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US 11,850,539 B2Granted
Fuel filter device
OwnerMichael Richardsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A filter device including a probe where a filter element probe first end selectively engages with a sensing unit located in a filter head and a filter element probe second end is located in a contaminant portion of a filter canister. The probe fixedly engages through the filter element utilizing a sealing component. The filter element is disposed in the filter canister that engages with the filter head.
Claims17
A filter system, comprising:
- a filter head configured to operably engage with a filter, and that operably receives a fluid mixture at an inlet and provide a filtered fluid at an outlet, the filter head comprising:
- a water sensor that detects water in the filter, the water sensor comprising:
- a touch plug that operably, electrically connects with the probe when the filter is disposed on the filter head;
- and
- a signal detector that detects an electrical signal from the probe through the touch plug;
- and
- a transmitter that is electrically coupled with the water sensor, the transmitter communicatively coupling with a remote computer comprising a user display;
- the filter operably, selectably engaged with the filter head, the filter comprising:
- a filter media that operably separates water from the mixture;
- and
- a water collection cavity;
- and
- a probe fixedly engaged with and disposed inside the filter, the probe extending from the water collection cavity to and in contact with the water sensor merely when the filter is engaged with the filter head;
- wherein the touch plug end is slidably biased toward the filter in the filter head, and is configured to slide into the filter head when engaged with the probe to create an electrical coupling between the water collection cavity and the signal detector.
11 more elements
A filter system, comprising:
- a filter head comprising:
- a mixture intake port where an unfiltered mixture of water and other fluids are introduced into the filter head;
- a mixture discharge port where a filtered mixture with water removed is discharged from the filter head;
- a filter head spud that operably engages with a filter for filtering the unfiltered mixture;
- a water sensor that detects a water level in the engaged filter;
- a touch plug that is slidably biased toward the filter inside the filter head spud, the touch plug electrically coupling the water sensor with a probe fixed inside the engaged filter, wherein the spud and touch plug respectively comprise electrically conductive material, and:
- the touch plug is in electrical contact with the spud when the probe is not engaged the touch plug;
- and
- the touch plug is not in electrical contact with the spud when the probe is engaged with the touch plug;
- and
- a transmitter that is electrically coupled with the water sensor, the transmitter communicatively coupling with a remote computer comprising a user display.
8 more elements
A method of making a filter system, comprising:
- disposing a water sensor in a filter head, wherein the filter head is configured to operably engage with a filter, to receive an unfiltered fluid mixture at an inlet, and to discharge a filtered fluid mixture from an outlet, and wherein the water sensor detects a presence of water in the engaged filter;
- disposing a transmitter in the filter head, wherein the transmitter is electrically coupled with the water sensor, and the transmitter communicatively couples with a remote computer comprising a user display;
- engaging the filter with the filter head, wherein the filter comprises a filter media configured to separate water from the unfiltered mixture, and wherein the filter further comprises a water collection cavity defined by at least a portion of an outer shell of the filter, and wherein the outer shell is comprised of an electrically conductive material that is operably in electrical contact with the water sensor, and wherein the filter comprises a fixedly engaged probe disposed inside the filter, wherein the probe extends from the water collection cavity to and in contact with the water sensor when the filter is engaged with the filter head;
- wherein when a water level in the water collection cavity operably contacts the probe a circuit is created between the outer shell, the probe, and the water sensor.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.