# US 2016/0258398 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 2016/0258398 A1 - Document ID: US20160258398A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/057,833 - Filed: 2016-03-01 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-02 - Assignees: Mahle International GmbH - Applicants: Mahle International GmbH - Inventors: Peter Koppi; Maria Kraut - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160258398A1 ## CPC - B03C 11/00: Separation by high-voltage electrical fields, not provided for in other groups of this subclass - B01D 29/018: {ring shaped} - B01D 35/06: Filters making use of electricity or magnetism (ultrafiltration, microfiltration B01D61/14; electrodialysis, electro-osmosis B01D61/42; devices comprising filters and magnetic separators B03C1/30) - 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 37/32: characterised by filters or filter arrangements - B03C 2201/02: Electrostatic separation of liquids from liquids - B03C 2201/30: for use in or with vehicles - B03C: MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS (separating isotopes B01D59/00; combinations of magnetic or electrostatic separation with separation of solids by other means B03B, B07B) - 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 for an internal combustion engine may include a ring filter element separating a raw side from a clean side. A water separator configured as an electric coalescer may be arranged on the clean side for separating water from the fuel. The electric coalescer may include at least two electrodes arranged coaxially with respect to the filter axis, and at least one of the electrodes may be insulated from the fuel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fuel filter device for an internal combustion engine, comprising: a ring filter element having a filter axis separating a raw side from a clean side, a water separator configured as an electric coalescer for separating water from a fuel flow, wherein the water separator configured as the electric coalescer is arranged on the clean side within the ring filter element and includes at least two electrodes arranged coaxially with respect to the filter axis, and wherein at least one electrode of the at least two electrodes is insulated from the fuel flow. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fuel filter device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two electrodes are tubular-shaped and form an annular channel, which in an installed states defines tangentially directed inflow openings arranged at a top part, and facilitate a helical flow of the fuel flow in the annular channel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fuel filter device according to claim 2, further comprising an end separator arranged at a lower end of the at least one electrode disposed radially inside the other electrode, wherein the end separator via a bell-like intermediate piece merges into the at least one electrode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fuel filter device according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one electrode disposed radially outside of the other electrode is tubular-shaped and has an upper passage, the at least one electrode disposed radially inside is cylindrical shaped and includes a helical groove on an outer surface facing towards the radial outside, and at least two electrodes engage against one another and delimit a helical channel connected to the clean side in a fluid-transmitting manner via the upper passage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fuel filter device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electrode disposed radially outside and the at least one radially inner electrode together delimit a zigzag-like annular channel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fuel filter device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of: the at least one electrode disposed radially outside is arranged on the ring filter element, and the at least one radially inner electrode is at least one of cylindrical-shaped and tubular-shaped. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fuel filter device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one electrode disposed radially outside includes a pleated star-like metal mesh body configured complementarily to a pleated star of the ring filter element and engages against an inside of the ring filter element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fuel filter device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electrode disposed radially outside is configured as a fluid-permeable metal frame and the at least one radially inner electrode is at least one of cylindrical-shaped and tubular-shaped. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fuel filter device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two electrodes are tubular-shaped and form an annular channel, which in an installed state defines an inflow opening arranged at a top region. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The fuel filter device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two electrodes delimit an annular channel and a porous coalesce body is arranged in the annular channel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The fuel filter device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electrode disposed radially inside of the other electrode delimits a clean channel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The fuel filter device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electrode insulated from the fuel is at least one of cylindrical-shaped and tubular-shaped. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The fuel filter device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one other electrode is configured as a fluid-permeable metal frame. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The fuel filter device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one electrode disposed radially inside of the other electrode delimits a clean channel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The fuel filter device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one electrode disposed radially outside defines a plurality of metal pigments arranged on an inside of a pleated star of the ring filter element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The fuel filter device according to claim 9, wherein the at least two electrodes delimit an annular channel and a porous coalesce body is arranged in the annular channel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The fuel filter device according to claim 9, wherein the at least one electrode disposed radially inside of the other electrode delimits a clean channel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The fuel filter device according to claim 10, wherein the at least one electrode disposed radially inside of the other electrode delimits a clean channel. ·. A fuel filter device for an internal combustion engine, comprising: a ring filter element having a filter axis and separating a raw side from a clean side; a water separator configured as an electric coalescer arranged on the clean side of the ring filter element for separating water from a fuel flow, wherein the electric coalesce includes at least two electrodes arranged coaxially with respect to the filter axis and at least one electrode is insulated from the fuel flow; wherein the at least two electrodes define a radially inner electrode and a radially outer electrode in relation to the filter axis, wherein one of the radially outer electrode and the radially inner electrode has an upper passage and the other of the radially outer electrode and the radially inner electrode has a helical groove on an outer surface, and wherein the radially outer electrode and the radially inner electrode engage against one another to delimit a helical channel fluidly connected to the clean side via the upper passage.