opened end of said housing and engageable with said threaded means thereof, said lower plate supporting said heating means and having a drain valve for draining water and impurities from said chamber.

Claim 20

A component for a unitary fuel processing and filtering unit according to claim 17 wherein said filter mounting means comprising said housing having an inwardly formed rib and a retainer element which engages said housing rib and said filtering means.

Claim 21

A component for a unitary fuel processing and filtering unit according to claim 17 further comprising impurity sensing means mounted to said lower plate.