Fuel filter assembly with heater

A fuel filter for filtering and heating diesel fuel and the like, comprising

• a spin-on cylindrical element,
• a filter head assembly having an annular mounting surface thereon for sealingly receiving said spin-on cylindrical element,
• inlet and outlet ports in said filter head in fluid communication respectively with inlet and outlet chambers in said filter head,
• a fuel heater in said inlet chamber for warming fuel prior to passage to said spin-on element,
• a filter element in said spin-on element for separating out contaminants in the diesel fuel and for establishing a flow path for diesel fuel between an outer peripheral fuel chamber and a central fuel chamber, said peripheral fuel chamber being in direct fluid communication with said inlet chamber in said filter head and said central fuel chamber being in direct communication with said outlet fuel chamber in said filter head,
• means for releasably interconnecting said spin-on element and said filter head, and
• valve means in said filter head for establishing a path for fluid to flow to the exterior of said filter head from said inlet chamber for venting of air and fuel from said inlet chamber at a location upstream of said filter element.

A fuel filter assembly for filtering and heating diesel fuel and the like, comprising:

• a filter head for supporting the filter assembly and for interconnection with the fuel system of an engine, said filter head including inlet and outlet chambers,
• inlet and outlet ports in said filter head in fluid communication with said inlet and outlet chambers, respectively,
• a fuel heater in said inlet chamber for heating fuel in said inlet chamber,
• a filter casing,
• means for securing said filter casing to said filter head,
• a filter medium within said casing and separating a central fuel chamber from a peripheral fuel chamber, said central fuel chamber and said peripheral fuel chamber being in fluid communication respectively with said outlet chamber and with said inlet chamber in said filter head,
• an air vent outlet port in said filter head for external connection to the fuel system of the engine, and
• return check valve means in said filter head in fluid communication with said inlet chamber for releasing trapped air and for returning fuel through said air vent outlet port to the fuel system of the engine.