Filter element and filter assembly

A filter element comprising:

• a filter medium body surrounding an interior of the filter element at least partially circumferentially, the filter medium body having a first longitudinal end face and a second longitudinal end face;
• a first end disk arranged on the first longitudinal end face;
• wherein axial, as used herein, is a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis (L) arranged within and extending through the interior of the filter element from the first longitudinal end face to the second longitudinal end face;
• a first follower element connected directly or indirectly to the first end disk and arranged in the interior of the filter element, the first follower element projecting radially inwardly towards the longitudinal axis (L) to a radially inner end, having:
• a first traction surface,
• wherein the first traction surface is configured to interact with a corresponding first mating surface of a filter housing;
• a second follower element connected directly or indirectly to the first end disk and arranged in the interior of the filter element, the second follower element projecting radially inwardly towards the longitudinal axis (L) to a radially inner end, having:
• a second traction surface,
• wherein the second traction surface is configured to interact with a corresponding second mating surface of the filter housing;
• wherein the first and second traction surfaces are configured to interact with the first and second mating surfaces such that the filter element can be pulled out of the filter housing when the first and second traction surfaces interact with the first and second mating surfaces;
• wherein the first traction surface and the second traction surface each comprise a plane oriented substantially normal to the longitudinal axis, wherein substantially normal, as used herein, is a plane oriented at an angle between 80 to 100 degrees relative to longitudinal axis (L);
• wherein the first traction surface and the second traction surface are axially spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis (L) of the filter element;
• wherein both the first and the second follower elements are arranged axially nearer to the first longitudinal end face than to the second longitudinal end face;
• wherein the first follower element and/or the second follower element comprises
• a stop surface adjoining circumferentially the respective traction surface of the first follower element and/or the second follower element,
• wherein, in a position of use of the filter element, the stop surface is configured to interact with a corresponding counter stop surface of the filter housing to form an at least unidirectionally acting rotational degree of freedom blocking about the longitudinal axis of the filter element relative to the filter housing;
• a support tube arranged in the interior of the of the filter element and extending at least over a portion of a distance from the first longitudinal end face to the second longitudinal end face;
• wherein the follower elements are connected directly or indirectly to the support tube.