Filter device for filtering liquids

A filter device for filtration of a freeze susceptible liquid, comprising:

• a cylindrical filter element comprising:
• a ring-shaped filter bellows having an open central interior extending axially along and encircling a central axis of the cylindrical filter element, wherein a radially outer wall of the ring-shaped filter bellows is a radially outer wall of the cylindrical filter element;
• an annular upper end disk fixed onto an axial end face of the ring-shaped filter bellows, the annular upper end disk having a central flow opening extending through the annular upper end disk into the open central interior;
• a lower end disk fixed onto an opposite axial end face of the ring-shaped filter bellows, the lower end disk closing off the open central interior at the lower end disk;
• a tubular support body arranged within the open central interior, the tubular support body elongated along the central axis;
• the tubular support body arranged within the open central interior, the tubular support body having a circumferential wall in the form of a cage having a plurality of web members;
• a cylindrical, non-tubular body having a circumferentially closed radial outer surface and opposing closed axial end surfaces together defining and enclosing a continuous cylindrical block of elastically deformable material forming a cylindrical body of elastically deformable material;
• wherein the cylindrical body of elastically deformable material is arranged on the central axis, entirely between the annular upper end disk and the lower end disk, and entirely within the open central interior, the cylindrical body of elastically deformable material filling a central interior portion of the open central interior along the central axis, the cylindrical body of elastically deformable material having a material volume filling at least 40% of the open central interior when in an undeformed state;
• wherein the cylindrical body of elastically deformable material is arranged entirely within the open central interior, the cylindrical body of elastically deformable material spaced axially away from both the annular upper end disk and the lower end disk;
• wherein the cylindrical body of elastically deformable material has an outer diameter that substantially matches an interior diameter of the tubular support body, such that the cylindrical body of elastically deformable material is supported on and directly against a radially inner side of the tubular support body;
• wherein an annular gap for liquid flow is formed between a radial outer surface of the cylindrical body of elastically deformable material and a radial inner side of the cylindrical filter element;
• wherein the tubular support body is arranged within the annular gap;
• wherein the cylindrical body of elastically deformable material forms a compensation element which is adapted to compress in volume as the freeze susceptible liquid in the open central interior freezes and expands.