US 12,241,439 B2
Fuel filter
Michael Braunheim, Goeppingen (DE)
Assigned to Mahle International GmbH, (DE)
Filed by Mahle International GmbH, Stuttgart (DE)
Filed on Mar. 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/689,502.
Application 17/689,502 is a continuation of application No. 16/504,326, filed on Jul. 7, 2019, granted, now 11,300,082.
Application 16/504,326 is a continuation of application No. 15/256,035, filed on Sep. 2, 2016, granted, now 10,371,108, issued on Aug. 6, 2019.
Application 15/256,035 is a continuation of application No. 12/304,831, abandoned, previously published as PCT/EP2007/055469, filed on Jun. 4, 2007.
Claims priority of application No. 102006028148.9 (DE), filed on Jun. 16, 2006.
Prior Publication US 2022/0186694 A1, Jun. 16, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F02M 37/00 (2006.01); B01D 35/147 (2006.01); B01D 35/153 (2006.01); B01D 35/16 (2006.01); B01D 35/30 (2006.01); F02M 37/04 (2006.01); F02M 37/42 (2019.01); F02M 37/46 (2019.01); F02N 15/10 (2006.01)
CPC F02M 37/0052 (2013.01) [B01D 35/147 (2013.01); B01D 35/153 (2013.01); B01D 35/16 (2013.01); B01D 35/30 (2013.01); F02M 37/04 (2013.01); F02M 37/42 (2019.01); F02M 37/46 (2019.01); F02N 15/10 (2013.01); B01D 2201/4007 (2013.01); F02N 2200/02 (2013.01)] 29 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fuel filter element, comprising:
an untreated space;
an inlet line that receives untreated fuel from a fuel supply system, the inlet line connected to the untreated space;
an untreated return line via which the untreated space is connectable to a return pipe that is connectable to the fuel supply system;
an opening through which the untreated fuel in the untreated space is flowable into the untreated return line;
a treated space;
a filter material that separates the untreated space from the treated space, the treated space receiving treated fuel after passing the untreated fuel into the filter material;
an outlet line connected to the treated space that passes the treated fuel therethrough;
an end disk axially bordering the filter material and facing toward the untreated space;
a closure element that extends away from the end disk, the closure element including a radial seal;
wherein, in an operationally ready state, the closure element projects into and closes the opening without completely blocking fluid flow through the untreated return line and the radial seal sealingly contacts at least one of a surface and an edge extending around an outer perimeter of the opening.