Filter element

A filter element for a fluid comprising:

• a kidney shaped top end plate having a peripheral groove therein;
• a kidney shaped bottom end plate having a groove therein;
• a filter medium;
• a supporting element cage defining a kidney shaped interior and integrally molded on said filter medium, said supporting element cage including:
• a kidney shaped upper transverse web having a continuous protrusion extending from a surface thereof;
• a kidney shaped lower transverse web with a groove formed in an inner side, a lower edge of the filter medium being received within the inner side groove;
• a plurality of spaced longitudinal webs extending between said upper transverse web and said lower transverse web, the plurality of spaced longitudinal webs arranged about a circumference of the kidney shaped interior;
• wherein said continuous protrusion extending from the upper transverse web sealingly engages the peripheral groove of the top end plate;
• wherein the kidney shaped lower transverse web includes the bottom end plate;
• wherein both the kidney shaped top end plate and the kidney shaped bottom end plate are closed end plates which close over the kidney shaped interior of the of the supporting element vage of the filter element, with an exception that an outlet port is provided on in at least one of said closed end plates to permit filtered fluid to exit the interior of the supporting element cage of the filter element.