Suction side and pressure side fluid filter with internal by-pass

1 . A fluid filter insert, comprising:

a first end cap;

a second end cap;

a screen disposed between the first and the second end caps; and

a filter media surrounding the screen.

2 . The fluid filter insert of claim 1 , wherein the first end cap, the second end cap, the screen and the filter media are surrounded by a filter housing having a first end and a second end.

3 . The fluid filter insert of claim 2 , wherein the housing comprises a housing inlet at the first end and a housing outlet at the second end.

4 . The fluid filter insert of claim 3 , wherein the housing inlet is axially spaced apart from the first end cap.

5 . The fluid filter insert of claim 1 , wherein the screen contains an aperture.

6 . The fluid filter insert of claim 1 , wherein the filter media is fibrous.

7 . The fluid filter insert of claim 1 , wherein the first and the second end caps further comprise a first and a second orifice, respectively.

8 . The fluid filter insert of claim 7 , wherein the first orifice is dimensioned to permit a predetermined amount of flow.

9 . A method of filtering a fluid, comprising:

passing a first portion of the fluid through a fluid filter inlet;

passing a second portion of the fluid through a filter media; and

passing the first and the second portions through a filter outlet.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the filter media is a fibrous media.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the filter media is disposed between the filter inlet and the filter outlet.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the filter media surrounds a screen.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the filter media, the screen and the filter inlet and the filter outlet are placed in a filter housing.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the filter housing comprises a first end having a housing inlet and a second end having a housing outlet.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of passing the first and second portions of the fluid through the housing inlet and the housing outlet.

16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the filter inlet and the filter outlet comprise a first end cap having a first orifice and a second end cap having a second orifice, respectively.

17 . A system for filtering fluid, comprising:

means for passing a first portion of the fluid through a fluid filter inlet;

means for passing a second portion of the fluid through a filter media; and

means for passing the first and the second portions through a filter outlet.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the filter inlet and the filter outlet comprise a first end cap having a first orifice and a second end cap having a second orifice, respectively.

19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the filter media is disposed between the filter inlet and the filter outlet.

20 . The system of claim 17 , further comprising a means for housing said system.

21 . A fluid filter, comprising:

a bypass inlet;

a filter media inlet coaxial with the bypass inlet;

an outlet axially spaced from the bypass inlet; and

a housing surrounding the bypass inlet, the filter media inlet and the outlet.

22 . The fluid filter of claim 21 , wherein the bypass inlet and the outlet are at either ends of a cylinder.

23 . The fluid filter of claim 22 , wherein the cylinder comprises a plurality of apertures.

24 . The fluid filter of claim 22 , further comprising a filter media surrounding the cylinder.

25 . The fluid filter of claim 21 , wherein the bypass inlet is dimensioned to permit a predetermined amount of flow.

26 . The fluid filter of claim 21 , wherein the housing comprises a housing inlet axially spaced apart from the bypass inlet.