The present invention relates to a fuel filter assembly having an integral electrical heater.

It is known to provide a fuel filter assembly with an electrical heater to avoid problems of "waxing", especially during cold start. There are various known designs, including a stick heater which can be screw fitted to the filter housing or bowl; or a self-contained heater which is attached to the filter housing; or an electric heater moulded into a plastics cover for the filter. With the need to increase the strength of the filter assembly, there is a desire to manufacture the filter housing, and the fuel inlet and outlet ports from metallic material. The known arrangements for an electrical heater are not suitable for such an assembly.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned problem.

A fuel filter assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a filter housing having an open end; a cover plate for sealably closing the open end of the housing; a filter cartridge positioned inside the housing and having a surface positioned adjacent the cover plate; a fuel inlet port mounted on the cover plate; a chamber between the cover plate and the cartridge surface, the chamber being fluidly connected with the fuel inlet port and having an outlet for fuel flow through the filter cartridge; and an electrical heater positioned in the chamber.

The chamber is preferably defined by walls formed in the surface of the cartridge. Alternatively, the chamber may be define by walls formed in the cover plate, or a combination of walls formed in the surface of the cartridge and the cover plate.

The electrical heater is preferably secured to the cover plate. Alternatively, the electrical heater may be secured to the surface of the filter cartridge. The electrical heater is preferably part of a removable sub-assembly. The electrical heater is preferably in the form of a heater plate.

The cover plate is preferably fixedly secured to the housing. Alternatively, the cover plate may be removable.

The housing and/or the cover plate and/or the inlet port are preferably made from metallic material. Alternatively, one or more of the housing, the cover plate or the inlet port may be made from plastics material.

The present invention provides a fuel filter assembly with an electrical heater, in which the filter housing, cover plate, and fuel inlet port may all be fabricated from metallic material when such a need arises.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fuel filter assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of the assembly of Figure 1 with the cover removed; and
• Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of Figure 1 with the cartridge removed.

Referring to the drawings, the fuel filter assembly 10 comprises a filter housing 12 having an open end; a cover plate 14 for sealably closing the open end of the housing; a filter cartridge 16 positioned inside the housing and having a surface 18 positioned adjacent the cover plate; a fuel inlet port 20 mounted on the cover plate for the flow of fuel into the filter assembly; a chamber 22 between the cover plate and the cartridge surface, the chamber being fluidly connected with the fuel inlet port and having an outlet 24 for fuel flow through the filter cartridge; and an electrical heater 26 positioned in the chamber. The filter assembly 10 also includes a fuel outlet port 28 for the flow of fuel out of the filter assembly after passing through the filter cartridge 16.

In this embodiment, the chamber 22 is defined by walls 30 formed in the surface 18 of the filter cartridge 16. The electrical heater 26 is secured to the cover plate 14, preferably by screws or any other suitable arrangement. The electrical heater 26 is part of a removable sub-assembly 32 including suitable electrical connections which can be removed when the filter assembly requires servicing or replacing. The electrical heater 26 is in the form of a heater plate.

The cover plate 14 is fixedly secured to the housing 12. Alternatively, the cover plate 14 may be removable from the housing 12 to allow replacement of the filter cartridge 16.

The housing 12, the cover plate 14, the inlet port 20, and the outlet port 28 are made from metallic material.