Fuel heating type fuel filter device

A fuel filter device for use with diesel engines, comprising:

• a body member defining therein an inlet for fuel from a fuel tank and a fuel outlet;
• a filter assembly including a container and a filter element housed therein, said container being formed therein with a first opening and detachably and sealingly attached to said body member such that said fuel outlet is in fluid-flow communication with said first opening;
• manually operable pump means mounted on said body member to cooperate therewith to define a chamber adapted to be communicated with said inlet and outlet, said pump means including a diaphragm facing said chamber and an actuating member manually operable to resiliently deform said diaphragm so that a pressure variation is caused in said chamber;
• valve means operatively associated with said inlet and outlet and responsive to a fuel pressure at said inlet and to the pressure variation in said chamber to control the communication between said inlet and said chamber and the communication between said chamber and said outlet;
• said container being formed therein with a second opening adjacent to said filter element;
• said filter assembly being constructed such that the fuel from said outlet enters said container through said first opening and flows through said container to said second opening along a path of flow, said filter element forming a part of said path of flow;
• said body member further defining therein a discharge port communicated with said second opening in said container;
• heating means disposed in said chamber and including a heating element adapted to be electrically energized to heat the fuel in said chamber;
• and
• means for controlling the electrical supply to said heating element.