Abstract: An oil filter assembly comprising: an oil filter housing defining an oil filter chamber adapted to receive an oil filter element, the oil filter housing also defining a port; and a valve assembly received within the port, the valve assembly having a closed position and an open position for draining the chamber of oil associated with the oil filter element, the valve assembly comprising a spring, a valve and a casing disposed about the spring and the plunger. The casing may include a substantially annular lip retaining the valve in engagement with the casing. The casing defines a casing chamber and the lip retaining a collar of the valve within the casing chamber. The lip also may define a hole for receiving the stem or, in accordance with an alternative embodiment, for receiving a post or the like associated with the oil filter element. A method is also provided of producing an oil filter assembly having a housing defining an oil filter chamber adapted to receive an oil filter element.

Abstract: A fluid filter assembly includes a shroud containing a filter module. A fluid pump is coupled to the shroud and operated to draw transmission fluid from a fluid reservoir in a transaxle housing into the shroud and through the filter module in the shroud to produce a stream of filtered transmission fluid to be pumped to a transmission or other destination in the transaxle housing. The shroud includes a filter housing containing the filter module and a mount flange cantilevered to the filter housing and adapted to mate with the fluid pump.

Abstract: A fluid filter apparatus includes a filter element located in a filter chamber formed in a filter housing. A valve unit is located in a passageway formed in the filter housing to control flow of fluid into or out of the filter chamber.

Abstract: A fluid filter includes a filter housing and a filter module. The filter module includes a filter medium and a fusible seal. The fusible seal is bonded to a portion of the filter medium and cooperates with the housing to prevent fluid from bypassing the filter medium.

Abstract: A fluid filter assembly includes a shroud containing a filter module. A fluid pump is coupled to the shroud and operated to draw transmission fluid from a fluid reservoir in a transaxle housing into the shroud and through the filter module in the shroud to produce a stream of filtered transmission fluid to be pumped to a transmission or other destination in the transaxle housing. The shroud includes a filter housing containing the filter module and a mount flange cantilevered to the filter housing and adapted to mate with the fluid pump.

Abstract: An oil filter assembly comprising: an oil filter housing defining an oil filter chamber adapted to receive an oil filter element, the oil filter housing also defining a port; and a valve assembly received within the port, the valve assembly having a closed position and an open position for draining the chamber of oil associated with the oil filter element, the valve assembly comprising a spring, a valve and a casing disposed about the spring and the plunger. The casing may include a substantially annular lip retaining the valve in engagement with the casing. The casing defines a casing chamber and the lip retaining a collar of the valve within the casing chamber. The lip also may define a hole for receiving the stem or, in accordance with an alternative embodiment, for receiving a post or the like associated with the oil filter element. A method is also provided of producing an oil filter assembly having a housing defining an oil filter chamber adapted to receive an oil filter element.

Abstract: An oil filter apparatus comprises a housing formed to include an interior region and an aperture, a drainage valve positioned in the interior region for movement relative to the housing between an opened position allowing oil to drain out of the interior region through the aperture and a closed position blocking drainage of oil out of the interior region through the aperture, a filter module positioned in the interior region to filter oil, a valve actuator coupled to the filter module, and an anti-rotation device positioned to block rotation of the filter module relative to the housing to guide the valve actuator into communication with the drainage valve to move the drainage valve to the closed position when the filter module is installed in the interior region.

Abstract: A coolant filter kit, for attaching in-line to a coolant hose of a combustion engine, includes a fluid conduit member and a coolant filter apparatus. The fluid conduit member has a stem and two opposed branches connected to the stem, with an inlet formed in a first branch thereof, and an outlet formed in a second branch. The fluid conduit member further has a partition in the stem thereof, substantially separating a first flow chamber from a second flow chamber therewithin. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a limited amount of fluid is allowed to flow directly from the inlet to the outlet without passing through the filter apparatus. The filter apparatus includes a hollow housing defining a filter chamber therein. A porous cylindrical filter element is disposed in the filter chamber of the housing. Optionally, the filter apparatus may include a slow-dissolving tablet or plug for releasing a supplemental coolant additive into coolant over time.

Abstract: A flexibly resilient sealing member, incorporating integral pressure relief valves, for use in an oil filter assembly, includes a substantially annular body formed from a flexibly resilient material. The annular body has a central bore formed therein for surrounding an oil filter outlet. The annular body also has an upper surface with a plurality of normally closed slits formed therein, a shoulder portion around its top outer edge for sealing placement inside a cylindrical filter element, and a flow channel formed therethrough for each of the normally closed slits, each of the flow channels extending downwardly from one of the normally closed slits and terminating in an open inlet below the shoulder portion and outside of the central bore.

Abstract: A filter assembly includes a base and a filter cartridge supported on the base. The filter cartridge includes a filter element mounted within a cup-shaped housing having a circumferentially extending wall and an open end. In the preferred embodiment, a collar circumscribes the housing and includes a set of cooperating bayonet lugs which cooperates with a corresponding set of bayonet lugs on the base, permitting easy removal of the filter when the filter is changed by merely rotating the collar one quarter of a turn. In the alternate embodiment, the lugs are included within the housing itself and cooperate directly with lugs on the base.

Abstract: A filter assembly includes a base and a filter cartridge removably mounted on the base. The filter cartridge is held in place on the base by a first set of latching members or fingers. When the cartridge is to be changed, a clipping ring from which the fingers extend is rotated relative to the base, urging the fingers up a camming surface to thereby release the first set of fingers and allow the seal between the cartridge and base to be broken, while the cartridge is retained on the base by a longer second set of fingers. Upon additional rotation of the clipping ring, the longer fingers are released, thereby permitting removal of the cartridge from the base.

Abstract: An air cleaner assembly includes a pair of molded housing members, each of which include four side walls and an open end. The opposite end of one of the members carries an outlet tube for connection to the air intake system of the vehicle, and the opposite end of the other member includes a lattice-work structure defining openings to admit air into the air cleaner assembly. The two housings snap together by receiving the side walls of the one member into the open end of the other member, and the members defining the lattice-work structure engage a panel cartridge filter assembly to force the latter into an adhesive carried in a groove extending around a flange defined on the one member.