Filter with end cap features
A filter element is removably supported within a housing comprising a filter head and a collection bowl. The element is removed from the lower end of the housing when the collection bowl is removed. The element includes an annular side wall which supports the element on radial ribs within the collection bowl; and a series of projections or posts which engage ribs on the bowl and cause the element to rotate in conjunction with the bowl when the collection bowl is screwed off of the head. The rotation of the element breaks the seal stiction between an upper seal on the element and the filter head, such that the element remains with the bowl. Openings around the sidewall facilitate fluid flow around the lower end cap. The element is supported by the collection bowl as the bowl is removed, and easily removed from the bowl and replaced.
1. A fuel filter assembly, comprising:
a housing including a filter head with an inlet port and outlet port for directing fuel into and out of the housing, and a bowl threadably connected to a lower end of the head, the bowl including a series of ribs projecting radially inward from an internal sidewall of the bowl;
a filter element located within the housing, the filter element including: i) a ring of filter media circumscribing a central axis and defining a central cavity interiorly of the ring; ii) a first end cap sealingly bonded at a lower end of the media ring; and iii) a second, annular end cap sealingly bonded at an upper end of the media ring and including a resilient sealing member bounding a central opening in the second end cap, the central opening allowing fluid communication with the central cavity of the element; the first end cap including a) an imperforate circular end wall with an inner surface facing the media ring, and an outer surface facing away from the media ring, b) an annular side wall toward or at the periphery of the end wall projecting downwardly from the outer surface of the end wall, the side wall supporting the element against an upper surface of the ribs on the bowl and including a series of openings therearound, and c) a series of axial posts projecting downwardly from the distal end of the side wall, the posts being spaced around the side wall such that they are rotationally contacted by the bowl ribs when the bowl is rotated with respect to the head to cause the element to rotate in conjunction with the bowl when the bowl is rotated relative to the head to remove the bowl from the head, wherein when the bowl and element are assembled with the head, fuel entering through the inlet port flows between the internal sidewall of the bowl and the element and then radially inward through the media ring, and contaminants in the fuel are separated by the media and can collect and pass downwardly between the bowl and the lower end cap into a lower portion of the bowl for removal, with the fuel passing through the media ring being directed out through the outlet port.
2. The fuel assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the openings in the sidewall are spaced at circumferentially different spacings around the sidewall relative to the ribs on the bowl.
3. The fuel assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the sidewall is configured as a series of arcuate segments, with the openings defined between adjacent segments.
4. The fuel assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the posts are spaced equally around the circumference of the end wall.
5. The fuel assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the posts all extend the same distance away from the distal lower end of the sidewall.
6. A filter element, comprising:
i) a ring of filter media circumscribing a central axis and defining a central cavity interiorly of the ring; and
ii) a first end cap sealingly bonded at an end of the media ring; the first end cap including a) an imperforate circular end wall with an inner surface facing the media ring, and an outer surface facing away from the media ring, b) an annular side wall projecting outwardly from the outer surface of the end wall toward the periphery of the end wall, the side wall including a series of openings therearound, and c) a series of posts projecting axially outwardly from the distal end of the side wall, the posts being spaced around the side wall.
7. The filter element as in claim 6 , further including a second end cap sealingly bonded at another end of the media ring, the second end cap including a resilient annular sealing member bounding a central opening in the second end cap.
8. The filter element as in claim 6 , wherein the sidewall is configured as a series of arcuate segments, with the openings defined between adjacent segments.
9. The filter element as in claim 6 , wherein the posts are spaced equally around the circumference of the end wall.
10. The filter element as in claim 6 , wherein the posts all extend the same distance away from the distal end of the sidewall.
11. A filter element, comprising:
i) a ring of filter media circumscribing a central axis and defining a central cavity interiorly of the ring; and
ii) a first end cap sealingly bonded at one end of the media ring and a second, annular end cap sealingly bonded at another end of the media ring, the second annular end cap including a resilient sealing member bounding a central opening in the second end cap; the first end cap including a) an imperforate circular end wall with an inner surface facing the media ring, and an outer surface facing away from the media ring, b) an annular locating feature projecting outwardly away from the outer surface of the end wall, wherein the annular locating feature includes a series of arcuate segments projecting outwardly from the outer surface of the end wall toward the periphery of the end wall, the arcuate segments defining a series of openings therebetween, and c) at least one projection projecting axially outwardly from a distal end of annular locating feature.
12. The filter element as in claim 11 , wherein an axial projection projects axially outward from the distal end of each of the segments.