Electrostatically dissipative fuel filter
AssigneeAllied-Signal Inc.
InventorsDaniel R. Danowski, Sunil K. Kesavan, James W. Martin, James S. Pereira
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel filter for a motor vehicle includes a housing made of a base Nylon 12 material to which are added stainless steel fibers to render the housing electrically conductive while retaining moldability. The electrically conductive housing permits charges generated by the fuel passing through the filtering media to be dissipated to the vehicle body, thereby preventing erosion of the housing and subsequent leaks.
Claims10
Method of preventing material breakdown of a housing of a fuel filter for filtering fuel flowing through a fuel line delivering fuel to the engine of a motor vehicle, said motor vehicle having a common electrical plane maintained at a common electrical potential, said housing defining a chamber therewithin and having an inlet and an outlet connected in said fuel line and communicating with said chamber, said housing being primarily composed of an electrically non-conductive material, comprising the step of providing an electrically conductive path between the fuel within the chamber and said common electrical plane by providing electrically conductive material in the electrically non-conductive material of said housing so that at least a portion of said electrically conductive path extends through the housing to thereby prevent the build-up of electrostatic charge in the fuel and resulting arcing which causes the breakdown of the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.