Full flow liquid filter with integral bypass filtration

1. A fluid filter comprising:

an outer case including a side wall, a closed first end wall, and a second end wall defining fluid inlet openings and at least one fluid outlet opening; and

a filter cartridge received within said outer case and including:

a substantially cylindrical full flow filter element providing for passage of a major portion of fluid entering the filter;

a substantially cylindrical bypass filter element providing for passage of a minor portion of fluid entering the filter that is disposed radially within and surrounded circumferentially by said full flow filter element;

a first annular end cap including a first solid wall against which adjacent first ends of both the full flow filter element and the bypass filter element engage and are secured, the first annular end cap surrounding an inlet to an inner bypass filter volume;

a second annular end cap including a second solid wall adapted to surround said at least one fluid outlet opening, a second end of the full flow filter element secured to said second solid wall;

a bypass filter end cap, disposed at an intermediate location between the first and second annular end caps, to which a second end of the bypass filter element is secured; and

a retainer disposed adjacent to the second end wall of the outer case, secured to the side wall of the outer case, and extending radially inwardly from the side wall of the outer case, the retainer mounting an elastomeric gasket between the second end wall of the outer case and an adjacent part of a vehicle engine or fitting;

wherein fluid flow into said inner bypass filter volume occurs through a space defined between the closed first end wall of the outer case and the first annular end cap and through said inlet to the inner bypass filter volume surrounded by the first annular end cap;

wherein fluid flow into the fluid filter occurs through the fluid inlet openings in the second end wall of the outer case and a space maintained by abutment between part of the second annular end cap and a part of the second end wall of the outer case;

wherein the second annular end cap includes a radially outer flange depending from said second solid wall to facilitate positioning of the full flow filter element; and

wherein part of the second annular end cap is defined by a bent over end of a radially inner flange depending from said second solid wall in the same direction as that in which said radially outer flange extends from said second solid wall, the bent over end being substantially parallel with said second solid wall and resting directly atop on an axial end of a tube defining the at least one fluid outlet opening of the outer case second end wall.

2. The fluid filter according to claim 1 , wherein one way fluid flow is permitted through the bypass filter end cap for pressure relief.

3. The fluid filter according to claim 1 , further comprising a perforated support tube located around a surface of at least one of said full flow and bypass filter elements.

4. The fluid filter according to claim 3 , wherein said surface is a circumferential outer or inner surface.

5. The fluid filter according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one element acting as a spacer between the first solid wall of the first annular end cap and the closed end wall of the outer case.

6. The fluid filter according to claim 5 , wherein the spacer is formed by a plurality of elements depending from the first solid wall.

7. The fluid filter according to claim 5 , wherein the spacer is formed as a part of the closed end wall of the outer case.

8. The fluid filter according to claim 5 , wherein the first annular end cap includes radially inner and outer flanges depending from said first solid wall to facilitate positioning of the full flow and bypass filter elements.

9. The fluid filter according to claim 5 , wherein one way fluid flow is permitted through the bypass filter end cap for pressure relief.