Fuel filter and pressure regulator system apparatus

Vehicle fuel system comprising:

• a fuel supply tank;
• a fuel supply rail;
• a fuel pump;
• a housing operably attached to said fuel supply tank;
• an inlet supply tube attached to said housing and being in fluid communication with said fuel pump;
• a fluid outlet attached to said housing and being in fluid communication with said fuel supply rail;
• a fuel filter means disposed within said housing and disposed between said inlet supply tube and said fluid outlet for filtering impurities from substantially all of the fuel passing to said outlet;
• valve means in fluid communication with said inlet supply tube for causing flow to be short circuited back into said fuel supply tank before it passes through said fuel filter means when the pressure in said fluid outlet exceeds a predetermined level;
• and
• valve biasing means for biasing said valve closed when said pressure is below said predetermined pressure whereby all of the fuel in said inlet supply tube will pass through said filter when the pressure in said fluid outlet is below said predetermined pressure.

A combination fuel pressure regulator and fuel filter apparatus for vehicle fuel systems comprising:

• a fuel supply tank;
• a fuel supply rail adapted to have fuel injectors attached thereto;
• a fuel pump means having an inlet port and an outlet port for pumping fuel to said fuel supply rail;
• an inlet supply tube in fluid communication with said fuel pump means outlet port;
• a fluid outlet in fluid communication with said fuel supply rail;
• a fuel filter means operatively disposed between said inlet supply tube and said fluid outlet for filtering impurities from substantially all of the fuel passing to said outlet;
• valve means in fluid communication with said inlet supply tube for causing flow to be short circuited back into said fuel supply tank when the pressure in said fluid outlet exceeds a predetermined level;
• and
• valve biasing means for biasing said valve means closed when said pressure is below said predetermined pressure whereby all of the fuel in said inlet supply tube will pass through said filter when the pressure in said fluid outlet is below said predetermined pressure.