# US 11,077,393 B2 · Fuel-water separator systems and methods

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- Number: US 11,077,393 B2
- Document ID: US11077393B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/628,934
- Filed: 2018-07-10
- Published: 2020-07-16
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2017-07-12
- Assignees: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
- Applicants: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
- Inventors: Mrinmayee Balasaheb Pokharkar; Nilesh Bhaskar Nagare; Gregory D. Shope; Bharath Siddaramanna Onkarappa; Brian M. Palmer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077393B2

## CPC

- B01D 36/005: {Liquid level sensing means, e.g. for water in gasoil-filters}
- B01D 17/045: {with coalescers}
- B01D 29/21: with corrugated, folded or wound sheets
- B01D 36/001: {Filters in combination with devices for the removal of gas, air purge systems}
- B01D 36/006: {Purge means}
- B01D 2201/291: End caps
- B01D 2201/309: Housings with transparent parts
- F02M 37/26: with water detection means
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF

## Abstract

A fuel-water separator includes a cartridge assembly and a bowl. The cartridge assembly receives a fuel-water mixture and provides a fuel. The cartridge assembly includes an endplate. The bowl is configured to store water separated from the fuel-water mixture. The bowl is coupled to the endplate. The endplate includes an air vent that receives air from the bowl. The air vent establishes a pressure equilibrium within the bowl and the cartridge assembly.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fuel-water separator, comprising:
a cartridge assembly that receives a fuel-water mixture and provides a fuel, the cartridge assembly comprising an endplate having a top side and a bottom side; and
a bowl configured to store water separated from the fuel-water mixture, the bowl coupled to the bottom side of the endplate;
wherein the endplate comprises:
an air vent that receives air from the bowl such that the air vent establishes a pressure equilibrium within the bowl and the cartridge assembly: and
a plurality of circumferential ribs positioned adjacent and about an outer peripheral edge of the top side of the endplate and facing away from the bowl.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fuel-water separator of claim 1, wherein:
the cartridge assembly further comprises a coalescing tube;
the endplate further comprises an axial body, the axial body received within the coalescing tube; and
the air vent extends through the axial body.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The fuel-water separator of claim 2, wherein the bowl comprises:
a central body, the central body received within the axial body; and
a circumferential body disposed about the central body, the circumferential body configured to cooperate with the endplate to define a circumferential cavity therebetween; and
wherein the air vent is communicable with the circumferential cavity.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The fuel-water separator of claim 3, wherein:
the central body defines a central cavity; and
the bowl comprises:
an outlet channel communicable with the central cavity; and
an inlet channel communicable with the circumferential cavity.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The fuel-water separator of claim 4, further comprising a drain plug;
wherein the bowl further comprises a drain plug aperture;
wherein the drain plug is positioned within the drain plug aperture; and
wherein the drain plug fluidly couples the outlet channel and the inlet channel such that the central cavity is fluidly coupled to the circumferential cavity.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The fuel-water separator of claim 4, further comprising a sensor;
wherein the bowl further comprises a sensor aperture; and
wherein the sensor is positioned within the sensor aperture.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The fuel-water separator of claim 6, wherein:
the sensor aperture is disposed proximate the circumferential cavity; and
the sensor is configured to determine an amount of the water stored within the bowl.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The fuel-water separator of claim 4, wherein the water that is stored in the bowl is stored within the circumferential cavity.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The fuel-water separator of claim 2, wherein:
the endplate further comprises a plurality of radial ribs extending from the axial body; and
the air vent extends through the axial body between an adjacent pair of the plurality of radial ribs.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The fuel-water separator of claim 9, wherein:
the endplate further comprises
a plurality of circumferential wall segments, each of the plurality of circumferential wall segments coupled to two of the plurality of circumferential ribs such that adjacent pairs of the plurality of circumferential ribs are interspaced by one of the plurality of circumferential wall segments; and
the plurality of circumferential ribs and the plurality of circumferential wall segments cooperate to form a circumferential wall around the axial body.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The fuel-water separator of claim 9, wherein:
each of the plurality of radial ribs is centered on one of the plurality of circumferential ribs;
each of the plurality of radial ribs and each of the plurality of circumferential ribs cooperate to form a respective cavity therebetween; and
each cavity is in fluid communication with the air vent.

