Abstract: An apparatus for removing contaminants from a liquid comprises a casing and a tubular filter dividing the casing into two compartments. The tubular filter is formed of fibers attached at each end to end supports which are movable axially relative to one another and rotable relative to one another about the longitudinal axis of the filter. A helical spring is disposed within the tubular filter and is so dimensioned that it does not close when the end supports are in their closest operational position. The spring resists inward movement of the fibers when the end supports are moved axially towards each other and rotated to twist the fiber, thereby preventing the compartment defined by the interior of the tubular filter from tending to close.

Abstract: A closure assembly, such as a filter cap for a vehicle's fuel tank, comprises a first member formed with a circumferentially arranged series of ratchet teeth, and a second member associated with a pair of pawls, the pawls being continuously urged linearly apart from one another by spring means located between their adjacent ends so that their ends remote from the spring means, which remote ends may each be formed with a plurality of ratchet teeth, are continuously urged into gaps defined between the ratchet teeth formed upon the first member, whereby application of torque to the second member in one rotary sense is initially transmitted by means of the pawls so as to rotate the first member in conjunction therewith until the torque exceeds a predetermined level, whereupon the pawls ride over the ratchet teeth formed upon the first member and the second member is rotated relative to the first member, whereas application of torque to the second member in the opposite rotary sense is always transmitted by means