Filter assembly and method

1. A method of directing flow through a filter assembly, comprising:

directing flow of a fluid into an inlet port located within a filter head of the filter assembly;

passing the fluid from the inlet port into a filter element using a top cap having a substantially curved, non-planar flange portion, wherein the non-planar flange portion has a generally s-shaped cross-sectional profile and is sealingly received within the filter head such that the filter head is divided into inlet and outlet partitions; and

passing the fluid out of the assembly through an outlet port.

2. The method of directing flow through a filter assembly of claim 1 , further comprising directing the fluid through a barrier of filtration media of the filter element.

3. The method of directing flow through a filter assembly of claim 1 , further comprising hand tightening a filter bowl to the filter head using outer ribs running along an outside surface of the filter bowl.

4. The method of directing flow through a filter assembly of claim 1 , further comprising forming a pressurized attachment between a filter bowl and the filter head.

5. The method of directing flow through a filter assembly of claim 1 , further comprising minimizing re-entrainment of coalesced fluid using a baffle located along a bottom inner portion of a filter bowl.

6. The method of directing flow through a filter assembly of claim 1 , further comprising connecting the filter assembly to at least one other filtration apparatus using a plurality of ganging clamps.

7. The method of directing flow through a filter assembly of claim 1 , further comprising clipping the filter element using a compression tab.

8. The method of directing flow through a filter assembly of claim 1 , further comprising sealing the filter head to the top cap using a compression tab.

9. A filter assembly comprising:

a filter head having inlet and outlet ports; and

a top cap having a substantially curved, non-planar flange portion, the non-planar flange sealingly received within the filter head such that the filter head is divided into inlet and outlet partitions, wherein the flange portion has a generally s-shaped cross-sectional profile.

10. The filter assembly of claim 9 , wherein the inlet and outlet ports are generally inline with one another.

11. The filter assembly of claim 9 , wherein the filter head includes a slanted inner top surface for decreasing a volume of the filter head.

12. The filter assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a filter bowl attached to the filter head and a filter element housed within the filter bowl.

13. The filter assembly of claim 12 , wherein the filter bowl includes inner ribs running axially along an inside surface of the filter bowl for capillary draining of liquid drops that escape a drain layer which comprises an outermost portion of the filter element.

14. The filter assembly of claim 12 , wherein the filter bowl includes an o-ring groove located along an upper outer surface of the filter bowl for forming a pressurized attachment between the filter bowl and the filter head.

15. The filter assembly of claim 12 , wherein the filter element includes a barrier of filtration media, a drain layer and at least one support tube.

16. The filter assembly of claim 9 , further comprising at least one compression tab configured to maintain a compression seal between the filter head and the top cap.

17. The filter assembly of claim 9 , further comprising at least one compression tab configured to position the filter element.

18. The filter assembly of claim 9 , wherein the flange portion incorporates a modified venturi.

19. The filter assembly of claim 9 , further comprising at least one ganging clamp for connecting the filter assembly to at least one other filtration apparatus.

20. A filter assembly comprising:

filter head means for containing inlet and outlet ports;

filter element means for filtration of a fluid;

filter bowl means for housing the filter element, wherein the filter bowl means is attached to the filter head means; and

top cap means for dividing the filter head into inlet and outlet partitions; wherein the top cap means includes a substantially curving non-planar flange portion sealingly received within the filter head, wherein the flange portion has a generally s-shaped cross-sectional profile.