Abstract: A filter assembly that includes a filter body defining a mouth, a filter element disposed in the filter body, and a seal disposed on the mouth. The seal has a seal body defining a center axis. The seal body has an axial surface perpendicular to the center axis and an outer annular surface revolved about the center axis. A portion of the outer annular surface defines at least one of an arcuate and a substantially frustoconical shape.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a seal having an annular body including an upper surface and a lower surface. The annular body also includes an outer side surface and an inner side surface that join the upper surface to the lower surface. The inner side surface contributes to defining an endcap-engaging surface of the seal including: a first endcap surface engaging portion that is sized for engaging a portion of an upper surface of an endcap, a second endcap surface engaging portion that is sized for engaging an outer side surface of the endcap, and a third endcap surface engaging portion that is sized for engaging a lower surface of the endcap. The annular body includes an upper portion connected to a lower portion. The upper portion of the annular body of the seal is defined by a rounded seal portion. The lower portion of the annular body of the seal is defined by a flexible tang portion and a flexible leg portion.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a seal having an annular body including an upper surface and a lower surface. The annular body also includes an outer side surface and an inner side surface that join the upper surface to the lower surface. The inner side surface contributes to defining an endcap-engaging surface of the seal including: a first endcap surface engaging portion that is sized for engaging a portion of an upper surface of an endcap, a second endcap surface engaging portion that is sized for engaging an outer side surface of the endcap, and a third endcap surface engaging portion that is sized for engaging a lower surface of the endcap. The annular body includes an upper portion connected to a lower portion. The upper portion of the annular body of the seal is defined by a rounded seal portion. The lower portion of the annular body of the seal is defined by a flexible tang portion and a flexible leg portion.

Abstract: A filter assembly that includes a filter body defining a mouth, a filter element disposed in the filter body, and a seal disposed on the mouth. The seal has a seal body defining a center axis. The seal body has an axial surface perpendicular to the center axis and an outer annular surface revolved about the center axis. A portion of the outer annular surface defines at least one of an arcuate and a substantially frustoconical shape.

Abstract: A filter assembly that includes a filter body defining a mouth, a filter element disposed in the filter body, and a seal disposed on the mouth. The seal has a seal body defining a center axis. The seal body has an axial surface perpendicular to the center axis and an outer annular surface revolved about the center axis. A portion of the outer annular surface defines at least one of an arcuate and a substantially frustoconical shape.

Abstract: A filter container includes a wall portion defining a cavity that is adapted to receive a filter. The wall portion includes an inner surface defining the cavity. One or more filter retaining elements integrally-extend from the inner surface that provides a shoulder having an interface surface for interfacing with the filter.

Abstract: A filter assembly that includes a filter body defining a mouth, a filter element disposed in the filter body, and a seal disposed on the mouth. The seal has a seal body defining a center axis. The seal body has an axial surface perpendicular to the center axis and an outer annular surface revolved about the center axis. A portion of the outer annular surface defines at least one of an arcuate and a substantially frustoconical shape.

Abstract: A filter assembly is disclosed. The filter assembly includes a filter including a filter media, and an end cap; a filter container including an open end, and a wall portion defining a cavity that is adapted to receive the filter, wherein the wall portion includes an inner surface defining the cavity; and a close-out member removably secured to the filter container proximate the open end, wherein the close-out member includes a circumferential wall, an end wall, an inner surface, and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the close-out member includes one or more filter-retaining elements that engages the end cap, wherein the one or more filter retaining elements are located proximate one or more of the circumferential wall and the end wall, wherein the one or more filter retaining elements include a radial portion extending radially inwardly from an inner circumferential surface of the circumferential wall, and an axial portion extending axially away from an inner end wall surface of the end wall.

Abstract: A filter is disclosed. The filter comprises a canister, filter media disposed within the canister, the filter media having a first axial end, a second axial end and circumscribing a central axis and an end cap having an inner radial surface disposed adjacent the first axial end of the filter media, the end cap defining a centralized axial passage therethrough having a sidewall surrounding said passage that extends to a valve actuation portion that is axially offset from the inner radial surface of the end cap, wherein the actuation portion includes at least one cross member that extends from a position on the sidewall across the centralized axial passage, the cross member having a first radial surface closer to the inner radial surface of the end cap than a second radial surface, and wherein the first radial surface of the at least one cross member is substantially planar.

Abstract: A filter assembly is disclosed. The filter assembly includes a filter including a filter media, and an end cap; a filter container including an open end, and a wall portion defining a cavity that is adapted to receive the filter, wherein the wall portion includes an inner surface defining the cavity; and a close-out member removably secured to the filter container proximate the open end, wherein the close-out member includes a circumferential wall, an end wall, an inner surface, and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the close-out member includes one or more filter-retaining elements that engages the end cap, wherein the one or more filter retaining elements are located proximate one or more of the circumferential wall and the end wall, wherein the one or more filter retaining elements include a radial portion extending radially inwardly from an inner circumferential surface of the circumferential wall, and an axial portion extending axially away from an inner end wall surface of the end wall.

