Abstract: A filter for a fluid system includes a housing having an interior cavity. A filter media is disposed in the housing and defines a central opening. A center tube assembly is arranged within the central opening and includes discs which are stackable upon one another. Each disc includes a central portion having base received by an inner wall of the central portion of the adjacent disc. An outer portion extends radially outwardly from the central portion and is positioned adjacent to the filter media. The central portion, base, and outer portion may include openings to permit the flow of fluid through the center tube assembly. The center tube assembly provides the desired structural integrity while permitting fluid to flow through the center tube. The present invention center tube assembly may be produced by a plastic molding process.

Abstract: A filter for a fluid system includes a housing having an interior cavity. A filter media is disposed in the housing and defines a central opening. A center tube is arranged within the central opening and includes a plurality of helical fins extending radially outwardly from a central portion of the center tube. The helical fins terminate in an outer portion that is adjacent to the filter media. The center tube provides the desired structural integrity while permitting fluid to flow through the center tube. The present invention center tube is produced by a plastic extrusion process.

Abstract: A filter for a fluid system includes a housing having an interior cavity. A filter media is disposed in the housing and defines a central opening. A center tube assembly is arranged within the central opening and includes discs which are stackable upon one another. Each disc includes a central portion having base received by an inner wall of the central portion of the adjacent disc. An outer portion extends radially outwardly from the central portion and is positioned adjacent to the filter media. The central portion, base, and outer portion may include openings to permit the flow of fluid through the center tube assembly. The center tube assembly provides the desired structural integrity while permitting fluid to flow through the center tube. The present invention center tube assembly may be produced by a plastic molding process.

Abstract: A filter for a fluid system includes a housing having an interior cavity. A filter media is disposed in the housing and defines a central opening. A center tube assembly is arranged within the central opening and includes discs which are stackable upon one another. Each disc includes a central portion having base received by an inner wall of the central portion of the adjacent disc. An outer portion extends radially outwardly from the central portion and is positioned adjacent to the filter media. The central portion, base, and outer portion may include openings to permit the flow of fluid through the center tube assembly. The center tube assembly provides the desired structural integrity while permitting fluid to flow through the center tube. The present invention center tube assembly may be produced by a plastic molding process.

Abstract: A filter for a fluid system includes a housing having an interior cavity. A filter media is disposed in the housing and defines a central opening. A center tube is arranged within the central opening and includes a plurality of helical fins extending radially outwardly from a central portion of the center tube. The helical fins terminate in an outer portion that is adjacent to the filter media. The center tube provides the desired structural integrity while permitting fluid to flow through the center tube. The present invention center tube is produced by a plastic extrusion process.

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: 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 transmission fluid filter assembly includes a filter media, a fluid discharge conduit associated with the filter media, a magnetic particle trap, and a connector arranged to lie under the filter media and the magnetic particle trap. The connector is adapted to be coupled to a filter mount provided at an opening in a transmission pan to support the filter media, fluid discharge conduit, and magnetic particle trap in an interior region of a transmission pan containing transmission fluid to be filtered. The magnetic particle trap attracts and retains particles of ferrous material to minimize discharge of such particles from the transmission pan through the fluid discharge conduit.