Liquid filter arrangement and methods

A liquid filter assembly including:

• (a) an arrangement comprising:
• (i) a plate arrangement defining a central filtered liquid flow channel;
• (A) the central filtered liquid flow channel including a flow exit aperture;
• (ii) a side member arrangement comprising at least one moveable slide member;
• (b) a releasably mounted filter bowl;
• and,
• (c) a filter cartridge removably positioned within a filter bowl;
• the filter cartridge comprising:
• (i) a region of filter media defining a central, open, volume,
• (A) the region of filter media having first and second ends;
• (ii) a first end cap secured to the first end of the region of filter media;
• (iii) the first end cap including an axial stem thereon defining a central liquid flow conduit therethrough, in liquid flow communication with the central, open, volume defined by the filter media;
• (A) the axial stem including a portion projecting away from the filter media;
• (B) the axial stem including an outer, annular, seal arrangement thereon;
• and
• (C) an end of the axial stem remote from the filter media comprising a tip oriented to bias the at least one moveable slide member to a first orientation;
• and,
• (iv) a second, closed, end cap secured to the second end of the region of filter media;
• (d) the slide member arrangement comprising:
• (i) the at least one slide member mounted on a slide track portion of the plate arrangement and moveable between the first orientation and a second orientation;
• and,
• (ii) a biasing member positioned to bias the at least one slide member into the first orientation;
• and,
• (iii) the at least one slide member having a filter cartridge engagement portion thereon engaged, by the filter cartridge, to bias the at least one slide member along the slide track portion, against the biasing member, to maintain the slide member in the second orientation.

A liquid filter cartridge comprising:

• (a) a region of filter media defining a central, open, volume;
• (i) the region of filter media having first and second ends;
• (b) a first end cap secured to the first end of the region of filter media;
• (i) the first end cap including an axial stem thereon;
• (A) the axial stem projecting away from the media;
• and
• (B) the axial stem including a seal arrangement thereon;
• and,
• (ii) the first end cap including a plurality projections spaced from one another by guide channels;
• and,
• (c) a second end cap secured to the second end of the media.

A filter cartridge comprising:

• (a) a filter media defining a central, open, volume and surrounding a central axis;
• (i) the filter media having first and second ends;
• (b) first and second end caps secured, respectively, to the first and second ends of the filter media;
• (i) at least one of the end caps having a central flow aperture therethrough;
• (c) a plurality of projections spaced from one another;
• (i) the plurality of projections being positioned on one of the ends caps projecting in a direction away from the other one of the end caps;
• and,
• (ii) the plurality of projections being spaced around the central axis;
• and,
• (d) a seal arrangement positioned to removably seal the filter cartridge to a housing, in use.

A liquid filter assembly including:

• (a) a plate arrangement having a central liquid flow channel;
• (i) the central liquid flow channel including a cartridge positioning projection arrangement therein comprising at least one projection extending radially toward the central axis;
• and,
• (b) a first cartridge comprising:
• (i) filter media defining a central, open, volume and surrounding a central axis;
• (A) a filter media having first and second ends;
• (ii) a first end cap on the first end of the filter media;
• (A) the first end cap having a central liquid flow aperture therethrough;
• (B) a plurality of projections positioned on the first end cap and projecting in a direction away from the second end cap;
• (C) the plurality of projections being positioned around the central axis;
• and,
• (D) at least two of the spaced projections having a guide channel therebetween positioned with a cartridge positioning projection on the central liquid flow channel of the plate arrangement received therein.