Mesh filter for fuel supply system of vehicle

Abstract

A mesh filter for a fuel system of a vehicle may include: a frame for maintaining a shape thereof; a mesh member coupled to the frame so as to remove foreign substances contained in fuel, where the mesh member includes a first mesh member and a second mesh member; and an opening unit for opening and closing a fuel path in the first mesh member. In particular, the second mesh member has a mesh size smaller than a mesh size of the first mesh member such that the mesh filter inhibits clogging of the mesh filter with paraffin wax.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mesh filter for a fuel system of a vehicle, comprising:
 a frame for maintaining a shape thereof;   a mesh member coupled to the frame and configured to remove foreign substances contained in fuel, wherein the mesh member includes: a first mesh member, and a second mesh member, where the second mesh member has a mesh size smaller than a mesh size of the first mesh member; and   an opening unit for opening and closing a fuel path in the first mesh member.   
     
     
         2 . The mesh filter of  claim 1 , wherein the first mesh member is positioned at a lower end of the mesh filter. 
     
     
         3 . The mesh filter of  claim 1 , wherein the first mesh member is disposed at a bottom area of the mesh filter. 
     
     
         4 . The mesh filter of  claim 2 , wherein an introduction pipe extends into an inside of the mesh filter through an upper end of the frame, and the fuel that has passed through the mesh member is introduced into the introduction pipe. 
     
     
         5 . The mesh filter of  claim 1 , wherein the mesh size of the first mesh member is greater than a size of particles of paraffin wax, and the mesh size of the second mesh member is smaller than the size of particles of paraffin wax. 
     
     
         6 . The mesh filter of  claim 5 , wherein the first mesh member has a mesh size greater than 200 μm. 
     
     
         7 . The mesh filter of  claim 5 , wherein the first mesh member has a mesh size of about 400 μm. 
     
     
         8 . The mesh filter of  claim 1 , wherein the opening unit includes:
 a temperature-sensitive switch, which is turned on/off depending on a temperature of the fuel; and   a dielectric elastomer actuator mounted on a lower end of the frame and configured to open the fuel path in the first mesh member upon application of power from a battery through the temperature-sensitive switch and to close the fuel path in the first mesh member upon interruption of application of the power from the battery.   
     
     
         9 . The mesh filter of  claim 8 , wherein the dielectric elastomer actuator includes:
 a plate-shaped rubber valve for selectively opening or closing the fuel path in the first mesh member by deformation thereof; and   compliant electrodes attached to both surfaces of the plate-shaped rubber valve, the compliant electrodes serving to selectively deform the plate-shaped rubber valve so as to open and close the fuel path in the first mesh member by application and interruption of the power from the battery via the temperature-sensitive switch.   
     
     
         10 . The mesh filter of  claim 8 , wherein the temperature-sensitive switch is mounted on a prefilter provided at a fuel supply line outside a fuel tank. 
     
     
         11 . The mesh filter of  claim 1 , wherein the opening unit includes:
 a closing member mounted on the frame and configured to close a first region of the mesh member where the first mesh member is provided, the closing member having an introduction hole formed in a portion thereof;   an opening member rotatably mounted on the closing member and configured to open and close the introduction hole in the closing member depending on a rotational angle thereof; and   a temperature-sensitive deformable member mounted on the closing member and coupled to the opening member, the temperature-sensitive deformable member being deformed so as to rotate the opening member depending on a temperature of the fuel contacting the deformable member.   
     
     
         12 . The mesh filter of  claim 11 , wherein the temperature-sensitive deformable member is made of a bimetal. 
     
     
         13 . The mesh filter of  claim 12 , wherein the bimetal has a spiral coil shape, a first end of the bimetal is fixed to the closing member, and a second end of the bimetal is coupled to the opening member. 
     
     
         14 . The mesh filter of  claim 12 , wherein the closing member includes a guide for guiding the temperature-sensitive deformable member when the temperature-sensitive deformable member is deformed.