Advanced fuel filtration system with interlocking cartridge seal design

A filter element, comprising:

• a media pack having a media pack first end and a media pack second end opposite the media pack first end;
• a first endplate sealingly engaged with the media pack first end, the first endplate comprising a skirt extending along a longitudinal axis of the media pack from the media pack first end toward the media pack second end, wherein the skirt comprises an upper protrusion and a lower protrusion spaced axially apart from the upper protrusion, the upper protrusion and the lower protrusion together defining a recessed area, wherein an outer radius of the lower protrusion is greater than an outer radius of the upper protrusion;
• a first sealing member coupled to the skirt and disposed in the recessed area proximate a lower end of the skirt, the first sealing member circumferentially surrounding the media pack, the first sealing member protruding beyond an outer perimeter of the first endplate;
• a second endplate sealingly engaged with the media pack second end, the second endplate comprising an axial sidewall and an inner perimeter;
• a second sealing member coupled to the axial sidewall and protruding radially outwardly from the axial sidewall;
• and
• a third sealing member coupled to the second endplate and disposed radially inwardly from the inner perimeter.

A filter assembly, comprising:

• a filter housing, comprising:
• a shell defining an inner cavity;
• a lid configured to engage the shell at an opening of the inner cavity;
• and
• a drain valve fluidly coupling the inner cavity to an environment surrounding the
• shell;
• and
• a filter element disposed within the inner cavity, the filter element comprising:
• an outer media pack defining a central cavity having a longitudinal axis;
• an inner media pack disposed within the central cavity;
• and
• an endplate sealingly engaged with both the outer media pack and the inner media pack, wherein the outer media pack and the inner media pack are not moveable relative to each other along the longitudinal axis, the endplate defining an opening positioned between the inner media pack and the outer media pack, the opening fluidly coupled to the drain valve, wherein the endplate comprises an axial sidewall extending away from the outer media pack and an inner perimeter;
• a first sealing member coupled to the axial sidewall and protruding radially outwardly from the axial sidewall;
• and
• a second sealing member coupled to the endplate and disposed radially inwardly from the inner perimeter.