Fuel Filter Cartridge and Method of Construction Thereof

A filter cartridge having a longitudinal axis for use with a filter base, said cartridge comprising:

• a housing having a sidewall coaxial with the longitudinal axis and defining an open first end and an axially opposite second end, said sidewall having inner and outer surfaces, and a flange projecting radially away from said outer surface of said housing at said open first end;
• a first collar having a generally annular wall including an inner diameter and first and second outer diameters, and extending axially between first and second peripheral rims, said first outer diameter configured adjacent said first peripheral rim and said second outer diameter configured adjacent said second peripheral rim, said annular wall defining first and second seal glands adjacent said first and second peripheral rims, respectively, said seal glands oriented radially away from the longitudinal axis and receiving first and second seal members, respectively, a ledge projects radially outwardly from said annular wall intermediate said first and second peripheral rims where said first collar annular wall transitions between said first and second outer diameters, and an outer surface of said annular wall having one of a male or female portion of a connector system adjacent said first peripheral rim;
• a filter element configured to be selectively received within said inner diameter of said first collar;
• a second collar having an annular sidewall having first and second axial ends, a first inner diameter sized to receive said first outer diameter of said first collar, and a second inner diameter sized to circumscribe said housing and inner and outer surfaces, said inner surface having the other of said male or female portion of a connector system disposed adjacent said first axial end, and a circumferential shoulder projecting from said inner surface of said sidewall intermediate said first and second axial end where said annular sidewall transitions between said first and second inner diameters, said shoulder configured such that when said male and female portions of said connector system are joined said ledge and shoulder radially overlap axially retaining said flange between said ledge and said shoulder.

A method of constructing a filter cartridge having a longitudinal axis comprising:

• providing a housing having a generally cylindrical sidewall coaxial with the longitudinal axis and defining an open first end and an axially opposite second end, said sidewall having inner and outer surfaces, and a flange projecting radially away from said outer surface of said housing at said open first end;
• providing a first collar having a generally annular wall including an inner surface having an inner diameter and an outer surface having first and second outer diameters, said first and second outer diameters configured adjacent first and second peripheral rims of said annular wall, respectively;
• providing a second collar having a generally annular sidewall including an inner surface having first and second inner diameters configured axially adjacent first and second axial annular sidewall ends, respectively;
• inserting said housing radially inwardly of said generally annular sidewall of said second collar such that said second inner diameter circumscribes said outer surface of said housing sidewall;
• connecting one of a male or female portion of a connector system disposed on an outer surface of said first collar adjacent said first peripheral rim to the other of said male or female portion of said connector system disposed on an inner surface of said second collar adjacent said first axial end such that a ledge projecting radially outwardly from said first collar annular wall intermediate said first and second peripheral rims and a circumferential shoulder projecting from said inner surface of said second collar annular sidewall intermediate said first and second axial ends overlap axially retaining said flange between said ledge and said shoulder;
• and
• coupling a first end cap of a filter element to said first collar such that a plurality of radial projections configured at a circumferential periphery of said first end cap are received within a plurality of axially-oriented grooves defined on said first collar inner surface, axially retaining said filter element within said housing.