Fuel Filter Cartridge And Keyed End Cap

A filter assembly, comprising:

• a filter housing defining a housing cavity;
• a valve assembly within the housing cavity, the valve assembly including:
• a central standpipe defining a central flow passage including a flow port;
• a flow control valve surrounding the standpipe and axially movable therealong between a closed position wherein the flow control valve closes the fluid flow therethrough and an open position wherein the valve portion is positioned to open the flow port and permit fluid flow therethrough;
• and
• a latch device movable axially along the central standpipe including a locked position maintaining the flow control valve in the closed position and an unlocked position permitting the flow control valve to transition to the open position;
• a filter element within the housing cavity of the filter housing, the filter element engaging the latch device and the flow control valve, the filter element maintaining the latch device in the unlocked position and maintaining the flow control valve in the open position, the filter element including:
• a tube of filter media extending between opposed first and second ends and surrounding a longitudinal axis;
• a first end cap sealingly connected to the first end of the tube of filter media;
• a second end cap having an inner and outer face, the inner face sealingly connected to the second end of the tube of filter media, the first end cap, second end cap and filter media defining a central cavity therebetween, the second end cap including a central opening surrounding the longitudinal axis and opening to the central cavity;
• and
• a plurality of first keys located on the second end cap and projecting away from the second end cap in a direction extending away from the first end cap, the first keys being arranged in a first annular array surrounding the longitudinal axis;
• and
• a plurality of second keys located on the second end cap and projecting axially away from the second end cap in a direction extending away from the first end cap, the second keys being arranged in a second annular array surrounding the longitudinal axis, the first keys being independent of and spaced apart from the second keys, the second keys being of a different characteristic than the first keys;
• and
• wherein the first keys engage the latch device and the second keys engage the flow control valve.

A filter element comprising:

• a tube of filter media extending between opposed first and second ends and surrounding a longitudinal axis;
• a first end cap sealingly connected to the first end of the tube of filter media;
• a second end cap having an inner and outer face, the inner face sealingly connected to the second end of the tube of filter media, the second end cap including a central opening surrounding the longitudinal axis and opening to a central cavity of the tube of filter media;
• and
• a first plurality of keys located on the second end cap and projecting away from the f end cap in a direction extending away from the first end cap, the first keys being arranged in a first annular array surrounding the longitudinal axis;
• and
• a second plurality of keys located on the second end cap and projecting axially away from the second end cap in a direction extending away from the first end cap, the second keys being arranged in a second annular array surrounding the longitudinal axis, the first keys being independent of and angularly spaced apart from the second keys, the second keys being of a different characteristic than the first keys.