Abstract: A filter container includes a wall portion defining a cavity that is adapted to receive a filter. The wall portion includes an inner surface defining the cavity. One or more filter retaining elements integrally-extend from the inner surface that provides a shoulder having an interface surface for interfacing with the filter.

Abstract: A combined filter element support and anti-prefill valve is used with an annular filter element having an annular filter media with a hollow core for filtering lubricating oil or fuel. The combined filter element includes a unitary body having an annular portion, wherein the annular portion has annular shoulder extending radially therefrom for supporting the filter element, and a sealing section which engages the end plate over a continuous location which is coaxial with the central spin-on opening. The unitary body has a radially extending plate portion having an axially positioned one-way valve unitary therewith, which valve opens in an axial direction toward the spin-opening. In a preferred embodiment, the one-way valve is configured by a pair of lips which normally abut along a line and separate when subjected to oil or fuel pressure.

Abstract: A filter having a thin metal flanged embedded within an open wall portion of a transparent plastic housing. The metal flange is permanently and non-detachably embedded within the wall and connected to a filter cover plate to create a fluid-tight seal. The resulting transparent spin-on filter allows a user to visually inspect the condition of the circulating fluid and filter without removing the filter from an operating system.

Abstract: A unitary three valve filter element support is used in a filter cartridge in which the filter cartridge includes an annular filter element within a housing closed by an end plate having a central opening surrounded by an array of radial openings spaced a fixed radial distance from one another. The unitary support has an annular sealing lip for sealing with the end cap of the filter element, which sealing lip deflects under oil pressure providing a first valve to allow oil to bypass the filter element if the filter media of the filter element is clogged. A second valve is a dirty side anti-drainback valve that is provided by a radial flange projecting from the unitary body. A third valve is a clean side valve aligned with the hollow core of the annular filter element to prevent drainback of clean oil and to prevent refilling of the filter cartridge with used or unfiltered oil.

Abstract: A valve support and sealing element 23 for use with a filter cartridge is in the form of a molded unitary body (FIG. 2). The body includes (i) a first annular section 30 projecting into the filter hollow core 13 and having a sealing ring 33 for sealing with the end cap 53; (ii) a second annular section 34 sealing with the end plate 17 at interface 35; and (iii) a flange 38 radially projecting from the second section 34 to cover the inlet openings 19 to act as an anti-drainback valve. The flange 38 includes radial ribs 42 that also extend axially on the first section 30 but are spaced from the sealing ring 33. In operation, upon clogging of the media 14, oil flows between the ribs 42 and the sealing ring 33 is deflected radially inwardly to provide a bypass for the oil.

Abstract: An annular filter element defining a hollow core is mounted within a cylindrical housing having a closed end and an open end by using a single piece, molded insert. The single pieces molded insert has a cup portion which extends into the hollow core of the filter element and a cylindrical portion which projects from the end of the filter element. A radially extending flange projects from the insert and engages the end of the filter element while a scalloped end of the cylindrical portion abuts the closed end of the housing. The scalloped end has a series of triangular openings The cup portion of the insert has an opening through the bottom thereof which receives a standpipe on a filter element support.

Abstract: A combination valve support and sealing element is used in a filter cartridge in which the filter cartridge includes a filter element within a housing closed by an end plate having a central opening surrounded by an array of radial openings spaced a fixed radial distance from one another. The valve support and sealing element is comprised of a unitary body having an annular sealing lip for sealing with the end cap of the filter element, which sealing lip deflects under oil pressure to allow oil to bypass the filter element if the filter media of the filter element is clogged. An anti-drainback valve is provided by a radial flange projecting from the unitary body, which radial flange overlies the spaced radial openings and prevents fluid from flowing back out of the spaced radial openings when not under pressure. When the fluid is under pressure, the radially projecting flange deflects, allowing oil to flow past the flange, into the housing and through the filter element.

Abstract: A spin-on filter cartridge adapted to be mounted on a filter mount has a housing with an open end and a closed end. Adjacent to the closed end of the housing is a crimped portion defining an annular groove, the crimped portion retaining an annular support and having a radially extending shelf for supporting an end plate. An annular gasket having an annular channel for receiving the crimped portion of the housing has projecting rib which is received in the annular groove defined by the crimped portion. With this arrangement, the annular gasket is securely attached to the housing and is able to rotate independently of the housing, so that when the gasket is in abutment with the filter mount, the housing can be rotated without rotating the gasket.