### Claim 12

A fuel-water separator, comprising:
a cartridge assembly configured to separate a fuel-water mixture, the cartridge assembly comprising:
a coalescing tube; and
an endplate comprising:
a top side and a bottom side;
an axial body received within the coalescing tube;
an air vent extending through the axial body and in fluid communication with the coalescing tube; and
each of a plurality of circumferential ribs being spaced apart from the axial body and positioned adjacent and about an outer peripheral edge of the top side of the endplate and facing away from a bowl, the bowl configured to store water separated from the fuel-water mixture, the bowl comprising a central body coupled to the axial body on the bottom side of the endplate.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The fuel-water separator of claim 12, wherein:
the central body is received within the axial body;
the bowl further comprises a circumferential body disposed about the central body, the circumferential body cooperating with the endplate to define a circumferential cavity therebetween; and
the air vent is communicable with the circumferential cavity.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The fuel-water separator of claim 13, wherein:
the central body defines a central cavity; and
the bowl comprises:
an outlet channel in fluid communication with the central cavity; and
an inlet channel in fluid communication with the circumferential cavity.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The fuel-water separator of claim 14, further comprising a drain plug;
wherein the bowl further comprises a drain plug aperture;
wherein the drain plug aperture receives the drain plug; and
wherein the drain plug fluidly couples the outlet channel and the inlet channel such that the central cavity is fluidly coupled to the circumferential cavity.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The fuel-water separator of claim 15, further comprising a sensor;
wherein the bowl further comprises a sensor aperture; and
wherein the sensor aperture receives the sensor.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The fuel-water separator of claim 16, wherein:
the sensor aperture is disposed proximate the circumferential cavity; and
the sensor is configured to determine an amount of the water stored within the bowl.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The fuel-water separator of claim 12, wherein:
the endplate further comprises a plurality of radial ribs extending from the axial body; and
the air vent extends through the axial body between an adjacent pair of the plurality of radial ribs.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The fuel-water separator of claim 18, wherein:
the endplate further comprises
a plurality of circumferential wall segments, each of the plurality of circumferential wall segments coupled to two of the plurality of circumferential ribs such that adjacent pairs of the plurality of circumferential ribs are interspaced by one of the plurality of circumferential wall segments; and
the plurality of circumferential ribs and the plurality of circumferential wall segments cooperate to form a circumferential wall around the axial body.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The fuel-water separator of claim 18, wherein:
each of the plurality of radial ribs is centered on one of the plurality of circumferential ribs;
each of the plurality of radial ribs and each of the plurality of circumferential ribs cooperate to form a cavity therebetween; and
each cavity is in fluid communication with the air vent.

### Claim 21

A fuel-water separator, comprising:
a cartridge assembly that receives a fuel-water mixture and provides a fuel, the cartridge assembly comprising an endplate; and
a bowl configured to store water separated from the fuel-water mixture, the bowl coupled to the endplate;
wherein the cartridge assembly further comprises a coalescing tube;
wherein the endplate comprises:
an air vent that receives air from the bowl such that the air vent establishes a pressure equilibrium within the bowl and the cartridge assembly;
an axial body that is received within the coalescing tube;
a plurality of radial ribs extending from the axial body;
a plurality of circumferential ribs; and
a plurality of circumferential wall segments, each of the plurality of circumferential wall segments coupled to two of the plurality of circumferential ribs such that adjacent pairs of the plurality of circumferential ribs are interspaced by one of the plurality of circumferential wall segments;
wherein the air vent extends through the axial body between an adjacent pair of the plurality of radial ribs; and
wherein the plurality of circumferential ribs and the plurality of circumferential wall segments cooperate to form a circumferential wall around the axial body.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The fuel-water separator of claim 21, wherein:
each of the plurality of radial ribs is centered on one of the plurality of circumferential ribs;
each of the plurality of radial ribs and each of the plurality of circumferential ribs cooperate to form a respective cavity therebetween; and
each cavity is in fluid communication with the air vent.

### Claim 23

A fuel-water separator, comprising:
a cartridge assembly configured to separate a fuel-water mixture, the cartridge assembly comprising:
a coalescing tube; and
an endplate comprising:
an axial body received within the coalescing tube;
a plurality of radial ribs;
a plurality of circumferential ribs extending from the axial body;
an air vent disposed between an adjacent pair of the plurality of radial ribs and extending through the axial body between an adjacent pair of the plurality of radial ribs and in fluid communication with the coalescing tube; and
a plurality of circumferential wall segments, each of the plurality of circumferential wall segments coupled to two of the plurality of circumferential ribs such that adjacent pairs of the plurality of circumferential ribs are interspaced by one of the plurality of circumferential wall segments; and
a bowl configured to store water separated from the fuel-water mixture, the bowl comprising a central body coupled to the axial body;
wherein the plurality of circumferential ribs and the plurality of circumferential wall segments cooperate to form a circumferential wall around the axial body.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The fuel-water separator of claim 23, wherein:
each of the plurality of radial ribs is centered on one of the plurality of circumferential ribs;
each of the plurality of radial ribs and each of the plurality of circumferential ribs cooperate to form a cavity therebetween; and
each cavity is in fluid communication with the air vent.