# US 2008/0185331 A1 · Fuel filter device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0185331 A1 - Document ID: US20080185331A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/071,429 - Filed: 2008-02-21 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2005-08-25 - Assignees: Nifco Inc. - Inventors: Hiroji Sato; Yasushi Ueki; Shigeru Takahashi; Takaya Ogawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080185331A1 ## CPC - B01D 39/1623: {of synthetic origin} - B01D 35/0273: {Filtering elements with a horizontal or inclined rotation or symmetry axis submerged in tanks or reservoirs} - B01D 36/003: {Filters in combination with devices for the removal of liquids (B01D35/185 takes precedence)} - F02M 37/24: characterised by water separating means - F02M 37/34: by the filter structure, e.g. honeycomb, mesh or fibrous - F02M 37/50: Filters arranged in or on fuel tanks - 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 filter device includes a bag-shaped filter member and is adapted to be attached to communicate an inner space of the filter member with a fuel suction opening in a fuel tank. The filter member is configured in a multilayer structure. At least one layer of the filter member is configured to serve as an inhibition layer having a structure to prevent water in a fuel tank form coming into the inner space of the filter member by a pressure applied to the filter member when the water is frozen. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fuel filter device, which includes a bag-shaped filter member and is adapted to be attached to communicate an inner space of the filter member with a fuel suction opening in a fuel tank, comprising: the filter member configured in a single layer structure or a multilayer structure; each the entire filter member configured in such a single layer structure and at least one layer of the filter member configured in such a multilayer structure being configured to serve as an inhibition layer having a structure to prevent water in a fuel tank form coming into the inner space of the filter member by a pressure applied to the filter member when the water is frozen. ### Claim 2 A fuel filter device, which includes a bag-shaped filter member and is adapted to be attached to communicate an inner space of the filter member with a fuel suction opening in a fuel tank, comprising: the filter member configured in a single layer structure or a multilayer structure; each of the entire filter member configured in such a single layer structure and at least one layer of the filter member configured in such a multilayer structure being configured to serve as an inhibition layer having an average opening size of 20 μm or below. ### Claim 3 A fuel filter device, which includes a bag-shaped filter member and is adapted to be attached to communicate an inner space of the filter member with a fuel suction opening in a fuel tank, comprising: the filter member configured in a single layer structure or a multilayer structure; each of the entire filter member configured in such a single layer structure and at least one layer of the filter member configured in such a multilayer structure being configured to serve as an inhibition layer configured to prevent water from passing therethrough under a water pressure of less than 4.5 kPa. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fuel filter device according to claim 1, wherein the inhibition layer is formed of a resin material, which sets a difference between a contact angle to water and a contact angle to fuel at 80 degrees or above. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fuel filter device according to claim 1, further comprising an outermost layer formed of a mesh fabric, wherein the inhibition layer is disposed inside the outermost layer and is formed of a non-woven fabric. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fuel filter device according to claim 5, further comprising at least two layers containing the inhibition layer and formed of a non-woven fabric disposed inside the outermost layer, wherein a layer farther from the outermost layer of the filter device has a smaller average opening size than a layer closer to the outermost layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The fuel filter device according to claim 5, wherein the outermost layer is formed of a mesh fabric made of polypropylene. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fuel filter device according to claim 1, wherein the inhibition layer is made of polypropylene. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fuel filter device according to claim 1, wherein the filter member is configured in a multilayer structure, and the multilayer structure has all layers formed of the same resin material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The fuel filter device according to claim 2, wherein the inhibition layer is made of a resin material, which sets a difference between a contact angle to water and a contact angle to fuel at 80 degrees or above. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The fuel filter device according to claim 2, further comprising an outermost layer formed of a mesh fabric, wherein the inhibition layer is disposed inside the outermost layer and is formed of a non-woven fabric. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The fuel filter device according to claim 11, further comprising at least two layers containing the inhibition layer and formed of a non-woven fabric disposed inside the outermost layer, wherein a layer farther from the outermost layer of the filter device has a smaller average opening size than a layer closer to the outermost layer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The fuel filter device according to claim 11, wherein the outermost layer is formed of a mesh fabric made of polypropylene. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The fuel filter device according to claim 2, wherein the inhibition layer is made of polypropylene. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The fuel filter device according to claim 2, wherein the filter member is configured in a multilayer structure, and the multilayer structure has all layers formed of the same resin material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 3) The fuel filter device according to claim 3, wherein the inhibition layer is made of a resin material, which sets a difference between a contact angle to water and a contact angle to fuel at 80 degrees or above. ### Claim 17 (depends on 3) The fuel filter device according to claim 3, further comprising an outermost layer formed of a mesh fabric, wherein the inhibition layer is disposed inside the outermost layer and is formed of a non-woven fabric. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The fuel filter device according to claim 17, further comprising at least two layers containing the inhibition layer and formed of a non-woven fabric disposed inside the outermost layer, wherein a layer farther from the outermost layer of the filter device has a smaller average opening size than a layer closer to the outermost layer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The fuel filter device according to claim 17, wherein the outermost layer is formed of a mesh fabric made of polypropylene. ### Claim 20 (depends on 3) The fuel filter device according to claim 3, wherein the inhibition layer is made of polypropylene. ### Claim 21 (depends on 3) The fuel filter device according to claim 3, wherein the filter member is configured in a multilayer structure, and the multilayer structure has all layers formed of the same resin material.